Your point of sale (POS) hardware isn’t just a way to process payments; it can help your business grow.
Modern POS hardware can dramatically shape the customer experience — whether you run a retail, liquor, tobacco, or grocery store. Think of how efficiently you can check out customers, receive invoices, or do audits. All of them heavily depend on having the right hardware.
As payment and POS technology evolve, businesses must keep their POS equipment up to date to deliver the shopping experience customers expect.
According to recent reports, the impacts of a great customer experience (or lack thereof) are significant. In fact, more than 70% of consumers prioritize businesses that go above and beyond to deliver a refined customer experience.
In this article, we help you navigate the best POS hardware vendors so you can make an informed decision and invest in the right solution for your unique business.
How To Decide Between the Best POS Hardware Providers
If you're investing in POS hardware for the first time or replacing legacy hardware, the process is the same.
First, we recommend taking stock of the point of sale hardware vendor landscape. However, with so many different vendors, that’s easier said than done.
As you start your search, take some time to consider:
- Compatibility: Some POS systems are compatible with existing hardware, while others require special hardware. Additionally, some systems require different operating systems (e.g., Android, iOS, Windows).
- Price: POS hardware is essential, but every business has a different budget. Map out what your business needs to get up and running and see if your POS provider offers bundle discounts or if any existing hardware is compatible.
- Durability and usability: Your POS hardware should be easy to use and reliable. There’s no point saving money on a piece of hardware that isn’t reliable.
Related Read: How Much Does a POS System Cost? [Averages + Influencing Factors]
How To Buy POS Hardware
There are a few ways to buy POS hardware.
- Buy directly: If you have the technical know-how, you can buy hardware directly from a vendor like Zebra or Honeywell and set it up yourself. This can be a good option if you’re looking for peripherals like cash drawers and barcode scanners.
- Buy from a hardware resaler: Many companies work specifically to sell POS hardware for a variety of industries and system compatibility.
- Buy from your POS system provider: The easiest (and safest) option is to buy POS hardware directly from your POS software provider. This will ensure that your hardware works with your POS system and will likely include setup support.
As we mentioned above, some POS systems require specific hardware to function, so make sure you check compatibility before making any major purchases.
Common Types of POS Hardware
There's no doubt you've seen some of the most common types of POS hardware in stores you visit:
- Touchscreen monitors or tablets
- Barcode scanners
- Pinpads and card readers
- Customer-facing displays
- Cash drawers
- Receipt printers
At a minimum, the average retail business will need a touchscreen, cash drawer, receipt printer, and card reader, but there are also some industry-specific hardware such as:
- Integrated deli scales and scanner scales
- Kitchen printers (for restaurants and grocerants)
- ID scanners
- Barcode label printer (for scanning and tracking custom products)
If you need specific equipment like scanner-scales or ID scanners, it’s a good idea to buy a hardware bundle.
The 5 Best POS Hardware Vendors for Small Businesses in 2025
Here are five reliable and popular vendors for POS hardware in 2025.
1. Clover
Clover is well-known for its user-friendly and customizable POS hardware. It offers a wide variety of touchscreens, card readers, tablets, and more. In addition to its affordable handheld systems, Clover also sells kiosks and kitchen display systems for self-service restaurants.
Clover offers an all-in-one point of sale system that comes equipped with all the hardware that you would expect, including a cash drawer and receipt printer.
Compatibility
Clover POS requires you to use its proprietary hardware, limiting your options if you have an existing system you’d like to upgrade. While they offer a virtual browser-based system that does not require hardware, you can only process a limited number of transactions.
As for support for barcode scanners, printers, and cash drawers, compatibility depends largely on which POS terminal you use. At the time of writing, Clover only supports weight-based functions using the CAS SW-RS scale.
Other notes
Clover is an all-in-one system for general retail and restaurants, but they do lack some industry-specific features for grocery, liquor stores, or other retailers with more complicated inventory requirements.
Additionally, the required use of Clover’s hardware terminal and its more restrictive connectivity with peripheral hardware means you may need to purchase new equipment if you ever decide to change POS systems.
Related Read: Scales and Scanner Scales
2. Lightspeed
Based in Canada, Lightspeed builds powerful and customizable POS solutions for retailers across industries. It supports some existing hardware and sells many Apple-based POS hardware bundles.
It also offers a range of mobile terminals, wireless printers, and other accessories.
Compatibility
While Lightspeed's system runs natively on iOS and Apple devices, it also offers browser-based options that can run on Windows or Android. It is compatible with many types of existing hardware but has limited support in some cases.
Lightspeed also supports more industry-specific hardware like scanner scales and ID scanners.
Other notes
Lightspeed’s hardware options are best used with Apple devices and computers, making them ideal for retailers who’ve invested in those systems already. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Lightspeed’s POS software is one of the priciest on this list, with its Core plan starting at $149/month.
3. Square
Square is another major POS provider with low-cost software and various flexible hardware options. Square leases sleek, tablet-based touchpads and kiosks over one or two-year contracts. You can also buy its mobile card reader outright.
Compatibility
The Square Terminal, Register, and Kiosk are compatible with many barcode scanners and peripheral hardware, but there is limited support for smaller card or tablet-based terminals.
Square also doesn’t support integrations with popular scales, and scanner scales are limited to Magellan models. Square does support ID scanning for age verification, but only on its Retail Plus and Premium plans.
Other notes
Square is an excellent choice for new businesses due to its low-cost software and flexible hardware options. That said, there can be additional costs if you need industry-specific hardware or software functions.
4. Shopify
Shopify started as an e-commerce giant and has since expanded into in-person retail. It offers several hardware bundles and free Android and iPhone apps.
Compatibility
Shopify’s hardware is compatible with a limited number of Zebra and Socket scanners. Shopify also has limited native sell-by-weight support and scale integrations.
Other notes
Shopify is an affordable option for retailers with small storefronts with basic inventory or businesses that sell primarily at events.
5. POS Nation
At POS Nation, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to POS systems. Instead, we collaborate with customers to build custom hardware and software bundles that fit their specific industry and needs.
After all, the hardware and system needs of a tobacco shop or liquor store will be very different from a grocery store or garden center.
Compatibility
We work with various industry-specific software solutions that are widely compatible with existing hardware, including many brands of scales, most barcode scanners, and several major brands of scanner scales.
However, our systems are incompatible with Serial (RS-232) scanners and run primarily on Windows machines.
Other notes
Once we determine what type of software you need, we’re happy to provide hardware recommendations and sell bundles based on your needs. You can also use our build and price tool to get a custom quote.
POS Hardware Providers: How POS Nation Powers Small Businesses Nationwide
Your search for a complete POS solution is over.
POS Nation offers advanced point of sale hardware and software to power your retail store, liquor store, grocery or market, convenience store, tobacco shop, lawn and garden center, hardware store, or clothing and apparel store.
Even though we've been around since 2001, our company still has a start-up mentality. We've been there, so we understand the needs of both new and established businesses.
We'll collaborate with you to create a custom solution tailored to your unique needs. We're also here to help you get started. Our complete point of sale solutions are backed by 24/7 support!
We provide small businesses with powerful point of sale software and hardware. Our wide range of products, low-cost delivery, and superior customer support make us a premier provider of everything point of sale.
Want to see what our POS system is capable of for your business? Schedule a Demo today!
