Every POS product page reads like it was built specifically for your exact business, which makes the actual decision harder, not easier. A few concrete questions cut through the marketing faster than any feature comparison chart.
Start with what you're actually replacing
A paper ledger, a basic cash register, or a spreadsheet each have different pain points, and the right POS should directly solve whichever one is actually costing you time or money right now — not add features you don't currently need.
Check if it fits your specific business type
A restaurant needs table management and kitchen order routing that a retail shop doesn't, while a retail shop needs barcode scanning and stock-level alerts a restaurant doesn't. A generic system stretched to fit either usually leaves gaps.
Consider how many people will actually use it
A solo operation has very different needs than a business with multiple cashiers needing separate logins and role-based permissions — check whether multi-user access is included or an expensive add-on before committing.
Think about where you'll actually check your numbers
If you want to check sales from home or a second location, cloud-based access matters. If your business runs entirely from one counter with no need for remote access, that feature may matter less than reliability and speed at the till.
Test the free tier or trial properly before committing
Actually enter real products, make real test sales, and check a real report — not just click through the interface. A trial period is only useful if you use it the way you'd actually use the system day to day.