QuickBooks POS is Dead: 7 Best Cloud Alternatives for 2025
Daniel Zvi
Our Verdict: QuickBooks POS was officially discontinued in late 2023, and with Intuit ending support for QuickBooks Desktop 2022 in May 2025, retailers are racing to find a replacement.
The best alternatives in 2025 are Lightspeed Retail for advanced inventory management (the closest match to QB's features), Toast for restaurants, and Square for smaller shops needing a quick switch. For businesses that are terrified of data loss during the switch, POS Pros offers the best "white glove" migration service to handle the transition for you.
The "End of Life" Panic: What You Need to Know
If you are still using QuickBooks POS v19 or older, you are operating on borrowed time. Intuit has stopped selling the software, discontinued security updates, and broken key integrations (like integrated payments).
The Risks of Staying:
- Security: No more patches means your customer data is vulnerable.
- Payments: Integrated credit card processing may stop working, forcing you to use a separate, clunky terminal.
- Support: If your system crashes, there is no official support line to call.
The good news? Modern cloud POS systems are significantly better. They offer real-time inventory tracking, mobile apps, and e-commerce integrations that QuickBooks POS never had.
1. Lightspeed Retail – The "Inventory" Expert
While Intuit encourages users to switch to Shopify, many former QuickBooks users find Shopify's retail tools too basic. Lightspeed Retail is the logical upgrade for retailers who loved QuickBooks for its deep inventory management. It handles complex catalogs (like size/color matrices) just like QB did, but better.
Our top picks for November 2025
9.5
Inventory management
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- Inventory Power: Like QB, it handles thousands of SKUs, serialized items, and complex work orders (for repair shops).
- Migration Tools: Lightspeed has specialized tools to import your QuickBooks customer and inventory data.
- E-commerce: Unlike QB's clunky web connector, Lightspeed has a built-in online store that syncs inventory in real-time.
2. Toast – Best for Restaurants
QuickBooks POS was never great for restaurants, but many used it anyway for the accounting sync. Toast is the modern standard for food service. If you are running a cafe, bar, or restaurant, this is your chance to stop forcing a retail POS to do a restaurant's job.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- xtraCHEF Integration: Toast owns a tool called xtraCHEF that automatically pushes your sales and invoice data into QuickBooks Online/Desktop, keeping your accountant happy.
- Handhelds: Toast Go™ handhelds let servers order table-side, speeding up service.
- Kitchen Display: No more paper tickets; orders go straight to a digital screen in the kitchen.
3. ShopKeep (by Lightspeed) – Best for iPad Simplicity
For years, QuickBooks users were stuck with beige desktop towers. ShopKeep (now part of the Lightspeed S-Series) was one of the first to popularize the sleek iPad register. If you want to modernize your counter's look without losing functionality, this is the entry point.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- Hardware: Runs on reliable iPads, which are cheaper and easier to replace than proprietary touchscreens.
- Simplicity: It is far more intuitive. You can train a new cashier in 15 minutes, whereas QB POS required a manual.
- Mobility: You can pick up the iPad and make a sale anywhere in the store.
4. Square – Best for Speed & Small Biz
If you are a smaller shop and just want the headache to be over, Square is the fastest lifeboat. You can sign up, import your items, and start selling in a single afternoon. It is the complete opposite of the clunky, server-based QB software.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- No Monthly Fees: Square has a robust free plan (you only pay processing fees), whereas QB POS had expensive upfront license costs.
- Hardware: You can buy a stand at Best Buy or Amazon and be live instantly.
- Ecosystem: Includes free email marketing and team management tools that QB charged extra for.
5. Global Payments – Best for Payment Reliability
For businesses that want a direct relationship with their processor (bypassing the middleman software companies), Global Payments offers a sturdy, enterprise-grade solution. This is ideal for high-volume retailers who want rock-solid reliability and competitive rates.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- Direct Processing: You are dealing directly with the bank/processor, often resulting in more stable rates than software-first companies.
- Omnichannel: Excellent for businesses that sell across multiple channels and need a unified view of payments.
- Stability: Built for high-volume transactions that might crash a lighter cloud system.
6. Oracle NetSuite – Best for "Scale-Ups"
If you are leaving QuickBooks POS because you've simply outgrown it (e.g., you are doing $5M+ in revenue or have 10+ locations), NetSuite is the answer. It isn't just a POS; it's a full ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system that replaces both QuickBooks POS and QuickBooks Accounting.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats QuickBooks POS:
- Unified System: It handles financials, CRM, inventory, and POS in one database. No more syncing errors between your POS and your accounting software.
- Automation: Automates purchasing, fulfillment, and financial reporting at a scale QB cannot touch.
- Global: Supports multiple currencies, languages, and tax subsidiaries.
7. POS Pros – Best for "White Glove" Migration
Terrified of losing your data? POS Pros is not a software company; they are expert consultants. They are your best option if you want a human to look at your QuickBooks setup, recommend the right replacement, and handle the transition for you.
Our top picks for November 2025
Why it beats doing it yourself:
- The "Safety" Net: They specialize in moving retailers off legacy systems. They can help negotiate better rates with providers like Clover or Lightspeed than you could get on your own.
- Hardware Deals: They often bundle hardware for free, saving you the thousands it would cost to replace your QB peripherals.
- One Call: Instead of calling 5 sales reps, you call POS Pros once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is QuickBooks POS officially discontinued?
A. Yes. Intuit officially discontinued QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale v19 on October 3, 2023. As of that date, Intuit stopped selling new licenses, stopped releasing security updates, and shut down connected services, meaning integrated payments and e-commerce syncs no longer work.
Q. Can I still use QuickBooks POS in 2025?
A. Technically, yes—the software will open. However, you cannot process credit cards natively anymore. You would need to use a standalone terminal and manually type every sale into QuickBooks, which creates accounting errors. Additionally, without security patches, your customer data is vulnerable to theft.
Q. What is the "official" replacement for QuickBooks POS?
A. Intuit officially recommends migrating to Shopify POS. However, many former QuickBooks users find Shopify's additional transaction fees and basic inventory tools frustrating. This is why brands like Lightspeed Retail (for inventory) and Square (for simplicity) are often considered better "functional" replacements for the desktop software.
Q. Does Square integrate with QuickBooks Desktop?
A. Yes. While Square does not have a native "button" for this, you can use the Commerce Sync app or Shogo to automatically transfer your daily Square sales data into QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online. This allows you to switch to a modern POS without changing your accounting software.
Q. Why choose Lightspeed over Shopify for QuickBooks migration?
A. Most QuickBooks users rely on deep inventory management (catalogs, work orders, vendor returns). Lightspeed Retail matches these complex inventory features almost 1:1, whereas Shopify POS is primarily designed for simple e-commerce and lacks the robust "back office" tools that legacy QB users are used to.
Our top picks for November 2025
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