5 Best Multichannel POS Systems for 2022

With the rise in popularity of POS systems and cryptocurrency, these two trends have gone hand-in-hand. Currently, there are 11 separate types of technology used across all channels within a point-of-sale system. The need for a single unified payment experience has grown as consumers look to make purchases on mobile devices or do not carry cash with them at all times…

The “best pos software” is the best way to manage your business with a POS system. Here are 5 of the best multichannel POS systems for 2022.

Businesses may use a multichannel POS system to sell in-store, online, and on the move, all from one centralized software. The multichannel POS software listed in this article all come with unified inventory, customer, and order management features. For around $100 per month, the finest solutions are ones that link to many internet sales channels and other company management tools.

The following are the top multichannel POS systems for 2022:

• Shopify is the best multichannel POS for ecommerce companies wishing to grow into brick-and-mortar sales.
• Retail at Lightspeed is ideal for shops with a lot of inventory and several locations.
• Toast: Integrated online ordering and delivery options are best for full-service restaurants.
• Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on: Ideal for busy restaurants and food-related businesses such as supermarkets.
• Square is the best free multichannel point-of-sale system for small businesses and cafés.

Comparing the Best Multichannel POS Systems

Are you looking for something unique? Our overview of the finest POS systems has additional possibilities.

Shopify is the best multichannel point-of-sale system for small businesses.

Shopify

4.80 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• For online sales, a robust and user-friendly ecommerce platform is required.
• Has a free point-of-sale option
• Features for multichannel sales that are sophisticated
• Connects to a variety of sales channels (e.g., Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram)

What Isn’t There

• A convoluted pricing structure (POS and ecommerce apps are purchased separately)
• Its free POS app has limited functionality.
• Only Shopify POS Pro customers have access to cash tracking.
• Additional registers are costly (above $50).

Pricing on Shopify

• Basic Shopify ($29), Shopify ($79), and Advanced Shopify ($299) are monthly subscriptions for ecommerce software.
• Hardware prices start at $839 for the Startup Bundle (which includes an iPad stand, card reader, receipt printer, cash drawer, and barcode scanner), $219 for the Retail Bundle, and $49 for mobile card readers.
• Fees for processing:
  • Shopify’s most basic plan charges 2.9 percent plus 30 cents for online purchases and 2.7 percent for in-person transactions.
  • Shopify’s strategy is to charge 2.6 percent plus 30 cents for online sales and 2.5 percent for in-person transactions.
  • 2.4 percent + 30 cents for online sales and 2.4 percent for in-person transactions with Shopify’s advanced plan.

*POS Lite is included with Shopify Ecommerce subscriptions, whereas POS Pro costs $89 per month or is free for corporate customers on the Shopify Plus plan ($2,000 per month).

Because it combines a sophisticated online selling platform with a user-friendly and economical POS system, Shopify POS is the finest overall multichannel POS for small companies. Retail and ecommerce transactions, inventory management, payment processing, personnel management, marketing and promotions, cloud reporting, and customer relationship management are all possible with the program.

Shopify’s integrated sales channels, shipping tools, and online store builder earned it perfect scores in our evaluation of its Features of Multichannel. It even includes marketing tools for growing your customer base in its basic subscription, which you won’t see from top competitors like Square, Lightspeed, and Toast. Shopify also earned points for its User-Friendliness, contactless payments feature, and online ordering and delivery capabilities. However, the lack of customizable reporting tools and the high costs of adding additional registers under Shopify Pro prevented Shopify from earning a perfect score.

Start-up From $839, this bundle includes an iPad stand, card reader, receipt printer, cash drawer, and barcode scanner. (Image courtesy of Shopify)

The Retail Bundle (from $219) includes an iPad stand as well as a chip and EMV card reader. (Image courtesy of Shopify)

The Star mPOP ($499) is both a receipt printer and a cash drawer. (Image courtesy of Shopify)

Chip, swipe, and tap payment modes are all supported by Shopify card readers. (Because chip and swipe readers are now in short supply, POS packages are being supplied with a tap and chip card reader instead.) (Image courtesy of Shopify)

Explore Shopify’s hardware store for a comprehensive array of hardware choices and accessories.

