Best Mobile POS Systems of November 2024 - NerdWallet
Square POS
on Square POS's secure website
Best for Overall mobile POS system
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up.
on Square POS's secure website
Helcim POS
on Helcim POS's secure website
Best for High sales volume
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
on Helcim POS's secure website
Shopify Retail POS
on Shopify POS's secure website
Best for Online-first businesses
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify POS's secure website
Clover POS
on Clover POS's secure website
Best for Working with third-party processors
In-person: 2.3% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
and up.
on Clover POS's secure website
Toast POS
on Toast POS's secure website
Best for Restaurants
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast POS's secure website
Lightspeed Retail POS
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Best for Retail
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
TouchBistro
on TouchBistro's secure website
Best for Cafes and food trucks
Quote-based.
and up.
on TouchBistro's secure website
PayPal Zettle
Best for Alternate payment options
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Our pick for
Overall mobile POS system
Square takes the cake, thanks to its free POS software app and free mobile card reader, which make it possible to start accepting card payments from anywhere almost instantly. You’ll just need to pay payment processing fees. If you’d like to upgrade your hardware, Square also sells a handheld terminal and chip/tap card reader.
on Square POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
High sales volume
Helcim’s mobile hardware options — including a card reader and standalone, handheld terminal — along with its free POS software and volume discounts make it particularly appealing to high-volume businesses doing more than $50,000 in card sales monthly.
on Helcim POS's secure website
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Online-first businesses
Shopify’s built-in checkout portal and variety of sleek website themes are ideal for e-commerce businesses that make most of their sales online. The company sells mobile POS systems (a card reader and handheld terminal) for in-person sales, too.
on Shopify POS's secure website
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Working with third-party processors
If you want the freedom to use an outside payment processor — instead of your POS system provider — Clover is a great option. You can buy its hardware from a variety of third-party payment processors and resellers. Its mobile POS system hardware options include a handheld terminal and portable card reader that pairs with your smartphone.
on Clover POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Restaurants
Toast specializes in creating POS systems for restaurants specifically. The Toast Go 2 handheld terminal allows employees to take orders and cash customers out from anywhere in the restaurant. The mobile POS system has a 24-hour battery life and is spill- and drop-proof.
on Toast POS's secure website
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Retail
Lightspeed’s detailed inventory tracking system, which includes a built-in B2B catalog with product descriptions, is especially advantageous for retail stores that buy from several different suppliers and sell a wide variety of items. You can use its POS software on an iPad or purchase its handheld terminal.
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Cafes and food trucks
Whereas Toast recommends restaurants use its proprietary hardware, TouchBistro allows them to turn their already existing iPads into mobile POS systems. The cost savings and mobility that comes along with this is particularly beneficial for smaller businesses in the food industry, like cafes or food trucks.
on TouchBistro's secure website
Quote-based.
and up.
Pros
Cons
Our pick for
Alternate payment options
PayPal Zettle sells a mobile card reader and handheld terminal, but its ability to accept Venmo and PayPal QR code payments is what really sets it apart from some of its competitors. If you sell mostly on the go and want to give your customers more payment options, Zettle is a solid option.
Pros
Cons