The global second-hand market just for apparel is forecast to reach $350 billion by 2028, almost doubling from 2023. To keep up, shop owners need a POS that handles inventory, consignor payouts, buy outright, stays simple, and keeps costs down. In this review, we compare the top 7 POS systems for consignment and resale stores:

1. Square POS

2. Shopify POS

3. Zettle POS

4. SimpleConsign

5. ConsignPro (merged with SimpleConsign)

6. ConsignCloud

7. Circle-Hand

Square, Shopify, and Zettle are flexible and modern but need add-ons for consignment. Legacy systems like SimpleConsign and ConsignPro promise to be all-in-one solutions but can be pricier and less flexible. Compare and learn what works best for your store!

1. Requirements for POS systems in consignment stores

General POS systems like Square POS, Shopify POS, or PayPal Zettle are best-in-class for core retail tasks – such as ringing up sales, processing cards, and managing basic inventory – but they don’t natively track consignors or calculate payouts. Shop owners often start with stopgap solutions (Excel or this free software template for consignment shops).

This can work at first, but these manual methods have very limited features and quickly become cumbersome as the business grows. In practice, you’ll want a POS setup that either supports consignor tracking out-of-the-box or integrates with an add-on tool to handle it.

* SimpleConsign’s transaction fees aren’t transparent—they’re negotiated per store and often called “competitive,” but usually show up as 3% extra charges on consignor payouts. This can mean your sellers earn less.

Square POS, Shopify POS and Zettle do not automatically attribute sales to specific consignors, since they’re built for standard retail. To bridge this gap, you may use workarounds such as treating each consignor as a “vendor” or using product tags/IDs to indicate the seller – but this becomes error-prone at scale. Once your inventory grows and you’re handling dozens of sellers, a manual system hits its limits.

This is usually the point when adding a specific inventory management for consignment becomes necessary to save time and prevent mistakes. More on that below.

One example is Circle-Hand. It integrates directly with Square POS, Shopify POS and Zettle — depending on your needs.

2. What about niche legacy consignment POS Software?

You might be tempted by legacy consignment POS systems like

• SimpleConsign

• ConsignPro

• ResaleWorld

• ConsignCloud (they also offer Shopify integration)

that promise all-in-one management of POS, consignors, inventory, and sales. But they come with significant drawbacks in practice:

• Costly / Proprietary Hardware: They often require specific proprietary payment terminals and hardware. E.g. SimpleConsign pushes its own integrated payment processor (“SimplePay”) with dedicated card hardware, instead of letting you use a cheap reader or an iPad. ResaleWorld and ConsignPro is a Windows-based program that needs a full PC setup. This means higher upfront hardware spending and less flexibility.

• Higher Payment Processing Fees: Using a niche POS can lock you into their preferred payment solution, which often has higher transaction fees. SimpleConsign’s built-in SimplePay processor, for instance, charges higher rates per swipe than Square or PayPal Zettle. Since they don't integrate with others, you can't switch the payment provider for better rates.

• Limited Device Support: Unlike modern cloud POS apps, they won’t run on tablets or phones. That lack of mobile support is a big inconvenience if you want to check sales on the go or use a tablet as a register. In contrast, Square, Shopify, and Zettle all have full-featured mobile apps that work from any device.

• Outdated Interface and Features: Many legacy consignment POS platforms were built ages ago and it shows. Reviews on platforms like Capterra often report older or less intuitive interfaces, slower development of new features, and gaps in capabilities that modern retailers expect.

• Walled Garden (Lack of Integrations): Specialized POS consignment systems tends to be a closed ecosystem. They often don’t play well with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify or external apps. SimpleConsign and others offer only limited integration (they might provide a basic Shopify sync in a high-priced tier, but it can be clunky and not real-time). In contrast, e.g. Shopify or Square come with app marketplaces that let you connect all kinds of services (eBay, Instagram, online stores, etc.). Being stuck in a siloed system can hinder your ability to expand to new sales channels or use modern marketing tools.

In summary, niche consignment POS software often isn’t worth it. You’ll pay more – in both money and hassle – for an outdated toolset. Unless your store has very complex consignment needs that absolutely require a legacy system, you’re usually better off with a flexible, modern solution. A generalist POS (like Shopify POS, Square POS or Zettle) combined with add-on inventory/consignor tracking software can deliver the same capabilities with far better usability and value.

3. What hardware is needed for consignment POS?

Modern POS hardware is now affordable and plug-and-play for consignment stores. The example above shows a typical card reader – a wireless device that pairs with a mobile app to handle credit/debit transactions. Small shops can start with just a smartphone or tablet and a card reader, then add the rest as needed. Here’s the essential hardware you for your POS consignment and resale store:

• Card Reader: A compact card reader that you accept credit/debit cards (often ~$50 or less). They enable you to take payments anywhere in your store, even with just a phone or iPad.

• Mobile Device or Tablet: You’ll need a device to run the POS software – typically an iPad or a smartphone. This device serves as your register screen. One advantage of modern POS systems is that you can use hardware you already own.

• Label Printer: In consignment, you often tag incoming items with a price label that includes a barcode and client ID. A label printer lets you print these sticky labels or hang tags. Common brands are Phomemo (under $100), Dymo, Zebra, Brother.

