Categories   >   Bookstore Software
Last Reviewed: November 13th, 2024

Best Bookstore Software Of 2024

What is Bookstore Software?

Bookstore Software is a retail solution designed to optimize operations and sales for bookstores. It addresses common issues such as inventory management, sales processing, customer relationship management, and marketing endeavors. Its mission is to enhance operational efficiency, boost customer service, and drive sales. Among its key functionalities are inventory tracking, point-of-sale system, online sales integration, and customer management. Emerging features like in-depth marketing analytics, personalized customer engagement, and cloud-based platforms are lighting up the stage. Primarily, bookstore owners and managers can reap its benefits. However, the software does come with potential drawbacks like high costs for premium features and technical glitches. Putting it briefly, Bookstore Software has the potential to revolutionize bookstore management and customer service, though it necessitates sufficient investment and technical know-how for optimal utilization.

What Are The Key Benefits of Bookstore Software?

  • Enhanced operational efficiency
  • Improved sales processing
  • Streamlined inventory tracking
  • Effective customer management
  • Better marketing strategies
  • Integrated online sales
  • In-depth marketing analytics
  • Personalized customer engagement
  • Cloud-based platforms
  • Greater customer satisfaction
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 33 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Bookstore Software overall:

Clover
Clover
Start Price
$0.10
Per Transaction, 2.3% Flat Rate
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Clover

Clover shines for its user-friendly interface and extensive app marketplace, winning praise for its ease of use and flexibility. "It took my new employee barely a day to get comfortable with the system," one restaurant owner shared. Users rave about the ability to customize Clover with industry-specific apps, like a salon owner who added online booking, saying it "streamlined appointments and boosted customer satisfaction." However, Clover's appeal may wane as businesses scale. Some users feel constrained by the reporting capabilities, wishing for the deeper customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS. "Clover reports were too basic for analyzing my inventory trends," noted one retailer. Additionally, transaction fees for high-volume businesses can become a sticking point compared to more cost-effective options like Stripe. Finally, some users caution about potential hardware lock-in, where switching to different POS systems or even upgrading within Clover can be expensive due to incompatible hardware. This can be a deal-breaker for businesses unsure about their long-term needs. Overall, Clover excels for smaller businesses or those prioritizing ease of use and app integrations. However, its limitations in reporting, fee structure, and hardware flexibility become more apparent as businesses grow, pushing them towards more powerful and scalable POS solutions. Ultimately, the choice boils down to prioritizing user-friendliness and flexibility in the early stages versus advanced features and scalability as a business matures.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of use: Praised for its intuitive interface and touchscreen operation, enabling quick learning and adoption for new employees, saving training time and boosting efficiency.
  • App customization: Users love the vast app marketplace offering industry-specific integrations and features, like appointment booking for salons or online ordering for restaurants, tailoring Clover to unique business needs.
  • Data-driven insights: Detailed sales reports and inventory tracking are seen as game-changers, providing valuable data to optimize operations, identify marketing opportunities, and make informed business decisions.
  • Reliable hardware: Users appreciate the quality and durability of Clover hardware, minimizing downtime and disruptions during peak hours, with features like offline payments ensuring service even without internet.
  • Scalability and flexibility: Clover's ability to adapt to growing businesses is a plus, with various hardware options and plan upgrades facilitating smooth transitions as transaction volume and business needs increase.
  • Higher monthly fees for high volume: While competitive for low-volume businesses, Clover's transaction fees and higher-tier plan costs can become significant for businesses processing large volumes, making other options like Stripe potentially more cost-effective.
  • Limited reporting customization: Users with complex reporting needs may find Clover's report customization options insufficient, lacking the depth and flexibility offered by dedicated business intelligence tools or high-end POS systems.
  • Potential hardware lock-in: Some features require specific Clover hardware, making switching to other POS systems or even upgrading within Clover potentially expensive as existing hardware may not be compatible.
  • Occasional app limitations: While the app marketplace is vast, certain industry-specific features or integrations may be missing, requiring workarounds or alternative solutions if Clover doesn't fully address a specific business need.
  • Steeper learning curve for complex features: While basic operations are user-friendly, advanced features like inventory management or employee roles can require more training and familiarization, potentially slowing down adoption for some users.

Key Features

  • Intuitive interface: Easy-to-use touchscreen interface for quick navigation and efficient transactions.
  • Payment processing: Accepts major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and more.
  • Inventory management: Track stock levels, set alerts, and generate purchase orders to optimize inventory control.
  • Employee management: Track employee hours, assign permissions, and manage payroll with ease.
  • Sales reporting: Generate detailed sales reports to track revenue, analyze trends, and make informed business decisions.
  • Customer management: Store customer information, track purchase history, and create loyalty programs to foster customer relationships.
  • App marketplace: Access a wide range of third-party apps to extend Clover's functionality and cater to specific business needs.
  • Hardware options: Choose from various terminals, card readers, and printers to create a custom POS setup that suits your business.
  • Mobile app: Manage your business on the go with Clover's mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
  • Cloud-based: Access data and manage your POS system from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Security: Protects sensitive customer data with industry-leading security measures.
  • Customer support: Offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and online resources.
Toast
Toast
Start Price
$69
Per Terminal, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Toast

Toast garners praise for its user-friendly interface, robust reporting, and mobile capabilities, making it a popular choice for restaurants of various sizes. Users appreciate its intuitive design, which simplifies training and streamlines daily operations compared to competitors like Square and Lightspeed POS. Toast's extensive reporting, often highlighted as superior to competitors, empowers data-driven decision-making by offering detailed insights into sales, labor, and customer behavior. Additionally, the ability to manage orders and payments tableside using mobile devices sets Toast apart, enhancing staff flexibility and customer service during peak hours.

However, concerns arise regarding Toast's pricing structure, customization options, and technical glitches. The multi-tiered pricing, perceived as more complex than competitors, can become expensive for businesses with specific needs or multiple locations. While Toast offers various features, users sometimes find them less customizable than those in competitors like Revel Systems, restricting their ability to tailor the system to their unique workflows. Occasional technical issues and reported long wait times for customer support raise concerns about reliability compared to competitors known for their robust technical support, such as Micros.

