The Reality About POS System Prices, Backed by G2 Knowledge Insights

Buying a point-of-sale (POS) system isn’t so simple as shopping for one other product on your retail or restaurant enterprise. A variety of thought and analysis goes into deciding on the correct PoS software program, {hardware}, and options distinctive to your small business operations. 

While you suppose you will have figured every little thing out, the pricing will shock you. These programs have complicated pricing, protecting the price of software program, {hardware}, customers, transactions, and processing charges. Should you’re not conscious of those price overheads, such surprises can rapidly flip into shocks.

 Let’s take a deep dive into the PoS system and weigh among the finest PoS options available on the market. By the tip, you’ll know what drives their prices, learn how to consider pricing buildings, and confidently negotiate with distributors.

In a grocery retailer, barcode scanning {hardware} is related to expedite billing and replace stock (by means of integration). In a restaurant or a restaurant, the PoS helps to enter meals orders, generate invoices, and file gross sales. Most significantly, it permits the kitchen workers to optimize the order queue. 

It’s one POS system with a number of use instances. Function and {hardware} necessities range based mostly on the use instances, and the pricing follows this variation.

Be aware: Based mostly on G2’s Grid Report, Quickbooks Level of Gross sales ought to ideally be the third software program on the checklist, but it surely has been discontinued. Subsequently, it isn’t on the checklist.

POS system pricing mannequin and prices: What to anticipate

The typical preliminary price of establishing a POS system ranges from $0 to $2000. The PoS software program alone can price you between $0 and $200.  Various factors affect software program pricing for the main distributors available on the market. Let’s test them out.

1. Sq. Level of Sale 

• G2 score: 4.7/5 based mostly on 810 evaluations
• Pricing plan: Free plan + processing charges starting from 2.6% + 10 cents to six% + 30 cents. The Plus plan is $89 per thirty days per location and offers you a reduced processing price. Customized plans can be found on quote with customized processing charges.
• Prime options: Helps contactless, bank card, reward card, and computerized financial institution funds. Provides custom-made checkout and facilitates offline funds.
• Elements influencing pricing: Add-ons comparable to Afterpay, loyalty packages ($25), textual content message advertising, and full-service payrolls include their pricing. 
• Sudden prices: Begins at $15 month-to-month for crafting and monitoring electronic mail advertising campaigns throughout the Sq. POS system. Should you want to take up worker administration, it prices $5 per worker per thirty days. 
• Advantages: Improved stock instruments and experiences, automated buy orders, print barcode labels, and limitless worker time monitoring. 

Sq. additionally gives a complete retail platform, Sq. for Retail. It’s an all-in-one POS resolution for retail manufacturers and gives extra superior options that assist retailers run their companies extra effectively. The free plan is obtainable, and the plus plan prices $89 per thirty days per location. In Sq. for Retail, you get superior stock instruments and the power to print barcode labels, amongst different issues. 

Insights on Sq. Level of Sale based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 24 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for Sq. Level of Sale between September 6, 2024, and February 14, 2025.

• Pricing: 16.67% of customers appreciated Sq. Level of Sale’s pricing, typically highlighting its affordability and cost-effectiveness. In distinction, 4.17% of reviewers had been dissatisfied, with issues primarily revolving round excessive prices or sudden charges.
• Who makes use of it? Sq. Level of Sale is extensively adopted by companies of varied sizes, with small companies making up nearly all of customers. Practically 45.83% of reviewers come from corporations with 2-10 staff, whereas 29.17% are solo entrepreneurs. Mid-sized companies additionally discover worth within the platform, with 16.67% of customers from corporations with 11-50 staff. A smaller proportion of customers come from bigger organizations, with 4.17% every representing companies within the 51-200 and 201-500 worker vary.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: Sq. Level of Sale’s strongest side is its ease of use, with 45.83% of reviewers praising its intuitive and user-friendly interface. Efficiency is one other appreciated issue, with 20.83% of customers noting its pace, effectivity, and clean operation. Whereas reliability is talked about much less incessantly, 4.17% of customers particularly commend its stability and dependability.

General, Sq. Level of Gross sales comes at a low entry price, however there are processing costs and separate prices for extra options. If we examine it with the common PoS software program price, it provides a aggressive entry charge.

2. Shopify POS

• G2 score: 4.4/5 based mostly on 322 evaluations.
• Pricing plan: $5 per thirty days starter plan for promoting on socials and a $89 per thirty days retail plan + Cost processing price ranging from 2.4%-5% plus 10-30 cents per transaction.$0.There are additionally superior plans starting from ~$25-$349 per thirty days with an extra price of ~$80 per location. There are additionally reductions on annual funds alongside a 3-day free trial.
• Prime options: Omnichannel promoting, sensible stock administration, reporting and analytics, and extra funds.
• Elements influencing pricing: Further options like further stock areas, precedence assist, further workers accounts, and checkout capability affect the whole price of the software program.
• Sudden prices: These are prices of the POS terminal, money reader, receipt printer, or barcode scanner. Nonetheless, they rely upon if and the way you select to make use of them. 

