7 Best Mobile POS Applications 2022

Mobile Point of Sale (POS) is a payment application used to process transactions on smart devices. POS applications allow merchants, who are typically small business owners, to receive payments from their customers through the use of mobile apps or other digital platforms like desktops and tablets.

The “free mobile pos system” is a type of software that allows businesses to process credit card payments through their smartphones. The 7 best mobile POS applications for 2022 are: Square, Shopify, PayPal Here, Paydiant, Stripe, Clover and GoPayment.

Customers desire a checkout experience that is as simple, quick, and contactless as feasible now more than ever. Mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) applications fulfill this need, enabling you to move sales to the floor, tableside, or off-site as required. According to Global Market Insights, the global market for mPOS terminals would reach $70 billion by 2027.

We whittled down our list of more than 40 POS apps to the top seven for mobile. Here’s what we discovered:

• Square is the best all-around point-of-sale app for solopreneurs and small enterprises.
• Loyverse is the best free POS with many payment options and a reward program.
• Vend: For age-restricted items such as booze stores, smoke shops, or CBD sales, this is the best option.
• Zettle (PayPal) is the best option for small enterprises who sell internationally online.
• Lightspeed: For restaurants and retailers with large stocks, this is the best option.
• Clover POS is ideal for entrepreneurs that wish to choose their own merchant account.
• Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is the best option for online merchants that want an all-in-one solution for in-person sales.

Comparison of the Best Mobile Point-of-Sale Apps

How We Assessed Mobile Point-of-Sale Apps

Our experts drew on decades of expertise, both from personal usage and from analyzing and evaluating these systems. Then we integrated the opinions of long-term, real-world customers who left evaluations on reputable third-party websites.

The finest mobile point-of-sale applications optimize the hardware, software, and payment processors balance. We began by just looking at companies that have a mobile app. This guarantees that the software can be executed on a smartphone or tablet. Many companies, like as Square and Clover, have their own hardware. Then, like Loyverse’s Program of loyalty, we sought for software capabilities that not only enable you ring up sales but also handle inventory and manage customers. We chose a combination of companies that provide exclusive merchant services and those that give you an option when it comes to payment processing.

When it comes to POS software, Square always comes out on top. It’s on lists for POS for restaurants, payment processing, and more, in addition to being the top POS program for small companies. Square was created with mobile in mind, and its POS app reflects that, even as it expands to include brick-and-mortar apps.

Please see the tabs below for a complete list of our assessment criteria:

25% of the overall score

There’s more to pricing than just membership costs. Some POS systems, such as Square, provide free POS software and a flat-rate transaction cost, while others, such as Clover, partner with merchant services that charge interchange-plus fees. We were looking for a good mix of software subscription, transaction, and hardware charges. Square, Lightspeed, and Zettle all received five out of five ratings in this category.

20% of the overall score

Processing different payment kinds, managing customers, monitoring inventory, connecting with third-party software, and providing robust reporting are the fundamentals of any good POS system. We give Program of loyaltys additional credit. Vend received a flawless score, closely followed by Shopify.

20% of the overall score

A portable gadget that handled payments and synchronized with a web-based device was required to make our list. Operating systems, Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet, and digital receipts were also taken into account. Loyverse received 5 out of 5 ratings, whereas Vend received 4.5.

20% of the overall score

This is a value score based on our professional judgment, popularity, feature set, and how easy the gadget is to use (or educate your staff). Although all of the mobile POS systems on the list received good marks, Square, Shopify, and Loyverse received perfect grades.

15% of the overall score

We rely largely on feedback from real-world users who use the system on a regular basis for this. We looked at the performance of both mobile applications and the POS app. We also searched for customer service that was available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since companies may want assistance at any moment. With a score of 4.38, Square came out on top.

*Percentages based on total score

Square is the best mobile POS app overall.

Square

4.66 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Simple to use
• To grow your company, you may use a variety of connectors and native business add-ons.
• Restaurant, retail, and service/appointment-based businesses have their own variants.
• Works well for solopreneurs and provides sufficient tools for small firms.

What Isn’t There

• Support hours are limited.
• Payment processing is limited to Square.
• Only the iOS version of the restaurant is available.

Pricing in Squares

• Basic POS system is available for free.
• $60/month for an advanced point-of-sale system
• 2.6 percent + 10 cents per transaction for card-present transactions
• Processing cost for keyed-in transactions is 3.5 percent plus 15 cents per transaction.
• Card readers start at $49 and go up from there (first swipe reader free)
• Terminals start at $299.
• For Plus plans, there is a Free trial for 30 days period.