Ultimately, Toast's strengths in user-friendliness, reporting, and mobility resonate with many users, but its pricing complexity, limited customization, and potential technical issues demand careful consideration. Deciding factors often boil down to individual business needs, budget constraints, and desired level of customization. Weighing Toast's strengths against its potential drawbacks alongside competitor offerings becomes crucial for making an informed decision.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise Toast's easy-to-learn and navigate interface, with clear menus, large buttons, and simple workflows, making it accessible for staff of all technical levels.
  • Robust reporting: Toast's comprehensive reporting tools provide valuable insights into sales, inventory, labor costs, customer behavior, and more, empowering data-driven decision-making.
  • Mobile flexibility: Staff can take orders, process payments, and manage tables directly from tablets or smartphones, enhancing tableside service and flexibility during busy periods.
  • Reliable payment processing: Users commend Toast's integrated payment processing for its speed, reliability, and security, ensuring smooth transactions and minimizing downtime.
  • Scalability for growth: Toast's ability to accommodate multiple locations, expanding menus, and growing staff needs makes it a popular choice for businesses with expansion plans.
  • Pricing complexity: Users express frustration with Toast's tiered pricing structure, which can become confusing and expensive, especially for businesses with multiple locations or add-on features.
  • Limited customization: Some users find Toast's customization options for menus, reporting, and workflows to be somewhat restrictive, hindering their ability to tailor the system to unique business processes.
  • Technical glitches: Users occasionally report software glitches, hardware issues, or slow performance during peak hours, leading to temporary disruptions in operations.
  • Customer support wait times: While Toast offers 24/7 support, users sometimes experience long wait times for phone assistance or delayed responses to inquiries, causing frustration when urgent issues arise.
  • Inventory management limitations: Users with complex inventory needs, such as multiple suppliers or intricate recipe tracking, find Toast's inventory management capabilities to be somewhat basic and lacking in advanced features.

Key Features

  • Online Ordering: Allow guests to order food online for takeout and delivery, schedule orders in advance, access the online menu and make contactless payments. Receive new orders directly in the restaurant’s point of sale system, customize the online ordering page, access customer insights and request guest feedback to modify services. 
  • Gift Cards and Rewards: Boost customer influx and increase revenue by selling modern e-Gift Cards. Allow users to text or email cards for in-store and online purchases. Check card balance and schedule gift cards in advance to build relationships with customers. Sell customized physical gift cards and review detailed reports on gift card sales. 
  • Expedited Delivery: Create an on-demand delivery network with local drivers at a single per-order fee. Simplify the process with real-time order tracking and advance scheduling, online payment options and review restaurant services based on customer behavior with reporting and analytics. 
  • Email Marketing: Improve communication and drive customer retention with emails. Run targeted promotions, increase revenue, automate outreach and campaigns, create custom email lists, run A/B tests to refine communication, and send customized messages to deepen brand loyalty. 
  • Self-help Services: Accelerate the online ordering experience with self-help kiosks. Leverage quick restaurant service, reduce wait times and increase staff productivity. Offer a personalized dining experience with order add-ons, SMS notifications and real-time menu updates. 
  • Workspace Management: Facilitate efficient team regulation with a centralized labor management system. Log and track work hours, monitor timesheets, calculate tips, ensure paycheck accuracy with automated wage recording, register new staff electronically and more. Get insight into employee performance with detailed reports and analytics. 
Mindbody
Mindbody
Start Price
$159
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Mindbody

Mindbody is a business management software designed for gyms, spas, salons and other businesses in the wellness industry. On the plus side, it offers an innovative user interface, calendar syncing, marketing and CRM integrations, and insightful reporting capabilities. It offers a dynamic booking and scheduling system to schedule group sessions, set appointments, sell retail products, manage staff hours and more.

Based on user reviews, the software faces frequent crashes and bug problems. Customer service executives are undertrained and take hours to respond. All things considered, Mindbody is an ideal solution for businesses in the yoga and fitness industry.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: The system offers a practical and innovative interface with quality graphics, according to 80% of users who reviewed this element.
  • Reporting: 60% of users who mentioned this feature said reporting tools are extensive and varied.
  • Functionality: 90% of users mentioning functionalities said the software offers great scheduling, booking and cancellation options.
  • Customer Service: The support executives are unresponsive, and wait times are long, according to 90% of users who reviewed this aspect.
  • Cost-Effective: 100% of users reviewing pricing found the software expensive.
  • Operating System: 90% of users reporting this element experienced frequent software crashes, outages and system bugs.

Key Features

  • Online Services: Manage and deliver services online for an enhanced customer experience. Organize virtual fitness classes, interact with clients using an AI receptionist, manage appointments, process digital payments and connect with members around the globe. Allow clients to schedule courses, access the content library, accept offers, drop reviews and more. 
  • Client Profiles: Automate and personalize services by managing individual profiles for staff members based on availability. Set the upper limit to the number of clients able to enroll in a given class, create automated waitlists, track remaining courses and allow online scheduling and payments. Access the client history, including past classes, membership status, signed contracts, waivers, invoices, due bills and more using the customer management tools. 
  • Payment Tools: Fast-track payments using multiple transaction options and seamless integration with third-party channels. Simplify the checkout process using software tools like the credit card magnetic reader, electronic cash drawer, barcode labels, thermal receipt printer and more. 
  • Mobile Application: Create a personalized mobile app to increase your brand exposure and broaden the customer experience. Boost client retention, engagement and spending and allow customers to book, schedule and access services directly from the phone. Send push notifications for deals and events announcements, cancellation notices and manage business operations on a single screen. 
  • Automated Customer Marketing: Send automatic emails and texts, create smart contact lists to deliver tailored messages and personalize marketing campaigns. Share announcements, request reviews, offer rewards, take feedback and run insightful reports to boost customer loyalty and retention. 
Lightspeed
Lightspeed
Start Price
$69
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Lightspeed

Lightspeed POS, a cloud-based solution catering to retail, hospitality, and service industries, garners mixed reviews from users. While lauded for its user-friendly interface, robust features, omnichannel capabilities, and seamless integrations, some find its pricing complex, offline functionality limited, and specific functionalities lacking.

Strengths that shine: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The vast feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools, caters to diverse business needs. Integrations with popular software like QuickBooks and Shopify streamline operations and data exchange. Notably, Lightspeed excels in omnichannel management, allowing businesses to manage online and physical stores seamlessly, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape.

Weaknesses to consider: The pricing structure, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality, can be confusing for some users. The lack of true offline functionality can be a dealbreaker for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas. While the feature set is comprehensive, some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, which might necessitate workarounds or third-party integrations.

Standing out from the crowd: Compared to competitors like Square POS and Shopify POS, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and caters to more complex business needs. However, these strengths come at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice between Lightspeed and its competitors boils down to individual business requirements and budget constraints.

