Best Square POS Alternatives for Retail and Small Businesses

As someone who has spent years researching, testing, and working with point-of-sale systems, I’ve seen Square dominate the space for a long time.

It’s everywhere—from local coffee shops to weekend market vendors. But Square isn’t always the right fit.

Maybe the transaction fees are cutting into your margins. Maybe the inventory tools feel too limited for your store’s needs.

Or maybe you just want something more flexible with better customer service.

Whatever the reason, there are plenty of strong Square POS alternatives out there. I’ve broken them down in detail—what they offer, where they shine, and where they fall short.

Comparison Table: Best Square POS Alternatives

POS System	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees	Offline Mode	Inventory Strength	Best For	Key Pros	Key Cons
Clover	From $14.95	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	Medium	Retailers needing sleek all-in-one POS	Flexible hardware options; easy to use; strong app integrations	Contracts with First Data; pricing increases with features
Shopify POS	$0–$89/location	2.4%–2.7%	Yes	Medium	Ecommerce sellers with retail presence	Unified ecommerce and retail tools; great for omnichannel selling	Requires Shopify subscription; Pro plan adds cost per location
Toast POS	From $0	2.49% + 15¢	Yes	Low (for retail)	Restaurants, cafes, food trucks	Restaurant-specific tools; KDS included; strong offline reliability	Contracts may be required; not for retailers
Lightspeed	From $89	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	High	Inventory-heavy retailers	Powerful inventory features; multi-store support; loyalty tools	Steeper learning curve; higher starting cost
Vend (Lightspeed)	From $69	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	Medium	Mid-size retailers	Easy to use; works offline; great ecommerce integrations	Fewer updates after Lightspeed acquisition
PayPal Zettle	$0	2.29% per transaction	Limited	Low	Mobile vendors and small pop-up shops	No monthly fee; integrates with PayPal; simple UI	Limited inventory and reporting features
SumUp	$0	2.75% per transaction	No	Low	Solopreneurs and mobile sellers	Low-cost; fast setup; portable hardware	Lacks advanced inventory; minimal analytics
Helcim	$0	Interchange + 0.3% + 8¢	Yes	Medium	High-volume or service businesses	Transparent pricing; CRM and invoicing tools; great support

Why Retailers Look for Square POS Alternatives

Square is a great starting point for small businesses. It’s easy to set up, has no monthly fee, and works right out of the box. But once you start growing—or if you have more complex needs—it can start to feel limiting.

Here’s where Square starts to fall short for many retailers:

• Square’s fixed transaction fees can eat into profit, especially for high-volume or low-ticket businesses.
• The inventory features are basic and don’t scale well for multi-location stores or detailed product tracking.
• You’re locked into Square’s ecosystem, with little flexibility on hardware or payment processors.
• Customer support is inconsistent, with long wait times and limited troubleshooting help.
• The offline mode is unreliable for businesses that depend on mobile or remote setups.
• There’s no support for advanced retail workflows like wholesale pricing, multi-store syncing, or complex staff roles.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s probably time to look for something that fits your business better.

What Makes a Better POS System Than Square?

Not every POS is built the same. When you outgrow Square or realize it’s holding your business back, don’t just jump to the next tool with fancy marketing. You need to match features to how you actually run your business.

Here’s what I always look for when comparing better POS systems:

• Go for systems with clear pricing—either flat rates or transparent interchange-plus models.
• Make sure the inventory tools can handle product variants, automatic stock alerts, and bulk imports.
• Pick a POS that works offline and keeps your business running even if the Wi-Fi goes down.
• Avoid platforms that force you to buy or lease their hardware.
• Choose a provider that offers responsive customer support by phone or live chat, not just email.
• Look for integrations with the tools you already use—Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero, WooCommerce, etc.
• Make sure it can scale with your business across multiple staff, locations, and product types.

The right POS should save you time, reduce stress, and give you more control—not lock you into a system you’ve outgrown.

