Square combines point of sale, card payments, inventory and customer information in a connected business system. Australian businesses can choose general selling, retail or hospitality tools, making it a practical starting point for straightforward checkout and everyday administration.

• Use compatible phones or tablets, Tap to Pay or Square hardware to accept payments. An entry software option is available without a monthly subscription, but card processing, hardware and optional services still carry costs.
• Retail tools cover stock tracking and reporting; hospitality options support menus and service workflows. Advanced capabilities vary by subscription, so compare the specific features your shop or venue needs.
• Square Online, invoicing and customer tools can connect additional sales channels. Test refunds, receipts, accounting exports and end-of-day reconciliation before moving your existing operation.

Our view: An approachable option for smaller businesses wanting connected checkout and room to add features.

Shopify POS connects physical retail sales with a Shopify online store. Products, inventory, orders and customer information share a back office, making it particularly useful for Australian retailers selling through both a website and a shop.

• POS Lite provides basic in-person selling with a Shopify subscription. POS Pro adds advanced retail functions at an additional location-based cost; confirm which store subscription and POS tier your business actually requires.
• Synchronised inventory helps staff see stock across selling channels. Depending on the configuration, retailers can use customer profiles and fulfilment tools to support a more consistent shopping experience.
• Check Australian payment hardware, supported devices and processing terms before buying equipment. Compare subscription charges, location costs and app fees, and test returns and stock reconciliation during the available trial.

Our view: Especially suitable when a Shopify website and physical shop need to work together.

Lightspeed offers separate retail and restaurant POS solutions for Australian businesses. Its retail software focuses on products and stock, while hospitality systems support orders and venue operations. Choosing the correct product series matters because features and integrations differ.

• Retail businesses can compare inventory management, customer profiles, reporting and ecommerce connections. A shop with many products or several locations should demonstrate its purchasing and stock-transfer workflows before selecting a plan.
• Hospitality businesses can assess menu handling, service tools, ordering integrations and sales reporting. Lightspeed’s Australian hospitality heritage includes Kounta, now part of its wider platform.
• Request an Australian demonstration and a complete quote covering software, payments, hardware, integrations and contract terms. Confirm which features are included and how the system behaves during an internet interruption.

Our view: Worth shortlisting for growing businesses that need more specialised retail or hospitality management tools.

Epos Now supplies POS software and hardware solutions for Australian retail and hospitality businesses. Its cloud-based back office supports sales visibility and stock management, with integrations available to extend accounting, online selling and other business workflows.

• Compare retail and hospitality configurations against your daily tasks. Shops should test product searches, barcode scanning and inventory adjustments; venues should demonstrate menu changes, kitchen communication and order handling.
• Hardware packages can simplify purchasing, but check exactly what the advertised bundle includes. Software subscriptions, support, payment processing and optional applications may sit outside the initial equipment price.
• Ask for a written breakdown of contract length, renewal, cancellation, settlement and migration costs. Test the integrations you need rather than relying on a general compatibility claim, particularly when connecting an existing website.

Our view: A useful comparison for businesses wanting a packaged POS setup with expandable software connections.

Abacus provides hospitality POS and ordering tools for Australian businesses. Its range includes iPad and Android options, with additional ordering products that can help cafés, takeaway outlets and restaurants coordinate different ways customers place their orders.

• Assess counter checkout, menu editing and order handling using your own menu. Where offered in the proposed package, compare table ordering and other ordering options to see whether they reduce staff workload and improve service.
• Ask how reporting, customer tools and multi-site functions connect within the selected setup. Confirm the stock-management depth and accounting integrations required by your venue, including any paid modules or third-party services.
• Get a full written quote covering devices, software, payments, installation and support. Check whether promotional or low-upfront-cost offers involve processing commitments or contract conditions, and demonstrate refunds and daily reconciliation before committing.

Our view: A practical hospitality shortlist option for businesses combining counter service with additional ordering channels.

Impos specialises in hospitality POS for Australian venues, including cafés, restaurants, bars and businesses operating multiple sites. Its offering is centred on service workflows, with software, hardware and integration choices tailored to the venue’s requirements.

• Demonstrate a realistic service session: entering orders, making modifications, allocating tables, sending kitchen instructions and completing payments. These practical tasks reveal whether the proposed setup suits your team during busy trading periods.
• Reporting and integrations can help connect venue operations with other systems. Ask which stock, accounting, ordering or hotel-management connections are available for your exact configuration and whether additional charges apply.
• Request a complete venue quote rather than comparing only a software headline. Include installation, training, hardware, ongoing support, maintenance and payment costs, and confirm the process for resolving faults during service.

Our view: A hospitality-focused candidate when venue configuration, staff workflow and implementation support are important.

SwiftPOS is a configurable POS system serving Australian hospitality, sports, retail and event venues. It is particularly relevant when a business needs to coordinate several trading areas, multiple locations or more complex operational and reporting requirements.

• Pubs, clubs and hotels can assess stock control, venue reporting and available membership or loyalty connections. Ask a distributor to demonstrate the precise functions required rather than assuming every configuration includes the same modules.
• Web ordering and integrations can extend the system beyond the counter. Confirm how orders, payments and reporting move between connected tools, and which components continue operating when internet access is interrupted.
• Compare the complete implementation proposal, including equipment, licences, configuration, staff training and ongoing support. Local distributor coverage can be useful, but verify response times and service arrangements for your location.

Our view: Best considered when a venue needs a tailored system with substantial operational flexibility.