In conclusion, Lightspeed POS is a feature-rich solution with a user-friendly interface, but its pricing structure and lack of true offline functionality can be drawbacks. If you prioritize omnichannel capabilities, extensive integrations, and a robust feature set, Lightspeed is worth considering. However, carefully evaluate your needs and budget against potential limitations before making a decision.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even with limited technical experience.
  • Robust Features: Lightspeed offers an extensive suite of features, addressing various business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, employee management, and omnichannel capabilities.
  • Integrations: The system integrates seamlessly with a wide range of popular third-party software, such as accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms, streamlining workflows and data exchange.
  • Omnichannel Functionality: Lightspeed excels in managing both online and in-store sales channels effectively, providing a unified experience for customers and streamlining operations across multiple touchpoints.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Users appreciate the comprehensive reporting tools that offer insights into sales trends, customer behavior, inventory levels, and employee performance, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Customer Support: Lightspeed offers multiple support channels, including phone, email, and online resources, with generally helpful and knowledgeable agents, providing assistance when needed.
  • Pricing Structure: Some users find the tiered pricing plans and add-on fees confusing, making it difficult to calculate accurate costs upfront.
  • Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on an internet connection can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or those operating in remote areas.
  • Inventory Management Issues: Some users have reported challenges with inventory tracking accuracy, slow syncing across multiple locations, and a lack of advanced inventory features.
  • Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, leading to potential delays in resolving issues.
  • Steeper Learning Curve: The extensive feature set can be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, requiring a greater investment in training and onboarding.
  • Customization Limitations: Adapting the system to highly specific workflows or unique business models can be challenging without extensive workarounds or third-party integrations.

Key Features

  • E-Commerce: Set up an online store with customizable, mobile-friendly templates and built-in SEO tools. Sync inventories across all physical locations, purchase stock from the Lightspeed Supplier Market and sell units from a unified dashboard. Manage in-store appointments and Google local inventory ads from the POS system. 
  • Payment Processing: Complete sales with simple pricing, no hidden fees, a fast and secure checkout experience, and built-in PCI compliance and fraud detection. Process transactions with EMV-compatible terminals and accept all payment methods. Receive a dedicated expert’s assistance on dispute management and chargeback issues. Available only in the U.S; external integrations are required for payment processing in Canada, Australia and the U.K. 
  • Loyalty: Offer a point-based loyalty program with flexible reward tiers to incentivize customer loyalty and boost retention. Manage both in-store and online promotions and coupons while providing one-time special offers on birthdays or to VIP shoppers. Boost custom marketing campaigns with seasonal promotions and auto-segment customers based on their purchasing habits. 
  • Analytics: Drill down on critical areas with customizable reports and monitor sales, inventory and employee performance to make growth-oriented decisions. With Analytics Core, pay only for the expert-crafted reports required for business instead of the whole suite of report templates. 
  • Lightspeed Accounting: This integration creates a link between a store’s POS and accounting systems. Record business finances with automatic bookkeeping and receive daily sales receipts, profit and loss statements and more. 
  • Hardware: Choose from various hardware bundles for businesses or acquire single items, including zebra label printers, USB or Bluetooth bar scanners, Verifone P400 PIN pads, TM-m30 receipt printers and more. Design branded gift cards for the store and ship them to customers’ doorsteps. 
  • Restaurant Point of Sale: Offers industry-specific POS system for restaurants. 
    • Delivery: Syncs menu with major delivery apps like UberEats, SkipTheDishes or DoorDash to scale business and reach more customers. Receive delivery orders, promote high-margin dishes, create delivery-only menus and more. 
    • Order Ahead: Provide customers with the flexibility to order ahead for takeout, curbside pickup and appointments. They can add custom notes, table and room number requested, whether utensils are required and more details. Keep customers in the loop with real-time SMS notifications. 
    • Self Order Menus: Let customers send their orders via an interactive digital menu directly to the kitchen, bypassing the need for waiters and servers. Realign employees to focus on faster cooking, increasing order accuracy and improving customer service. 
    • Kitchen Display System: Displays a detailed view of every order, including turnaround time and images, color codes orders according to assigned chefs, and sends alerts for pending orders. Have online orders directly go to the display board after submission for faster preparation. 
    • Customer Facing Display: Exhibit the total breakdown of customers’ orders, subtotal cost, tax percentage, tips paid and total price on a display screen. Customize the screen with business logo and brand colors while advertising high-margin dishes or the item-of-the-day. 
    • Enterprise: Run multiple restaurants located in different places with a cloud-based POS system. Monitor each location’s sales, employee and promotional data while centralizing customer data from numerous areas. Customize and scale as needed with an open API interface. 
  • Golf Course Management: Caters to businesses that operate golf courses. 
    • Tee Sheets: Personalize tee sheets according to the facility’s structure. Manage golf courses from nine to 54 holes. Accommodate any play type, including shotguns, crossovers, front or back nines and more. 
    • Booking Management: Players can register for tournaments and pick their tee times. Organize monthly or yearly leagues, track attendees and review metrics from the dashboard. 
    • Membership Management: Create unlimited types of memberships, customize booking restrictions and pricing structures per type, and automate the billing process. 
    • Professional Website: Increase online presence, showcase facilities, attract more golfers and provide flexible payment options through a personalized website and mobile application. Design websites with preset templates or customize them with source coding. The vendor takes charge of website maintenance. 
  • Integrations: Leverage various integrations for assistance in accounting, analytics, CRM, marketing, payment processing (In the U.K, Canada and Australia), ERP, invoicing and more. 
Square POS
Square POS
Start Price
$29
Monthly, Freemium
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Square POS

Square POS shines for its ease of use and affordability for small businesses, especially those starting out. Users praise its intuitive interface, seamless setup, and mobile accessibility, making it a breeze to ring up customers and manage basic sales. It also integrates well with popular tools like email marketing and accounting software, offering a centralized platform for managing various aspects of their business. However, Square's appeal wanes as businesses grow. Users lament its limited reporting and inventory management features, lacking the depth and customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS or Clover. Square's higher transaction fees for larger volumes also become a drawback compared to options like Stripe, which offer lower rates based on monthly transaction volume. Furthermore, Square's customer support receives mixed reviews. While some appreciate its responsiveness, others face frustrating wait times and limited communication channels, especially compared to the dedicated phone and live chat support offered by competitors. Overall, Square POS is a strong contender for solopreneurs and micro-businesses seeking a user-friendly and affordable POS solution. However, its limitations become apparent as businesses scale, pushing them towards more robust and feature-rich platforms. The choice ultimately boils down to prioritizing ease of use and affordability in the early stages versus scalability and advanced features as a business grows.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: 96% of users who reviewed this element said the software is flexible and mobile with a clean user interface.
  • Economical: According to 70% of users who mentioned this aspect, the pricing is fair and competitive.
  • Card Payments: 80% of users who reviewed payments said the platform is useful for processing cashless transactions with cards and sending invoices.
  • Invoicing: Regarding this feature, 95% of users said it’s easy to create, add and send invoices to clients.
  • Costly for high-volume transactions: The per-transaction fees become significant as your business grows, pushing Square beyond cost-effective for many merchants.
  • Limited reporting and inventory: Users find Square's reports lack depth and flexibility, making detailed sales analysis and inventory management challenging.
  • Unreliable customer support: Users report difficulty reaching support, long wait times, and frustrating email-only communication, leaving them feeling helpless when issues arise.
  • Account holddowns and closures: Square's automated fraud detection can lead to sudden account freezes and closures, causing business disruptions and difficulties resolving the issue.
  • Clunky hardware: Some users find the Square hardware, particularly the chip reader, clunky and frustrating to use, impacting checkout workflow and customer experience.

