The 7 Best and Most Affordable POS Systems in Australia: Features & Pricing

Introduction

Running a small business in Australia comes with challenges, and finding the right Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial for smooth operations and efficient customer service.

But with so many options available, choosing the one that suits your budget and requirements can be overwhelming.

Fear not!

In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of the seven best and most affordable POS systems in Australia. Whether you run a retail store, a restaurant, or a service-based business, we’ve got you covered!

Why Choosing the Right POS System Matters?

• Streamline operations and reduce wait times for customers.
• Improve inventory management and reduce stockouts.
• Increase sales and customer loyalty through personalized offers.
• Gain valuable insights through sales reports and analytics.

Must-Have Features in an Affordable POS System

When selecting a cost-effective POS system, keep an eye out for these essential features:

• User-friendly interface for easy staff training.
• Inventory tracking and management capabilities.
• Integration with payment processors for smooth transactions.
• Sales analytics and reporting functionalities.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools.
• Scalability to accommodate your business growth.

Before diving into the top 7 cheapest POS systems, let’s understand why having the right one is essential for small businesses. The right POS system can help you:

1) Ari POS

Leading F&B point of sale system in Singapore, Ari POS is renowned for its extensive features and cutting-edge capabilities. It improves in-store customer experiences, streamlines restaurant operations, and promotes repeat business.

Features

• Operations Simplified: Ari POS makes complicated F&B operations, such as inventory control, sales, and cash flow management, simpler.
• Outstanding In-Store Customer Experience: Ari POS’s “Substitute” and “Link” functions, which enable upselling and cross-selling, result in tailored recommendations and a greater average transaction value. The customer’s in-store experience is improved by its user-friendly interface.
• Enhanced client Loyalty: Based on client preferences and previous purchases, Ari POS assists firms in creating distinctive loyalty programs.
• Effective Inventory Control: By monitoring stock levels, examining sales trends, and sending out notifications for goods that are about to expire, the system makes inventory management simpler.

Pricing

The initial 15-day trial period for ARI POS is free, and the standard subscription is $49 per month per terminal. The application also offers add-ons for an additional fee, such as an e-commerce link, thorough reporting, and several credit card payment gateway options.

Advantages

• Comprehensive features for efficient restaurant management.
• Exceptional in-store customer experiences to increase sales.
• Customized loyalty initiatives to encourage client retention.
• Effective supply chain management and inventory control.
• Multi-level user access enhances data security.

2) Square Point of Sale

Square Point of Sale is a POS system designed for small businesses, cafes, food trucks, and other businesses where mobility is important.

Features

• Payments: Accept credit and debit card payments, mobile payments, and gift cards.
• Inventory Management: Easily add and manage your inventory, set low stock alerts, and get real-time stock updates.
• Sales History and Reporting: Access sales reports and analytics to track your sales, best-selling items, and other metrics.
• Customer Management: Create customer profiles, process refunds, and send digital receipts to your customers.

Pricing Information

Square Point of Sale offers a free plan, which includes basic POS tools and access to the Square Dashboard. For additional features such as employee management, payment processing, and advanced reporting, businesses can upgrade to the paid plan, which starts at 2.6% + 10 cents per transaction.

Advantages

• Free plan available with basic POS tools.
• Easy to use interface.
• Customizable to your business’s branding.
• Accepts various payment types, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and gift cards.
• Integrates with other business tools.

3) Shopify POS

Shopify POS is an all-in-one point-of-sale solution designed for retail businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features that enable businesses to manage their inventory, process payments, and track sales from one place.

The system also integrates seamlessly with other Shopify products, making it easy to manage all aspects of your business from a single platform.

Features

• Order Management: Process orders and view your entire order history from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Inventory Management: Manage your entire inventory from one place, including product variants, quantities, and SKUs.
• Customer Management: Create customer profiles and track customer information, purchase history, and order status.

Pricing Information

Start your Shopify journey for free and enjoy the Basic plan subscription for just ₹20/month for the first three months. Try Shopify for free for three days with no credit card required. After the free trial period, you can continue with the Basic plan for ₹1,994/month.

Advantages

• Integrated with other Shopify products, such as online store and marketing tools.
• User-friendly interface and easy set-up process.
• 24/7 customer support is available through phone, email, or live chat.