Standout Features of Shopify

• Shopify POS is a touch-screen tool that integrates with ecommerce and offers a consolidated back office solution. You may switch between different live checkout screens while creating custom payment kinds, selling and redeeming gift cards, managing shop credit, and creating custom payment types.
• Shopify POS Pro has omnichannel selling features, smart inventory management (demand forecasting, sale suggestions, and inventory analysis), cash tracking and sales reports, and unlimited staff logins with custom permission settings and commission tracking, as well as unlimited staff logins with custom permission settings and commission tracking.
• Ecommerce platform: Use a drag-and-drop shop builder to create an online store with mobile-responsive themes, HTML and CSS edit access, SEO tools, and built-in secure payment processing.
• Order and inventory management: Shopify POS synchronizes all order, customer, inventory, and sales data across all channels. Use the built-in order management and shipping tools. Reporting alternatives, on the other hand, are restricted.
• Sell on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, among other sites. You may also ship and distribute locally using the app.
• Building customer profiles with purchase histories, automating abandoned cart recovery and other email campaigns, and creating targeted Instagram, Facebook, and Google Shopping advertising are all examples of marketing and customer management.
• Customer service: Shopify POS offers email, chat, and phone assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Shopify Isn’t Providing

Outside of individual PIN logins, Shopify POS lacks native personnel management features for scheduling and has limited staff management capabilities. Staff reports and time-tracking are included in all of the other POS systems we looked at. Because the checkout page on Shopify isn’t customizable, it’s difficult to add personalized messages.

Shopify has yet to provide a native functionality for creating online orders that can be picked up in-store, however it does support connections with a variety of shop pickup applications as of this writing. Consider utilizing Square if this functionality is critical to your company.

Retail at Lightspeed: Best for Retailers With Multiple Locations & Robust Inventories

Retail at Lightspeed

4.55 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• centralized management tools that are robust
• Payment processing flexibility with built-in and integrated options
• Ecommerce platform built from the ground up
• Inventory management using a granular matrix

What Isn’t There

• For small firms, it is too expensive.
• The system is complex, and the learning curve is severe.
• There isn’t a built-in tool for local distribution (only via third-party integration)
• There isn’t any Instagram selling integration.

Retail at Lightspeed Pricing

• Basic ($79), Standard ($139), Advanced ($239), and Enterprise ($239) are monthly software subscription tiers for high-volume businesses (quote-based)
• Request a price for the company’s iPad or desktop hardware kit. Lightspeed’s retail hardware packages start at $500 from third-party suppliers. Card readers and other accessories must be purchased individually.
• Fees for processing:
  • Payments via chip, touch, and swipe: 2.6 percent + 10 cents per transaction
  • 2.6 percent + 30 cents per transaction for keyed-in payments
  • Businesses processing more than $250,000 are eligible for a volume discount.

*Pricing for subscriptions is dependent on a monthly payment option and Lightspeed Payments sign-up.

Retail at Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system that’s functional across multiple retail locations and online. It is recommended for large businesses that have several brick-and-mortar locations and high inventory volumes, as well as specialty shops and boutiques that require detailed inventory tracking solutions. It also has an ecommerce platform that allows you to sell your products across your website and social media.

It also distinguishes itself from the other multichannel POS systems on our list by offering a range of integrated payment alternatives, allowing you to search around for the cheapest rates and save transaction costs. Lightspeed is also appropriate for high-risk organizations such as CBD shops because of its flexibility.