• Receipt Printer (optional): While e-receipts via SMS or e-mail are popular especially for secondhand items, a receipt printer can be useful. Thermal receipt printers (USB or Bluetooth) can integrate with your POS app to print sale receipts on the spot.

• Barcode Scanner (Optional): For higher volume shops or those with many items, a barcode scanner speeds up checkout. Scanners can be handheld wireless units or even just the camera on your tablet/phone (most POS apps have a built-in scan function).

Other hardware you might consider includes a cash drawer (if accepting cash), and a tablet stand or mount for your device (to present a professional checkout). The good news is that unlike older systems that required proprietary hardware, today’s POS solutions let you mix and match off-the-shelf components.

You can start lean – say, just your phone and a card reader – and later expand to a full cash wrap setup with printer, tablet, and scanner as your store grows.

4. Combining a General POS with Consignment Management Software

To get the best of both worlds a hybrid approach has become very popular for consignment and resale shops over the last years and months: use a mainstream POS system for sales and payments, and pair it with specialized consignment software for your inventory and sellers.

Here’s how it works in practice: You use Square POS, Zettle POS or Shopify POS at the register – taking advantage of their easy interface, stable payment processing, and retail features – while also using a cloud-based consignment platform on the back end. This means your in-store and online sales channels stay in sync with your inventory.

The consignment software handles things like entering new items with their consignor details, tracking what sells, calculating splits/commissions, and managing payouts. The trick is that the two systems are integrated or synced: when you make a sale in the POS, it sends the data to the consignment inventory system, which then marks the item sold and credits the appropriate consignor’s account . At payout time, you can get a report of what each consignor sold and how much you owe them, all without manually cross-referencing every sale.

If you ever decide to switch your POS, you can do so without losing your consignor data. Your consignor inventory lives in the separate system, which you control independently of the POS.

In short, you’re not locked in.

This way you also get access to the broader ecosystem of features from the general POS. Need integrated e-commerce? No problem. Want to run email marketing or connect to third-party accounting? Square’s marketplace likely has an app for that. Meanwhile, your consignment software ensures you’re still managing the unique consignment workflows (like allowing consignors to log into a portal to see their item statuses, or automatically emailing them when an item sells). In fact, some consignment management platforms like Circle-Hand offer a seller portal, where your clients can log in, add or view their inventory, and track payouts.

By combining tools, you can offer a better experience for your sellers without sacrificing the checkout experience for customers.

1. Square POS integrates with:

   • Circle-Hand

   • Rose by ConsignorConnect

2. Shopify POS integrates with:

   • Circle-Hand

   • ConsignCloud

   • SimpleConsign (daily manual imports needed)

3. Zettle POS integrates with:

   • Circle-Hand

Here is a full comparison of inventory management systems for consignment and resale shops.

When choosing this route, make sure the consignment management software you pick has a reliable integration with your POS of choice. Look for official integrations like Shopify Partners that can sync sales in real-time. It might take a bit of initial setup, but once configured, this approach is extremely effective. Your day-to-day checkout is fast and modern, and your back-end consignor tracking is accurate and automated.

5. Takeaways: Best POS System for Resale and Consignment Shops

For most stores, a modern general POS platform is the smartest starting point, with consignment functionality added via plugins or separate software. Here’s a recap of the top 3 and who they suit best:

1. Square POS for consignment stores
   Square offers a free, intuitive POS with no monthly fee. It’s very appealing for new store owners on a budget – you can start for basically the cost of a card reader. Square shines with its rich feature set (inventory tracking, analytics, integrations, etc.), inexpensive hardware and app integrations such as QuickBooks. The downside is the lack of native consignor tracking, but you can manage that with a third-party solution like Circle-Hand or simple workarounds initially.
   
   

   
   

2. Shopify POS for consignment stores
   Shopify’s POS is ideal for stores that plan to do a lot of omnichannel selling (in-store and online). It starts with $5 / month in their starter plan. If you are running a consignment boutique and also want a full e-commerce website, Shopify gives you an integrated solution. All your inventory can live in Shopify, and you can sell through your brick-and-mortar. The POS app itself is polished and works with their affordable card readers. Shopify also lets your integrate with other card readers. Here is a detailed review on how to use Shopify as consignment shop.
   
   

3. PayPal Zettle as POS for consignment Stores
   Zettle is a great option for small resale shops that prioritize low payment fees and simplicity. Since it has no monthly fee and slightly lower transaction rates than Square in some regions, it can save you a bit on each sale – which adds up when margins are thin. It’s backed by PayPal, so it’s reliable and funds flow into your PayPal business account for easy access. The Zettle POS app covers the basics: product catalog, tax calculation, and a
   simple checkout.
   
   

4. Legacy consignment POS systems (SimpleConsign, Resale World…)
   For most shop owners, they simply aren’t worth it. The higher monthly fees and setup costs, outdated interfaces, and lack of flexibility make them a tough sell in 2025. Unless you have very specific needs that absolutely cannot be met with a general POS + add-on software, you’ll likely be happier and more efficient with one of the solutions above.

Whichever you choose, ensure you have a plan for handling consignor records (via your own system, an integration, or separate software). With the right setup, you’ll spend less time wrestling with technology and more time growing your consignment business – sourcing great inventory, serving customers, and paying your consignors on time.