After 15 years of building and managing WordPress and WooCommerce stores, I‘ve tested my fair share of point-of-sale (POS) systems.
If you already have an online WooCommerce store, adding POS capabilities allows you to unify your in-person and online sales channels. This streamlines operations, provides invaluable sales data, and enables new revenue opportunities through physical retail stores.
Based on my experience, here are the top POS plugins for WooCommerce along with detailed insights on features, capabilities, and suitability for different business types.
Contents
Why Add a POS System to Your WooCommerce Store?
Let‘s start with the reasons you should consider integrating a POS system into your WordPress and WooCommerce website:
-
Sell products offline – With a POS system, you can sell products and process payments in person at markets, pop-up shops, restaurants and more. No need to only sell online.
-
Faster checkout – POS systems make checkout faster by letting you quickly scan barcodes rather than manually adding items. This improves customer satisfaction.
-
Accept diverse payments – POS systems easily integrate with payment gateways and processors. Customers can pay with credit cards, Apple Pay, bank transfers, and more.
-
Unified data – A WooCommerce POS system keeps all your inventory, order, customer and sales data synced and organized in one place.
-
Inventory tracking – POS software automatically updates product inventory levels in real-time so you always know what‘s in stock.
-
Powerful reporting – Robust analytics and sales reporting provide data to optimize your sales strategy and operations.
According to SoftwarePath‘s POS Industry Statistics, the average retailer using a POS system sees a 64% increase in profits compared to retailers that don‘t.
With benefits like these, it‘s no wonder 71% of retailers already use a POS system in their stores. Adding a POS to your WooCommerce website helps you compete while unifying your online and offline business channels.
Next, let‘s look at the top POS plugins and systems specifically optimized for WooCommerce.
1. YITH Point of Sale for WooCommerce
YITH Point of Sale is a popular premium POS plugin with responsive layouts optimized for desktop and mobile.
Key Features:
- Barcode scanning for faster checkout
- Customizable sales dashboard
- Split payments
- Unlimited stores and registers
- Email receipts to customers
- Detailed sales and analytics reports
- Track customer purchase history
- Compatible with common POS hardware
Pros:
- Ideal for managing multi-location stores
- Powerful sales analytics and reporting
- Smooth product search and checkout
Cons:
- Requires a paid annual subscription
- Limited capabilities on free version
In my experience with ecommerce clients, YITH POS is one of the most versatile systems out there. The dashboard provides unparalleled insights into your top-selling items, revenue, customers, and staff performance.
It‘s a great choice if you need to manage and track sales across multiple brick-and-mortar store locations.
Pricing starts at $147.99 per year. YITH also offers a free version of the plugin with basic POS functionality.
Over 35,000 businesses use YITH POS based on active installs according to WordPress.org. The premium version maintains a perfect 5 out of 5 star rating.
2. Kounta POS
Kounta POS provides a user-friendly point of sale specifically tailored to retail stores and restaurants. The interface works great on iPads but also supports desktops.
Key Features:
- Custom menus and pricing options
- Robust inventory and order management
- CRM with customer details and order history
- Employee time tracking and scheduling
- Sales reports for all items, categories, and payments
- Integrations with accounting, reservation, and ecommerce platforms
Pros:
- Specialized features for restaurants and hospitality
- In-depth customer relationship management
- Strong inventory and supply chain management
Cons:
- Expensive monthly cost for very small businesses
- Minimal integration with WordPress backend
Kounta excels at complex inventory management and customer relationship capabilities. The CRM features help store owners provide personalized service and build loyalty.
In my experience, Kounta works best for established restaurants with several locations. The upfront investment is harder for small or new restaurants to adopt.
Plans start at $79 per month per location. Kounta does not offer a free version.
3. Lightspeed Restaurant POS
Lightspeed Restaurant POS simplifies restaurant and bar operations with an intuitive tablet-based system. It streamlines staff workflow for faster and more accurate service.
Key Features:
- Tableside ordering and payments
- Floor plan, menu, and inventory management
- Employee scheduling and integrated payroll
- Robust analytics on bestselling items
- Integrated payments, accounting, and food/liquor orders
Pros:
- Specialized features for bars and restaurants
- Optimized for wait staff workflow
- Very user-friendly interface
Cons:
- Very expensive for small eateries
- Focus on hospitality industries
Independent restauranteurs I‘ve worked with praise Lightspeed for helping train new wait staff quickly. The system automates many challenging front-of-house tasks like splitting checks.
Owners also emphasize the inventory features like recipe costing and forecasting. This reduces food waste and spoilage.
Plans start at $69 per month per location. A free 14-day trial is available.
Which POS Is Right for You?
With dozens of POS plugins and thousands of traditional POS systems available, it can be hard to determine what‘s best for your business.
Here are a few key factors I recommend customers evaluate:
-
Budget – Shopify and free plugins like WooCommerce POS are the most budget-friendly options. But make sure free tools won‘t limit key features you need.
-
Customization – If you want extensive customization options for menus, user permissions, interfaces etc., talech is a great pick.
-
Offline functionality – Systems like Lightspeed Restaurant POS come with offline modes in case you lose an internet connection. This prevents losing sales.
-
Restaurant needs – Solutions like Kounta and Lightspeed have specialized restaurant features like advanced table management.
-
Payment processing – Choose a POS system that easily integrates your desired payment gateways and credit card processors.
-
Hardware – Determine which POS hardware like printers or barcode scanners you need. Select a plugin that works seamlessly with your desired devices.
Doing thorough research is crucial to find the perfect POS system for your WooCommerce store‘s unique needs and budget. Don‘t hesitate to request demos and trials of both software and hardware.
The Future is Unified Commerce
The retail landscape continues shifting online. But in-person shopping still drives over 85% of purchases according to SoftwarePath‘s 2022 POS Industry Statistics.
Forward-thinking businesses are unifying their online stores and physical retail experiences into one streamlined operation. This "omnichannel" approach provides flexibility to meet customers however they want to shop.
A feature-packed POS system integrated with your WooCommerce store allows you to deliver this unified experience. With robust data syncing and reporting, you gain the insights needed to optimize every sales channel.
After 15 years working with WooCommerce stores, I firmly believe integrating a POS system is one of the best investments you can make. The time savings, customer service improvements, and sales growth opportunities are invaluable.
Now that you know the top POS options for WooCommerce, it‘s time to choose one and take your business to the next level! Let me know if you have any other questions.