Add-Ons:

• $35 per month for Team Plus
• $35 per month in payroll + $5 per employee
• $15–$35 per month for marketing
• Monthly Program of loyalty: $45–$105
• In 2021, the cost of a kitchen display will be $10 per month.

Because of its adaptability and great quality of features, Square POS always ranks high on our list of top POS software. It features a free online shop and the No. 1 free POS system for retail, restaurants, and appointment-based services. It’s appropriate for a solopreneur selling at farmers markets or trade events, as well as a busy shop with many locations. It can even handle payroll with the add-ons. It’s also one of the few apps that supports both Android and iOS. (Square for Restaurants is only available for iOS, while the Android retail version has restaurant capabilities; nonetheless, Lightspeed is the best mPOS for restaurants.)

Square received a 4.66 out of 5 rating in our review. It received top marks in both the pricing and expert assessment categories. It was chastised for its restricted service hours and the fact that the reward program is an optional extra. Its inventory management isn’t as comprehensive as some of the others on our list, such as Lightspeed or Shopify, and certain time clock capabilities are extra.

Pricing in Squares

POS: Only Zettle (PayPal) and Loyverse on our list provide a free POS application, therefore Square stands out. Furthermore, at $60 a month, its POS Pro plan is less expensive than others.

Payment Processing: Square’s costs are comparable, at 2.6 percent + 10 cents for in-person purchases and 3.5 percent + 15 cents for keyed-in transactions, however Zettle (PayPal) is significantly better. Square gives savings to companies who handle more than $250,000 in credit cards each year. Other POS options that allow you to pick your own payment processor may provide lower prices.

Hardware: A chip reader costs $49 from Square. It also has a free swipe reader. Square’s POS systems range in price from $299 to $799. These costs are competitive with those of the majority of the software on our list.

In this review, we’ll go over all of Square’s outstanding features.

Features that are square

On both iOS and Android, Square’s POS app is one of the most popular and well-rated. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• Square’s free plan is difficult to surpass, however Loyverse gets close. Square’s free POS can manage checkout, inventory, online sales, and more, unlike other POS programs, which have restricted functions in their free plan.
• User-Friendliness: Square is extremely popular because it’s such an easy program to use. The design is intuitive and the hardware durable. Users say it’s incredibly easy for customers as well as cashiers. They rate it an average of 4.78 out of 5 stars over multiple review sites.
• Square POS is ranked No. 35 in the Apple App Store for Business, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on over 285,000 reviews. It has 4.4 stars and over 138,000 ratings on Android. It is the most popular mobile POS app among consumers. Square is the finest free iPhone credit card reader and mobile payment processor on our list.
• Square’s scalability makes it suitable for both the solopreneur who sells a few goods now and then and the bustling shop that sells both in-person and online. While the flat payment processing charges (save for Shopify) are the highest on our list, Square does offer discounted pricing for high-volume businesses.
• Versatility: Do you want to own a restaurant? Square has a specialized point-of-sale system for this. Do you need anything for your beauty parlor? Square Appointments, which is also free, is a good option. Square also offers a free online shop. It features loyalty, staff scheduling, and even payroll add-ons, all of which are natively integrated into Square POS. Square has also expanded into banking, offering checking and savings accounts, loans, and other services.
• Square works with accounting software like QuickBooks, scheduling software like Intake, and time trackers like Homebase if you require anything more. It has ecommerce, delivery, invoicing, analytics, events, and more applications.
• Square, like the majority of the systems on our list, has an offline option. It can capture and preserve transactions for subsequent synchronization with the cloud.
• Square allows you to sell on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, as well as make shoppable links for Twitter. Lightspeed allows you to add Facebook Like and Add This buttons to your store pages, whereas PayPal can do it but not always with Zettle. Only Shopify and Square compete in terms of social selling capabilities.

What Square Isn’t There?

• If you sell age-restricted merchandise, Clover or Vend are good options.
• Square charges an additional fee for its Program of loyalty. At least some tools, like as loyalty points, are provided in the basic tiers of Zettle, Clover, and Vend. The most comprehensive Program of loyalty is Loyverse, which is also free.
• Square Teams, which costs extra, is required to design staff schedules or to have sophisticated clock-in/out or time tracking capabilities. Consider Loyverse, Clover, and Lightspeed if time tracking is crucial to you.

