Best Ecommerce POS Systems Shortlist
After evaluating the best ecommerce POS systems, I created the following shortlist of options for your business.
Ecommerce POS (point-of-sale) systems can help your business maximize efficiency in multiple ways, but finding one for your store can be difficult and time-consuming. Modern POS systems are flexible and provide various beneficial features. They can help you quickly complete sales and minimize the work necessary to keep your books organized. Whether you’re looking for an ecommerce POS system to upgrade your existing one or you want to implement a new system, I evaluated and listed some helpful options for your consideration.
What Is a Ecommerce POS System
Ecommerce POS systems are software tools that enable your online store to perform customer transactions on your website. POS solutions provide more capabilities than traditional registers to provide your business with multiple ways to accept payments from anywhere in your online store. Merchants can also use POS systems to get a better understanding of sales trends, available inventory, and their customers.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Ecommerce POS Systems
Here are my overviews of some of the best ecommerce POS systems available based on features, pricing, and pros and cons.
Zoho Creator
Best for customization
Zoho Creator enables ecommerce businesses to create custom point-of-sale processes without the need for an experienced coder or programmer.
Why I picked Zoho Creator: Zoho is a popular business software vendor that provides applications for many business aspects, and for the purpose of this article, I’ll be focusing on the Creator application. Under the Zoho Creator application, you can use the provided POS app from the App Deck to manage all retail sales data. Zoho Create is fully customizable with a drag-and-drop builder, allowing you to add new functionality and modules to fit your ecommerce needs.
Zoho Creator Standout Features and Integrations
Features include KPI tracking capabilities that will help you make informed decisions after keeping an eye on sales and best-selling products. Zoho Creator can also help you maintain proper inventory levels through its reordering process tools.
Integrations include connections with popular business management platforms to help you pass along vital information and sales data to improve efficiency. These include integrations with systems such as ActiveCampaign, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Pabbly Form Builder, QuickBooks, Salesforce, WordPress, Workato, and other software options.
Pros
- Easy to use
- No code workflows
- Great for small businesses
Cons
- Integrations are complex
- Customer support needs work
Stripe
Best for international businesses
Stripe provides a POS solution that can help ecommerce merchants operate their business in over 135 currencies, making it an excellent option for stores that have a global reach.
Why I picked Stripe: If you have any kind of experience in ecommerce, you’ve likely heard of Stripe. The platform offers a point-of-sale solution that allows you to expand your business globally thanks to its ability to work in an extensive number of currencies. You can also operate in multiple online locations, such as Amazon, Facebook, Etsy, and other marketplace options, as well as on your website.
Stripe Standout Features and Integrations
Features include risk management tools that will help you feel more confident about fighting fraud with a machine-learning fraud system that’s integrated with the payment features. The platform also offers payment management capabilities that help you get paid fast and allows you to manage historical and future deposits.
Integrations include native ecommerce software connections to help you efficiently set up payment processes in your online store and manage them, such as 1Password, Accenture, Bench Accounting, Better Reports, Chargebee, ChartMogul, Databox, Flatly, HubSpot, Jotform, and other software options. You can also use Stripe’s API to create custom integrations with your systems.
Pros
- Flexible platform
- No monthly fee
- Easy to use
Cons
- Support is slow sometimes
- Refunds take a few days to process
Helcim
Best for high sales volumes
Helcim is a full-service merchant POS system that can handle high sales volumes for ecommerce brands.
Why I picked Helcim: What I believe makes Helcim stand apart from the other options on this list is its ability to handle large sales volumes. Helcim does this by offering competitive rates and discounts for ecommerce businesses with over $25,000 in card transactions. Helcim also provides extensive tools such as merchant accounts, payment gateways, invoicing, and other business management capabilities.
Helcim Standout Features and Integrations
Features include up-to-date inventory management with automated synchronization that helps you set up and manage your product inventory and understand that everything is accurate. Helcim’s reporting feature enables you to learn what your customers want with details such as sales trends, best-selling products, and other actionable insights.
Integrations include efficient connections with popular third-party applications to help integrate payments with your current systems. These integrations include tools such as Foxy.io, Great Exposure, QuickBooks, and WooCommerce.
Pros
- Transparent pricing
- Responsive customer support
- No monthly payments
Cons
- Not many integrations are available
- Complicated dashboard
Revel Systems
Best for loyalty programs
Revel Systems helps ecommerce merchants create excellent customer loyalty experiences. The system provides loyalty program tools to help online stores develop ways to build and maintain customer interest.