1. Clover POS

Clover is a popular choice for businesses that want sleek hardware and an all-in-one system without being completely locked in.

Why it works:

• Clover gives you flexible hardware options for different business sizes.
• The system supports many merchant processors and isn’t fully locked in.
• The interface is easy to use and requires minimal training.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Starter	$14.95	2.6% + 10¢
Standard	$44.95	2.3% + 10¢
Advanced	$54.95+	Custom

Pros:

• Clover offers bundles with hardware and software included.
• The user interface helps train new staff quickly.
• You can use third-party apps to extend its features.
• The system works for both retail stores and restaurants.

Cons:

• First Data contracts can lock you in with unfavorable terms.
• Monthly fees can rise quickly if you need multiple features.

Who it’s best for:
Retailers that want sleek, ready-to-go hardware and a plug-and-play POS system.

2. Shopify POS

If you already use Shopify for your online store, this is an easy add-on. Everything syncs automatically, and you can manage both online and in-store inventory from the same backend.

Why it works:

• Shopify lets you run retail and ecommerce from one dashboard.
• You can add tools for loyalty, shipping, and returns easily.
• Shopify’s POS works well with hardware like barcode scanners and printers.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
POS Lite	Free with Shopify plan	2.7% (in-person)
POS Pro	$89/location/month	2.4% + 0¢ (Advanced Shopify plan)

Pros:

• The POS integrates your store’s inventory in real time.
• You can offer multiple checkout options like local pickup.
• Shopify supports staff roles, custom receipts, and tipping.

Cons:

• You need a Shopify ecommerce plan to use the POS.
• Fees can add up if you operate in multiple locations.

Who it’s best for:
Online-first retailers opening brick-and-mortar stores or pop-up shops.

3. Toast POS (for Restaurants)

Toast is a restaurant-first POS system. It’s not designed for retail, but if you run a food business and you’re using Square, this will be a big upgrade.

Why it works:

• Toast supports tableside ordering, tips, and receipts in one system.
• You can run the system offline without losing orders.
• Toast includes kitchen display screens and delivery tools.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Starter Kit	From $0	2.49% + 15¢
Essentials	From $69	Custom
Custom Plan	Varies	Custom

Pros:

• Toast gives you tools built specifically for restaurant workflows.
• The plans often include free or discounted hardware.
• Support and onboarding are tailored to hospitality businesses.

Cons:

• You may need to sign a long-term contract to get hardware discounts.
• Hardware and features can get expensive over time.

Who it’s best for:
Food trucks, cafes, and full-service restaurants looking for something built specifically for the hospitality space.

4. Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed is one of the most powerful retail POS systems around. It’s great for inventory-heavy businesses with multiple locations or complex product catalogs.

Why it works:

• Lightspeed supports deep inventory tracking with variants and bundles.
• The system helps manage suppliers and automate reordering.
• You can link online and in-store stock from the same dashboard.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Lean	$89	2.6% + 10¢
Standard	$149	2.6% + 10¢
Advanced	$269	Custom

Pros:

• Lightspeed offers excellent multi-store management tools.
• You can customize reports to track sales, margins, and stock levels.
• The platform includes loyalty, CRM, and ecommerce tools.

Cons:

• New users may face a learning curve with all the features.
• Higher-tier plans come with a higher monthly cost.

Who it’s best for:
Retail stores with complex inventory needs or multiple locations.

5. Vend (Now Lightspeed)

Vend is part of Lightspeed now, but still stands out for its clean UI and great offline functionality. It’s a solid pick for small to mid-sized retailers.

Why it works:

• Vend works across devices including iPads, Macs, and PCs.
• You can run your POS offline without losing sales data.
• It integrates well with ecommerce and accounting tools.

Pros:

• Vend offers a simple interface that’s easy for staff to learn.
• You can connect Vend to Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero.
• The system supports promotions, returns, and customer profiles.

