This guide walks you through some of the best POS systems used in Australia right now — what makes them shine, where they might struggle, and who they suit. I’ll lead with your four picks (POSApt, Square, Lightspeed, Epos Now) and then show a few others that are gaining ground in Aussie businesses.
If you’re running a shop, café, bar or any business that handles payments, your POS (Point of Sale) system is more than just a cash register. It’s the nerve centre: your sales, stock, staff, customers, reporting — all tied together. In Australia’s fast-paced retail and hospitality landscape, picking the right POS can save you headaches, margins, and even your nights of sleep.
Let’s dig in.
Best POS Systems in Australia
1. POSApt
POSApt is one of the more “local” POS systems you’ll come across — built for, and marketed to, the Australian and Asia-Pacific market. Because it’s regionally focused, POSApt often understands local quirks like GST, EFTPOS integrations, and Aussie business expectations better than global systems.
What’s good about POSApt
- Tailored for Australian retailers and hospitality operations (menus, stock, multi-site)
- Competitive pricing and transparent plans (they often promote “free POS + transaction fees” models)
- Local support, which can be a huge plus when things go south
- Supports Android devices (so hardware costs can be lower)
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Because it’s not as massive as, say, Square or Lightspeed, its third-party app ecosystem may be smaller
- Hardware compatibility might be more constrained
- As your business scales, you’ll want to test whether POSApt keeps up in robustness
Best fit
Smaller to medium shops or venues in Australia that want a POS with local flavour, support, and decent features without overpaying to start.
2. Square
Square is a well-known name in the POS world globally, and it’s actively used in Australia. Their big pitch: simple, fast setup, minimal fuss, and you only pay when you take payments.
What’s good about Square
- Low barrier to entry: no monthly software fee for the basic plan; you just pay transaction fees
- Clean, intuitive interface — easy for staff to pick up
- Decent integration with inventory, sales reporting, and add-ons (loyalty, invoicing)
- Works across devices: tablet, phone, dedicated hardware
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- For heavy retail (many SKUs, complex inventory, many outlets) you might hit limits
- High transaction volume businesses may find fees add up
- Some support limitations in Australia compared to truly local providers
Best fit
Small to medium retailers, market stalls, cafés — businesses that value ease, low upfront cost, and simplicity.
3. Lightspeed
Lightspeed is more heavyweight: built for businesses with more complexity — multiple stores, detailed stock control, advanced reporting. Lightspeed acquired Kounta, an Aussie POS company, which helps its local presence.
What’s good about Lightspeed
- Strong inventory tools: variants, multi-location, bundles
- Good for scaling — multiple stores, more registers, central management
- Rich reporting, analytics, and deeper features for promos, customer segmentation
- More mature ecosystem of integrations
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Pricier, especially for full feature plans
- Steeper learning curve
- Some hardware constraints or extra costs
- Smaller businesses might not need the full weight of its features
Best fit
Growing retailers, multi-store operations, shops with lots of SKUs or needing advanced reporting and control.
3. Epos Now
Epos Now is often a middle ground: more features than “barebones” POS, less complexity (and cost) than the big enterprise players. It’s fairly well established in Australia.
What’s good about Epos Now
- Good set of features: inventory, reporting, integrations like Xero
- Suited to both retail and hospitality (table / kitchen modules)
- More established brand, so more user feedback, support channels, third-party apps
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Hardware costs may be steep
- Some reviews cite support or after-sales as weaker or slower
- Integration coverage might lag behind the biggest players
Best fit
Businesses that want a solid all-rounder with more capability than basic POS but don’t yet demand full enterprise complexity.
4. Shopify POS
While Shopify is best known for eCommerce, its POS arm is popular in Australia, especially for retailers who already run an online shop.
What’s good about Shopify POS
- Seamless link between online and physical stores
- Unified inventory and orders
- Great for omnichannel strategies
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- For purely in-store businesses, some features feel overkill
- You may need to add extra paid apps to cover specific needs
Best fit
Retailers who already use Shopify online and want a smooth bridge between their web store and physical shop.
5. Zeller POS
Zeller is a newer but fast-growing POS + EFTPOS option in Australia. They offer a free POS system (no software fees) and a terminal that integrates payments.
What’s good about Zeller POS
- No monthly software charges
- Simple and affordable model
- Integrated payments in one solution
- User-friendly interface, ideal for small operators
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Relatively new in the market compared to bigger players
- Lacks the depth of advanced features needed for complex businesses
Best fit
Small businesses, cafés, and local operators looking for a straightforward POS + payment solution.
6. Hike POS
Hike is another POS often used by small to medium retailers in Australia.
What’s good about Hike POS
- Balance of features and affordability
- Supports eCommerce integrations
- User-friendly, making it easy for staff training
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Lacks some advanced features that larger businesses might need
- Limited scalability for big chains
Best fit
Independent stores or small retail chains that want solid POS features at a fair cost.
7. OrderMate
OrderMate is more hospitality-oriented, offering features like table management, kitchen order screens, and menu management.
What’s good about OrderMate
- Purpose-built for cafés, restaurants, and hospitality
- Streamlined ordering and kitchen workflows
- Tools for managing dine-in and takeaway operations
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Not designed for pure retail — might miss key retail tools
- Can be more expensive than general POS systems
Best fit
Restaurants, cafés, and bars that need a tailored hospitality POS solution.
8. Impos
Impos is another POS widely used in hospitality across Australia, particularly by multi-site venues.
What’s good about Impos
- Strong food and beverage features
- Scalable for multi-site operations
- Solid reputation in Aussie hospitality
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Less retail-focused
- Pricing and implementation can be higher than entry-level systems
Best fit
Hospitality businesses, including restaurants, bars, and multi-venue operators.
9. POS Solutions (Australia)
POS Solutions is a more traditional and local provider, often used by retailers across the country.
What’s good about POS Solutions
- Local support and presence in Australia
- Experience with Australian retailers and GST requirements
- Integration with accounting systems like MYOB and Xero
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- May not be as modern or flexible as newer cloud POS options
- Interface and design may feel dated
Best fit
Traditional retailers who want a locally supported POS system with proven stability.
10. Idealpos
Idealpos is another name often appearing in Australian POS discussions. It offers a range of features across retail and hospitality.
What’s good about Idealpos
- Highly customisable interface
- Inventory and reporting tools
- Flexible for different industries
What to watch out for / potential drawbacks
- Can require more setup and training
- Pricing varies depending on configuration
Best fit
Retailers or hospitality businesses that need a flexible, customisable system.
Final thoughts
Choosing the “best” POS really comes down to what your business needs right now, and what it might need next year.
- Start with a low-risk system (Square, Zeller) to test the waters
- As you grow, migrate toward something more powerful like Lightspeed or POSApt
- Always do a test run (trial, demo) to see how it handles your inventory, your busiest shift, your quirks