Key Features

  • Intuitive Register Interface: Easy-to-use touch-screen interface with customizable menu items, modifiers, and employee permissions.
  • Payment Processing: Accept all major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and cash.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, set low-stock alerts, and generate purchase orders.
  • Employee Management: Track employee hours, create schedules, and manage payroll.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Store customer information, track purchase history, and send targeted marketing campaigns.
  • Sales Reporting: Generate reports on sales, inventory, employee performance, and customer behavior.
  • Mobile App: Access Square POS from your smartphone or tablet to process payments, manage inventory, and view reports on the go.
  • Online Ordering: Allow customers to order and pay online for pickup or delivery.
  • Loyalty Program: Reward customers for repeat business with points, discounts, and special offers.
  • Gift Cards: Sell physical and digital gift cards to boost sales and customer loyalty.
  • Integrations: Connect Square POS with other business tools, such as accounting software, payroll providers, and email marketing platforms.
ShopKeep
ShopKeep
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Full-Service E-Commerce: Drive revenue generation with a robust online marketplace. Use powerful inventory management tools to oversee crucial business aspects, including shipping, marketing, supply, delivery, sales, appointments and loyalty programs. Get notifications for online orders and stock refills, send confirmation and reminder emails and improve customer service with detailed reports. 
  • Analytics and Reporting: Make data-driven business decisions using analytical tools that provide insights into key performance metrics like stock volumes, inventory sales, customer experience, staff activity, user trends and more. 
  • Loyalty and Rewards: Offer an integrated rewards program to increase customer retention and drive business growth. Create automated campaigns via SMS, send coupons and one-time deals, create marketing campaigns, track customer spending, design promotions and enroll new customers. 
  • Accounting and Finances: Manage finances and business processes with an integrated, cloud-based solution. Sync sales data from the POS to the store’s accounting system to receive an automated sales summary, manage multiple accounts from a single platform, track revenue streams across locations and analyze profit and losses for an error-free accounting experience. 
  • Seamless Integrations: Run the business at maximum capacity by integrating the POS with third-party applications. Streamline inventory, track profits, automate purchase and collaborate teamwork to systemize workflow. 
SpotOn
SpotOn
Start Price
$25
Per Station, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked SpotOn

SpotOn scores high marks for user-friendliness, adaptability, and customer insights, often outshining larger competitors like Clover with its intuitive interface and customizable features. For restaurants, its table management shines, while retailers appreciate the inventory control tools. However, the pricing structure can be confusing, with hidden fees and add-ons that inflate the initial quote. Offline functionality struggles during internet outages, which can be a dealbreaker for some businesses. While SpotOn boasts extensive integrations, some users encounter glitches and connectivity issues, disrupting workflows. Customer support also receives mixed reviews, with some praising prompt assistance and others facing long wait times and inconsistent resolutions. Compared to Square, SpotOn offers more features but lacks its sleek simplicity and ease of use for solopreneurs. Overall, SpotOn is a powerful POS that shines for its adaptability and industry-specific strengths. However, potential users should be prepared for pricing complexities, potential internet hiccups, and occasional integration troubles. If you value user-friendliness, intuitive features, and deep customer insights, SpotOn deserves a closer look, but if transparency and consistent performance are top priorities, other options might be a better fit.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: The system is easy to set up and navigate, 90% of users said about this element.
  • Customer Support: 100% of users who reviewed the support said it’s informative and company representatives are knowledgeable.
  • Integration: About 70% of users who mentioned this feature said the product offers effortless and smooth integrations.
  • Reporting: Approximately 90% of users who talked about this aspect said it's extensive and insightful.
  • Menu Management: Items are easily changeable and update instantly, said 95% of users about the menu.
  • Pricing Complexity: SpotOn's pricing structure can be confusing, with multiple plans, add-ons, and varying fees depending on industry and features. Users report difficulty getting clear quotes and unexpected charges.
  • Limited Offline Functionality: While cloud-based, SpotOn struggles during internet outages. Some features become completely unavailable, impacting critical operations like order processing and payment acceptance.
  • Customer Support Inconsistencies: User experiences with customer support are mixed. Some praise quick and helpful responses, while others encounter long wait times, technical issues, and inconsistent resolutions.
  • Integration Glitches: While offering many integrations, users report occasional bugs and connectivity problems with third-party tools, disrupting workflows and requiring time-consuming troubleshooting.
  • Interface Learning Curve: While generally user-friendly, some advanced features, particularly in industry-specific plans, have a steeper learning curve, requiring additional training for staff.

Key Features

  • Centralized Workspace: Organize workflows and accelerate revenue growth with efficient customer service tools. Add employee profiles, view customer contact information, access sales reports, send invoices, manage inventory, monitor employee activity, process payments and more using Register. 
  • Online Customer Service: Create a centralized customer service platform on a single dashboard. Manage employee schedules, send automated reminders, offer loyalty rewards and process checkouts with a digital user interface. Benefit from two-way texting with clients, integrated payment options and digital marketing tools. 
  • Intuitive Reporting: Provide intelligible insights into key KPIs with real-time, intuitive reports. Get easy-to-understand, cloud-based reports based on business data on a consolidated dashboard, accessible on the desktop and mobile phone. 
  • Virtual Payments: Offer a secure and seamless transaction process with mobile-friendly, online payment options. Send invoices, set up billing plans, collect deposits, send digital receipts and more on a secure platform. 
  • Customer Marketing: Drive customer engagement using hands-on digital marketing tools. Create custom rewards, enroll customers during checkout, offer limited-time deals, create marketing campaigns, send promos on special occasions and improve advertising to boost customer retention. Track marketing performance with comprehensive reports on a consolidated dashboard. 
  • Interactive Reviews: Facilitate a robust communication system with dynamic interactive features. Monitor, manage and respond to online reviews through a personalized dashboard and receive real-time alerts for new reviews to understand customer sentiments and expectations. 
NCR Silver
NCR Silver
Start Price
$108
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked NCR Silver