4) Vend POS

Vend is a cloud-based point-of-sale and retail software designed for businesses of any size. It is one of the cheapest POS systems in Australia, accessible through any device with an internet connection, allowing businesses to sell and manage their inventory from anywhere.

Features

• Inventory Management: Manage your inventory, set reorder points, and receive alerts for low stock levels.
• Customer Management: Create customer profiles, track purchase history, and send targeted marketing emails.
• Sales and Reporting: Generate real-time sales reports and track sales by product, staff member, or period.
• Multi-store Management: Manage multiple stores from a single account, view inventory levels across stores, and transfer stock between locations.

Pricing

Vend offers four pricing plans – Lean, Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise. These plans cater to the different needs of businesses of various sizes. The Lean plan costs USD 119 monthly and provides essential business tools, including integrated payments and 24/7 customer support.

Advantages

• User-friendly interface and easy to use.
• Cloud-based software allows easy access to sales data and inventory information from anywhere.
• Customizable with a wide range of Retail Integrations and add-ons.

5) Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based point-of-sale system for retailers and businesses that offers inventory management, reporting, and user permissions features. It includes built-in customer profiles, robust reporting tools, and an intuitive touch-screen interface.

Features

• Contactless Payments: Square Point of Sale accepts many payment options, including contactless payments such as Google Pay and Apple Pay, perfect for customers who prefer a contactless experience.
• Customer Management: The software offers tools that help businesses manage customer profiles, track purchases, and send customized messages to their customers.
• Inventory Management: The app includes a comprehensive Inventory Management Software capability that helps businesses monitor stock levels, set reorder points, and receive alerts when stock levels reach a certain threshold.

Pricing Information

Lightspeed Retail, one of the leading cheapest POS systems in Australia, offers multiple pricing options depending on business needs, such as the Basic Plan starting for a single store. It offers an online store with unlimited products and customizable templates. The Plus Plan includes appointments, customer loyalty programs, and email marketing features.

Advantages

• User-friendly interface which makes it easy to learn and navigate, even for beginners.
• Comprehensive reporting features that give insights into inventory, sales, and performance.
• The cloud-based system allows for easy access and management on any device.

6) Nobly

Nobly is an intuitive and user-friendly POS system for small businesses, such as coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Its features include inventory management, staff management, sales analytics, and advanced integrations with accounting software or customer loyalty programs.

Features

• Offline Mode: Nobly, one of the cheapest POS systems in Australia, can work even if you don’t have an internet connection, allowing payments to be processed and inventory to be updated.
• Customer Management: Businesses can create customer profiles with preferences and previous orders and send targeted promotional offers for greater customer loyalty.
• Customizable User Interface: The POS screen can be tailored to each business and adjusted to display top-selling menu items, speed up order processing, and increase upsell opportunities.

Pricing

Nobly, one of the cheapest POS systems offers two business pricing plans. The first is the basic plan, which includes card payments, printing, and discounts. The second is the Pro plan, which includes all of the features of the basic plan, as well as inventory management, customer loyalty, staff management features, and more.

Advantages

• Affordable pricing options for small to medium-sized businesses.
• Easy to use and intuitive interface with customizable screens that help speed up the checkout process.
• Offline mode allows businesses to continue operating even without internet access.
• Advanced reporting and analytics help business owners understand their sales performance and make more informed decisions.

7) Toast POS

Toast POS is a cloud-based POS system for small businesses catering primarily to the restaurant industry’s needs. The system offers menu management, tableside ordering, reporting and analytics, and integrations with delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash.

Features

• Menu Management: Easily create and manage menus, dishes, and items based on category, price, and ingredients.
• Tableside Ordering: An efficient way to take orders and payments, allowing servers to use handheld devices to take orders and payments from tables.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed sales, inventory, and employee performance reports to make data-driven decisions.

Pricing

Toast POS is one of the cheapest pos systems, offering flexible payment options to suit businesses of all sizes. The company offers a range of pricing plans, including a simple and fast Quick Start Bundle, a great option for food trucks or small cafes, as it includes initial hardware and basic Retail POS Software for as low as $0/month.

Advantages

• Ease of use and excellent customer service.

Final Words

In conclusion, all these cheapest POS systems offer a range of flexible payment options, features, and tools tailored to meet the unique needs of the restaurant industry. Its cloud-based system, ease of use, and 24/7 customer support make it an appealing option for businesses of all sizes.