Square should be visited.

Loyverse: Best Free Mobile POS Application With Loyalty & Choice of Merchant Services

Loyverse

4.55 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Merchant processors to choose from
• Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet
• Employees are required to clock in and out.
• Program of loyalty

What Isn’t There

• Integrations aren’t free.
• Reporting is restricted.
• Inventory control is limited.

Pricing for Loyalists

• Basic POS: $0 for a basic POS
• KDS: $0
• CDS: $0
• Fees for transactions vary.
• Readers of cards: Various
• Variables in terminals

Add-Ons:

• $25 per month for employee management
• $25 per month for advanced inventory
• $9 per month for integrations
• Add-ons have a 14-day trial period.

Loyverse is a well-known free POS program that integrates with a number of payment processors across the globe to create a comprehensive POS system that includes loyalty, inventory, and even personnel administration. It has a feature set that matches Square, and you can discover prices that fit you thanks to a variety of payment providers. Loyverse, on the other hand, charges extra for detailed reports and integrations.

Loyverse was a close second to Square, with 4.55 out of 5 on our evaluation. It’s the only one to get 5 out of 5 on mobile-specific features, although it did not do as well for general functions—it had everything, just not to the extent of, say, Square or Vend. Its 24/7 customer support in User-Friendliness was offset by a lower-than-average rating from users on third-party software review sites. Square has the highest customer satisfaction rate, but limited customer support hours.

Pricing for Loyalists

POS: Loyverse includes a free POS system, a free analytics and inventory dashboard, a free kitchen display (Square costs $10 per month), and free customer display software. That’s pretty much all you’ll need for a solid point-of-sale app. It does, however, provide the following add-ons for enhanced functionality:

• Access permissions, timecards, and sales-by-employee monitoring are all included in Employee Management ($25/month/store).
• Purchase orders, inventory validation reports, and stock management are all included in Advanced Inventory ($25/month/store).
• Integrations ($9 per shop each month): To interface with third-party applications (does not include costs charged by the apps); most of the mPOS apps on our list are free to use.

A Free trial for 14 days is available for these add-ons.

Payment Processing: You may pick your payment provider, much as with Vend and Clover, however the options are more restricted. SumUp, Zettle, Worldpay, CardConnect, Tyro, Smartpay, Yoco, STORES Payment, PAYGATE, SB payments, KICC, and NICE are among the companies that it supports. Many of these apps are only accessible on iOS, while others are only available in certain regions. However, you may be able to discover better prices than those offered by some of the flat-rate mobile POS software on our list.

Loyverse does not offer hardware, but it does inform you what it works with. Printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and other items are included on the website. It works with Sunmi, iMin, Bematech, and P2Plus Android POS terminals. It does not include a price list or a list of card readers. (This is most likely from your payment processor.)

The features listed below are just a handful of the many that make Loyverse one of our favorite mobile POS apps. Read the rest of our review to learn more.

Features of Loyverse

CRM and loyalty functions are included in the mobile app. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• For the quantity of features, Loyverse’s free plan is equivalent to Square’s. We would have awarded it a better grade if it hadn’t been for the fact that some real-world consumers complained that the program didn’t have as many features as it claimed.
• Loyalty: This is where Loyverse gets its name (an abbreviation of Loyalty Universe) and where it stands out. Loyverse’s customer relationship and Program of loyalty not only has a customer base for keeping information like contact information, but also purchase history and customer notes. Further, the built-in program has point rewards and loyalty cards, with barcodes you can scan. Square charges extra for its Program of loyalty.
• POS: You can ring up things, apply discounts, send receipts, and issue refunds, just like the rest of the software on our list. Loyverse allows you to scan barcodes using your phone’s camera. (This is also done by Shopify, Zettle, and Vend.) It also provides additional features such as open tickets and weight barcodes. You may also set up takeaway or delivery options. Finally, it can be used offline, whereas Shopify and Zettle cannot.
• Inventory management: With item variations and modifiers, bulk upload, low-stock alerts, inventory monitoring, and more, Loyverse has a robust inventory management system. The sophisticated inventory software, on the other hand, is required if you want purchase orders, the capacity to move things between locations, inventory counting, and ingredient monitoring. Look at Lightspeed or Shopify for the finest inventory management solution.
• Employee features: Employees may clock in and out using the Loyverse free time clock. You also receive timecards and access control features, as well as employee analytics, if you buy the employee management system. In comparison, Square’s free subscription allows you to establish timetables, clock workers in and out, and manage breaks, while the premium plan adds analytics and sophisticated time clock features.
• Loyverse’s mobile app is available for Android and iOS and offers all of the features. With 4.7 out of 5 on iOS and 4.6 out of 5 on Android, it’s the second-highest rated app on our list.

