If you’re searching for the most affordable POS system for a small retail business, you’ve come to the right place.
In Australia, there are (potentially) many retail point of sale systems, which makes selecting one even more difficult because they each have advantages.
Having tested the various options, we’ve selected the best-performing software. We look at pricing, POS features and service and give our honest opinion about them with a retailer’s perspective in mind.
Best retail point of sale (POS) systems for shops in Australia:
| Retail POS system |
Review | Price per licence | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Lightspeed |
$129-$389*/mo | |
 |
Square for Retail |
$0-$109/mo | |
 |
Epos Now |
From $499*/yr | |
 |
Shopify POS |
From $7*/mo | |
 |
Revel Systems |
From US$99*/mo | |
 |
Hike |
$79-$129/mo |
*Excludes GST
Lightspeed Retail – best for inventory-rich shops
Lightspeed Retail is one of the best retail POS systems Australia for a small shop. The interface feels very familiar and user-friendly, but with advanced inventory functions and many features to maximise retail performance. So we think it’s ace for extensive stock systems required in, for example, jewellery, clothing and fashion outlets, book stores and grocery shops.
The POS system is actually a rebranded version of Vend POS, which has been around for a while. When it was acquired by Lightspeed, it was renamed to Lightspeed Retail (X Series). It works on any choice of iPad, Mac, PC and standard POS equipment, but not Android tablets.
Image: MobileTransaction
The Lightspeed Retail POS screen doesn’t look like much until you add all your products.
Lightspeed offers 24/7 online support to all users, and 24/7 phone support only for Plus subscribers. A comprehensive resource section online provides answers to most questions about the software.
Pricing depends on turnover, number of registers and whether you pay monthly or annually. All plans include general POS operations, real-time inventory management, a supplier catalogue, one register licence, basic ecommerce and integrated payments.
Upgrading from Basic to Core gives you full ecommerce features, in-store loyalty features, a mobile scanner app, business tool integrations and advanced reports. The most expensive plan, Plus, adds custom reports, simplified purchase ordering and various customisations suitable for larger retailers.
Price per licence
Basic: $129/mo (annual), $159/mo (monthly)
Core: $229/mo (annual), $279/mo (monthly)
Plus: $329/mo (annual), $389/mo (monthly)
Additional registers: $39 each/mo
Note: Prices exclude GST.
There is no minimum commitment, so it’s possible to cancel any time.
“In my opinion, the newest Lightspeed Retail app is the most carefully-designed retail POS system on the Australian market. The layout makes sense for veteran shop assistants, and it’s not too complicated to navigate.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
A limitation is Lightspeed’s insistence on using its own EFTPOS machines – the software no longer integrates with other card processors. Transaction fees for card payments are a fixed 1.5% and the terminal is a BBPOS WisePOS E that merchants have to purchase from Lightspeed.
How do I learn more?
You can sign up for a 14-day free trial.
Square for Retail – best for integrated payment tools
Square for Retail is a user-friendly POS software system for iPhone, iPad and Square devices only. It is not the most extensive retail checkout system, but certainly the most versatile of the simpler POS apps.
For face-to-face card payments with an iOS device, it is necessary to use Square Reader, Square Stand or Square Terminal to accept cards. You can otherwise purchase the all-in-one Square Register which includes a tablet screen and touchscreen card terminal.
Photo: MobileTransaction
Buttons are large and the POS interface looks pleasant in Square for Retail.
There are two plans: Free (no monthly fees) and Plus ($109 a month per location). The free plan provides more retail-specific features than Square’s other free app, Point of Sale (which can also be used for retail). Plus also gives you vendor management tools, advanced inventory features and retail reports, as well as staff management features.
All users can add products with details and images, manage multiple users, add customers, use gift cards, and more. Apart from accepting cards electronically, it is possible to manually enter card details in the app, send payment links, send invoices, delve into ecommerce and use the complimentary Virtual Terminal for phone payments in the backend Dashboard.
