Best POS System NZ 2026 — Cafes, Restaurants & Retail
Compare the best POS systems for NZ cafes, restaurants, and retail stores. Lightspeed, Square, and Kounta reviewed with NZD pricing, GST handling, and Xero integration ratings.
Quick Recommendation
For most NZ cafes and restaurants, Lightspeed Restaurant is the best POS system. For small retail or market stalls, Square is the simplest and cheapest option.
Your POS system is the heart of your hospitality or retail business — it touches every sale, every GST calculation, and every end-of-day reconciliation. Getting it wrong costs you time and money every single day.
This guide covers the best POS systems for NZ businesses, with a focus on NZD pricing, 15% GST handling, EFTPOS NZ integration, and Xero compatibility.
What NZ Businesses Need in a POS System
- 15% NZ GST — must be built in, not an afterthought
- EFTPOS NZ integration — Paymark/Verifone compatibility is standard; check your card terminal is supported
- Xero integration — daily sales, GST, and payments should sync automatically
- NZ support — phone support during NZ business hours matters when your POS crashes on a Saturday lunch rush
1. Lightspeed Restaurant — Best for NZ Cafes & Restaurants
NZD Pricing: From ~$119/month | Hardware: separate cost
Free trial: 14 days | GST handling: ✅ | Xero integration: ✅ | EFTPOS NZ: ✅
Lightspeed (which acquired Kounta, the NZ-favourite hospitality POS) is now the dominant restaurant POS in NZ. Thousands of NZ cafes, restaurants, and bars run on it.
What NZ businesses love:
- Table management and floor plans built in
- Kitchen display system (KDS) integration reduces ticket errors
- Split bills, table transfers, and open tabs handled seamlessly
- Daily sales sync to Xero with GST correctly categorised
- NZ-based support team
Watch out for: Monthly cost is significant for small cafes. Hardware costs extra. Initial setup takes time.
Best for: Cafes, restaurants, and bars with dine-in service and 5+ tables.
2. Square — Best Free Option for Small NZ Businesses
NZD Pricing: Free software + 1.6% per transaction (card) | Square Reader: ~$79 one-off
Free trial: Permanent free tier | GST handling: ✅ | Xero integration: ✅
Square is the easiest entry point for NZ small businesses. No monthly fee — you just pay per transaction. The free card reader and app make it ideal for market traders, mobile businesses, and very small retailers.
What NZ businesses love: No monthly fee. Works on any iPad or iPhone. Inventory tracking included free.
Compare NZ POS Systems
All options below handle 15% NZ GST and integrate with Xero. The right choice depends on your table count, menu complexity, and volume.
Watch out for: Transaction fees add up at volume. Limited restaurant-specific features. No table management. Support is online-only (no NZ phone support).
Best for: Market stalls, mobile businesses, very small cafes, and businesses under $200k annual revenue.
3. Lightspeed Retail (formerly Vend) — Best for NZ Retail
NZD Pricing: From ~$109/month
Free trial: 14 days | GST handling: ✅ | Xero integration: ✅
Vend was a NZ-founded POS company (Wellington) that was acquired by Lightspeed. It remains the most-used dedicated retail POS in NZ. Strong inventory management, loyalty programmes, and multi-store support.
Best for: Retail stores, boutiques, and businesses with complex inventory management needs.
POS Feature Comparison for NZ Businesses
| Feature | Lightspeed Restaurant | Square | Lightspeed Retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost (NZD) | From ~$119 | Free | From ~$109 |
| Transaction fee | None (own terminal) | 1.6% | None (own terminal) |
| NZ GST (15%) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Xero integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Table management | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Inventory management | Basic | ✅ | Advanced |
| NZ phone support | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best for | Cafes/restaurants | Small/mobile | Retail |
Hardware Considerations for NZ
Most NZ POS systems run on iPad. You'll also need:
- Card terminal — Tyro or Verifone terminals are most common in NZ. Check your POS provider supports your terminal.
- Receipt printer — most NZ businesses use Epson or Star thermal printers (~$300–500)
- Cash drawer — if you accept cash, expect $100–200
- iPad stand — $80–250
Total hardware setup typically costs $1,000–$2,500 for a basic NZ cafe or retail setup.
For accounting integration: Best Accounting Software NZ | For rostering your staff: Best Rostering Software NZ
Our Top NZ POS Picks
We earn a commission from some links — this never affects our ratings. All options offer free trials or free starter plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best POS system for NZ cafes?
Lightspeed Restaurant is the most popular POS for NZ cafes and restaurants. It handles table management, kitchen display systems, split bills, and integrates with Xero for automatic GST reconciliation.
Does Square work in New Zealand?
Yes — Square is available in NZ and handles 15% GST correctly. The free card reader and free software make it ideal for market stalls, mobile businesses, and very small retail.
What POS systems integrate with Xero in NZ?
Lightspeed, Square, Kounta (now Lightspeed K), Vend (now Lightspeed Retail), and Hi-Touch all integrate with Xero. The integration automatically reconciles daily sales, GST, and payments.
How much does a POS system cost in NZ?
NZ POS software costs between $0 (Square free plan) and $200+/month for full restaurant POS systems. Hardware (iPad, card reader, receipt printer) is typically a one-off cost of $800–$2,500.
Do NZ POS systems handle GST correctly?
All reputable NZ POS systems handle 15% GST. The key is whether they can file GST summaries directly to Xero or your accounting software for easier myIR filing.