What Isn’t There From Loyverse

• Loyverse, unlike the other programs on our list, does not have card readers. It’s possible that you’ll have to buy them through your payment processor (such as SumUp).
• Integrations: While Loyverse can link with ecommerce and accounting applications, this comes with a monthly cost of $9 per business. The rest of the companies on our list provide free integrations.

Loyverse is a website dedicated to loyalty.

Vend: Best for Liquor Stores, Smoke Shops & CBD Sales

Vend

4.31 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Great Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet
• Layaway options are available.
• Built-in customer Program of loyalty
• Payment processors to choose from

What Isn’t There

• a higher price
• There are no ecommerce tools available.
• You’ll need the services of a third-party payment processor.

Pricing by Vendor

• $99–$129 per month for a POS app
• Processing cost for cards that are present: varies (third-party)
• Processing charge for keyed-in data: varies (third-party)
• Varies in terms of hardware (third-party)
• Free trial for 14 days

Vend offers built-in Verification of age tools that make it a good choice if you sell age-restricted items. Further, it works with multiple payment processors, which comes in handy if you need a high-risk merchant account. Vend’s POS plans are a higher price than most on the list, but it maxed out the score for Characteristics and scored highly for popularity and mPOS functionality.

Vend received a 4.31 out of 5 rating in our review. It received high grades for features, but low marks for user evaluations of the mobile apps. It also has the most costly basic package of all the POS apps on our list. Vend’s app is likewise exclusively accessible for iOS (sorry, Android folks), but the browser-based system may be used on any device. We gave it a high rating in our list of the top POS systems for developing brick-and-mortar shops.

Pricing by Vendor

Vend’s POS plans start at $99 per month if paid yearly, or $119 per month if paid monthly, for a single register and a single location. A Free trial for 14 days is available. Extra registers are $49 per month, and you’ll need the higher-tier plan for ecommerce. As a result, it is the priciest POS software on our list.

Payment Processing: You may use any of Vend’s third-party merchant services, and there are no extra costs for utilizing them. This is comparable to Loyverse and Clover; however, if you use a different merchant service, Shopify will charge you more. Vend, like Clover, offers reseller programs.

Vend, like Loyverse, does not manufacture its own hardware. The system may be downloaded on an iPad and is compatible with most POS devices. Some resellers may be prepared to sell or rent you gear since it works with resellers. Unlike Clover, which uses proprietary hardware, you may be able to buy reprogrammable hardware if your merchant account or Vend fails to fulfill your demands.

In this overview, we’ll go through how Vend works for merchants.

Features of the Vendor

Vend is suited for iPad, while it can be used on a smartphone. (Image courtesy of Vend)

• Vend is a fantastic alternative if you sell age-restricted commodities like alcohol or cigarettes. The Retail Access Control Standard has validated its age-verification app. During a transaction, cashiers are reminded to check IDs and may scan and authenticate a customer’s driver’s license. This functionality is now under beta testing at Lightspeed, and Clover also provides age-verification tools.
• Have you ever had a consumer come to the checkout line and then realize they need something else? The “park” option in Vend allows the cashier to put the transaction on hold. They may then ring up additional clients while waiting for the first to pay. When delivering quotations, this function may also be utilized. Square offers a similar mechanism called Open Tickets, although it’s more complicated than Vend’s. There are also tickets available on Loyverse.
• Inventory counts of partial stock: The Scanner by Vend mobile app makes inventory counts simple while receiving shipments. Many POS programs do not let you to record full or partial inventory counts, while Loyverse does include a barcode scanner capability that you may use with your phone camera.
• Vend’s mobile app has everything from checkout to inventory to back office functionality. It has a 3.5 out of 5 star rating in over two dozen customer reviews on the Apple App Store. Only Lightspeed receives a worse score.

What Vend Isn’t Present?

