What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about point-of-sale software for retail stores — measured weekly across 5 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-02 · 72 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 72 AI answers · Window: Jul 5, 2026 – Aug 2, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (32 answers)
Across 72 sampled AI answers from 5 engines, Square is recommended most often — appearing in 81.9% of recommendations, followed by Lightspeed (63.9%) and Clover (55.6%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 5 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Square square.com Best for: AI recommends Square most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (100% of those answers) | 81.9% 95% CI 71.5–89.1% 59 mentions · avg pos 4.8 first pick 40.7% | — | GROK 100%GEMINI 75%CHATGPT 87.5%CLAUDE 87.5%PERPLEXITY 79.2% | Claim |
| 2 | Lightspeed Best for: AI recommends Lightspeed most when buyers ask “best POS system for a small boutique or specialty retail shop” (100% of those answers) | 63.9% 95% CI 52.4–74% 46 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 15.2% | — | GROK 100%GEMINI 54.2%CHATGPT 75%CLAUDE 62.5%PERPLEXITY 58.3% | Claim |
| 3 | Clover clover.com Best for: AI recommends Clover most when buyers ask “best point-of-sale software for independent retail stores” (100% of those answers) | 55.6% 95% CI 44.1–66.5% 40 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 2.5% | — | GROK 75%GEMINI 62.5%CHATGPT 62.5%CLAUDE 50%PERPLEXITY 41.7% | Claim |
| 4 | Lightspeed Retail Best for: AI recommends Lightspeed Retail most when buyers ask “top POS platforms for retail stores that need inventory tracking and customer loyalty” (90.9% of those answers) | 50% 95% CI 38.7–61.3% 36 mentions · avg pos 6.6 first pick 13.9% | — | GROK 62.5%GEMINI 41.7%CHATGPT 62.5%CLAUDE 50%PERPLEXITY 50% | Claim |
| 5 | KORONA koronapos.com Best for: AI recommends KORONA most when buyers ask “top POS platforms for retail stores that need inventory tracking and customer loyalty” (72.7% of those answers) | 33.3% 95% CI 23.5–44.8% 24 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | GROK 50%GEMINI 37.5%CHATGPT 50%CLAUDE 37.5%PERPLEXITY 16.7% | Claim |
| 6 | KORONA POS Best for: AI recommends KORONA POS most when buyers ask “top POS platforms for retail stores that need inventory tracking and customer loyalty” (72.7% of those answers) | 30.6% 95% CI 21.1–42% 22 mentions · avg pos 11.2 first pick 0% | — | GROK 37.5%GEMINI 37.5%CHATGPT 50%CLAUDE 37.5%PERPLEXITY 12.5% | Claim |
| 7 | Shopify shopify.com Best for: AI recommends Shopify most when buyers ask “how do I manage in-store sales and online sales in one system for my retail shop” (63.6% of those answers) | 26.4% 95% CI 17.6–37.6% 19 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 10.5% | — | GROK 62.5%GEMINI 4.2%CHATGPT 75%CLAUDE 25%PERPLEXITY 20.8% | Claim |
| 8 | Loyverse loyverse.com Best for: AI recommends Loyverse most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (63.6% of those answers) | 22.2% 95% CI 14.2–33.1% 16 mentions · avg pos 6.9 first pick 6.3% | — | GROK 37.5%GEMINI 25%CHATGPT 25%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 16.7% | Claim |
| 9 | Zettle zettle.com Best for: AI recommends Zettle most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (72.7% of those answers) | 20.8% 95% CI 13.1–31.6% 15 mentions · avg pos 6.9 first pick 13.3% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 16.7%CHATGPT 25%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 29.2% | Claim |
| 10 | Square Invoices squareup.com Best for: AI recommends Square Invoices most when buyers ask “retail-specific POS software vs general small business POS — what extra features are useful” (45.5% of those answers) | 19.4% 95% CI 12–30% 14 mentions · avg pos 5.2 first pick 7.1% | — | GROK 62.5%PERPLEXITY 37.5% | Claim |
| 11 | PayPal Zettle Best for: AI recommends PayPal Zettle most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (54.5% of those answers) | 18.1% 95% CI 10.9–28.5% 13 mentions · avg pos 2.2 first pick 15.4% | — | GEMINI 16.7%CHATGPT 12.5%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 29.2% | Claim |
| 12 | Clover POS clotouch.com Best for: AI recommends Clover POS most when buyers ask “top POS platforms for retail stores that need inventory tracking and customer loyalty” (45.5% of those answers) | 18.1% 95% CI 10.9–28.5% 13 mentions · avg pos 4.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 25%GEMINI 41.7%CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 13 | Upserve by Lightspeed lightspeedhq.com Best for: AI recommends Upserve by Lightspeed most when buyers ask “how do I manage in-store sales and online sales in one system for my retail shop” (36.4% of those answers) | 18.1% 95% CI 10.9–28.5% 13 mentions · avg pos 7.9 first pick 15.4% | — | GROK 50%GEMINI 4.2%CLAUDE 25%PERPLEXITY 25% | Claim |
| 14 | Helcim helcim.com Best for: AI recommends Helcim most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (63.6% of those answers) | 16.7% 95% CI 9.8–26.9% 12 mentions · avg pos 8.3 first pick 8.3% | — | GROK 25%GEMINI 20.8%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 16.7% | Claim |
