POS Comparison
See How NOVA
Stacks Up
Whether you’re evaluating Square, Clover, Shopify POS, Lightspeed, or NOVA, understanding the differences can help you choose the platform that best fits your business today and supports your growth tomorrow.
How Retailers Compare POS Systems
When researching a POS solution, look beyond transaction processing and consider key features and what to look for in each.
Inventory Management
Can the system support large catalogs, variants, transfers, purchase orders, and multi-location inventory management?
Reporting and Analytics
Does it provide the operational and financial visibility needed to make informed decisions?
Customer Experience & CRM
Does it support customer profiles, purchase history, loyalty, promotions, and personalized selling?
Employee Management
Can you manage permissions, commissions, payroll, performance tracking, and accountability?
Support & Training
Will you have access to knowledgeable retail experts when you need assistance?
Payment Processing
Do you have flexibility in how payments are processed, or are you locked into a specific ecosystem?
Scalability
Can the platform grow with your business without requiring expensive workarounds or additional apps?
Multi-location support
Can the system support centralized reporting, cross-store inventory transfers, and consistent pricing rules.
AT A GLANCE
Quick POS Comparison
- Live retail experts included
Plan-based
Reseller supported
Plan-based
Tiered
- Advanced: Built for specialty retail
Built-in
Inventory + Apps
Omnichannel
Advanced
- Flexible hardware, workflows, & business controls
Square ecosystem
App ecosystem
Shopify ecosystem
Configurable
- Choice of payment providers
Square payments
Clover payments
Shopify payments preferred
Lightspeed payments preferred
A CLOSER LOOK
Deep Dive into the NOVA Advantage
Compare POS systems side by side – each breakdown lives on its own page.
VS
NOVA vs. Square
Operational Growth vs. Simplicity
VS
NOVA vs. Clover
Connected Platform vs. App Marketplace
VS
NOVA vs. Shopify
Retail-first vs. Ecommerce-first
VS
NOVA vs. Lightspeed
Specialty Retail vs. Enterprise Scale
GUIDANCE
Need help choosing?
Learn the questions to ask, the features to evaluate, and the common pitfalls to avoid when selecting a retail POS platform.
Run Your Retail Business With Confidence
NOVA helps you manage your entire retail business – from inventory and employees to customers, reporting, and payments – so you can operate with confidence and focus on growth.