NCR Silver, a POS software solution, has garnered a mixed bag of user reviews in the past year. While praised for its intuitive interface, ease of use, and robust reporting features, some users have expressed concerns regarding its pricing structure, limited customization options, and occasional glitches. On the positive side, many users appreciate NCR Silver's clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy for new staff to learn the ropes quickly. The software's reporting capabilities are also a hit, offering valuable insights into sales trends, inventory levels, and customer behavior. This data-driven approach helps businesses make informed decisions and optimize their operations. For instance, one user mentioned using NCR Silver's reporting to identify slow-selling items and adjust their ordering accordingly, leading to a significant reduction in waste. However, some users find the software's pricing to be on the higher end, especially for smaller businesses. Additionally, the customization options are perceived as limited compared to competitors, hindering businesses with unique workflows or branding needs. A recurring complaint dotyczy occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt operations, although NCR has been working on addressing these issues through regular updates. Overall, NCR Silver seems to be a solid POS system for businesses seeking a user-friendly and data-rich solution. However, its pricing and limited customization might deter cost-conscious businesses or those with specific needs. Carefully weighing the strengths and weaknesses against your individual requirements is crucial before making a decision.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive Interface: Users often praise the easy-to-learn interface, with clear navigation and touchscreen compatibility.
  • Mobile Capabilities: Manage sales, inventory, and employee timecards remotely using the mobile app.
  • Flexible Payment Processing: Accept various payment methods, including EMV chip cards, contactless payments, and mobile wallets.
  • Robust Reporting: Generate detailed sales, inventory, and employee performance reports to track business insights.
  • Customer Management Tools: Build customer loyalty with features for tracking purchase history, creating targeted promotions, and managing gift cards.
  • Limited Customization Options: Users may find the system's customization capabilities for receipts, reports, and workflows restrictive compared to some competitors.
  • Potential Inventory Management Issues: Some reviews mention challenges with inventory tracking accuracy and stock syncing across multiple locations.
  • Technical Glitches: Occasional reports of software glitches, slow loading times, and hardware compatibility issues, though frequency may vary.
  • Customer Support Response Times: Mixed experiences with customer support, with some users reporting long wait times or difficulty reaching knowledgeable representatives.
  • Hidden Fees: Potential for unexpected fees for hardware, add-ons, or specific payment processing services, which can increase overall costs.

Key Features

  • Kitchen Management: Optimize kitchen operations and boost efficiency using table mapping, offline credits, menu management and more. Colour code and route orders, assign preparation time, attach receipts, monitor production status, forecast requirements and leverage integrations to enhance the overall experience. 
  • Online Ordering: Create a flexible and effective digital ordering system to deliver quick services. Allow guests to order for curbside pickups, in-house delivery and third-party delivery. Process contactless payments, offer customizable menus, integrate with delivery providers, send orders directly to the kitchen and more across multiple devices. 
  • Alerts: Prioritize important tasks and regulate operations based on real-time notifications. Get instant alerts about new orders, updates, payments, non-availability of items, customer reviews and other communications without delay. Resolve issues to ensure smooth workplace functioning. 
  • Marketing: Offer rewards, discounts, promos and discounts to boost customer retention. Analyze transaction data, interaction stats and customer buying patterns to create targeted campaigns and personalized deals. Send marketing messages via SMS, MMS and email. 
  • Online Payments: Use a fully integrated platform to process online payments, equipped with a branded user interface and compatible with any smartphone device. Allow guests to scan a QR code or click a link from a text message to pay and send electronic receipts via email upon receiving checks. 
Lightspeed Retail
Lightspeed Retail
Start Price
$69
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail garners mixed reviews from users, highlighting both its strengths and potential drawbacks. On the positive side, users consistently praise its intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The extensive feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer management, and omnichannel capabilities, caters to diverse business needs. Integrations with popular software like QuickBooks and Shopify streamline operations and data exchange. Notably, Lightspeed excels in omnichannel management, allowing businesses to seamlessly manage online and physical stores, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape.

However, some find the pricing structure complex, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality. The lack of true offline functionality can be a dealbreaker for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas. While the feature set is comprehensive, some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, which might necessitate workarounds or third-party integrations.

Compared to competitors like Square POS and Shopify POS, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and caters to more complex business needs. However, these strengths come at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice between Lightspeed and its competitors boils down to individual business requirements and budget constraints. If you prioritize omnichannel capabilities, extensive integrations, and a robust feature set, Lightspeed is worth considering. However, carefully evaluate your needs and budget against potential limitations before making a decision.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed Retail's user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even for those with limited technical experience.
  • Omnichannel Capabilities: Seamlessly manage online and physical stores, providing a unified customer experience and streamlining inventory and order management.
  • Robust Feature Set: Offers a wide range of features addressing diverse business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools.
  • Integrations with popular software: Streamlines operations and data exchange by connecting with accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms like QuickBooks, Shopify, and Mailchimp.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and employee management, offering flexibility and convenience.
  • Complex Pricing Structure: Tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality can be confusing and lead to higher-than-expected costs.
  • Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on internet connectivity can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas.
  • Missing Advanced Features: Some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, requiring workarounds or third-party integrations.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Needs: While user-friendly overall, the extensive feature set can be overwhelming for those needing in-depth customization or specific functionalities.
  • Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, potentially delaying issue resolution.

Key Features

  • Omnichannel Sales: Sell seamlessly across physical stores, online platforms, and marketplaces.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, automate reordering, manage multiple locations, and receive low-stock alerts.
  • Point of Sale: Process transactions quickly, accept various payment methods, and apply discounts and loyalty programs.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Track customer data, purchase history, preferences, and create personalized marketing campaigns.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights into sales trends, inventory levels, customer behavior, and employee performance.
  • Employee Management: Track time and attendance, assign tasks, manage schedules, and control permissions.
  • Integrations: Connect with accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), ecommerce platforms (Shopify), marketing tools (Mailchimp), and payment processors.
  • Mobile Apps: Access POS, inventory, and reporting features on mobile devices.
  • Hardware Options: Choose from compatible terminals, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and cash drawers.
  • Cloud-Based: Access from anywhere with internet connectivity, automatic updates, and secure data storage.
  • Security: Protects customer data with PCI compliance and industry-standard security measures.
  • Customer Support: Offers phone, email, and online resources for assistance.
Shopify POS
Shopify POS
Start Price
$29
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Shopify POS

Shopify POS emerges from user reviews as a user-friendly and reliable option for basic POS needs. Its tight integration with the Shopify ecommerce platform syncs inventory and customer data seamlessly, saving time and streamlining operations. Users particularly appreciate the mobile app flexibility for pop-up shops and on-the-go sales, a feature lacking in some competitors like Square. However, Shopify POS's limited free tier and transaction fees for non-Shopify payments might deter smaller businesses. While praised for its ease of use, Shopify POS can feel restrictive for advanced features like gift cards and discounts, requiring more technical know-how compared to Square's intuitive setup. Additionally, while offering themes, Shopify's customization options might not satisfy businesses seeking a truly unique storefront aesthetic, especially when compared to Wix's design freedom. Overall, Shopify POS shines for its user-friendliness, ecommerce integration, and mobile flexibility. However, its pricing structure and learning curve for advanced features might push smaller businesses or those with specific industry needs towards competitors like Square or Wix. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual priorities and business size.

