POS for Music Stores: 5 Top Providers [Features, Pricing, & Reviews]

You know that moment when a customer asks if you have a specific guitar in stock, and you’re pretty sure you do, but you can’t say for certain because your inventory hasn’t been updated since Tuesday? Or when you spend 20 minutes manually updating the same product listing across three different platforms because nothing talks to each other?

That’s the kind of frustration the right point of sale (POS) system can help you avoid.

This blog walks through what matters in a POS for music stores and highlights the providers that can deliver on those features.

Let’s dive in.

Must-Have Features for Music Store POS Systems

Not all POS systems are built the same — and when you’re running a music store, generic features don’t always cut it. 

Here are seven features you need in your POS system:

• Online and in-store integration: Most music stores aren’t just selling in-store anymore. A POS that syncs all your sales channels in real time prevents overselling, keeps stock levels accurate, and consolidates sales data.
• Inventory tracking: Tracking items by serial number lets you see exactly what’s in stock, what’s on consignment, and what’s on special order. Accurate records reduce theft, prevent mistakes, and make it easy to pull up a detailed purchase history when a customer asks.
• Repair management: If you offer repairs in your music store, your POS should handle work orders, track progress, and send customer notifications. This keeps everything moving efficiently and ensures customers always know where their instrument stands. 
• Special request management: Custom orders and special requests are part of music retail. A POS that tracks them helps your team fulfill unique orders accurately, giving your store a competitive edge through personalized service.
• Flexible purchasing options: Trade-ins and consignments are huge for music stores. A POS that manages these correctly ensures accurate valuations, tracks consigned items, and simplifies the selling process for customers.
• Lesson scheduling integration: If you offer lessons, a POS with built-in scheduling saves time, cuts down on admin work, and improves the customer experience. Customers can book online, get reminders, and view their schedules without someone on your team playing phone tag all day.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): A strong CRM helps you engage customers through loyalty programs, email and SMS marketing, and personalized recommendations. Engaged shoppers come back, refer friends, and make repeat purchases. 

POS for Music Stores: 5 Providers Worth Considering

Here’s a breakdown of the top five POS system providers for music stores, with their strengths, weaknesses, integrations, pricing, and reviews.

1. Music Shop 360

If you want a POS solution that was built specifically for music stores from day one, this is it.

Best for: Independent music stores that need an all-in-one, industry-specific solution

Pros:

• Serialized inventory tracking
• Real-time connection of in-store and online operations
• Built-in lesson scheduling and marketing tools
• Repair, special order, trade-in, and consignment management

Cons:

• Possibly more features than needed for very small shops

Integrations: Reverb, My Music Staff, payment processors, and accounting software

Pricing: Contact for custom pricing.

Review: “Music [Shop] 360 has been an excellent small business POS platform. Support has always been available and my issues have always been resolved to my satisfaction.” — Bren W., Google reviewer

Why it works: Music Shop 360 is built from the ground up for music stores. It handles repairs, lessons, inventory, and online sales — all without forcing you to piece together a dozen workarounds.

Related Read: How To Use Music Store POS Software: 7 Beginner Tips

2. Lightspeed

This is your go-to POS if you’re planning to scale or already running multiple locations.

Best for: Growing music stores that need flexible inventory management and multilocation support

Pros:

• Cloud-based and scalable
• Strong reporting and analytics
• E-commerce integration support
• Multichannel sales capability

Cons:

• Not designed specifically for music stores
• Workarounds or third-party integrations needed for repairs and lessons

Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, payment gateways, and accounting software

Pricing: Packages start at $89 per month.

Review: “Powerful inventory management — tracks products, variants, stock levels across locations, and helps automate purchase orders and reorder points, which is especially helpful for retailers with lots of SKUs.” — Andrew D., G2 reviewer

Why it works: Lightspeed works well if you’re planning to expand your business. Strong inventory and reporting tools can be adapted to music retail.

3. Square

If you’re just starting out or managing a very small operation, Square gets you up and running fast without breaking the bank.

Best for: Small, budget-conscious music stores or beginners

Pros:

• Very easy to set up and use
• Basic inventory tracking
• Affordable, no long-term contracts
• Compatibility with Square payment and e-commerce tools

Cons:

• Limited repair, lesson scheduling, and special order functionality
• Not ideal for larger stores or complex operations

Integrations: Square Online, basic marketing tools, and payment processing

Pricing: Plans start at $0 per month.

Review: “I liked the ease of use and ability to learn how to use the software quickly. It was also very easy for customers to use and understand!” — Caitlyn M., Capterra reviewer

Why it works: Square is perfect for very small shops that need a simple, affordable solution for sales and inventory without the complexity.

4. Shopify

If your music store does most of its business online, and your physical location serves primarily as a showroom, Shopify makes a lot of sense.

Best for: Music stores that want to prioritize online sales

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Real-time inventory sync across channels
• Strong online sales and e-commerce integration

Cons:

• No built-in repair, trade-in, or lesson scheduling functionality

Integrations: Reverb (via plug-in) and payment processors

Pricing: Plans start at $29 per month. 

Review: “Shopify POS is a smooth, reliable point-of-sale system that works especially well for businesses already running on Shopify. Its biggest advantage is how seamlessly it connects in-store and online sales.” — Rene M., G2 reviewer

Why it works: Shopify is ideal if you have a strong online presence and want a simple way to manage inventory and orders across multiple channels.

5. AIM by Tri-Tech

If your music store offers lessons, rentals, or repairs and you want a system built specifically for those workflows, AIM by Tri-Tech is a long-standing option in the industry.

Best for: Established music stores that are looking for a traditional, industry-specific POS

Pros:

• Serialized inventory tracking 
• Built-in lesson, rental, and repair management
• Strong reporting for sales, teachers, and inventory performance

Cons:

• Limited e-commerce and automation features

Integrations: Reverb and third-party tools via add-ons or API connections

Pricing: Contact for custom pricing.

Review: “Best feature that we use is band instrument rentals. The software is set up to manage the complications that come with renting instruments to customers who come into our store.” — Richard C., G2 reviewer 

Why it works: AIM by Tri-Tech covers the basics music stores rely on most, especially lessons, rentals, and repairs. It’s a solid option if you want a system built for music retail.

Related Read: POS Training for Music Store Employees: 6 Tips

Why Music Shop 360 Is the Best POS for Music Stores

Running a music store means juggling inventory, repairs, lessons, special orders, trade-ins, and online sales. The right POS for music stores makes all of this manageable.

Here’s how Music Shop 360 helps: 

• Connect in-store and online sales: Real-time e-commerce syncing and native integrations with Shopify and Reverb keep inventory, orders, and product details aligned.
• Track inventory at the right level: Serialized inventory, multilocation visibility, and purchasing and receiving tools make it easy to know exactly what’s on hand and where it lives.
• Manage repairs from start to finish: Built-in work orders and repair status tracking keep repairs organized and customers informed from dropoff to pickup.
• Handle trade-ins, consignments, and rentals: Integrated tools let you manage used gear and rentals without relying on spreadsheets or add-on systems.
• Support lessons and classes: Class management, instructor reporting, and integration with My Music Staff keep scheduling and communication running smoothly.
• Centralize customer relationships: Built-in CRM and marketing tools support email and SMS campaigns, loyalty programs, promotions, wish lists, and review requests in one place.
• Accept the payments customers expect: Integrated payments and popular options — like Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay — are all supported.

Want to see how it can work for your music store? Book a demo with an industry expert today.