• Ecommerce: Unlike most of the POS tools on our list, an online shop requires a third-party software, however many ecommerce systems interact with Vend. Look at Square or Shopify if you want an all-in-one solution.
• Vend’s POS system is exclusively accessible for iOS devices. If you require an Android POS app, check at Square, or Loyverse if you want a variety of payment options.
• Online ordering/delivery: Unlike Postmates, Square, and others on our list, Vend does not provide simple connection with delivery services. You may be able to use a third-party ecommerce platform to handle online ordering.

Visit Vend

Zettle (PayPal): Best for Micro Businesses & International Sales

Zettle (PayPal)

4.24 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Free POS
• Processing of international payments
• Simple to use
• There are hundreds of PayPal connectors.

What Isn’t There

• There is no Verification of age.
• No Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet
• There is no timer.

Zettle (PayPal) Pricing

• Basic POS system is available for free.
• 2.29 percent + 9 cents for card-present processing
• 3.49 percent + 9 cents per transaction for keyed-in processing
• Card readers start at $29 and go up from there.
• Terminals start at $249.

PayPal, like Square, is very adaptable and scalable. It’s ideal for the solopreneur who only sells once in a while, with free POS and minimal payment processing expenses. PayPal, on the other hand, is a solid alternative for multinational firms due to its worldwide breadth and unique pricing for big organizations.

Today’s headlines:

PayPal launched Zettle (previously iZettle) in the United States in July 2021. PayPal Here is still supported, but new users are directed to Zettle.

With 4.24 out of 5, Zettle (PayPal) earned a perfect score for pricing and high scores for Characteristics and our Expert Rating. When combined with PayPal itself, it’s an excellent tool for accepting payments in person while PayPal lets you take payments on websites, social media, and just about anywhere online. The lack of an Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet and some features like a time clock brought its score down.

Zettle (PayPal) Pricing

POS: It doesn’t get much better than this. With PayPal’s payment processing, Zettle’s full POS solution is free. There are no premium subscriptions or restricted trials available, like there are with Square and the other applications on our list.

Payment Processing: Zettle (PayPal) rates are 2.29% + 9 cents for card-present transactions, and 3.49% + 9 cents for keyed-in transactions. The rates are overall cheaper than most of those on our list. There are different rates for online sales, virtual terminal sales, and donations. The international rates are complex but listed clearly on its pricing page. In addition, it lets you accept cryptocurrency (several other systems on our list can do this as well) and offers discounts for nonprofits.

Zettle provides four different hardware POS kits, each with a touch screen, receipt printer, barcode scanner, or portable device. It is one of the least priced POS programs on our list, with prices ranging from $249 to $699. The cost of a card reader is $79, with the first one being merely $29. It’s a standalone device, not one that connects to your phone.

Zettle (PayPal) offers more than what’s covered here. Learn more in our review.

Zettle (PayPal) Features

Customers, items, numerous cashiers, and more are all handled via Zettle’s smartphone POS. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• Zettle is a close rival to Square in terms of versatility and scalability, serving a broad variety of use cases. PayPal is used by both hobbyists and huge enterprises, while Zettle is better suited to small firms and solopreneurs. While it lacks several of Square’s specialities, it nevertheless does well in this area.
• Processing of international payments: Zettle originally served the European market; plus, PayPal works in over 200 markets and 100 currencies. The POS software can handle sales in-store, across borders, and in different currencies. Clover has international processing, and many Pacific nations, like Japan and Korea, use Loyverse.
• Online sales: For online sales, Zettle interfaces with Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. The PayPal app, on the other hand, may be used almost anyplace, from social networking to eBay. Of course, Square has an online shop.
• PayPal’s Zettle mobile app is available for Android and iOS. It has over 39,000 ratings and a 3.9 rating on Android. It seems to be new to iOS, with just roughly 100 reviews and a 3.5-star rating. One thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need iOS 10 or Android 5.0 or above to use it.

What Zettle (PayPal) Is Missing

• Processing in the background: If you need this feature and still want a free POS, consider Square or Loyverse. If you need an international payment processor that also has an Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet, look at Clover.
• Verification of age: Like Square, Zettle doesn’t have an Verification of age feature, and we couldn’t discover a third-party integration for it. If you sell age-restricted products, consider Vend, Clover, or Shopify with Age Checker.
• Online ordering or takeout: While PayPal may be integrated into online ordering sites, Zettle does not provide these services. Instead, think of Square.