Pros & Cons

  • Simplified Inventory Management: Shopify POS automatically tracks inventory levels, reducing manual updates and preventing overselling. Users reported a 40% decrease in time spent on inventory reconciliation thanks to this feature.
  • Seamless Payment Processing: Accept a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and popular digital wallets, for faster checkouts. This flexibility helps reduce abandoned carts and boosts customer satisfaction.
  • Mobile POS Flexibility: Manage your store from anywhere with the mobile app, ideal for pop-up shops or on-the-go sales. This allows for greater business agility and caters to diverse sales environments.
  • Valuable Sales Insights: Generate detailed reports on sales, product performance, and staff activity to make data-driven decisions. Users highlighted the ability to track individual staff performance as particularly helpful for sales training and staff motivation.
  • Easy Customer Management: Create customer profiles, track purchase history, and offer targeted promotions for improved customer loyalty. This personalization fosters stronger customer relationships and repeat business.
  • Limited Free Tier Options: Access to basic POS features requires at least the Basic Shopify plan, which may not be budget-friendly for small businesses with low transaction volume.
  • Transaction Fees for Non-Shopify Payments: Using third-party payment processors alongside Shopify POS incurs additional transaction fees, potentially outweighing the benefits for low-volume merchants.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic functionality is user-friendly, unlocking advanced features like gift cards or discounts can require extensive setup and troubleshooting, especially for non-technical users.
  • Limited Customization Options: While themes offer some customization, heavily branded businesses may find the Shopify interface lacks flexibility for achieving a truly unique storefront aesthetic.
  • Integration Challenges with Specific Industries: While Shopify integrates with many apps, businesses with specific needs like restaurants or salons may experience limitations or require additional paid integrations.

Key Features

  • Online Inventory: Sell products online from a scalable, fully-featured eCommerce website. Generate purchase orders, categorize products, adjust stocks, transfer inventory, accept returns, process exchanges and access updated information across stores instantly. 
  • Reporting: Use daily reports based on in-store and online business data on a single dashboard. Gain actionable insights into total orders, customer buying patterns, staff performance, inventory sales, returns, taxes, payments and more to make strategic decisions. 
  • Payments: Track credit and debit card payments, accept multiple payment types for a single transaction, sell gift cards, create custom payment options and integrate with third-party payment providers. 
  • Customizations: Responsive and customizable templates are available for the website with varied layouts, colors, fonts, content and more. 
  • Smooth Checkouts: Provide rebates, BOGO discounts, gift card redemption and other offers at the time of checkout using the smart grid that adapts to actions in the cart and avoids manual calculations. Add taxes, create discount codes, set prices and more for a quick checkout experience. 
  • Staff Management: Track staff performance, assign unique PINs, add new employees, attribute commissions, define job functions, send approvals and grant control permission with on-the-go labor management tools. 
  • Marketing: Boost customer retention and improve sales with robust marketing strategies. Use innovative collections to automatically sort products, start Google Ads campaigns, send customer-specific emails, offer exclusive promotions, optimize campaigns and more. 

COMPARE THE BEST Bookstore Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Bookstore Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Clover
$0.10
Per Transaction, 2.3% Flat Rate
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Clover
Toast
$69
Per Terminal, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Toast
Mindbody
$159
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Mindbody
Lightspeed
$69
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Lightspeed
Square POS
$29
Monthly, Freemium
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Square POS
ShopKeep
Still gathering data
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
ShopKeep
SpotOn
$25
Per Station, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
SpotOn
NCR Silver
$108
Monthly
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
NCR Silver
Lightspeed Retail
$69
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Lightspeed Retail
Shopify POS
$29
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Shopify POS

All Bookstore Software (33 found)

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KORONA POS

by COMBASE USA
KORONA POS
KORONA POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale software designed for streamlining retail operations for businesses of all sizes. Its core functionality encompasses managing sales, inventory, customers, and reports. It shines for businesses seeking intuitive interfaces, omnichannel capabilities, and robust integrations with popular eCommerce platforms. Users praise its ease of use, mobile accessibility, and loyalty program features. Compared to similar products, KORONA boasts a user-friendly interface, mobile app for on-the-go management, and strong inventory control. However, its pricing structure, based on a monthly subscription per location, might not be the most budget-friendly for smaller businesses with low-volume transactions. Pros Easy to use Mobile app access Robust inventory tools Loyalty program features Flexible payment options Cons Monthly pricing model Limited customization Reporting could be improved Occasional technical glitches Customer support response time
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

POS Nation

by Crimson Solutions
POS Nation
POS Nation provides solutions to help businesses handle sales, inventory, marketing, reporting and more. It offers advanced hardware solutions like cash drawers, chip card readers, barcode scanners, touch PCs and receipt printers. Users can track inventory by departments and categories, and establish reorder points for low-stock items. It maintains records of purchase orders and previous sales.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Salonist

by Shrivra
Salonist
Salonist is a cloud-based digital solution that simplifies appointment scheduling, queue administration, invoice generation and data management for salon and spa businesses. Its unified dashboard covers online booking, slot allocation, offline booking, package booking, membership management and more. It assists in improving customer experience and aligns business operations. Users can simplify and automate time-sensitive and daily tasks, send payment invoices and maintain customer relationships. Additionally, it also offers payroll and employee profile management.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Retail Pro

by Retail Pro International
Retail Pro
Retail Pro is a retail management software for specialty retail stores that features robust POS, inventory, customer and employee management, built-in e-commerce, reporting, promotions, store operations control and more. It integrates with several accounting packages to provide complete internal accounting support. It allows customization and configuration of operational screens to meet business needs. It is available on Android, iOS and Windows and supports NT and Novell environments. It offers single and multi-store configurations. It serves retail businesses such as electronics, apparel, lifestyle, sporting goods and more.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$500 - $1,000
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

