QuickBooks Point of Sales Software Is Gone — Now What?
The good news: dozens of modern POS systems sync cleanly with QuickBooks. The bad news? Even with a solid integration, most setups still fall short when it comes to sales tax compliance — especially for hybrid sellers operating across state lines.
This guide will walk you through top-rated POS alternatives that work well with QuickBooks, what features to look for, and why sales tax is still a blind spot even after you’ve picked your new system.
What to Look for in a POS That Works With QuickBooks
Choosing a new point-of-sale system? If you use QuickBooks Online, you’ll want a POS that syncs cleanly — and supports both retail and ecommerce sales. Here’s what to prioritize.
Key features to look for in a QuickBooks-Compatible POS:
- Seamless QuickBooks Online integration. Your POS should sync in real time with QuickBooks Online, not require manual uploads or end-of-day data dumps. A clean connection keeps your books accurate and reduces reconciliation work.
- In-store and online sales support. If you’re selling in-person and online, your POS needs to handle both. A unified system simplifies operations and avoids duplicate tools across retail and ecommerce.
- Inventory syncing across channels. Look for POS software that updates inventory across locations automatically — so you don’t oversell or scramble to restock.
- Real-time reporting. Multi-channel sellers need one source of truth. Real-time sales and inventory data helps you stay on top of performance, cash flow, and potential tax obligations.
- App ecosystem and integrations. Choose a POS with a strong integration marketplace — including ecommerce platforms and sales tax software. That flexibility lets your tech stack grow with your business.
- Responsive customer support. POS issues can cost you real revenue. Look for a provider with responsive, reliable support — especially if you’re handling payments and inventory in real time.
One important note to keep in mind is that no point of sale software, even one that integrates perfectly with QuickBooks Online, will handle your sales tax compliance across multiple states. It’s a common misconception that POS systems can fully handle sales tax. But point of sale software does not:
- Track nexus
- Alert you to filing obligations
- Remit tax for you
- Tell you when you’re charging the wrong amount of tax because it’s a sales tax holiday
- and so much more
To ensure your business complies with its sales tax obligations, you’ll need a separate sales tax solution that plugs into your POS and QuickBooks stack.
5 Best QuickBooks Point of Sale Software System Alternatives (and Which One’s Best For You)
Below are five top-rated retail POS systems that integrate with QuickBooks Online. Each one brings solid features for inventory management, payments, and reporting.
Remember: the right POS software for you will depend on the nature of your business and the tools you’re already using.
Whichever POS system you choose to use, double-check that it integrates cleanly with both QuickBooks, your sales tax software, and any ecommerce platforms you use. That way, your financials and compliance tools stay in sync — and you’re not manually stitching together your data at month-end.
1. Shopify POS
Shopify POS is a point of sale system designed for merchants selling both online and in person. It’s especially useful for ecommerce-first businesses already on Shopify, offering unified inventory, order tracking, and an intuitive mobile interface — ideal for managing multiple channels or locations.
Best for: Ecommerce-first retailers with physical stores who already use (or plan to use) Shopify for online sales.
QuickBooks Integration: Shopify’s POS data can sync to QuickBooks Online via third-party apps like Webgility or QuickBooks Connector (OneSaas). This allows automatic syncing of orders, taxes, inventory adjustments, and payments.
Shopify POS Pricing:
- POS Lite: Included with any Shopify plan (starting at $5/month)
- POS Pro: Add-on for $89/month per location (supports unlimited logins, advanced reporting, staff roles, etc.)
Processing Fees:
- In-person: starts at 2.4% + 10¢ per transaction
- Online: starts at 2.5% + 30¢ per transaction
Hardware: iPhone and Android Tap to Pay (Free), Tap & chip card reader ($49), POS Terminal ($359), and POS Terminal Counter Kit ($459).
Pros:
- Unifies inventory and sales across all channels
- Mobile-friendly POS runs on iOS/Android devices
- Supports multi-location management, BOPIS, offline checkout
- Strong app ecosystem to customize retail operations
Considerations:
- Requires a third-party connector for QBO sync
- Doesn’t handle sales tax compliance or filings for multi-state sellers
- POS Pro can get expensive with multiple physical locations
What We Think: If you’re already using Shopify for online sales, Shopify POS is the most natural fit. Just know you’ll need a separate solution like TaxCloud for multi-state sales tax compliance.
2. Square POS
Square POS is a well-known payment processor and their POS systems are used broadly by businesses of all sizes.
QuickBooks Integration: Square data can sync to QuickBooks Online through the free Connect to Square app. This allows automatic import of sales, expenses, payroll reports, chargebacks, and refunds. For QuickBooks Desktop, the Commerce Sync app is used to connect and sync Square transactions.
Best for: Small-to-medium-sized retail businesses that want an all-in-one POS with integrated payments and ecommerce support.
Square POS Pricing and Processing Fees:
- POS Software: Free for all locations
- Add-ons: $10/month per location for QuickBooks Online integration; $19/month per location for QuickBooks Desktop
Processing Fees:
- Card Present (In-Person): 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction
- Card Not Present (Online): 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Keyed In: 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction
Hardware: Square Terminal ($299), Square Register ($799), and free mobile card reader for new users.