| 15 | NerdWallet nerdwallet.com Best for: AI recommends NerdWallet most when buyers ask “alternatives to the big retail POS platforms that are more affordable for small shops” (36.4% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.7–20.4% 8 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | GROK 12.5%CHATGPT 37.5%PERPLEXITY 16.7% | Claim |
| 16 | WooCommerce Best for: AI recommends WooCommerce most when buyers ask “how do I manage in-store sales and online sales in one system for my retail shop” (36.4% of those answers) | 9.7% 95% CI 4.8–18.7% 7 mentions · avg pos 16.8 first pick 0% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 8.3%CHATGPT 12.5%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 17 | Forbes forbes.com | 9.7% 95% CI 4.8–18.7% 7 mentions · avg pos 18.3 first pick 0% | — | GROK 37.5%CHATGPT 25%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 18 | GoDaddy godaddy.com Best for: AI recommends GoDaddy most when buyers ask “lightweight POS alternatives for small retailers who find enterprise systems too costly” (45.5% of those answers) | 8.3% 95% CI 3.9–17% 6 mentions · avg pos 5.6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 12.5%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 19 | eHopper ehopper.com | 8.3% 95% CI 3.9–17% 6 mentions · avg pos 13.2 first pick 16.7% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 4.2%CHATGPT 12.5%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 20 | QuickBooks quickbooks.intuit.com | 8.3% 95% CI 3.9–17% 6 mentions · avg pos 25 first pick 0% | — | GROK 37.5%CHATGPT 25%CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 21 | Vibe Retail POS | 6.9% 95% CI 3–15.2% 5 mentions · avg pos 6.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 16.7%CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 22 | PHP Point of Sale phppointofsale.com | 6.9% 95% CI 3–15.2% 5 mentions · avg pos 11.6 first pick 0% | — | GROK 37.5%GEMINI 8.3% | Claim |
| 23 | Epos Now eposnow.com Best for: AI recommends Epos Now most when buyers ask “what POS system should a single-location clothing boutique use” (45.5% of those answers) | 6.9% 95% CI 3–15.2% 5 mentions · avg pos 11.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 25%GEMINI 4.2%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 24 | AGMS agms.com | 5.6% 95% CI 2.2–13.4% 4 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 8.3%PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 25 | SpotOn spoton.com | 5.6% 95% CI 2.2–13.4% 4 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 8.3%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 26 | Timeline POS timelinedigi.com Best for: AI recommends Timeline POS most when buyers ask “lightweight POS alternatives for small retailers who find enterprise systems too costly” (36.4% of those answers) | 5.6% 95% CI 2.2–13.4% 4 mentions · avg pos 12.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 8.3%PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 27 | PayPal paypal.com | 5.6% 95% CI 2.2–13.4% 4 mentions · avg pos 17 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 25%CLAUDE 12.5%PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 28 | SwipeSimple | 4.2% 95% CI 1.4–11.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 3.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 12.5% | Claim |
| 29 | BigCommerce bigcommerce.com Best for: AI recommends BigCommerce most when buyers ask “how do I manage in-store sales and online sales in one system for my retail shop” (45.5% of those answers) | 4.2% 95% CI 1.4–11.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 13 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.2%PERPLEXITY 8.3% | Claim |
| 30 | Revel Systems revelsystems.com Best for: AI recommends Revel Systems most when buyers ask “top POS platforms for retail stores that need inventory tracking and customer loyalty” (36.4% of those answers) | 4.2% 95% CI 1.4–11.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 13.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 12.5%GEMINI 8.3% | Claim |
| 31 | Erply | 2.8% 95% CI 0.8–9.6% 2 mentions · avg pos 6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.2%CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 32 | Woo Marketplace woocommerce.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 33 | Zapier AI zapier.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 12.5% | Claim |
| 34 | PAX A80 | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.2% | Claim |
| 35 | Vend vendhq.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions · avg pos 25 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 12.5% | Claim |
| 36 | Deelo deelo.ai | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions · avg pos 50 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 12.5% | Claim |
| 37 | AppIntent appintent.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 38 | F6S f6s.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 39 | Kibo Commerce kibocommerce.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.2% | Claim |
| 40 | NetSuite netsuite.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.2% | Claim |
| 41 | Oracle AI oracle.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
| 42 | SumUp Invoices sumup.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.2–7.5% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.2% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 72 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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