Retail at Lightspeed’s web store builder and online ordering tools are what earned it a high score in our evaluation of Features of Multichannel. However, unlike Shopify, it fell short on the number of integrated sales channels and shipping tools. You’ll also need to upgrade to a standard plan to use Lightspeed’s marketing tools. On the upside, Retail at Lightspeed earned a perfect score for its inventory management, employee management, and cloud reporting capabilities, which is why it is second to Shopify in this review.

An iPad stand, Bluetooth scanner, LAN receipt printer, and cash drawer are included in the iPad hardware package. (Photo courtesy of Lightspeed)

A cash drawer, USB printer, and USB scanner are included in Lightspeed’s desktop hardware package. (Photo courtesy of Lightspeed)

Choose between Lightspeed’s Mobile Tap for contactless payments and Wise POS E, a touch-screen mobile terminal for in-store and curbside transactions. (Photo courtesy of Lightspeed)

Retail at Lightspeed Standout Features

• Web and app-based POS: Lightspeed is the only POS on our list that allows you to register and check out using your browser. You may also use the iPad app provided by Lightspeed. The cloud-based system updates in real time, allowing you to view reports and data from anywhere.
• Lightspeed e-commerce For centralized reporting, ecommerce data is synced with POS data. Over 50 themes are included, as well as marketing, CRM, and SEO functions, as well as integrated shipping and order administration systems. It doesn’t provide local delivery, however this can be readily fixed by connecting with a third-party software.
• Lightspeed’s inventory management is top-notch, with the ability to bulk upload up to 10,000 SKUs at once. You may also use an integrated product catalog (Lightspeed has over 3,000), establish low stock alerts, and account for product variations, bundles, and unit pricing to handle purchase orders.
• Analytics: With over 40 built-in reports, Lightspeed Analytics is a comprehensive but user-friendly reporting tool. It also includes customizable report builders, graph and other visualization choices, and how-to tips for using each report to develop your company.
• Lightspeed Accounting’s management features include automated updates for QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage. The software also measures KPIs for staff performance and interfaces with over 45 additional third-party applications, including scheduling, customer support, and subscription management systems.
• Lightspeed provides you with the ability to sell on Amazon and Facebook. Your listings can only be shared on Instagram.
• Customer service is accessible by phone, chat, and email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Retail at Lightspeed Is Missing

Lightspeed’s most visible flaw is its inability to sell things through Lightspeed Ecommerce on Instagram. This is strange since you can display your items on Instagram and sell them on Facebook, but not both. Consider Shopify if you need this functionality.

Otherwise, the software’s biggest flaw is that it can be a pricey solution if you opt for the plans that have the analytics add-on (which is one of its best features). Finally, because Retail at Lightspeed offers highly granular control options, it’s also much more complicated to use than a straightforward inventory solution. Square offers the simplest POS interface on this list.

Toast: Best for Full-service Restaurants Needing Integrated Online Ordering & Delivery

Toast

4.25 OUT OF 5 OUT OF 5 OUT OF 5 OUT OF 5 OUT OF 5 OUT OF

What We Enjoy

• Features peculiar to the restaurant in detail
• Online ordering and delivery are built-in.
• Payroll, reporting, and inventory management are all centralized.
• Customizable and straightforward to use
• For robust offline functionality, a hybrid configuration is used.

What Isn’t There

• Add-ons may be costly—digital ordering software might cost anything from $75 to $175 per month.
• Because software and hardware are sold together, adding extra terminals is costly.
• Pay-as-you-go contracts bind you to a long-term commitment.
• For Loyalty and Gift Card add-ons, there is a necessary remote installation cost.
• Tools for creating stores are limited.