Pros:
- Strong omnichannel support for retail, curbside, online, and social sales
- Free POS software (no monthly fees, no contract, and no setup fees)
- Built-in customer loyalty, inventory, and marketing tools
- Easy QuickBooks Online and Desktop sync via apps
Considerations:
- Built-in payment processing is required — you can’t use third-party processors
- May be too limited for larger businesses with complex inventory or multi-location needs
- Add-on fees for QuickBooks integration and advanced features
What We Think: Square POS is one of the easiest ways to get started with QuickBooks-compatible POS software — especially if you want everything (payments, hardware, software) in one system.
Just remember: Square won’t handle your sales tax filings across states. You’ll need a separate platform like TaxCloud for compliance at scale.
3. SumUp POS
SumUp POS is a retail point of sale system built for small businesses in hospitality and retail. With fast checkout, built-in loyalty, and automated marketing, it’s a strong fit for cafes, boutiques, and quick-service restaurants selling in person and online.
Best for: Quick-service restaurants and retail shops that want built-in loyalty, marketing automation, and fast setup.
- Connect Lite – $99/month
- Cloud-based POS, customer rewards, database, and staff training
- Best for: new businesses streamlining operations
- Connect Plus – $199/month
- All Lite features + automated marketing and weekly SMS/email promotions
- Best for: growing retailers focused on engagement
- Connect Pro – $289/month
- All Plus features + unlimited marketing promotions
- Best for: scaling businesses investing in retention and loyalty
Payment Processing Fees:
- In-Person: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
- Online or Manual Entry: 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction
Hardware:
- SumUp bundles come with a customer touchscreen and employee register
- Compatible with third-party receipt printers, cash drawers, and KDS screens
Pros:
- Industry-specific features for restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques
- Built-in customer loyalty and marketing automation
- Clean, fast interface with minimal hardware requirements
- Real-time sales and inventory tracking
Considerations:
- QBO integration requires third-party workarounds
- Focuses more on hospitality than complex retail operations
- Best features gated behind higher-tier plans
What We Think: If you’re running a boutique shop or café and want to boost repeat business with loyalty perks and marketing automation, SumUp POS is a solid pick. Just be prepared to manually bridge the gap between your POS and QuickBooks, and to add a dedicated tax compliance tool like TaxCloud if you sell online or across states.
4. Clover POS
Clover POS is built for brick-and-mortar retailers who want a centralized system for sales, staffing, and customer management. It goes beyond basic POS functionality with built-in tools for employee scheduling, loyalty programs, inventory, and appointment booking — making it ideal for busy shops that want to streamline operations without juggling multiple apps.
Best for: Retail stores looking for robust operational features like employee management, customer loyalty, and appointment booking — all built into their POS system.
QuickBooks Integration: Clover connects with QuickBooks Online through third-party apps like Commerce Sync and Sync with QB, enabling automatic syncing of orders, inventory updates, customer data, and payments.
Clover POS Pricing and Processing Fees:
- Clover’s POS pricing varies greatly, and depends on your business type (retail, restaurant, or service) and hardware setup.
- Card processing fees start at 2.3% + 10¢ per transaction.
Hardware: Clover requires proprietary hardware. Basic Clover POS hardware starts at $199 and up.
Pros:
- Includes built-in tools for payroll, timesheets, loyalty, and scheduling
- Strong QuickBooks compatibility through approved integrations
- App marketplace allows expanded functionality
- Reliable and scalable for growing retail operations
Considerations:
- Must use Clover’s proprietary hardware
- Pricing is complex and varies based on reseller and setup complexity
- Some features may require add-ons or higher-tier plans
What We Think: If you’re running a busy brick-and-mortar store and want one system to manage payments, staff, and customers, Clover’s all-in-one setup is hard to beat. But if you’re trying to stay lean or mobile, the hardware dependency might be a dealbreaker.
5. Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS is a retail-focused point of sale system built for growing businesses with advanced inventory, multi-location, and ecommerce needs. It’s especially useful for sellers managing thousands of SKUs, multiple storefronts, or a combination of in-store and online sales. Lightspeed is known for its strong inventory management tools, customizable workflows, and built-in ecommerce features.
Best for: Growing retail businesses with complex inventory and multi-location needs.
QuickBooks Integration: Lightspeed integrates with QuickBooks Online via third-party apps like QuickBooks Connector (OneSaas) or Amaka, enabling real-time syncing of sales, taxes, inventory, and purchase orders.
Lightspeed POS Pricing: Lightspeed POS plans start at $89/month for single-location retailers, with pricing increasing based on business size, add-ons (like ecommerce and loyalty), and industry. Pricing varies based on your business type, number of locations, and other factors.