Overall, it has quite a few extras that many POS apps don’t include, plus it integrates with many partner platforms to allow for more customisation – including upgrading to other POS systems.
Pricing
Free plan: Free
Plus plan: $109/mo per location
Card payments: 1.6% per transaction
Note: Prices include GST.
Square is excellent for those who want to start taking payments quickly without commitment. Since it has a free shop POS plan, you can just sign up, download the app, order the card reader and use the system indefinitely even after the Plus trial ends.
“In my tests, the large size of the buttons in the POS app made it faster for me to process a sale. It also minimises user errors in fast-paced shops. That’s just one example of how Square is extremely user-friendly.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
Customer support is only available during work hours from Monday to Friday through either phone or email. That being said, Square has a good online support section that covers most questions.
How do I learn more?
Sign up on Square’s website to start a 30-day free trial of Plus, or just use the Free retail plan indefinitely.
Epos Now – good for mixed POS needs
Epos Now is a global company that’s gained traction with its okay-priced POS equipment and versatile point of sale software. Retailers who want a fairly affordable register setup that looks professional can get a good deal on a hardware package and Retail POS software.
Photo: MobileTransaction
There’s a good amount of product settings in the backend Dashboard of Epos Now.
Having tested the POS system, we can verify it is easy to understand the checkout interface and usually straightforward to set up the software from the backend. It has a good amount of inventory features for any number of locations, some of which could apply to hospitality as well. It’s therefore a great POS for retailers that also serve customers with food.
Epos Now does come with a long commitment in most cases, though. Although monthly plans are available, the best deals (especially if hardware is purchased or leased) come with longer contracts of at least a year. Annual plans are also paid upfront as a lump sum.
In our experience, it’s also necessary to subscribe to add-on features which will bump up the monthly cost. For example, any substantial customer service requires a support module on top of the software price.
Pricing
Annual plans from $499 + GST for POS software, if paid upfront
Personalised quote required
Users can integrate the POS system with Tyro, Westpac or Adyen for custom rates on transactions. Epos Now is otherwise likely to convince you to sell through their own card processing system with their own EFTPOS machines that you rent.
“Epos Now’s POS software is pretty straightforward, but much of the text is tiny or hard to read and therefore not great for some shop employees.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
The main advantage of Epos Now is the fact you can get all retail needs met within the same system. The register hardware is affordable and add-on features or useful integrations are available for growing businesses.
How do I learn more?
Get a quote from Epos Now or ask for a demo or trial.
Shopify POS – convenient for online retailers
The Shopify POS system is the most practical option for retail shops that sell online through Shopify. It’s one of the most seamless omnichannel solutions, since your online storefront is completely aligned with your point of sale.
Photo: MobileTransaction
Shopify POS does not have a typical product menu – instead, it shows useful actions and a search field.
However, you have to be subscribed to a Shopify ecommerce plan to use any of the POS features. The cheapest ecommerce plan is Shopify Lite for A$7 a month, which includes basic product pages with an online checkout, which you can link to from social media. More expensive plans – starting at A$42 monthly for Basic Shopify – let you run an entire online store.
The POS app is free to download while subscribed to Shopify, but the amount of accessible features depends on your chosen POS plan: Shopify POS Lite (free) or Shopify POS Pro (A$129 a month per location). This subscription is in addition to your online plan.
POS Lite is only really suitable for shops primarily selling online, but occasionally also face-to-face. POS Pro has enough to run a serious brick-and-mortar store alongside an online store.
Frankly, the only way to justify the higher cost of POS Pro is by making good use of the ecommerce features. Otherwise, there are better POS systems out there.
Pricing
Shopify POS Lite: Free with any ecommerce plan
Shopify POS Pro: $129/mo per location
Ecommerce plans: $7-$575/mo
* GST is added to all prices.