Pricing for Toast

• Starter (POS software monthly subscription plans:* Starter ($0 to pay as you go), Essentials ($165), Growth ($272) to pay as you go), Essentials ($165), and Growth ($272) are the monthly subscription tiers for POS software.
• Digital Ordering software ($75 per month), E-Gift Cards ($25 per month) are two Toast Now add-ons.
• Pay-as-you-go Starter kit (Cost of hardware: Pay-as-you-go Starter kit ($0), Standard paid plan Starter kit (from $799), additional terminals ($599 + $45 per month), ToastGo mobile handheld POS ($389 + $50 per month)), Standard paid plan Starter kit (from $799), extra terminals ($599 + $45 per month), ToastGo mobile handheld POS ($389 + $50 per month)
• Fees for processing:
  • Plan with a pay-as-you-go option rate of the platform: For both card-present and card-not-present transactions, the fee is 2.99 percent + 15 cents per transaction. For plans with add-ons, an additional 0.40 percent per transaction is charged.
  • 3.5 percent + 15 cents for card-not-present purchases, 2.49 percent + 15 cents for card-present transactions

*When ordering a beginning kit with a basic paid plan, a POS subscription costs $69 per month.

Toast is a cloud-based restaurant POS system that includes facilities for online ordering and delivery, self-order kiosks, classic POS terminals, and tableside ordering through handheld mobile terminals. Its basic subscription also includes an inventory and menu management system comparable to those of other restaurant POS behemoths such as Lightspeed. Toast software is adaptable, and customers say the system is simple to use. It also has a powerful back-office and team management system.

Toast POS is ranked third in this study due to its limited connected sales channels and shop creation capabilities, despite having a robust POS feature set. CRM (which is available as a commercial add-on), marketing, and personnel administration are among the other areas where it falls short (basic settings only). The cost of proprietary gear included in every subscription may soon add up, and although it does provide a pay-as-you-go option, it also binds you to a long-term commitment. On the plus side, Toast POS received high marks for inventory management, cloud reporting, and online ordering, which are all critical services for restaurants.

Toast POS Flex, Toast Tap, and router are included in the Toast start-up package bundle. (Image courtesy of Toast)

Toast software and Toast Tap are included with the Toast Flex Terminal. (Image courtesy of Toast)

ToastGo is Toast’s tableside ordering and payment option on a portable device. (Image courtesy of Toast)

Characteristics of Toast

• Toast is an all-in-one system that includes POS, payment processing, payroll, team administration, online ordering and delivery, and restaurant management features (such as menu creation and dish pricing).
• Menu management, table mapping and order tracking, tableside ordering, payment and customer feedback gathering features are all included in the restaurant POS. Digital kitchen screens that automatically indicate dine-in, takeaway, and delivery orders are among the back-of-house management capabilities.
• ToastNow, Toast’s software solution for growing your company into multichannel sales, is a digital ordering solution. You may create an online ordering page, connect it to the Toast TakeOut mobile app, and handle local or third-party deliveries. You may also improve your internet visibility by using the built-in email marketing tools.
• Delivery management: While most restaurant POS systems integrate with third-party delivery providers, Toast offers a native system with choices for controlling your own local delivery system. You may avoid the costs connected with delivery applications this way.
• Hardware that can survive the demands of a busy restaurant environment: Toast’s spill-proof hardware is guaranteed to endure the rigors of a busy restaurant environment. It may also take a variety of payment methods, including tap, dip, and swipe.
• Payroll and team management: Toast has its own payroll and staff tracking application that syncs with your POS system and is available as a paid add-on. Time and attendance tracking, overtime monitoring, compliance and labor reporting and insights are all possible with this solution.
• Toast POS allows you to sell on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
• Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, chat, and email.

What’s Gone Wrong With Toast?

Toast POS does not give a free trial, however it does provide a demo. You’ll also need to buy its Android-based devices and utilize the built-in payment processing capabilities. While this makes Toast a simple all-in-one solution, it also means you won’t be able to save money by browsing elsewhere for cheaper deals.

Toast, for example, charges hundreds of dollars to set up extra registers, a significant difference from Square and Shopify, who simply charge for the software. Furthermore, Toast only supports Android smartphones, so if you prefer the iOS operating system, you’re out of luck.

