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 | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
 |
Serious retailers looking to maximise sales with a solid inventory, forecasting, analytics and loyalty system | $129-$389*/mo incl. 1 register licence |
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Small shops looking for an easy plug-and-play checkout with integrated ecommerce | $0-$109/mo per register |
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Independent retailers with a limited budget for hardware and area for serving customers food | From $499*/yr per register |
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Online-first retailers with a small brick-and-mortar shop | From $7*/mo per register |
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Stable retail stores who can commit long-term to an all-in-one, stylish register | Custom pricing |
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Small retail chains that want a complete, reliable POS system with a personal service | From US$99*/mo per register |
*Excludes GST
Lightspeed Retail – best for inventory-rich shops
Lightspeed Retail is one of the best retail POS systems Australia for a small shop planning to grow into more locations.
The interface feels very familiar and user-friendly, but with advanced inventory functions and features to maximise retail performance. 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: Mobile Transaction
The Lightspeed Retail POS screen doesn’t look like much until you add all your products.
Lightspeed offers 24/7 online support to everyone, and 24/7 phone support only for Plus subscribers. A comprehensive online resource section 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.
Lightspeed Retail price for first register 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, Mobile Transaction
A limitation is Lightspeed’s insistence on using its own EFTPOS machines – the software no longer supports 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 system for iPhone, iPad, Square Register and certain Square devices. It’s not the most extensive retail checkout, but certainly the most versatile of the simpler POS apps in Australia.
For face-to-face card payments with an iOS device, Square Reader, Square Stand and Square Handheld link up to accept cards. You can otherwise purchase the all-in-one Square Register which has a tablet screen and touchscreen card terminal.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
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. Plus also gives you vendor management tools, advanced inventory features and retail reports, and staff management features.
All users can add detailed products with images, manage multiple users, add customers, use gift cards, and more.
Apart from accepting cards electronically and via keyed entry, it’s possible to send payment links and invoices, delve into ecommerce and use the complimentary Virtual Terminal for phone payments from a browser.
Overall, it has quite a few extras lacking in many POS apps, plus it integrates with many partner platforms for advanced, specialised features.
Square for Retail 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, you can just sign up, download the app, order a 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, Mobile Transaction
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 covering 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 with retail POS software.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
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. We therefore recommend this POS for retailers that also serve customers with food.
Epos Now comes with a long contract in most cases, though. Although monthly plans are available, the best deals (especially if hardware is purchased or leased) come with longer lock-ins of at least a year. Annual plans are also paid upfront as a lump sum.
In our experience, it’s necessary to subscribe to add-on features that bump up the monthly cost. For example, any substantial customer service requires a support module on top of the software price.
Epos Now 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, Mobile Transaction
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 most practical for retail shops selling online through Shopify.
It’s one of the most seamless omnichannel solutions, since your online storefront is completely aligned with your point of sale. For example, products bought online can be returned in-store and repeat customers analysed across sales channels.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
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 Starter 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.
Shopify POS pricing
POS Lite: Free with any ecommerce plan
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, Mobile Transaction
Customer support is available round the clock over the phone, email or chat.
How do I learn more?
Sign up for a free trial.
Clover – custom setup with compact hardware
Launched in Australia in March 2025, Fiserv’s Clover POS is a complete, customisable point of sale system for hops who can commit to a long contract.
The user-friendly software only works on its own terminals that double a EFTPOS terminals and look chic with a white, glossy plastic exterior.
Clover’s hardware is all white and can fit into small checkout spaces.
In the US and Europe, Clover’s terminals are mostly popular in small food-and-drink operations, but handles retail just as well. Businesses can choose a subscription with basic or advanced retail features, then browse Clover’s internal app marketplace to add more as required.
While great to access upgraded sales analytics, customer loyalty and promotional tools through Clover add-ons, they each add to the monthly cost. That’s partly why you’ll speak to a sales person first – for an accurate quote of features required.
Clover pricing
Personalised quotes for software and hardware
The point of sale terminals include a small tablet, larger register tablet and handheld EFTPOS terminal for card payments or barcode scanning on the go. They all have chip and contactless card reading abilities, so no extra card machine is required.
“I see the appeal of Clover’s glossy looks, but I hear from cashiers that the software can be glitchy. Business owners have also complained of inflexible contracts that lock you into over-priced features.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, Mobile Transaction
Just beware that Clover typically requires several years’ lock-in lease of their terminals and merchant account. If you’re happy with the card rates and checkout features, however, this is not necessarily a problem.
How do I learn more?
You can request a quote here.
Revel POS – better for multi-location, high-volume shops
Revel is a hybrid POS system using the cloud and your business’ local network, meaning it can work offline. The Revel POS app only works on iPad, not Android, computers or other devices.
Now owed by Shift4, the Revel software is no longer advertised openly, but may be offered as part of Shift4’s packages for retailers. It’s nevertheless a worthy contender for busy, small retail chains that want a complete solution and personal service.
Photo: Revel
Revel only works on iPad and requires a specialist installation.
In addition to providing a complete POS solution, Revel 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 card machines. Its 24/7 phone and online support accommodates 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 only refers to a particular deal where you’re billed annually, locked into a 3-year contract and you buy at least two terminals.
Revel 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 for not being completely honest about all 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 for the point of sale.
How do I learn more?
You can get a free demo of the Revel POS software.
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 | |
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From $499 + GST/yr | Decent POS hardware deals | |
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From $7 + GST/mo | Ecommerce businesses that sell in person too | |
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Custom pricing | Established, small retailers that can commit | |
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Custom pricing | Medium-sized retailers that want hardware too |