Cons:

• Vend lacks some of the advanced features found in Lightspeed Retail.
• The Lightspeed merger has slowed new feature releases.

Who it’s best for:
Mid-size retailers that want a straightforward POS with strong inventory features.

6. PayPal Zettle

Zettle is a simple, cost-effective POS with minimal fees and no monthly subscription. It’s great for mobile sellers or anyone running a side hustle.

Why it works:

• Zettle makes it easy to accept cards and contactless payments.
• You can set up the POS within minutes using just a smartphone.
• The platform connects directly to PayPal for fast deposits.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Free	$0	2.29% per transaction

Pros:

• Zettle eliminates monthly fees and long-term contracts.
• You can process sales from anywhere using their mobile reader.
• The interface is clean and easy to navigate.

Cons:

• Zettle lacks robust inventory and reporting features.
• It doesn’t scale well for multi-location or growing businesses.

Who it’s best for:
Pop-up shops, market vendors, and low-volume businesses.

7. SumUp

SumUp is a rising player, especially in the UK and Europe. It’s affordable, sleek, and simple to use.

Why it works:

• SumUp keeps the hardware small and mobile-friendly.
• It offers an app-based POS with no setup fees.
• You can start accepting payments right away with their card reader.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Free	$0	2.75%

Pros:

• SumUp supports basic sales and card payments at low cost.
• You can use it with a smartphone or tablet.
• The app is beginner-friendly and fast to learn.

Cons:

• SumUp offers limited inventory and analytics features.
• You won’t get full POS features unless you upgrade hardware.

Who it’s best for:
Solo entrepreneurs or mobile businesses focused on card payments.

8. Helcim

Helcim is a very merchant-friendly POS with an interchange-plus pricing model. It’s transparent, scalable, and offers fair rates.

Why it works:

• Helcim charges based on real interchange rates, not flat fees.
• The POS includes tools like invoicing, recurring billing, and CRM.
• It works for both product and service-based businesses.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Fee	Transaction Fees
Free	$0	Interchange + 0.3% + 8¢

Pros:

• Helcim offers fair pricing for high-volume businesses.
• You can manage inventory, customers, and payments in one place.
• Their customer support is helpful and based in North America.

Cons:

• The platform may not suit cash-heavy retail environments.
• There’s no built-in ecommerce store—only payment links.

Who it’s best for:
Service businesses, high-volume merchants, and anyone frustrated by Square’s flat fees.

Final Thoughts

Square is still a great POS for many small businesses—but it’s not the only game in town.

Whether you’re looking for better inventory tools, lower fees, or a POS that grows with you, there are better options out there.

Take the time to map out your business needs. Are you mostly online? Are you selling in person at events? Do you need something simple or something with deep functionality?

Here’s a quick table to help you decide:

POS	Best For	Monthly Fee	Processing Fee	Offline Mode	Inventory Strength
Clover	All-in-one hardware	From $14.95	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	Medium
Shopify POS	Ecommerce sellers	$0-$89	2.4%–2.7%	Yes	Medium
Toast	Restaurants	From $0	2.49% + 15¢	Yes	Low (for retail)
Lightspeed	Retailers with large inventory	$89+	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	High
Vend	Simplicity + offline mode	From $69	2.6% + 10¢	Yes	Medium
Zettle	Mobile businesses	Free	2.29%	Limited	Low
SumUp	Solopreneurs	Free	2.75%	No	Low
Helcim	High volume stores	Free	Interchange+	Yes	Medium

Summary View: Ideal POS by Business Type

Business Type	Recommended POS
Retail with large inventory	Lightspeed or Vend
Ecommerce with physical store	Shopify POS
Mobile vendors	Zettle or SumUp
Restaurants & hospitality	Toast POS
Service-based business	Helcim
All-in-one retail setup	Clover

Your POS should work for you—not the other way around.