Pros:
- Excellent inventory management with bulk editing, variants, and reorder points
- Scales well for businesses with multiple locations
- Built-in ecommerce features and omnichannel selling support
- Customizable hardware and workflow options
Considerations:
- Can get expensive with add-ons or advanced features
- Some learning curve for small businesses or first-time users
- Requires third-party tool to sync with QuickBooks
What We Think: If inventory complexity or multi-store operations are your reality, Lightspeed POS is one of the best QuickBooks-compatible options. Just be aware that, like other POS systems, it won’t handle your multi-state sales tax obligations — you’ll still need a compliance tool like TaxCloud for that.
Why POS + QuickBooks Still Isn’t Enough for Sales Tax Compliance
Modern point of sale software does a great job of handling inventory, payments, and customer orders. But even the best POS systems won’t fully manage your sales tax compliance. And most sellers don’t realize that until it’s too late.
If you sell online, across states, or through multiple storefronts, here are the most common assumptions that get businesses into trouble.
“My POS calculates sales tax, so I’m covered.”
Most POS systems only apply local tax rates at the point of sale. They don’t track your economic nexus in other states — so you won’t know when you’re legally required to register and collect elsewhere.
“My POS syncs with QuickBooks, so everything’s automated.”
POS-to-QuickBooks data sync is helpful, but it doesn’t file your returns or send tax payments. You still have to log into state portals, run manual reports, and handle deadlines yourself.
“My POS will alert me if my sales tax rate is wrong, or something else is up.”
POS systems and QuickBooks don’t notify you when you cross a nexus threshold, miss a filing deadline, or collect the wrong tax during a holiday. That means audit risk can pile up silently—and become a big problem to unravel and fix during tax season.
“It’s all connected — my data is in one place.”
Even with a QuickBooks POS integration, your tax data is often spread across platforms. You might be collecting in one system, reporting in another, and filing manually — with no clear audit trail or source of truth.
“My POS handles everything from gift cards to tax returns.”
POS systems can support payments, store exchanges, and customer databases — but they aren’t built for compliance. They don’t understand product taxability, SST programs, or multi-state remittance logic.
“We sell in-store and online — our POS and QuickBooks setup covers everything.”
Not quite. If you’re a hybrid seller, your point of sale system and accounting software don’t talk to each other the way you think they do. Most QuickBooks POS integrations can’t track economic nexus, consolidate cross-channel sales, or alert you when you’re suddenly liable in a new state. That leaves serious compliance gaps — and major risk — for retailers selling across locations, platforms, or jurisdictions.
Sales Tax Software Covers What Your POS and QuickBooks Can’t
A POS system might track transactions. QuickBooks might organize your books. But neither was built to handle multi-state sales tax compliance — especially when your online sales start to scale.
That’s where sales tax compliance software like TaxCloud steps in.
Whether you’re selling in-store, online, or both, TaxCloud helps your business stay compliant without the chaos. From the moment you hit a nexus threshold to the day your sales tax returns are due, TaxCloud handles the heavy lifting.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Works with your existing tools — Syncs seamlessly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and QuickBooks Online, so you don’t have to rebuild your entire tech stack to get compliant.
- Monitors economic nexus for you — Automatically tracks your sales across states and alerts you before you owe tax somewhere new — no spreadsheets, no guesswork.
- Handles registration, filing, and remittance — You’ll never have to log into a state tax portal again. We take care of the paperwork, payments, and deadlines.
- Keeps you audit-ready — All your filings, reports, and sales tax history live in one centralized dashboard, so you’re always prepared if questions come up.
- Save time and money on filings in 24 states — Eligible businesses get free filing through the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) program, potentially saving thousands per year.
- Calculates the right tax in real time — Whether you’re sending an invoice in QuickBooks or checking out a customer online, TaxCloud applies the correct rate automatically — even during tax holidays.
If you’re running a hybrid retail business, and especially if you’re expanding, TaxCloud gives you the tax engine you didn’t know you needed until it was too late.
FAQs
Why did QuickBooks discontinue its POS system?
While Intuit didn’t explicitly state why they were discontinuing QuickBooks POS (Point of Sale), it was likely because there are many other POS options on the market and their own integrated POS product didn’t have enough customers to justify supporting it further. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a number of loyal customers who wish they could keep using QuickBooks POS and are now looking for an alternative, though.
Can I still use QuickBooks Online with a different POS?
Yes! There are a number of POS-systems that are QuickBooks-compatible and integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks. Many like Shopify POS, Square POS, SumUp POS, and Clover POS even have real-time integrations with QuickBooks to sync data across selling platforms for those who sell on multiple online platforms or who have an in-person retail location.
Do POS systems handle sales tax automatically?
No, POS systems do not handle sales tax automatically. You need another sales tax compliance software that integrates with your online and in-person POS systems that will calculate, collect, track sales tax nexus, and remit your sales tax.
What’s the best POS system for QuickBooks and Shopify?
Shopify POS is often used by retailers who use QuickBooks and sell via Shopify. Its native integration with Shopify and seamless integration with QuickBooks ensures your data is always accurate and up-to-date. Other POS that are often used with both QuickBooks and Shopify include Square POS and Clover POS.