Why I picked Revel Systems: Convincing customers to keep coming back to your online store can be challenging, so I wanted to add Revel Systems to this article. The platform provides a robust loyalty program for your ecommerce store, allowing buyers to earn points and incentives to shop at your store again. Revel System’s loyalty program also allows you to engage with customers with omnichannel communications, enabling you to connect with them with the perfect offer.
Revel Systems Standout Features and Integrations
Features include customer relationship management capabilities that allow you to sync customers’ experiences and tailor marketing campaigns, as well as store buying history details. Revel Systems is known for reporting and analytics tools that offer multiple reports, allowing you to get an in-depth overview of your store’s performance.
Integrations include simple connections with third-party applications to help your business operate the way you want. These include integrations with systems such as Apicbase, Avero, CheckMate, Compeat, Decision Logic, Envysion, Harri, JoyUp, LoyaltyPlant, Otter, and other software options.
Pros
- Easy to learn
- Intuitive interface
- User friendly
Cons
- Limited reporting
- Complex inventory upload process
Vend
Best for employee tracking and training
Vend can help ecommerce businesses track employee performance and help train staff and get them selling quickly.
Why I picked Vend: The platform is a top choice for onboarding new staff, which is why it’s a top pick on this list, especially if your business is in the expansion stage. Vend’s training mode for new employees allows them to try out the software without getting access to vital details, such as sales history, settings, or status. This feature makes it easy for new staff to familiarize themselves with the platform without jeopardizing your store’s data.
Vend Standout Features and Integrations
Features include tools that allow your customers to split payments or process payments from multiple parties. Vend can also help you increase your bottom line with flexible, brandable gift cards to gain new customers and boost revenue.
Integrations include connections with popular ecommerce applications that provide you with the flexibility you need, such as BigCommerce, Ecwid, HubSpot, Inventory Planner, Lokad, Mailchimp, QuickBooks Online, Shopify, WooCommerce, Xero, and other software options. You can also create custom connections by using Workato or Vend’s API.
Pros
- Extensive integrations
- Accurate reports
- Easy to use
Cons
- Navigation is complex
- Customer support needs work
Erply
Best POS feature set
Erply provides an extensive number of features than the competition, including some customer relationship management capabilities.
Why I picked Erply: I wanted to add Erply to this article because of how it stands out from the competition with the number of features it can offer your business. It comes with everything you would expect from a POS, such as gift cards, in-depth reporting, and inventory management capabilities. But, one of the features that stands out the most to me is its advanced customer management tools that help you record and manage very detailed customer contact details and recover every customer’s sales history.
Erply Standout Features and Integrations
Features include supplier database tools that will track vendors, including their contact information, purchase history, and contracts; these tools automatically connect with PO creation systems for fast ordering. Erply also has human resources capabilities with a built-in time clock for team time tracking, with clock reports you can create based on employee, store, or timeframe.
Integrations include native integrations to help with your ecommerce operations, such as Amazon, Etsy, Locally, Magento, Merit Aktiva, NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero. If you need a custom integration, Erply provides an API that allows you to connect the platform to your current toolset.
Pros
- Good transaction history visibility
- Excellent user interface
- Very comprehensive platform
Cons
- Some integrations are complex
- Some integrations are complex
Shopify POS
Best for multichannel sellers
Shopify POS is a popular ecommerce point-of-sale system for businesses that sell products online. But, these merchants can also use the system when considering selling in person, either temporarily during an event or permanently in a brick-and-mortar location.
Why I picked Shopify POS: When planning for the next growth stage of your ecommerce business, you might consider opening an in-person location where your customers can see and feel your products before buying. So, I wanted to kick start this list with Shopify POS because it’s able to handle multichannel sales and connect the inventory from all locations. If you only want to focus on online sales, Shopify POS has you covered because the platform provides integrations to help you sell on social media channels.
Shopify POS Standout Features and Integrations
Features include staff management tools that allow you to track each staff member’s performance and generate customized reports to match your staff training requirements for each team member. Shopify POS also provides a significant number of reports you can develop, such as cash flow, retail sales, discounts, products, and so on, that gives you actionable data to help you optimize short- and long-term operational strategies.
Integrations include connections with tools that will help you enhance your store’s processes and share information between applications, such as ApparelMagic, Ordoro, PartnerStack, PayPal, QuickBooks Commerce, ShippingChimp, Shopventory, SMS Storetraffic, Valigara, Zinrelo, and other software options. If you need to make custom integrations, you can use third-party applications such as Zapier or APIWORX, or Shopify POS’s API to make the connections you need.