Insights on Shopify POS based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 19 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for Shopify POS between March 3, 2024, and February 21, 2025.

• Pricing: 5.26% of customers appreciated the affordability, whereas 10.53% expressed dissatisfaction, typically citing issues about excessive prices and the pricing construction.
• Who makes use of it? Shopify POS is a go-to selection for small and mid-sized companies, with 47.37% of customers coming from corporations with 11-50 staff. One other 36.84% come from small companies with 2-10 staff, and mid-sized corporations (51-200 staff) make up 10.53% of customers. Lastly, round 5.26% are solo entrepreneurs who additionally profit from the platform.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: 26.32% of reviewers discover it easy to make use of, highlighting its intuitive structure and hassle-free navigation. 21.05% point out that it is quick and dependable, whereas one other 15.79% reward its function set, citing integrations, customization choices, and helpful functionalities that improve their expertise.

Shopify POS software program gives a comparatively cheap base plan. The medium and higher-level plans additionally examine fairly to the common POS software program pricing.

3. SpotOn

• G2 score: 4.4/5 based mostly on 125 evaluations
• Pricing plan: Subscription-based plans for eating places vary from $0 to $135, together with a customized plan with extra options and a customized processing price. Small companies also can select between a terminal machine and a terminal machine plus an internet site plan at $25 per thirty days and $90 per thirty days, respectively. Carries the identical processing charges as restaurant plans. Consists of an extra $200 and $200+ setup price of $175, respectively.
• Prime options: Inexpensive {hardware} add-ons for in-person promoting and computerized offline performance with out an web connection. 
• Elements influencing pricing: {Hardware}, on-line ordering and supply, worker administration, visitor engagement, and reservations. 
• Sudden prices: There’s clear pricing, and the corporate avoids hiding charges. Transaction charges apply, usually relying on the fee technique. For add-ons, you could pay further. 
• Advantages: Versatile {hardware}, native fee platform with auto-offline performance

Insights on SpotOn based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 48 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for SpotOn between November 7, 2024, and March 1, 2025.

• Pricing: 4.17% of customers appreciated the pricing, mentioning affordability or worth, whereas 2.08% expressed dissatisfaction, typically citing issues about price or pricing construction.
• Who makes use of it? SpotOn is very well-liked with small and mid-sized groups. 16.67% of customers come from small companies (2-10 staff), whereas 43.75% fall into the 11-50 worker vary, making it the biggest group. Mid-sized corporations (51-200 staff) account for 33.33% of customers. Bigger organizations aren’t ignored both, with 4.17% from 201-500 staff and a couple of.08% from 501-1000 staff discovering worth within the platform.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: SpotOn makes a robust impression with its ease of use, as 29.17% of customers discover it easy and intuitive to work with. Efficiency is one other space the place it delivers, with 25% appreciating its responsiveness and effectivity. Whereas fewer customers explicitly point out reliability, 2.08% acknowledge its stability in on a regular basis operations.

SpotOn is a bit of bit on the premium price aspect of POS software program. Nonetheless, it does provide a free plan restricted to eating places.

4. Heartland Retail

• G2 score: 3.1/5 based mostly on 5 evaluations.
• Pricing plan: Subscription-based plan beginning at $89 month-to-month or $80 per thirty days on a yearly plan per station. Funds and payroll price further. A free trial of Heartland Retail can also be out there.
• Prime options: Customizable reporting, adaptable menu administration with on-the-fly performance, and cellular fee system.
• Elements influencing pricing: {Hardware} prices vary from $195 to $1895. Integrations and add-ons come at an additional price. 
• Sudden prices: Interchange processing prices, service and regulatory mandates, and value-added providers (reward playing cards, instantaneous deposits, and so forth.) add to further charges.
• Advantages: It gives an intuitive and customizable UI whereas facilitating simplified transactions with built-in fee choices.

Insights on Heartland Retail based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 198 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for Heartland Retail between February 26, 2018, and August 28, 2024.