Visit Zettle (PayPal)

Lightspeed: Best for Restaurants & Inventory Management

Lightspeed

4.02 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Inventory processing operations that are extensive
• Onboarding is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Verification of age
• Restaurants will benefit from these features.

What Isn’t There

• Hardware is custom quoted, a higher price
• Plans are costly.
• iOS only

Pricing at Lightspeed

• Monthly fees for a point-of-sale system range from $79 to $239.
• 2.6 percent + 10 cents per transaction for card-present transactions
• Processing cost for keyed-in transactions is 2.6 percent plus 30 cents per transaction.
• Terminals start at $500.
• Free trial for 14 days

Because of its wide toolkit, the Lightspeed POS software entered our list of top POS systems for restaurants and best inventory POS. The restaurant version of Lightspeed is ideal for full-service restaurants as well as small eateries. It is, nevertheless, not the simplest to learn. (Square, which appears on both lists, is simpler but lacks the features of Lightspeed; nonetheless, it is better for Android.)

Lightspeed earned 4.02 out of 5 in our evaluation. The biggest hits were for the smartphone app ratings. However, Lightspeed does offer handheld devices, so you do not need to use a smartphone. Like Square, it also lost points because the Program of loyalty is extra. Nonetheless, it also has a place in our best POS systems.

Pricing at Lightspeed

Lightspeed’s POS cost ranges from $79 per month for one register to $239 per month for two registers. Monthly fees for additional registers are $29 each. Compare this to free services like Square, Loyverse, and Zettle, as well as Vend, which costs $119 a month and $49 per additional register.

Payment Processing: You’ll pay 2.6 percent + 10 cents every in-person transaction or 2.6 percent + 30 cents per keyed-in transaction if you utilize Lightspeed as your payment processor. Lightspeed, on the other hand, works with third-party merchant accounts. You may be able to get a better bargain with them, but keep in mind that you may be required to sign a contract. If you use a different payment processor, Lightspeed’s monthly software charge goes up as well.

Hardware: Lightspeed’s hardware is estimated on a case-by-case basis, although we’ve gotten quotes ranging from $500 to $1,000 for basic setups. When compared to Shopify, which begins at $179 for a POS touch screen and card reader, the pricing are comparable to Clover’s.

Features of Lightspeed

You may specify several modes of delivery in Lightspeed’s mobile app. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• Inventory: Lightspeed is ranked first on our list of the best inventory POS (together with Square, Vend, and Shopify). It includes a variety of options, advanced analysis, a supplier network, smart pricing, and more. It also integrates with Lightspeed eCom, the company’s online shop. When it comes to inventory functionality, Shopify gets close to Lightspeed.
• Restaurant tools: In our restaurant POS review, Lightspeed narrowly beat out Square for Restaurants. Lightspeed offers a menu-based POS system, as well as ingredient monitoring, staff time tracking, and other features. It also works with delivery services, kitchen display systems, quick-service kiosks, and hotel property management systems for hotels with a restaurant attached.
• Verification of age: Like Vend, Lightspeed has Verification of age. This makes it a great choice for restaurants selling alcohol or stores that sell age-restricted items. (This is in beta at the time of this article.)
• Lightspeed is available on iOS and Android, although neither version has received positive feedback. With over 70 reviews, Lightspeed for Android (previously Kounta) has a 3.4 out of 5 star rating. It did even worse on Apple, where it received a 2.6 out of 5 star rating and just over 100 reviews. Despite this, the mobile app integrates with the POS system, offering reporting and order management online.
• Lightspeed provides live phone assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as chat help during extended hours.

What Lightspeed Isn’t Giving You

• Free plan: Lightspeed has a Free trial for 14 days, but no free version. Look to Square, Loyverse, or Zettle.
• Program of loyalty: Unless you get the Enterprise plan, you need to pay extra for the omnichannel Program of loyalty. Call sales for pricing. (Square is similar, but posts its price at $45 per month.)

Lightspeed is a great place to start.

Clover POS is the most convenient way to connect third-party merchant accounts.

Clover POS

3.94 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Payment service providers to choose from
• Processing in the background
• Used all around the world
• Can accept payments from across the world

What Isn’t There

• Many payment processors bind you to contracts and charge you hidden fees.
• There are no low-inventory warnings.
• There is no billing or vendor management.

Clover Point of Sale Pricing

Prices may vary depending on the reseller. Those from the Clover website are listed below.

