Choosing between Heartland Retail and POS Nation for your business? Both are popular retail solutions, but they serve different needs. Heartland Retail starts at Contact for pricing and is Retail POS with integrated payments, while POS Nation starts at $99/month or one-time purchase and is POS for retail, liquor, and tobacco stores. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: Heartland Retail vs POS Nation
| Feature | Heartland Retail | POS Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Retail | Retail |
| Starting Price | Contact for pricing | $99/month or one-time purchase |
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business to Mid-Market | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Quote-based | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Retail stores wanting integrated payments | Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores |
Heartland Retail Overview
Heartland Retail is a point-of-sale and payment processing solution for retail businesses. Part of the Heartland family, it offers inventory management, customer loyalty, and integrated payments.
Heartland Retail is offered by Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments) (founded 2001) based in Jeffersonville, IN. The system focuses on Retail, Specialty Stores.
Key Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
- E-commerce Integration
POS Nation Overview
POS Nation provides point-of-sale systems for retail stores, liquor stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores. Features inventory management, age verification, and tobacco scan compliance.
POS Nation is offered by POS Nation (founded 2001) based in Charlotte, NC. The system focuses on Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.
Key Features:
- POS
- Inventory Management
- Age Verification
- Tobacco Compliance
- E-commerce
- Reporting
Feature Comparison
Heartland Retail Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
POS Nation Features:
- POS
- Inventory Management
- Age Verification
- Tobacco Compliance
- E-commerce
When comparing features, Heartland Retail stands out with Heartland integration, while POS Nation differentiates itself with Age-restricted retail expertise. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Heartland Retail | POS Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Contact for pricing | $99/month or one-time purchase |
| Pricing Model | Quote-based | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Not available | Available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Heartland Retail
Pros:
- Heartland ecosystem
- Integrated payments
- Retail focus
- Customer loyalty tools
Cons:
- Custom pricing
- May require Heartland processing
POS Nation
Pros:
- Industry specialization
- Compliance features
- Flexible pricing
- Good support
Cons:
- Niche market focus
- Add-on costs
- Hardware required
Who Should Choose Heartland Retail?
Heartland Retail is ideal for Retail stores wanting integrated payments. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Specialty Stores.
However, Heartland Retail may not be the best fit for Restaurants.
Who Should Choose POS Nation?
POS Nation is ideal for Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. The system is particularly well-suited for Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.
However, POS Nation may not be the best fit for Restaurants or apparel retail.
Our Recommendation
Both Heartland Retail and POS Nation are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Heartland Retail if you’re Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Choose POS Nation if you’re Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. POS Nation has a higher user rating (4.4 vs 4.1). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.