Consider Lightspeed (which also offers a restaurant POS) or Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on if you want payment processing flexibility. Consider Square or Revel if you need an iOS-compatible solution.

Read our in-depth Toast review for additional information on the platform’s restaurant POS capabilities.

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on: Best for Busy Restaurants & High-volume Food-based Retailers

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on

4.13 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Online ordering and delivery are both excellent.
• Inventory management capabilities that are robust
• The basic membership includes loyalty and marketing.
• Built-in payment processing alternatives (Revel Advantage) as well as integrations
• Hybrid configuration with a robust offline capability

What Isn’t There

• A three-year deal has been signed.
• A minimum of two terminals must be purchased.
• One of the most expensive cloud-based restaurant POS systems
• To access social media selling tools and site builders, extra software integration is required.

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on Pricing

• Monthly subscription package for POS software: Custom quotation starting at $99. A three-year commitment is required, with a minimum purchase of two terminals.
• Hardware costs: $674 for a custom quotation including on-site installation.
• Flat-rate transaction fee: A custom charge is calculated depending on the mix of cards used and the amount of sales.

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on is one of the most feature-packed iPad POS systems in the market today but is also among the most expensive. This software’s massive functionality includes detailed ingredient-level inventory management with multiple modification tools, digital ordering, and delivery management. It also provides a customizable system for self-service kiosks, hardware setups, and scale and scanner integrations. All these standout features give you the ability to easily manage high-volume and complex inventory, which makes Revel perfect for businesses like pizzerias and grocery stores.

It edges out Square by a slim margin, landing fourth in our list for including full inventory and marketing features in its baseline software subscription. However, Revel lost points for the limited flexibility of its online ordering platform and the need for additional software integration to access other sales channels. This drives up the cost further on an already expensive POS system. On the other hand, Revel earned perfect scores in our Characteristics and User-Friendliness categories and is one of two POS systems in our list that provides flexible payment options.

iPad stands by Revel (Source: Revel)

Devices for Revel Payments (Source: Revel)

Stand-Alone Kiosk by Revel (Image courtesy of Revel)

Highlights to Look For

• Aside with Revel Advantage, you have the option of using one of Revel’s integrated third-party processors: Worldpay, First Data, TSYS, Chase Paymentech, Heartland, or Elavon.
• SmartPay, which lets you to give clients SMS text-to-pay and QR code scan-to-pay for in-store or phone transactions, has been added to Revel. You may also use pre-authorization to start a bar tab for customers who don’t have a card, award shop credits for returns, and provide invoicing choices for big purchases.
• Order and delivery management: Revel includes the Delivery XT platform, which allows you to manage order flow, dispatch, tracking, and delivery.
• Inventory management: Revel’s default subscription includes ingredient-level inventory management functions as well as several modifier capabilities.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) and loyalty: Revel’s standard subscription offers basic loyalty and rewards capabilities in addition to customer data. You can keep track of client information, purchase history, and awards.
• Revel offers an integrated online ordering platform that you can use to show your menu and receive orders. With complete POS connectivity, Online Ordering XT helps strengthen Revel’s ordering platform, allowing you to sync your customer data and inventory in real time. Through a Kosmos connector, Revel gives you access to Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, and X-Cart shopping carts.
• Online sales channels: Revel’s Joyapp integration allows you to sell on Facebook and Instagram. By integrating with Kosmos, you may now list and sell your items on Amazon.
• Reporting: Revel provides a comprehensive set of configurable reports and analytics.
• Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the online, phone, and email.

What Is Revel Missing?

One of the main issues while analyzing this system is Revel’s not-so-transparent price. While it offers a slew of outstanding capabilities, determining whether Revel is the most cost-effective solution for your company, including determining if the system has more functionality than you’ll ever need, will take some time. It doesn’t help that Revel is relatively expensive compared to our top-ranked alternative, Shopify, at a $99 monthly basic membership, and still needs you to acquire connectors if you want to extend your multichannel sales.

