Best Mobile POS Systems of October 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