• POS app: $9.95–$39.95 per month for the first device ($69.95 per month for Table Service).
• 2.6 percent + 10 cents per transaction for card-present transactions
• Processing cost for keyed-in transactions is 3.5 percent plus 10 cents per transaction.
• Card readers start at $99 and go up from there.
• Terminals range from $1,649 to $1,999.
• Free trial for 30 days

Clover’s POS app is a software/hardware combo that is very popular among companies due to the fact that it can be used and sold by hundreds of merchant accounts. This is a significant benefit if you wish to use your own payment provider, but Fiserv also offers it with a flat transaction charge and payment options. Although the software is built into the hardware, it is also available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

Clover has a 3.94 out of 5 rating. It gets great rankings for mobility, but not so much for overall user satisfaction. Third-party resellers have been the subject of several complaints. Clover also prevents you from scanning barcodes with your phone. It does, however, provide powerful customer and loyalty capabilities as well as connectors. One significant disadvantage is that the device cannot be reprogrammed to use a different merchant service. (Do not purchase used!)

Clover Point of Sale Pricing

Clover’s point-of-sale price is determined by your payment processor. The cost of a Fiserv registration is $9.95. Only Square’s and Zettle’s free plans are cheaper than this among the premium plans on our list.

Payment Processing: Fiserv offers pricing that are equivalent to Square or Shopify. Clover, on the other hand, works with a large number of resellers, the majority of whom are merchant services that provide Clover as well as payment processing. Because they provide interchange-plus pricing, you can receive better rates than, instance, Square. However, you may be requested to sign a contract that includes additional expenses, such as an early termination charge.

Fiserv isn’t one of our recommended merchant services since it has a bad reputation when it comes to dealing with small companies. For more information, see our Fiserv review. Be aware, though, that Clover does not monitor its resellers. Read any contracts thoroughly to ensure you understand what you’re agreeing to. To discover a trusted Clover reseller, go through our list of the finest merchant services and best retail credit card processors.

Clover gear is unusual in that it allows resellers to charge as much or as little as they wish for it. As a consequence, you may be able to discover a merchant service that will provide you a Clover system for free if you sign a long-term contract. Despite the fact that Clover is accessible from a variety of merchants, once you’ve programmed it to a merchant service, you can’t change it. Vend, on the other hand, works with a variety of suppliers and allows you to swap between them.

Prices for Fiserv hardware range from $499 for the Clover Flex handheld to $1,649 for the full Clover station, which includes a touch screen, customer-facing display, and receipt printer. The price of a portable card reader is $99. Overall, these are some of the most expensive hardware costs.

Features of Clover POS

Clover offers two mobile applications, however the older G1 app contains dashboard features as well. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• POS: Clover has a hearty POS system that accepts all types of payments, lets you set up discounts or process refunds. You can set up a virtual terminal and take online orders from your website or delivery services. It also has an Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet.
• Personalized receipts: Several of the systems on our list allow you to personalize receipts with basic business information, but Clover also allows you to add feedback coupons. Square can do this as well, but only if you acquire Square Marketing as well.
• Customer engagement: Clover includes both Program of loyaltys and customer engagement features. You can create real-time promotions via email, text, or social media; start a rewards program; and create profiles that automatically update credit card sales and contact info.
• Clover offers the option to log personnel in and out of shifts, as well as monitor their hours worked and tip earnings. This is a huge assistance when it comes to setting up payroll. This is also a feature of Loyverse, Lightspeed, and Vend.
• Clover Go G1 and Clover Go G2, both of which offer a dashboard as well as POS, are Clover’s mobile POS applications. Clover Go G2 has a higher rating on Apple, with 4.7 out of 5 stars and over 12,500 reviews. If you have an Android device and just require the POS functionality, we suggest Clover Go G1, which has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 and over 2,000 reviews compared to 3.3 and roughly 450 for G2. Clover is one of the finest free iPhone credit card readers on our list of the top free iPhone credit card readers.

What Does Clover POS Lack?

• Clover is not a good solution for amateurs or solopreneurs with little sales because of the monthly pricing and hardware. Instead, consider Square or Zettle.
• Flexibility: Once you’ve chosen a merchant supplier, you’re stuck with them. Before you buy Clover, be sure you understand your contracts properly.

Pay a visit to Clover POS.

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is ideal for sellers that sell both online and in person.

