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The 5 Best POS Systems for Small Businesses in Canada
Written by
Sarah Thompson
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With a score of 4.8/5, Square is our highest rated POS provider in our research. We recommend it to small businesses as it offers free POS software, affordable hardware, and comprehensive features.
Our independent research team has compared 12 different POS systems to find the best providers. Each provider was scored against a range of areas including business development, price, and customer support.
If you’re short on time, you can get quotes from trusted POS companies directly through our free quote-comparison tool. Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll match you with the most suitable company, who’ll offer tailored, no-obligation quotes. Easy.
|
Square |
Lightspeed |
Shopify POS |
TouchBistro |
Toast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.8⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
|
4.3⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
|
4.1⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
|
4.0⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
|
3.7⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
|
|
Price
From $0/month |
Price
From $89/month |
Price
Shopify POS:
|
Price
From $93/month |
Price
|
|
Best For
Overall |
Best For
Bars |
Best For
Retailers with an online store |
Best For
Restaurants |
Best For
hospitality industry |
Square: Best Overall
Pricing: Software price plans range from $0 per month to $79 per month
Square
4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick overview
Square scores a 4.8/5 overall in our research, taking the number one spot. Square scores a 5/5 for pricing because of its free POS app. The free software is especially suitable for startups or small businesses that have a limited budget. Square does have a paid version for retail ($79 per month)
Strength
- Software is free to use with no setup or monthly fees
- Scalable software
- Retail and restaurant-specific packages
Weaknesses
- Slightly higher transaction fees than most competitors
| Software | Hardware |
|---|---|
| Free $0 |
Card reader $59 |
| Plus $60 |
Key Features
- Free to install
- Customized email receipts
- Integrated payment processor
- Access to third-party integrations
- Industry-specific packages
Lightspeed: Best for Retail
Pricing: Software price plans range from $69 per month to $289 per month
Lightspeed
4.3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick overview
Lightspeed score a 4.3/5 overall and offer two different POS systems: restaurant and retail. The split means you can choose the system that’s right for your business’ needs. Lightspeed doesn’t do very well in the pricing area scoring a 3.2/5. Starting from 89 CAD per month, the ‘Lean’ package is
Strength
- Offers lots of customizable features
- 24/7 customer support
- Best option for retail stores
Weaknesses
- Relatively expensive compared to other POS systems on our list
| Lean 89 CAD/month |
| Standard 159 CAD/month |
| Advanced 229 CAD/month |
Key Features
- Customizable gift cards
- Automatically pause ads when products sell out
- Tiered rewards program
Shopify: Best for Ecommerce Integration
Pricing: Software price plans range from $38 CAD per month to $389 CAD per month
Shopify
4.1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick overview
Shopify scores a 4.1/5 overall in our research and is best for businesses looking for ecommerce integration. This is because Shopify’s ecommerce platform is popular and widely used but you also cannot use Shopify’s POS system without signing up to an ecommerce plan. If you’re looking solely
Strength
- Powerful platform suitable for any sized online store
- Affordable hardware options
- Easy to use
Weaknesses
- Works best when selling through your own Shopify store, not alternative ecommerce platforms
| Shopify plan | Shopify POS subscription |
|---|---|
| Basic $38 CAD/month |
POS LITE $0 USD/month |
| Shopify $99 CAD/month |
POS PRO $89 USD/month per location |
| Advanced $389 CAD/month |
Key Features
- Profit margin calculator
- Discounted shipping rates from DHL Express and UPS
- Refund and invoice generators
TouchBistro
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick overview
Key Features
- Online ordering
- Loyalty programs
- Customer-facing displays
Toast: Best for Android
Pricing: Software plans range from $0 per month to $165 per month
Toast
3.6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strength
- Designed for the hospitality industry
- Solid stock management tools
- Easy to use
Weaknesses
- CRM functionalities only available via a third party app
- Poor customer support
| Starter Kit $0/month |
| Restaurant Basicshttps://vpnclicks.com/pos-compare-and-save/ $110/month |
| Essentials $165/month |
| Custom Custom |
Key Features
- Online ordering
- Cash discounts
- Integrates with QuickBooks
How We Test POS Systems for Businesses
We tested 16 market-leading POS systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, price, features, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to Canadian businesses.
Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in eight main categories of investigation and 45 subcategories – in fact, we covered 61 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting’ to ensure the product’s final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements and that’s our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!
Our main testing categories for POS systems are:
Till: the core functionality of the POS system, which includes the processing of sales transactions. It involves features such as item scanning, item look-up, and price calculation.
Business Management: the features and tools provided by the POS system to support various aspects of running a business, such as employee management, shift scheduling, and customer management.
Stock Management: the POS system’s capabilities to manage inventory and track stock levels, including inventory tracking, stock alerts and transfers, and purchase order management.
Business Development: the features and tools provided by the POS system to help businesses grow and improve their operations, e.g. customer relationship management, marketing integrations, and sales forecasting.
Usability: how easily and intuitively the POS system can be used by the staff, including the user interface design, navigation, ease of training, and overall user experience during setup.
Price: the cost associated with acquiring and using the POS system, such as the initial purchase cost, licensing fees, subscription plans, and any additional charges or ongoing costs.
Help and Support: the assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using the POS system including documentation, tutorials, or knowledge bases.
Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the POS product. This can include dedicated restaurant and retail functionality including KDS, loyalty management, and multi employee login.
FAQs
Point of Sale (POS) systems combine software and hardware in order to help you manage your business more efficiently. The best systems offer features designed to help you with everything from processing transactions to creating email marketing campaigns that’ll encourage repeat purchases.
For small businesses, software plans for some POS systems, including Square and eHopper, start at $0 per month, with just the hardware costs and transaction fees to worry about. However, most POS systems have pricing plans, starting from $60+ per month. The majority of POS hardware can be bought for around $1,500
The cheapest POS system is provided by Square. While eHopper offers a free plan, too, Square’s plan is better value for money thanks to its impressive features. With Square’s software, you can manage and grow your small business easily, at no monthly cost.
While we strive to keep the prices up-to-date on our website, please note that all prices mentioned are subject to change. Therefore, we highly recommend filling out the questionnaire form to obtain the latest and most accurate pricing
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