• Pricing: 1.01% of customers had constructive suggestions on Heartland Retail’s pricing, highlighting affordability or worth, whereas 4.55% voiced issues, typically pointing to excessive prices or the pricing construction.
• Who makes use of it? The biggest group of customers for Heartland Retail comes from corporations with 11-50 staff, making up 37.37% of its person base. Small companies with 2-10 staff observe carefully behind at 29.29%, whereas 22.73% of customers come from mid-sized corporations with 51-200 staff. Bigger organizations are additionally represented, with 3.03% every from companies with 201-500 and 501-1000 staff, exhibiting the platform’s adaptability throughout totally different firm sizes.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: 57.07% of customers recognize the instruments’s intuitive interface and simple performance. 17.68% of reviewers point out efficiency, noting its effectivity and responsiveness in every day operations. Reliability additionally will get a nod, with 3.03% of customers mentioning its stability and dependability.

The price of Heartland Retail is a bit of bit larger than common retail POS software program pricing.

5. Stripe Terminal

• G2 score: 4.4/5 based mostly on 15 evaluations.
• Pricing plan: “Consists of transaction charges for each on-line and offline funds. Stripe’s on-line fee charges are 2.9% + 30 cents per accomplished cost. In-person funds are at 2.7% + 5 cents per transaction. There are {hardware} prices as well as. 
• Prime options: No month-to-month software program charges or termination charges, 24/7 chat assist, and assist for greater than 135 currencies.
• Elements influencing pricing: Customized area, {hardware}, and fee processing charges.
• Sudden prices: There are no hidden prices related to its commonplace pricing mannequin, however Stripe has different add-ons, comparable to Stripe Billing, Stripe Join, and Stripe Radar, that add to the prices. Furthermore, further charges is likely to be charged for worldwide playing cards and forex conversions. 
• Advantages: Fully customizable with a software program growth package, gives Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV)-certified card readers, and offers aggressive pricing on transaction charges.

Insights on Stripe Terminal based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 15 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for Stripe Terminal between November 23, 2019, and August 11, 2022.

• Pricing: The pricing appears to divide opinions evenly — 6.67% of customers point out it positively, whereas one other 6.67% spotlight it as a disadvantage. Some discover it cheap, whereas others really feel it might be higher.
• Who makes use of it? Stripe Terminal has a noticeable presence amongst small companies, with most evaluations from corporations with 2-10 staff (46.67%) and 11-50 staff (26.67%). Bigger organizations additionally use it, as 13.33% of evaluations come from corporations with 1001-5000 staff, whereas 13.33% are from solo customers.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: Person suggestions highlights ease of use as a key energy, with 46.67% of evaluations mentioning its simple interface and seamless performance.

General, Stripe Terminal might not be a complete POS. Nonetheless, it does function free software program that saves cash. The {hardware} can also be cheaper, beginning at simply $59.  Stripe Terminal is on the extra reasonably priced aspect of the spectrum in comparison with the common price of POS software program. 

6. ConnectPOS

• G2 score: 4.8/5 based mostly on 19 evaluations.
• Pricing plan: Subscription-based plans price between $39 and $89. There’s additionally an possibility for an enterprise plan. You possibly can increase a customized quote to get extra particulars on enterprise pricing. 
• Prime options: Actual-time synchronization, availability of offline mode, customizable choices, and information safety. 
• Elements influencing pricing: Add-on options comparable to forex converters and a number of checkout currencies can affect ConnectPOS pricing.  Loyalty packages and workers administration options might be factored in as properly.
• Sudden prices: It gives clear pricing, however customization comes at an additional price.
• Advantages: Straightforward {hardware} setup, assist for a number of fee choices, and availability of strong reporting instruments.

Insights on ConnectPOS based mostly on G2 evaluations:

These insights are based mostly on 15 evaluations submitted by the G2 person group for ConnectPOS between March 26, 2024, and February 20, 2025. ​

• Pricing: Whereas particular pricing particulars aren’t extensively mentioned within the evaluations, 20% of customers really feel there’s room for enchancment in price, with some mentioning {that a} cheaper price or decreased renewal charges would improve the worth.
• Who makes use of it? ConnectPOS is a well-liked selection for small companies, with 73.33% of customers coming from corporations with 2-10 staff. It additionally sees adoption amongst rising groups, as 13.33% of customers work in organizations with 11-50 staff. Whereas most customers come from smaller corporations, the platform additionally serves mid-sized companies (51-200 staff) and bigger organizations (201-500 staff), every making up 6.67% of the person base.
• Ease of use, efficiency, and reliability: 13.33% of ConnectPOS customers say that the platform is simple to make use of. Efficiency stands out probably the most, with 40.00% of reviewers praising its pace and effectivity. Whereas reliability isn’t particularly talked about within the evaluations, the sturdy efficiency suggestions means that customers typically discover the system reliable.

The ConnectPOS software program is cost-effective when in comparison with the common price of a POS system. 

Join with the high POS distributors available on the market and enter negotiations confidently.