Square is the best free multichannel point-of-sale system for small businesses.

Square

3.90 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Online shop and free POS
• Interface that is simple to use
• Accept money at any location.
• Features like as scheduling and time monitoring are built-in.
• Online ordering, contactless payments, curbside pickup, and on-the-go smartphone sales are all choices.

What Isn’t There

• Native CRM and inventory management features are limited.
• Large businesses may outgrow the platform.
• Issues with account stability
• In the free plan, there are no purchases and no vendor management features.
• Customer service is only available during business hours.

Pricing in Squares

• Monthly subscription levels for POS software: *Free (POS software monthly subscription plans:* Free ($0), Plus ($60), Premium (custom pricing)), Plus ($60), and Premium ($100). (custom pricing)
• Free (Ecommerce monthly subscription plans*: Free ($0), Professional ($12), Performance ($26), Premium ($72)), Professional ($12), Performance ($26), and Premium ($72) are monthly membership levels for ecommerce.
• Cost of hardware:
  • Magstripe card reader (first free, $10 extra), Contactless and Chip card reader ($49).
  • From $169 to $799 at the point of sale
  • Hardware kits range in price from $526 to $1,489
• Fees for processing:
  • A flat cost of 2.6 percent plus 10 cents each transaction is charged.
  • 2.9 percent + 30 cents each transaction in ecommerce
  • 3.5 percent + 15 cents per transaction for keyed-in payments
  • Volume discounts are available for businesses who handle more than $250,000 in credit card purchases.

*For the Square Online Professional plan, a custom domain costs $12 per month.

Find out more about Square’s charges.

Square is arguably the biggest name in mobile payment processing. Square POS is free to use and packs sophisticated features into a very sleek and Interface that is simple to use. In addition, the app lets users create an online store for free to sell items for shipping, pickup, or local delivery.

Square’s Dashboard syncs all data from in-person and online orders.

Square, as a free POS, provides small multichannel companies with all of the critical tools they need to build their client base (inventory sync, pickup, delivery, and shipping choices, as well as social media integration) without the need to pay extra, like Lightspeed and Toast do.

Square POS trails Revel, but it’s certainly not the least in our multichannel POS roundup because it remains the most cost-effective choice for small and startup businesses. However, while it earned a perfect score for pricing, its Features of Multichannel—specifically integrated sales channels and online store building tools—are not as expansive as those of Shopify and Retail at Lightspeed. Revel edged out Square by scoring better with its inventory management and marketing features. Square also does not offer 24/7 customer support, which is crucial for small and growing businesses.

The Square hardware kit includes a range of registers, stands, and rest stands for retail and restaurant POS systems, as well as accessories. (Image courtesy of Square)

The Square Register is a fully integrated POS system that accepts payments through a consumer display. (Image courtesy of Square)

Accept swipe, dip, tap, and contactless payments using the Square Terminal, a touch-screen device. (Image courtesy of Square)

For tap, dip, swipe, and contactless payments, the Square Stand for iPads includes a Square card reader and dock. (Image courtesy of Square)

Scan (magstripe) and contactless Square card readers are available. (Image courtesy of Square)

Characteristics of a Square

• Square POS is a free POS program that includes payment processing, inventory monitoring, offline mode, reporting, and customer administration, as well as feedback collecting.
• Square Online: Your Square account includes free access to Square Online, which allows you to set up an online shop or a checkout page. This account automatically syncs with Square POS, ensuring that you are always up to date on sales and never oversell. A drag-and-drop online store builder, adjustable integrated delivery and pickup options, comprehensive product pages, and linked shoppable Instagram posts are all included in Square Online.
• View sales, inventory, and customer data on the Square Dashboard; access your online shop; handle orders; and manage add-ons/upgrades.
• Order management: Use the built-in shipping, pickup, and local delivery fulfillment options to easily activate and configure them.
• Inventory management: Add goods to your inventory one at a time or use a CSV file to import all data at once. While connected to the internet, you can also check your stock on your mobile device, and the app can be set up to give you daily notifications when an item begins to run low or is already out of stock.
• Square POS provides you with access to a client directory, where you may preserve data and payment details for future transactions. You may also add new customers from the POS screen by entering their phone numbers, email addresses, payment methods, and other information.
• Square POS allows you to sell on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
• Square’s data analytics function allows you to examine a variety of templated sales, inventory, and customer reports. You can quickly check your average sales over a certain time period, the busiest hours, how many of your customers are new or returning, and more.
• Customer service: During business hours, Monday through Friday, you may chat with a live customer service professional.