AccuPOS

by AccuPOS
AccuPOS
AccuPOS is a versatile point of sale software that offers a powerful EPOS system and a technology-oriented working ecosystem. It provides dynamic functionalities including ticket scanning, multi-store options, built-in accounting, electronic signature and inventory control. The product delivers powerful accounting capabilities using robust integrations with Quickbooks and Sage.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: fair
Cost Breakdown
$500 - $1,000
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

iQmetrix

by iQmetrix
iQmetrix
IQmetrix is omnichannel, retail management and point of sale software designed for telecom retailers in wireless and cellular retail industries. It offers customer data management, accounting, inventory tracking and auditing, employee scheduling, marketing campaigns, online appointments, service requests and business analytics. It provides an interactive retail module that includes endless aisle and digital signage to enhance customer shopping experiences. Users can utilize its repair tracking module to assign work orders to service employees, track order and delivery processes, and set start and end dates for service requests.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Indica Online

by IndicaOnline
Indica Online
IndicaOnline is a cloud-based point of sale software in the marijuana industry across the U.S and Canada. It enables cannabis retailers to streamline sales, stocks, compliance and customer management. Its digital signage displays product prices, availability and customer names in real time and updates them instantly to simplify services and save time. It helps control inventory, manage driver assignments, create delivery maps and push notifications after completing a drop-off location. It integrates with Metrc, Potify and Weedmaps to help customers list in online dispensaries, plan pickups and deliveries and transfer compliance reports automatically. It integrates PayPoint with cash drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, MSRs and customer-facing displays. It also offers contactless payments and proximity marketing.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: good
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Heartland POS

by Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland POS
Heartland POS is a cloud-based system that processes payments over smartphones, tablets, laptops and terminals. Users can set up scheduled and recurring payments. Its mobile app allows employees to view schedules, check time-off balances and request specific shifts. As shifts are built, it automatically calculates overtime expenses and estimated payroll for forecasting. Its customer intelligence suite personalizes marketing discounts, offers, and promotions. It serves businesses like restaurants, accounting firms, retail stores, liquor stores, home services and more.
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

STORIS

by STORIS
STORIS
STORIS offers a unified commerce solution for home furnishing retailers. It enables businesses to manage customers across online and in-store channels. It provides inventory control, point of sale, accounting, business intelligence, eCommerce, an in-store kiosk, logistics and distribution management, and more. Its real-time, automated inventory management capabilities eliminate manual data entries to save users’ time and improve data accuracy across the supply chain. It is available as a subscription service in the cloud or on-premise server with a one-time license fee. It helps retailers implement strategies, expand opportunities, improve procedures, enhance performance and growth, and more.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$500 - $1,000
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Rain POS

by Rain Retail Software
Rain POS
Rain POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed for businesses of all sizes, from independent retailers to multi-outlet chains. It offers features like inventory management, customer relationship management, employee management, and reporting tools. Rain POS is praised for its ease of use, affordability, and scalability. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, mobile accessibility, and integrations with popular accounting and marketing software. Compared to similar POS systems, Rain POS stands out for its competitive pricing, which typically falls within the $50-$200 per month range, depending on the number of users and features needed. However, some users mention limitations in advanced reporting and customization options compared to more expensive competitors. Pros Easy to use Affordable Mobile accessible Integrations Scalable Cons Limited reporting Limited customization Basic marketing tools Support wait times Few industry-specific features
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

PHP POS

by PHP Point of Sale
PHP POS
PHP POS is an open-source point-of-sale system designed for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. It offers essential POS features like product management, inventory tracking, sales recording, and basic reporting. Users praise its customizability and low cost, often opting for self-hosted installations to keep expenses minimal. However, setup and maintenance require technical expertise, making it less suitable for beginners or businesses needing extensive support. Compared to paid competitors, PHP POS lacks advanced features like multi-store management, employee permissions, and integrations with popular apps. While users appreciate its flexibility and cost-effectiveness, they also acknowledge the trade-off in terms of user-friendliness and functionality. Pricing varies depending on hosting and customization needs, but self-hosted installations start around $50, with additional fees for premium themes and plugins. Pros Free open-source Highly customizable Low cost to self-host Simple intuitive interface Basic features for most needs Cons Requires technical expertise Limited advanced features No multi-store support Minimal customer support Potential security risks
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

SimpleConsign

by Traxia
SimpleConsign
SimpleConsign by Traxia is a web-based POS and management consignment system. It offers credit card processing, inventory management, real-time dashboards, customer history monitoring, eCommerce integration and more. Consignors can access their accounts in real time and view recent, expiring and returned items and donations through the consignor portal. It categorizes inventory to identify and track owned, consigned and used or brand new items. Consignors can access accounts in real time and view recent, expiring and returned items and donations through the consignor portal. It categorizes inventory to identify and track owned, consigned, used or brand new items. Users can set customized prices, manage consignor or supplier splits, create and use discount schedules, and generate print-ready e-contracts, labels and receipts. It lets users capture, upload and share inventory items using iOS or Android devices. It helps owners at thrift stores, buy-outrights, antique malls and consignment shops run businesses efficiently.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Hike POS

by Hike
Hike POS
Hike POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale software designed for adventure and leisure businesses like ski shops, bike rentals, and escape rooms. It streamlines operations with inventory management, online bookings, and rental tracking. Its mobile-first interface makes it easy to manage sales and customer interactions on the go. Hike POS boasts features like membership programs, loyalty rewards, and automated marketing tools, fostering customer engagement and repeat business. Users praise its intuitive interface, robust reporting, and seamless integrations with popular payment gateways and accounting platforms. Compared to other POS systems, Hike POS stands out for its industry-specific features, flexible pricing plans based on user count, and exceptional customer support. While it may lack some advanced functionalities of enterprise-level solutions, Hike POS shines for its affordability and ease of use, making it a strong contender for small and medium-sized businesses in the adventure and leisure industry. Pros Easy to use Mobile-first interface Industry-specific features Robust reporting Great customer support Cons Limited advanced features Occasional glitches Pricier than some options Click-intensive tasks Mobile app can be clunky
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Buyer's Guide

Bookstore Software Is All About Managing Your Business Better

By Ashita Ahuja, Technical Writer at SelectHub

Bookstore Software BG Intro

From helping customers to stocking shelves, the day to day operations of a bookstore involve a lot of moving parts. Bookstore software can help manage some of those essential tasks, giving you more time to focus on your customers.

It can handle your needs across multiple store locations at the same time, both online and off, managing real-time data like customer transactions, inventory and sales trends.

If your company has outgrown its current POS software, or you’re looking for a better way to manage your bookstore, then you’ve come to the right place. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll go over the benefits and features of a bookstore software to help you pick the right solution.

Executive Summary

  • Bookstore software streamlines some of the essential functions of bookstores, like processing transactions and managing inventory.
  • Some software features include ISBN tracking, loyalty programs and CRM.
  • Be sure to ask potential vendors any questions you have about the software before committing to a purchase.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Bookstore Software?

Bookstore software is a point of sale system that helps book retailers with daily business operations, like managing inventory, promotions and pricing. The software also makes it easy to edit your product list based on your inventory, and to transfer and publish the list to different locations as needed, online and off. You can sort your inventory catalog using criteria like title, author name, and whether it’s a soft or hard copy.

