POS System Scanner
The most powerful yet underrated inventory management tools are barcode scanners.
Don't spend hours researching just to end up with one that doesn't suit the needs of your business.
We've done the research for you!
Come dive in as we review the 5 highest-rated POS barcode scanner options on the market today, allowing you to find the perfect fit.
Best For | Cost | Top Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | $69 per month starting | Inventory system, user permissions, offline credit payments | |
Best cloud-based system | $30 per month starting | Custom receipts, progressive web app, AI facial recognition | |
Best for customer service | $99 per month | Automated recording, inventory management, loyalty programs | |
Best for Mobile use | $49/month | Mobile access, streamlined staff management, real-time reporting | |
Best free POS software | Free starting | Customer data capture, employee management, purchase histories |
ShopKeep POS is one of the top companies that supports point-of-sale scanners.
This POS platform offers a wide variety of features, including user permissions, deposits, discounts, returns, refunds, payment processing, and, of course, barcode scanning.
It's one of the best companies out there for small businesses that are looking for a more efficient way to run their businesses, whether in-person or remotely.
With this POS system, scanning barcodes is a breeze.
The company offers a wide range of barcode scanners beyond the standard ones, allowing you to find the one that best suits your needs.
Beyond its barcode scanning capabilities, this POS company provides offline credit card payment flexibility and non-receipt refunds and returns. If you're looking to maximize your profits with a quality inventory management system, ShopKeep is a solid choice.
Head over to ShopKeep POS reviews for more information.
Another one of our favorite POS systems for barcode scanners is the ConnectPOS cloud-based software.
No matter what type of business you have and no matter what size, ConnectPOS can work for you.
You'll find plenty of handy features packed into this point-of-sale system, including custom receipts, custom sales, multiple tax levels, AI facial recognition, staff management, inventory management, multi-warehouse operations, and more.
Plus, you can integrate all of the common hardware that you'd expect from a POS system, such as a receipt printer, credit card reader, barcode scanner, and more.
It's easy for employees and store assistants to locate products with ease or check stock with barcode labels.
The payment processing system integrated into ConnectPOS is also high-quality, accepting a wide range of payments, including cash, credit cards, gift cards, and more. You can perform just about every operation through the progressive web app, which you can connect to your iPad.
Vend POS
Vend POS is a web-based POS system that works for just about any retail business.
You'll find tons of high-end features in Vend's system, including inventory management, sales tracking, individual staff accounts, and barcode scanning.
Unlike many other POS systems out there, Vend also supports payments offline.
The company provides retailers with a free barcode scanner app, which you can use to turn any mobile device into a barcode scanner for your business.
It's a great way to save on hardware costs and can be really handy in numerous situations, as long as you have the ability to use the camera on the front of your iPad or iPhone.
Vend also has an option that allows users to customize your website and receipts with your logo.
You'll also find a wide range of features, such as cash movement tracking and cash management, and payment options, including gift cards, split payments, mobile, and contactless payments.
The customer management features are top-notch, including purchase history, customer lists, customer profiles, and more.
Shopify has become one of the biggest names in eCommerce over the past few years and is known for its web-based POS systems designed for businesses of all sizes. With Shopify, you get access to features like PIN codes, staff management, and barcode scanners.
The company provides a wide range of barcode scanners depending on your needs, including standard barcode scanners, omnidirectional barcode scanners, and more.
Shopify allows you to accept payments in just about any form, including cash, credit card, and contactless payments. Using the Shopify app, you can monitor cash register adjustments to keep track of your money.
Beyond that, some of the other useful features found in this POS system include product management, inventory control, store credit, refunds, and more.
If you run a physical storefront, though you have a large portion of your business working through eCommerce, Shopify POS is a great choice.
Square POS
Last but not least is a developer of POS systems that you've likely heard of — Square POS.
Square designs quality POS systems for small and mid-sized retailers, offering a trial period of 30 days if you want to upgrade to one of the company's higher-tier plans.
The software is robust yet intuitive, and Square provides access to all of the hardware you could possibly need, from barcode scanners to receipt printers and beyond.
One of the features we love on Square's POS system is the ability to capture customer data. With unique tracking data, such as purchase history, you can more effectively manage your customers. Every time Square POS takes in an item with the barcode scanner, it saves it to the database for later use.
This POS system also comes with a very intuitive search function, which allows you to scan barcodes or search through database keywords to determine whether or not certain items are in stock. You can project profit estimates, look at profit margins, and create reports for sales using the high-quality POS support system.
Of course, you also get access to Square's employee management system, which allows you to track employee performance and decide whether or not you need new staff members.
See our Square POS reviews page for more details.
Cost
The cost of a POS system can vary quite widely. For your standard cloud-based system with a barcode scanner, you'll likely pay between $0 and $300 per month.
However, most small business owners spend somewhere around $69 per month at the baseline before paying for additional POS features.
Of course, with so many POS systems on the market today, trying to find the right one for the right price can take a lot of time and effort. Luckily, we offer a free service that delivers price quotes from your local POS vendors based on your needs.
Click the button below and fill out the form to get started.
Types of POS Scanners
There are several types of hardware made to read barcodes, meaning you have a lot of choices when it comes to pairing your POS system with your barcode scanner.
To make sure you choose the right one for your needs, let's look at a few of the different types and what they are used for.
LED Scanner/CCD Scanner
The first scanner type is the LED or CCD scanner.
The great thing about these scanners is that they are incredibly accurate.
However, they can also be very expensive, which is often why you won't see them in small businesses.
The LED or CCD (charged coupled device) features hundreds of small LED lights in a row within what looks like a little toy gun.
These hundreds of lights scan a barcode several times, which reduces the potential of error.
Camera Reader/Image Scanner
The image scanner or camera reader is made to capture the barcode image. These are a bit less expensive than CCD or LED scanners, though aren't as accurate. With that said, they have the ability to read barcodes anywhere from three to nine inches away.
Video Camera Readers
Video camera readers use the same technology found in CCD barcode scanners. You'll find hundreds of small sensors lined up in two-dimensional rows. When scanned, these types of readers can create an image.
Laser Scanners
Laser scanners use systems of lenses and mirrors to read barcodes. These impressive pieces of hardware can read barcodes from up to 24 inches away, and can scan 500 times per second to reduce error.
Omnidirectional Barcode Scanners
You've probably seen omnidirectional barcode scanners at your local supermarket, as they are often used in the horizontal scanners that cashiers slide products over to scan.
These scanners have beams in a wide range of orientations that read barcodes from multiple angles, making them extremely efficient.
The Bottom Line - Which of These is Right for Me?
There you have it, some of the best POS systems on the market that are compatible with barcode scanners. A POS scanner can be extremely helpful for your business if you want to keep better track of inventory and product data.
If you're looking for the perfect POS system for your business but don't know where to start, click the button below and fill out our form. We'll pair you with price quotes from the best POS dealers in your area based on your needs.
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Tyler Connaghan
Contributing Author