What Square Isn’t There?

Because Square POS is a free program, it lacks several functionality found in other multichannel POS systems, such as advanced inventory management. The free version of Square POS also lacks barcode creation, profitability reporting, and purchase order management—you’ll have to pay for these applications in the Square App Marketplace. More sophisticated functions are available in Square for Retail Pro POS. Square’s Pro package, on the other hand, is not as sophisticated as Shopify and Lightspeed’s.

If you value customer service, Square may not be the ideal option for you. Square’s customer assistance hours are short, and inadequate customer service accounts for the bulk of negative client ratings. Lightspeed provides phone assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With our in-depth Square POS review, you can see whether the free platform is the appropriate fit for your company.

How We Selected the Best Multichannel Point-of-Sale Systems

We compared the most popular multichannel POS systems based on what’s important to small businesses, including pricing, Characteristics, multichannel tools, and User-Friendliness. We also took into account our retail and restaurant POS expert’s personal evaluations of each software.

We only examined solutions that are both economical and simple to use for small enterprises, needing no technical knowledge to set up and no time-consuming maintenance procedures. All of the software on this list has native ecommerce or online ordering systems, since a multichannel system is a sort of POS that allows you to sell both online and in person.

Shopify is the finest multichannel POS based on our criteria. According to our multichannel software rating methodology, the program obtained the highest overall grade (4.8 out of 5). To see our complete assessment criteria, click through the categories in the box below.

10% of the overall score

First, we looked at if the software has numerous plan choices and whether extra POS registers are less than $50. Small firms are often seeking for a cost-effective plan that can scale up and down as their requirements vary. We also looked at whether the plans allowed for an infinite number of users, items, or sales turnovers, as well as if there was an integrated payment processing mechanism (and if it is offered for free or for a fee). Another consideration was if it offered cheap packages for high-volume processing.

20% of the overall score

We took into account the fact that every small company has to keep track of goods, manage staff, and take various forms of payment. After that, we looked to see whether its cloud reporting tools are templated or configurable. We also prioritized marketing management solutions, which are critical for multichannel organizations to grow their consumer base.

20% of the overall score

We included customer service hours in our assessment because it is critical for small companies to have an open line of contact with their POS provider. We also assigned points to companies that provide cloud-based POS systems, as well as those who offer touch-screen solutions and those that can work without an internet connection.

20% of the overall score

Finally, we looked at any additional distinguishing characteristics of a POS system, as well as if the software and hardware solutions are cost-effective. We also assessed each system’s popularity to check that it is widely used and evaluated, before awarding points based on our expert’s interactions with the program and the company’s support staff.

*Percentages based on total score

Conclusion

Shopify delivers the most powerful functionality at a reasonable price of all the multichannel POS systems we tested. It combines a well-known, highly rated ecommerce platform with a user-friendly and free point-of-sale software, as well as native social media and online marketplace connections. That’s on top of a single dashboard for managing small and big orders and inventory in real time. Shopify also provides a 90-day free trial to see whether it’s the suitable POS system for your business.

Go to Shopify to learn more.

The “cheapest pos system for small business” is a type of point-of-sale software that allows businesses to manage their cash registers. POS systems are becoming more popular in the retail industry, and 5 best ones will be discussed in this blog.

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