Pros
- Simple navigation
- Significant number of features
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not customizable
- No free plan
Clover POS
Best all-in-one POS system
Clover is an all-in-one point-of-sale system that enables ecommerce merchants to manage many aspects of their payment processing and other business functions.
Why I picked Clover: The platform is an all-in-one ecommerce POS system that allows you to manage your online store and take payments from a centralized platform. With Clover, you can manage inventory, business credit, accounting, and other vital business functions. Also, thanks to its ability to integrate with top ecommerce platforms, your sales and information can sync across channels without any problems.
Clover Standout Features and Integrations
Features include the ability to sync information on the cloud, allowing you and your team to access sales, refunds, deposits, and reports from anywhere. The system is also completely customizable, allowing you to scale without having to change platforms.
Integrations include connections with third-party software that you’re likely using in your ecommerce business. This includes applications such as 7shifts, Constant Contact, Deputy, DocuSign, Ecwid, Flexa, Mailchimp, Shopify, VETport, Xero, and other software options.
Pros
- Excellent reporting tools
- Simple navigation
- Easily runs PCI compliance scans
Cons
- Customer support needs work
- Steep learning curve
Square Point of Sale
Best for small businesses
Square Point of Sale offers a comprehensive POS solution that fits well for smaller ecommerce businesses. It provides a simple and reasonably priced solution small businesses can use to easily organize POS processes.
Why I picked Square Point of Sale: I chose to add Square Point of Sale for startups and smaller online merchants that need a POS system. Square Point of Sale works well for small businesses because of its affordable price point of $0. The platform has some small feed for every transaction, but it still makes it an affordable option for ecommerce businesses with smaller budgets.
Square Point of Sale Standout Features and Integrations
Features include inventory management capabilities that will help you manage stock from a centralized area and reduce the risk of customers making orders that you don’t have available. Square Point of Sale can also help you understand customers’ behavior with its tracking tools that help you monitor previous purchases.
Integrations include connections with popular applications ecommerce brands use to effectively manage operations and grow their business. These connections include systems such as Acuity Scheduling, Bookkeep, Ecwid, GoDaddy Websites + Marketing, LineupApp, QuickBooks Online, Submatic, Trunk, Wix, WooCommerce, and other software options.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Simple set up
- Excellent reporting functions
Cons
- Not suitable for large businesses
- Slow customer support
PayPal Zettle
Best for value for money
Zettle is an ecommerce POS system that provides excellent value for money for small to medium-sized brands.
Why I picked Zettle: The platform provides flexible payment structures that make it an excellent value for money for ecommerce merchants. Also, unlike many POS systems, Zettle doesn’t have a user limit, so you can add as many employees to the system as necessary. Along with an affordable price point, Zettle provides significant value for an extensive number of online stores.
Zettle Standout Features and Integrations
Features include reporting tools that provide an in-depth overview of metrics such as sales, transactions by payment type, top-selling items, and seasonal trends. Zettle also helps manage inventory to simplify stock-keeping processes and get alerts when running low on products.
Integrations include connections with other useful tools that are popular among ecommerce brands to bring daily operations together to simplify processes. This includes a list of third-party applications such as Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Hike, Lightspeed, PrestaShop, QuickBooks Online, Shopify, Sitoo, Tenzo, WooCommerce, and other software options.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Funds are available quickly
- Simple payment management tools
Cons
- Doesn’t automatically apply coupons
- Customer support needs work
The 10 Best Ecommerce POS Systems Summary
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zoho Creator Best for customization | 14-day free trial. | From $8/user/month. | Visit Website |
2 | Stripe Best for international businesses | Contact Sales for more info | From 2.9% + 0.30 per transaction | Visit Website |
3 | Helcim Best for high sales volumes | Free account available | From 0.50% + $0.25 per transaction | Visit Website |
4 | Revel Systems Best for loyalty programs | Free demo available | From $99/month. | Visit Website |
5 | Vend Best for employee tracking and training | Free 14 days trial | From $99/month | Visit Website |
6 | Erply Best POS feature set | 60 days free trial | From $39/month | Visit Website |
7 | Shopify POS Best for multichannel sellers | The first month is free and the following three months are only $1/month | Plans start at $31/month | Visit Website |
8 | Clover POS Best all-in-one POS system | Free demo available. | $14.95/month + 2.6% + $0.10/transaction + $799 set up fee. | Visit Website |
9 | Square Point of Sale Best for small businesses | Free plan available. | From 2.65%/credit card transaction. | Visit Website |
10 | PayPal Zettle Best for value for money | Free plan available. | From 1.75%/transaction. | Visit Website |
Other Options
The following are other ecommerce POS system options that are worth your consideration:
- Hike POS
Best for lay-pay sales
- Lightspeed Retail
Best for inventory management
- Loyverse POS
Best for multi-store management.