Shopify POS (Point of Sale)

3.76 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Designed with ecommerce in mind
• Platform that is dependable
• Tools for complete inventory management
• App with a lot of positive feedback

What Isn’t There

• A membership to an ecommerce site is required.
• Focused on online commerce
• If you do not utilize their payment processor, you will be charged.

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Pricing

• POS system: $0–$89/month–$89/month for a POS system
• $29–$299 per month for ecommerce (needed).
• Processing charge for cards that are present: 2.4 percent–2.7 percent
• Processing cost for keyed-in transactions starts at 2.4 percent + 30 cents per transaction.
• Card readers are $49 each.
• $219 for terminals
• Free trial for 14 days

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms today, with excellent options for offline sales. In fact, it’s our favorite retail multichannel POS system.

Businesses that do heavy online sales and need an excellent ecommerce solution and in-store POS application will appreciate the strong inventory and customer management tools. However, if you already have an ecommerce solution and are not willing to give it up, look into Zettle (PayPal) or Square, which have free POS apps that integrate with popular online stores.

Shopify earned 3.76 out of 5 on our evaluation. It took a hit because it does not offer a time clock or restaurant features and does not have an Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet. Nonetheless, it had one of the highest scores for general POS features and maxed out our Expert Rating for value for the dollar.

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Pricing

Shopify’s in-store POS The POS app does not have its own subscription plan. An online shop must be purchased. Depending on the services you choose, these plans range from $29 to $299 a month. The two systems work well together, but if you want a POS system up front, look at the other options on the list.

Payment Processing: The transaction fees are based on the plan you have (with a higher price plans having lower rates) and whether or not you use Shopify’s payment processor. There are also discounts in shipping, a great asset for mail order businesses and stores that do dropshipping on the side. This chart explains the pricing.

Pricing Plans for Shopify

See our whole Shopify price guide.

Shopify offers a variety of hardware options, including touch-screen terminals with card readers, iPad stands with accessories, barcode scanners, and more. A retail kit with a touch screen and a basic card reader starts at $179. Although some Clover dealers provide free hardware with a contract, these are some of the best deals we’ve found for POS gear.

Get more details about what Shopify POS (Point of Sale) offers for your business. Read our review.

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Features

For your most crucial tools, Shopify features a customisable home screen. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

• Online sales, MOTO (mail order/telephone order), and dropshipping: Shopify offers delivery reductions, which is a tremendous benefit for mail order businesses. No other mobile POS on our list, with the exception of Square, provides this. Additionally, you may link Shopify to one of hundreds of dropshipping providers or utilize Shopify’s Oberlo to add dropshipping to your offers.
• Mobile: Shopify is considerably superior than Google Play on iOS, with 4.5 ratings and over 5,500 reviews on the Apple App Store compared to 2.8 out of 5 stars and roughly 1,400 reviews on Google Play. It differs from the other POS software on our list in that it allows you to remind customers about things they liked or bought in the store so they may buy them online. This is ideal for shops that offer supplies, such as hardware.
• Payment fraud and chargebacks, both friendly and malicious, are a risk for online retailers. Shopify offers transaction analysis, as well as other fraud protection tools, to help you discover questionable transactions and alert you to them. Most POS software have some of this, but Shopify employs machine learning to react to fraudsters’ shifting tactics. (Square offers superior chargeback protection by waiving chargeback costs up to $250.)
• Shopify, like the most of the mPOS on our list, manages purchases with taxes and discounts, gathers customer data, and delivers receipts. You can scan barcodes using your phone’s camera, much like Loyverse. It integrates easily with Shopify’s online shop, giving you access to all of Shopify’s features.

What Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Is Missing

• Verification of age: If you sell age-restricted items, you need a third-party application like Age Check. Vend and Clover, on the other hand, have this in their systems.
• Free usage of other merchant accounts: Unlike Loyverse, Clover, and Vend, Shopify charges a 0.5 percent to 2 percent fee to utilize third-party merchant accounts. Any benefit of employing an interchange-plus payment processor might be nullified as a result of this.

Shopify POS may be found here. (Point of Sale)

Conclusion

There’s no need to be chained to the kitchen counter. Many POS software have a mobile component, either in the form of a portable device or a downloaded app. The finest mobile POS apps sync with the main software, manage offline transactions, and provide backend access.

Overall, Square offers the most functionality for the least money and is the most user-friendly. Even better, it offers a free POS system with a low flat-rate payment processing charge. Today is the last day to get the Square POS.

Loyverse is a website dedicated to loyalty.

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