What Is the Best POS Software for Grocery? 6 Top Providers

Grocery stores have some of the lowest average profit margins in retail, averaging just 1–3% — you can’t afford to deal with inefficient operations. You need your checkout, inventory, and ordering processes to run smoothly if you want to keep your store in the black.

And if you don’t have the best POS software for grocery store operations, you might just be losing more cash to inefficient processes than you think. 

The wrong point of sale (POS) system struggles to manage perishable inventory, process EBT payments, or verify ages on alcohol sales. When your technology fights against your business instead of supporting it, you're setting yourself up for frustration and lost revenue.

That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide to the six best POS software solutions for grocery operations. 

Essential Features Every Grocery Store Needs in POS Software for Grocery Operations 

Before we explore our list of software providers, let’s discuss the criteria we used to build this list.

Running a grocery store brings up challenges other retailers don’t face — think perishable inventory, complex pricing structures, and strict health regulations. Our list of POS software solutions all have the unique features stores like yours require to run smoothly.

Let’s examine some of the key features to look for when choosing POS software for grocery store operations: 

• Inventory management: Track stock levels across your entire store with automated low-stock notifications that help you avoid running out of inventory. 
• Variable weight item handling: Process deli meats, produce, and other items sold by weight.
• Flexible payment processing: Accept all payment types your customers prefer, including EMV, debit, EBT Food, EBT Cash, gift cards, checks, and contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• Self-checkout capabilities: Reduce wait times and labor costs by allowing customers to scan and pay for items themselves.
• Customer loyalty programs: Build repeat business by rewarding frequent shoppers with points, discounts, or special offers.
• E-commerce integration: Invest in a system that allows you to offer online ordering with pickup and delivery options.

These features are critical for grocery stores looking to get the most out of their POS solutions. 

Related Read: Brick-and-Mortar vs. E-Commerce: Which Is Best?

How To Choose the Right POS Software for Grocery Stores 

Finding the perfect POS software for your grocery store can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s discuss a quick step-by-step process you can follow when evaluating the solutions we’ll discuss in this post.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Operations
Start by taking inventory of your daily reality. How many transactions do you process each day? Do you have one location or multiple stores? Also, consider your staff's comfort level with technology — they’ll be the ones using the system the most, and you want your adoption process to go smoothly.

Step 2: Set Your Budget
Most grocery stores just look at the monthly subscription price, but you need to look beyond that to budget appropriately. Factor in hardware costs, payment processing fees, training time, and any setup charges. Remember: The cheapest option upfront often costs more in the long run.

Step 3: Identify Your Integration Needs
Make a list of the software and systems you currently use, such as accounting programs, supplier portals, loyalty programs, or e-commerce platforms. Your new POS should connect with these tools to avoid duplicate work.

Step 4: Plan for Growth
Think about where you want your business to be in two to three years. Will you add locations? Expand product lines? Offer online ordering? Choose a POS that can scale with your ambitions rather than limiting them. Cloud-based systems typically offer the most flexibility for growing businesses.

The 6 Best POS Software Providers for Grocery Stores 

With this context in mind, let’s explore our list of the best POS software for grocery stores.

1. Markt POS: Best for Specialty & Organic Markets

Markt POS is an all-in-one grocery point of sale solution designed for delis, butcher shops, international supermarkets, and other unique local markets. Our solution was built by grocers, for grocers, and is designed with all the features you need (and none of the overpriced bells and whistles you don’t). 

Key features:

• Scale integration: Handle variable weight items like produce, deli meats, and bulk goods with automatic price calculation.
• Quick-serve functionality: Manage traditional grocery and prepared food sales from the same location. This is perfect for grocerants.
• Marketing integrations: Connect with email and SMS platforms to build customer loyalty with targeted promotions and personalized offers.
• Lot traceability: Track products from supplier to sale for food safety compliance and quality control.
• Customer loyalty programs: Build lasting relationships with point-based rewards that turn occasional shoppers into regular customers.

Pricing: Custom pricing

Best for: Butcher shops, farmers markets, specialty food stores, international supermarkets, and unique local markets

Pros: Specialty market focus, optimized for weight-based sales, industry-specific features designed for your challenges
Cons: May include more specialized features than standard grocery operations need

2. IT Retail: Best for Butcher Shops

IT Retail offers a point of sale solution for grocery stores, markets, butcher shops, and more. In addition to food retailers, they offer solutions for dollar stores, thrift shops, and bodegas, making them a bit less targeted than Markt POS. However, they still offer the grocery-specific features independent grocers need.