- Epos Now
Best for scaling businesses.
- IQ Interactive
Best for customer data.
- Magento POS
Best for omnichannel sales.
- Magestore
Best for Magento users.
- Odoo POS
Best free point-of-sale system.
- NCR Counterpoint
Best for configurable reporting.
- Point of Sale for WooCommerce
Best for flexible configurations.
Selection Criteria For Ecommerce POS Systems
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best ecommerce POS system for this article:
Core Functionality
These are the basic core functionalities that the software must meet in order to be considered for placement on this list. I like to include this section because POS systems can be quite different when it comes to features or niche customer base, but this is what qualifies them for comparison for my purposes here.
- Ability to accept payments from customers through your ecommerce website, preferably with a variety of sources (credit card, PayPal, Amazon Pay) and currencies available
- Ability to integrate with your ecommerce platform of choice, whether you use Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and so on
Key Features
The right ecommerce POS system features will make it easier to operate your online store and simplify transaction processes. Here are some of the features that you should find in an ecommerce POS solution:
- Inventory Management: Some basic POS systems might only support a product catalog, whereas others will track inventory at component or ingredient levels; some tools include purchase ordering and vendor management capabilities to handle reordering processes.
- Customer Management: POS systems will provide varying customer management capabilities; some help you capture basic customer information, such as emails, so you can create email marketing contact lists, and others provide customer relationship management (CRM) tools so you can create customer profiles.
- Loyalty Programs: Your ecommerce POS systems can help you reward your best customers with built-in loyalty features; this tracks customers’ shopping details and enables you to create reward and loyalty programs with that information.
- Employee Management: You can add employees to your ecommerce POS solution and manage their access to features and information with role-based access controls; others have built-in time clocks, allowing employees to use the POS system to clock in and out.
- Reporting: The best POS systems have real-time reports; some are basic with a handful of pre-built reports and limited customization; other systems are advanced with multiple reporting options and filters, allowing you to analyze sales, inventory, customer, and staff data.
- Returns and Exchanges: The customer journey doesn’t end with a purchase, so your POS system will handle returns and exchanges to help your customers return orders and manage the entire process.
Usability
All of your staff will be using your ecommerce POS system, so being able to quickly train them is essential. The platform you choose shouldn’t require advanced technical skills to use effectively. Even the newest user should be able to operate the POS tool without many difficulties.
Software Integrations
The best POS solution will work together effectively with your ecommerce platform and other systems to help you manage your ecommerce store’s operations from the same place. Using separate systems to manage inventory, customers, sales, and other vital processes is expected, but integrating these systems together will reduce errors and frustrations and help you provide excellent customer experiences. When evaluating the tools in this article, I made sure to add as many tools as possible with many native integrations with other standard ecommerce systems and allow you to make custom integrations via Zapier or through an API.
People Also Ask
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions people have when searching for new ecommerce POS systems for their business.
What are the benefits of an ecommerce POS system?
What ecommerce POS system is best for small businesses?
How much do ecommerce pos systems cost?
Other Payment Software Reviews
These software review lists may complement your search for POS software. I focused on software reviews for payment or payment-adjacent technologies, like fraud prevention or BNPL.
- Ecommerce Sales Tax Software
- Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) Platforms
- Mobile Payment Solutions
- Ecommerce Fraud Prevention Software
- Ecommerce Accounting Software
The Takeaway
Looking for new ecommerce POS systems can be a difficult task, but the options I added to this article will integrate some of the best ecommerce platforms and provide many features. At the end of the day, choosing the POS solution that fits best with your ecommerce business and provides excellent features that fit your budget is essential. No matter the products you’re selling, or the size of your catalog, the right POS system can be the deciding factor as to whether your business operations run smoothly.
If you need more advice on how to improve your ecommerce business or want more software suggestions to handle other company functions, such as customer relationship management, inventory management, or accounting software, sign up for The Ecomm newsletter.
Related Read: What Is A Payment Gateway & How Does It Work For Your Online Store?