Quick answer
For most small shops and pop-up sellers, Square POS is the easiest start: the app has no monthly fee on Square Free, and an in-person $30 card sale costs $0.93 in fees. SumUp and Clover Starter take $0.88 and $0.88 on the same sale with no monthly software fee. Shopify POS suits sellers who already run a Shopify store, and Lightspeed suits retail stores with large catalogs, but both add a monthly plan.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every POS system here was checked against the same four questions, for a small shop or a seller who works markets and pop-ups.
- Software price What the POS software costs in a month with no sales, at the plan a small seller would start on.
- In-person card rate The percentage and fixed fee on a card that is tapped, dipped or swiped, read from each company's own pricing page for a US seller.
- Hardware What the cheapest card reader costs, and whether it is bought outright or paid for over a contract.
- Inventory and online sync Whether stock counts live in the POS and are shared with an online store, so an item sold at a market is not sold again online.
POS systems for small business at a glance
Each system is shown at the plan a small seller would start on. Rates are in-person card rates; typed-in and online card payments cost more. The source and check date for every number are listed at the end of the page.
What each POS system keeps from a $30 card sale
Card rates are easier to compare on one sale than as percentages. The example is one $30 item sold in person, with the card tapped or dipped on the system's own reader, no tip and no sales tax. On Square Free that sale pays 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Shopify POS $0.88 plus $39 a month Card 2.6% + 10¢ $0.88
- Clover $0.88 no monthly fee on Starter Card 2.6% + 10¢ $0.88
- Lightspeed Retail $0.88 plus $109 a month Card 2.6% + 10¢ $0.88
- SumUp $0.88 free plan Card 2.6% + 10¢ $0.88
- Square POS baseline $0.93 free plan Card 2.6% + 15¢ $0.93
Assumes a $30 item, a US card tapped, dipped or swiped in person, no tip, no tax and standard payout timing. Clover and SumUp are shown on their plans with no monthly software fee. Shopify POS needs a Shopify plan, and Lightspeed is shown on Basic billed monthly. Clover lists its rate as a starting rate.
A monthly plan costs money even in a month with no sales. The table shows how many $30 card sales a month each paid system needs before its plan plus its card fees cost less than Square Free on the same sales. SumUp and Clover Starter have no monthly software fee, so they need no break-even.
Shopify and Lightspeed plans are not priced to save on card fees. They pay for an online store and retail inventory tools, so judge them on those features rather than on the break-even count.
Each POS system in detail
Every system gets the same five lines: price, card fees, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Square's POS app has no monthly fee on Square Free, and the same account runs an online store: in-store and online sales stay synced automatically.
- Price
- No monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- In person, 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free. Typed-in card payments are 3.5% + 15¢, and online payments are 3.3% + 30¢.
- Strong at
- One free account for the shop counter, markets and an online store.
- Best for
- Small shops and pop-up sellers who want to start with no monthly fee.
- Limit
- Its fixed fee per card sale is higher than the others here: 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free against 2.6% + 10¢ on SumUp.
Shopify's own POS app. Shopify POS software is included in every plan and joins in-store and online selling.
- Price
- Needs a Shopify plan: Basic is $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly. POS Pro for shops is $89 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- In-person card rate of 2.6% + 10¢ on Basic with Shopify Payments. Online it is 2.9% + 30¢.
- Strong at
- Selling online and in person from one product catalog.
- Best for
- Sellers whose main shop is online and who also sell at pop-ups and events.
- Limit
- The Shopify plan is due every month, sales or not, and in-store inventory management is part of POS Pro, at $89 a month per location.
A POS system sold with Clover's own devices, from the Clover Go card reader to countertop stations for a shop.
- Price
- Starter with the Go reader is $199 with no monthly fee listed. Essentials is $29.95/mo on top of the reader. The Retail Basic countertop bundle is $16/mo for 36 months or $349.
- Fees per sale
- Card rates as low as 2.6% + 10¢ on Starter and 2.5% + 10¢ on Essentials. Typed-in and online payments are 3.5% + 10¢.
- Strong at
- Countertop hardware for a shop, with card rates from 2.3% + 10¢ on Retail Growth plans.
- Best for
- Shops that want dedicated POS hardware rather than a phone or tablet.
- Limit
- Hardware bought on subscription runs for 36 months, the card rates are listed as starting rates, and item and category management is not included on Starter.
