The short answer
Software runs from $0 to about $340 a month per location: Square is $0, $49 or $149, Lightspeed Retail $89 to $289 billed yearly, and Shopify POS Pro adds $89. Hardware runs from a $59 card reader to $299 for Square Terminal and $899 for Square Register. Card processing, usually 2.4% to 2.7% in person, is the biggest ongoing cost.
What Does POS Software Cost per Month?
Prices from each vendor's own pricing page as of October 2026. Add-ons cost extra: Square's Kiosk app is $50 a month per device.
| System | Monthly software | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Square | $0, $49 or $149 per location | Paid plans charge per location |
| Lightspeed Retail | $89, $149 or $289 billed yearly | $109, $179 or $339 billed monthly; with Lightspeed Payments |
| Shopify POS | Plans from $39, plus $89 per location for POS Pro | POS Pro billed yearly |
What Does POS Hardware Cost?
A phone can replace the reader for small volume. See Tap to Pay for small business.
- Square Reader for contactless and chip: $59.
- Square Stand: $149, or $14 a month over 12 months.
- Square Terminal: $299 before taxes and fees.
- Square Register: $899 before taxes and fees, or $44 a month over 24 months.
Is Card Processing Included?
No, and it is charged on every sale. Square's in-person rate is 2.6% + 15¢ on its free plan and 2.5% or 2.4% + 15¢ on paid plans. A shop doing $30,000 a month in card sales pays roughly $780 a month at 2.6% before the per-sale fee, about $9,360 a year, which is more than ten Square Registers. Processing rates are compared in average credit card processing fees.
Can You Get POS Hardware Free?
Yes, with conditions. BatchOut offers three ways to get hardware: a free device for businesses that meet a monthly processing volume, a lease with a predictable monthly cost, or buying it outright for the lowest long-run cost. Read the catch with free credit card machines before signing anything that calls itself free.
What Does a POS Cost in the First Year?
Add three numbers: twelve months of software for each location, the hardware for each station, and twelve months of processing on your expected card sales. Processing is usually the largest of the three, which is why the rate matters more than the sticker price of the register. See the setup we would put in for your business type.
Commonly Asked Questions
How much is Square POS per month?
Square lists $0, $49 or $149 a month per location, depending on the plan.
How much does a Square Register cost?
Square lists Square Register at $899 before taxes and fees, or $44 a month over 24 months.
How much is Lightspeed Retail?
Lightspeed lists $89, $149 or $289 a month billed yearly with Lightspeed Payments, or $109, $179 or $339 billed monthly.
Is card processing included in POS pricing?
No. Software and hardware are priced separately, and processing is charged on every sale, at 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Square's free plan.
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