The software also helps you cater to your customers better, providing an omnichannel shopping experience. You can send membership discounts and other promotions through SMS or email, and manage customer relationships with a built-in CRM that tracks factors like personal information, sales history and reader interests.

Primary Benefits

Let’s take a look at how bookstore software can help your business.

Primary Benefits of Bookstore Software

Better Inventory Management

Bookstore Software Categories

Managing inventory for bookstore owners can be challenging. The inventory management features helps keep your store from running out of your most popular titles. You can sort books using tags like genre, author, language, year of publication, print edition and more. ISBN tracking makes this even easier, updating your inventory as books are purchased and notifying you when a certain ISBN is out of stock.

Improved Customer Experience

The robust digital catalog and search function make it easier to serve your customers. If they’re looking for a particular book, your employees can check the database to find whether or not it’s in stock and where in the store it’s located.

By recording customer transactions and reader interests, your bookstore software can also help you cross-sell other products, like other books your customer may enjoy.

Accessibility

With remote access to a cloud-based bookstore software, you can monitor business activities online on a central dashboard. You and your employees can manage orders, send invoices and update inventory even when you’re away from your brick-and-mortar stores.

Key Features & Functionality

ISBN Tracking

Books use ISBNs, or International Standard Book Numbers, instead of stock-keeping units (SKUs). These look like common barcodes but are stored and tracked in a different database. Bookstore software includes the ISBN as part of your inventory.
Reporting and Analytics

Track sales and other essential financial activity and gain valuable insights about current customer purchasing trends.
Loyalty Programs

Apply SMS or email marketing to stay in touch with customers and build loyalty. You can set up a point-based loyalty system for purchases, or send out membership discounts and exclusive offers to reward frequent customers.
CRM

Keep track of customers’ purchases, favorite genres, loyalty rewards and more. The CRM allows you to manage customer relationships more closely and provide a more personalized shopping experience.
Inventory Management

Keep track of items in stock, multiple product variants, purchase orders and catalogs. You can easily edit, add and delete inventory items as required.

Software Comparison Strategy

Many bookstore systems have similar features, but how do you find the perfect fit for your company? Our Lean Selection methodology can give you a good starting point.

In general, the best first step is to get a sense of your business's unique needs and goals. What challenges is your business currently facing? Which features will help you address them best? It's also crucial to consider where your current solution falls short and how a new bookstore software can help fill the gaps.

Then, you’ll want to begin shortlisting software options. If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of solutions on the market, try using our software comparison report to gain in-depth insight into the top market leaders.

Once you’ve narrowed the software down to your top options, assess your potential vendors. Check online reviews, ask colleagues for recommendations and look at industry guides. You can also ask vendors for a free demo or trial to see how it functions before you purchase it.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

The biggest determiner of the cost of bookstore software is usually the deployment method you choose. Cloud-based software is often more affordable. Most use a monthly subscription fee, though some might ask for a one-time licensing fee.

Hardware costs depend on the size of your business and your specific needs. You might opt for mobile POS devices, like tablets or iPads, or stationary POS hardware, like cash registers.

Depending on what works best for your business, you might need to invest in display devices, credit card readers, registers, barcode scanners and printers. If you have existing hardware, finding a solution that’s compatible with it is usually less expensive than replacing it.

To get full transparency on the cost of your bookstore software, you can ask your vendor questions like:

  • What does the software cost to update?
  • What's included in the installation fee?
  • Do add-on features cost extra?
  • Do you charge for technical support?
  • What's the cost of customer service?

The Most Popular Bookstore Software

Now that you have a better understanding of what bookstore software can do, how do you decide which product is best for your business? Our analysts made a list of some of the top software options on the market today. Check out our picks below!

Clover

Clover is a user-friendly point-of-sale system for small and medium-sized businesses. The platform offers features like accounting, discounts and promotions, ticket scanning, electronic signatures, inventory management and more. It helps you manage staff and customers, track revenue and monitor sales in real time.

Clover

Creating new employee profiles on the dashboard. Source

Lightspeed

Lightspeed provides advanced POS solutions to retail businesses. The platform enables you to manage online orders, build custom marketing campaigns, track inventory and collect customer feedback.

Lightspeed

Viewing essential inventory details on the dashboard. Source

Square

Square is a POS system that’s most suitable for small businesses. It helps retailers manage both in-person and online transactions, offering features like online payment processing, sales management, eCommerce and marketing campaigns. The platform is available for mobile use on Android and iOS devices.

Square

An overview of the software’s homepage. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

To get a better understanding of your company’s requirements, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What’s our budget?
  • What are the key pain points that we’re facing?
  • Which features do we need the most?
  • How many employees will use the software?
  • Do the employees need training to use the system?

Bookstore Software Key Questions To Ask

To learn more about the vendor and the software, ask potential vendors the following questions:

  • How many years of experience do you have in the industry?
  • What customer support and training do you offer?
  • Is the software scalable?
  • What pricing plans do you offer?
  • What company sizes do you typically work with?

Next Steps

Bookstore software can be an incredibly helpful tool in running your business. The right system will take on some of the burden of your essential daily tasks while giving you more time to focus on your customers.

Ready for the next step? Jumpstart your software search with our requirements template to help you figure out exactly what you’re looking for.

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Ishani
By Ishani Vats
Technical Content Writer
Ishani is a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub who covers LMS, workforce management, telemedicine and POS. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and is passionate about translating complex technical concepts into engaging and accessible content for readers. Along with keeping the professional spirit hydrated, she likes petting dogs, looking up random facts and listening to any Lumineers song on repeat.
See Full Bio
Mohit
Technical Research By Mohit Hariramani
Senior Analyst
Mohit has a degree and Master in Finance from Mumbai, India, his years of professional market research experience started in 2019. His expertise lies in categories such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing, Inventory Management, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Facility Management Software (FMS), POS Systems (Point of Sale) and more. Through his academic and professional background, he honed skills in attention to detail, navigating ambiguity, and analytical prowess, which uniquely equip him to manage and thrive in the dynamic landscape of these diverse categories. He's passionate about leveraging his knowledge and experience to contribute effectively to the assigned technology areas.
See Full Bio
Kankana
Technical Review By Kankana Kalita
Principal Analyst
A seasoned business and research analyst, Kankana Kalita specializes in ERP, CMMS, manufacturing, construction, supply chain, HRMS and CRM. Prior to joining SelectHub, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, an MBA in Operations and Marketing, and worked in email marketing and logistics.
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Dianna
Edited By Dianna Dragonetti
Content Editor
As an editor, Dianna Dragonetti leads a team of five writers in writing about a variety of software, with an emphasis on how these tools empower businesses. Categories include accounting, learning management systems, content management systems, supply chain management, and electronic data interchange.
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