A POS built for retail stores. The Basic plan includes built-in Lightspeed eCommerce.
- Price
- Basic is $109 a month billed monthly, or 89 USD /mo billed annually. Each extra register is 59 USD a month.
- Fees per sale
- Lightspeed Payments card-present rate of 2.6% + 10¢. A chargeback costs $15.
- Strong at
- Retail inventory: products, variants and stock handled across all channels.
- Best for
- Established retail stores with a large catalog.
- Limit
- The highest starting monthly price here, with 1 included register on each plan.
A card reader company with a free plan and no monthly minimums. On POS Lite, stock updated automatically after every sale.
- Price
- The Standard plan is $0 per month. POS Plus is $49/month, and SumUp POS plans start at $99/month.
- Fees per sale
- In person, 2.6% + 10¢. Online or typed-in payments are 3.5% + 15¢.
- Strong at
- A low in-person rate with no monthly fee, and next-day payouts.
- Best for
- Market and pop-up sellers who mainly need to take cards.
- Limit
- Online and typed-in payments cost 3.5% + 15¢, and an online store is not included on Free POS or POS Plus.
Which one fits you
You sell at markets and pop-ups and want no monthly fee.
SumUp or Square
Both have free plans. SumUp takes $0.88 on a $30 card sale and Square $0.93; Square's free plan adds an online store on the same account.
You already sell on a Shopify store and add pop-ups.
Shopify POS
One product list for both channels, and 2.6% + 10¢ on in-person card sales.
You run a shop counter and want dedicated hardware.
Clover
Countertop bundles such as Retail Basic at $16/mo for 36 months or $349, and card rates from 2.3% + 10¢ on Retail Growth plans.
You run a retail store with a large catalog.
Lightspeed Retail
Retail inventory tools and an online store on Basic, for 89 USD /mo billed annually.
You want the cheapest way to take cards in person.
SumUp
$0 per month on Standard, 2.6% + 10¢ in person and no monthly minimums.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not a POS system, is not ranked here and will not be added to the list or the fee example until signup is public and pricing is published.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and will not be added to the comparison until signup is public and pricing is published.
The list covers five POS systems that a US small business can use to take card payments in person: Square, Shopify POS, Clover, Lightspeed Retail and SumUp. No company paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every price and rate was read on the company's own pricing or help page on 2 Oct 2026. Each system's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about POS systems for small business
What is the best POS system for small business?
The best POS system for a small business depends on where it sells. Square POS has a free plan and an online store on the same account. SumUp takes $0.88 on a $30 in-person card sale with no monthly plan. Shopify POS suits sellers with a Shopify store, and Lightspeed suits retail stores with large catalogs.
What is the cheapest POS system for small business?
The cheapest POS system for a small business is one with no monthly software fee. SumUp's Standard plan is $0 per month and Square has no monthly fee on Square Free. On a $30 in-person card sale SumUp takes $0.88 and Square $0.93. The card reader is a one-time cost: $59 for Square's reader, and SumUp readers start from $54.
What is the best POS system for a retail store?
The best POS system for a retail store depends on the size of its catalog. Lightspeed Retail is built for retail inventory and costs 89 USD /mo billed annually on Basic. Clover sells countertop retail bundles such as Retail Basic at $16/mo for 36 months or $349. A small store with a short product list can start on Square, which has no monthly fee on Square Free.
Which POS systems have no monthly fee?
Three POS systems here have a plan with no monthly software fee: Square Free, SumUp Standard and Clover Starter. Clover Starter needs the Clover Go reader at $199. Shopify POS needs a Shopify plan from $39 a month, and Lightspeed Retail Basic is $109 a month billed monthly. Every POS system still charges card fees on each sale.
Can a POS system sync inventory with an online store?
A POS system can keep stock in sync with an online store when both run on the same account. With Square, in-store and online sales stay synced automatically. Shopify POS software is included in every plan and joins in-store and online selling. Lightspeed Retail Basic includes built-in Lightspeed eCommerce. On SumUp, an online store is not included on Free POS or POS Plus.
Is Nation a POS system?
Nation is not a POS system and is not compared here. It is an AI store builder, pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, and its pricing is not announced yet. Nation will not be added to this comparison until signup is public and pricing is published. For in-person card payments, the five systems on this page are the ones to compare.