Related Read: Speeding Up Your Grocery Store Checkout Line: 6 Tips for Efficiency

Key features:

• Self-checkout options: Use secure self-checkout stations to speed up your checkout lines and keep customers happy. 
• E-commerce integration: Connect your physical store with online sales without creating an inventory management mess.
• Advanced inventory management: Track perishables with expiration dates and optimize stock rotation automatically.

Pricing: Custom pricing

Best for: Small to medium grocers wanting a full-featured solution

Pros: Designed specifically for grocers, excellent inventory management, industry expertise
Cons: Higher learning curve, premium pricing compared to generic solutions

3. Square: Best for New Business Owners

Square offers an easy-to-use, affordable POS solution. Their system is best known for its plug-and-play, solopreneur-centered hardware, but they do offer more robust solutions that can work well for small grocery stores or brand new business owners looking to get up and running quickly. 

Key features:

• User-friendly interface: Get your team trained and operational in minutes with an intuitive design.
• Omnichannel capabilities: Accept payments in store, online, and over the phone.
• Built-in reporting: Monitor sales trends and performance with easy-to-understand analytics.

Pricing: Advanced features start at $29/month

Best for: New business owners and solopreneurs

Pros: Easy setup, affordable entry point, intuitive design
Cons: Limited grocery-specific features, may require upgrades or replatforming as you grow

4. National Retail Solutions (NRS): Best for Expanding Chains

NRS delivers a no-frills solution that works well for grocery chains looking to expand to more locations. Their cloud-based platform has key features that grocers need to keep operations simple while allowing room to grow.

Key features:

• Coupon club network: Give customers access to exclusive deals across all NRS-affiliated stores in your area.
• eWIC integration: Accept WIC benefits electronically to serve more customers without the management headaches.
• Multilocation support: Add new stores and manage inventory across multiple locations easily.

Pricing: Ranges from $19.99—$44.95/month with à la carte options

Best for: Growing grocers planning multiple locations

Pros: Scalable architecture, unique customer loyalty network, affordable base pricing
Cons: Basic feature set, additional costs for advanced features

5. Lightspeed: Best for Enterprise Grocery

Lightspeed Retail offers a point of sale solution for retailers across multiple verticals. It’s not built specifically for grocery retailers, but they offer an enterprise-level solution with advanced features that grocers can customize to fit their operations. 

Key features:

• Multilocation management: Coordinate inventory and operations across multiple stores.
• Advanced inventory forecasting: Use historical sales data and trends to predict demand and make better decisions regarding ordering and inventory.
• Enterprise-level analytics: Deep-dive into customer behavior, sales patterns, and store performance with customizable reports.

Pricing: Starts at $89 per month

Best for: Multilocation grocers, ambitious store owners planning to scale

Pros: Comprehensive multistore management, seamless online integration, enterprise-level features
Cons: Higher price point than single-location solutions, may include more complexity than smaller operations need

6. Epos Now: Best for Small Budgets

Epos Now offers a comprehensive POS solution designed for small grocery stores that need just the essentials. Their system handles the core requirements of grocery retail without some of the more complex features that can drive up pricing. 

Key features:

• Low-stock alerts: Receive notifications when popular items are running low to prevent stockouts.
• Security features: Track discounts, voids, and returns to protect against employee theft and errors.
• Basic inventory management: Monitor stock levels and track product performance with simple, effective tools.

Pricing: Starts at a $1,099 one-time payment (includes hardware and software)

Best for: Small grocers with tight budgets

Pros: Affordable entry point, simple setup, includes essential hardware
Cons: Limited advanced features, less grocery-specific functionality

Find Your Perfect POS Software for Grocery Success 

The six POS solutions in this guide all offer critical features and functionality for grocery stores. While generic retail systems might handle basic sales, they fall short when you're dealing with perishable inventory, weight-based pricing, EBT transactions, and the dozens of other things that make grocery retail unique.

So, which solution is best for your store? No solution is the best fit for every business. But if you operate a specialty market, butcher shop, or small independent grocery store, Markt POS stands out as the clear choice. Markt POS was built specifically for businesses like yours, giving you all the features you need to offer the kind of personalized customer service that sets independent grocers apart from big-box stores.

Ready to see how the right POS software can take your business to the next level? Schedule a demo with POS Nation today to discover what Markt POS can do for your grocery store.