With Shopify POS, you can manage the shop inventory, employees and orders. Online and POS sales are constantly synced through the cloud. The system is compatible with iPad, Android tablets, receipt printers and cash drawers.
“Shopify POS stands out with its clever app layout and search which links not only to products, but customers and orders. It makes it fast to find what you need from the checkout counter.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
Customer support is available round the clock over the phone, email or chat.
How do I learn more?
On the website, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial without committing to anything.
Revel Systems – better for medium and high-volume shops
Revel Systems POS is a hybrid POS that uses the cloud as well as a business’ local network, meaning it can work offline. The Revel POS app only works on iPad, not Android, computers or other devices.
Photo: Revel
Revel only works on iPad and requires a specialist installation.
In addition to providing a complete POS solution, Revel Systems POS also includes an advanced CRM, inventory management, automated ordering, kiosk functionality and employee tracking.
It integrates with Revel-developed solutions (like online ordering) and third parties including Adyen and Tyro card machines, and has 24/7 phone and online support to accommodate client needs at any time.
Revel Systems POS is on the pricier side than its competitors, with prices starting at $99 USD per terminal per month for a shop with one register. This price only refers to a particular deal where you’re billed annually, locked into a three-year contract and you buy at least two terminals.
Pricing
Per iPad licence: From $99/mo
Implementation and onboarding: From $674
* Revel charges in USD. GST is added to prices.
You can be billed less frequently than once a year, but this leads to a higher per-month price. There is also a hefty implementation fee of at least USD 674, the exact cost depending on how extensive your setup is.
Generally, Revel is known to not be completely honest about all its costs until you sign you, which has left a lot of bad reviews.
But for retailers requiring a multi-store solution with hardware bundles coming directly from the POS provider, Revel Systems could be a convenient choice providing everything you need for the point of sale.
How do I learn more?
You can get a free demo of the Revel Systems POS software.
Hike – low-cost point of sale for small shop
Hike is an Australian company that exclusively designed its POS offerings for the retail sector. The software is versatile and can be used on iPad and desktop computers.
In Australia, this cloud-based POS integrates with leading payment terminal providers including Windcave, Tyro and Square. Hike also provides 24/7 live chat and email support, meaning retail businesses are not left waiting for after-sales assistance.
Photo: MobileTransaction
We weren’t that impressed with the Hike POS app, which looks quite plain.
With respect to pricing, Hike POS provides annual and monthly subscriptions, and does so on a no lock-in basis. However, to encourage customers to subscribe for longer, the annual subscription works out to be cheaper on a month-to-month basis.
There are three plans to pick from: Essential, Plus and Enterprise. As there is no contractual commitment, it’s possible to cancel at any time.
The Essential and Plus plans both cover one outlet and one checkout licence, however additional licences can be purchased. The Enterprise plan is personalised and intended for large, multi-store retailers.
The Plus plan has all the functionality of the Essential plan, plus gift card loyalty, custom reports, detailed analytics, advanced user permissions and more.
Pricing
Essential: $79/mo (annual), $89/mo (monthly)
Plus: $109/mo (annual), $129/mo (monthly)
Per extra licence: $39/mo
Note: Prices are inclusive of GST.
The Plus plan goes a step further with its central dashboard, central products and customers list, multi-location inventory and consolidated business reporting.
“I think the Hike POS app was straightforward to use, but we haven’t had a good experience of the support.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
All plans integrate with ecommerce (Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento), cloud accounting software (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks) and MailChimp.
How do I learn more?
On the website, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial.
Summary
| Retail POS | Price | Best for | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$129-$389 + GST/mo | Large inventories and all-round value | |
|
$0 or $109/mo | Integrated payment tools and free features | |
|
From $499 + GST/yr | Decent POS hardware packages | |
|
From $7 + GST/mo | Ecommerce businesses that sell in person too | |
|
From US$99 + GST/mo | Medium-sized retailers who want hardware too | |
|
$79-$129/mo | Australia-based company |
