Mobile POS solutions are taking over the payment software market. They’re ideal for businesses operating on the go, such as delivery services, repair services, or market vendors. However, a compact and portable POS station may be useful even for static stores or restaurants. They allow employees to process transactions anywhere on the business premises. If you’re looking for the perfect software to use on a mobile device, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll share the ten best mobile POS systems suitable for different industries and business sizes. Read on to find the description, pros, and cons of each one.
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1. Square POS
Square POS is a mobile payment system available for Android and iOS devices. Access to the key functionality of the system is free, with no monthly fees. However, if you need advanced features included in Square for Retail or Square for Restaurants, you may have to pay extra. Square charges a 2.6% + 10¢ transaction fee, though different rates may be applied to certain payment methods.
Square POS is best suited for small- to medium-sized businesses, be it retail, restaurants, or services. In fact, Square offers a specially designated restaurant POS solution that can manage third-party orders and works offline. All received payments sync as soon as the POS device reconnects to the Internet.
So, what’s the core functionality of Square POS? The system is capable of payment processing, inventory tracking, issuing digital receipts, analyzing data and reporting it, managing marketing campaigns, and much more. Additionally, the Square app allows users to process refunds, apply discounts, and manage inventory information.
Square POS has the ability to integrate with third-party apps such as SKU IQ and Shopventory. As a result, this eases the inventory management process and ensures that all your systems feature the same data that’s always up to date. Apart from software, Square also offers optional POS hardware, including a terminal, cash drawer, and scale.
Pros:
- No monthly charges
- Relatively low transaction fees
- Offline payment processing
- Integration with third-party inventory management apps
- Works on mobile computers
Cons:
- The free POS version doesn’t support exchanges, inventory management, and other advanced features
2. Connect POS
Connect POS is a cloud-based software platform compatible with any operating system and hardware, including mobile computers. Users can integrate Connect POS with plenty of e-commerce platforms such as Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, and others.
The software supports various payment methods, including cash, card, or online. It can accept payments via PayPal, Tyro, Moneris, and Cardknox. Furthermore, Connect POS allows businesses to split tenders, using different payment methods in one transaction, or accept deposits and layaways.
Apart from payment processing features, Connect POS provides tools for inventory management. Data collected across multiple warehouses synchronizes in real-time and helps users manage shifts and daily operations. Additionally, the system provides detailed insights into online and offline store operations.
Connect POS offers four payment plans, with the cheapest coming at $39 and the highest at $89 monthly if billed annually. However, a custom plan is available if none of the suggested plans suit your needs.
Pros:
- Integration with the most popular e-commerce platforms
- Various payment methods
- Split tenders and layaway programs are available
- Great tools for inventory management
- Works on mobile computers
Cons:
- No free version or free trial
3. Clover POS
Clover POS is advanced software that works both on large and compact devices, including laptops, smartphones, and mobile computers. It integrates with a wide range of third-party apps and e-commerce platforms, such as Mailchimp, Xero, WooCommerce, and Shopify.
Clover POS offers all the necessary functions for daily operations tools for retail and restaurant industries and works best for small to medium-sized businesses. The feature set can be easily tailored to the needs of your business to ensure the best possible user experience.
The POS software is cloud-based, so you can access your data from anywhere, at any time. Clover allows users to monitor all daily operations across connected devices and provides in-depth reports on fully customizable dashboards. Additionally, the software supports digital receipts, refunds, exchanges, automatic delivery charge calculation, and more features required for convenient payment processing.
Clover POS offers a 30-day free trial. Only transaction fees of 3.5% + $10 are applied. The pricing model is very straightforward, as both the monthly fee ($9.95) and the transaction fees are fixed.
Pros:
- Fixed transaction fees
- Low monthly fee
- Great selection of payment methods and payment processing tools
- Integration with third-party software
- Works on mobile computers
Cons:
- The transaction fees are high compared to some competitors
- No additional features such as inventory management
4. Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a POS software designed specifically for iOS. Therefore, it won’t work on rugged mobile computers, but it’s a great option if you already use iPads across all your business locations. It’s suitable for a wide range of industries, such as retail, restaurant, and golf.
The main advantage of this system is the selection of available integrations. Lightspeed POS works seamlessly with Homebase, Mailchimp, Mobi2Go, uEat, Cloudbeds, and many more apps. The system allows users to access multiple revenue flows from one device. Lightspeed POS additionally supports smart inventory management, reporting, flexible payment options, e-commerce integrations, menu management, and more.
Lightspeed isn’t the cheapest POS option on the market. The pricing ranges from 69$ to 229$ monthly plus transaction fees of 2.6% + $10. A 14-day free trial is available.
Pros:
- Easily manage all revenue streams from one device
- Low transaction fees
- Great additional tools
Cons:
- Only works on iOS devices
- Quite high monthly fee
5. Shopify POS
Shopify POS was developed to unify in-store and online sales. Naturally, it works seamlessly with Shopify stores but also supports other e-commerce platforms. In addition, the software provides users with all the necessary tools for managing daily business revenue flow operations.
One feature that truly stands out is the option of accepting payments in-store and shipping orders later. This ensures that you won’t lose a sale even when inventory is short. Of course, the software also supports returns and exchanges, loyalty programs, and a wide selection of different payment methods. Additionally, email marketing integration allows you to send customers reminders about their favorite items while customer profiles provide access to contact details, past transactions, and notes.
Shopify POS comes in two pricing plans, Lite and Pro. All Shopify plans by default include Shopify POS Lite and come free from monthly charges. It supports payments, order management, and customer profiles. The Pro plan comes at $89 monthly per location and offers advanced functionality. Transaction fees are some of the lowest on the market – 2.4%.
Pros:
- Works on mobile computers
- Low transaction fees
- Lite plan features all the necessary tools and is free
- Great additional functionality
Cons:
- The pro plan is quite pricey if you have several business locations
6. Toast
Toast is an Android-based all-in-one POS software designed for the food industry. Thus, it works flawlessly on handheld computers and tablets such as Sonim RS60 or Sonim RS80. Toast also ranked as the number one restaurant point of sale in 2021 by G2. That’s because it helps to cut down third-party delivery commissions by up to 80%, as the restaurant POS software integrates directly with your website.
The POS software is cloud-based, so you can access your data anytime, anywhere. In addition, Toast supports third-party integrations, analytics and reporting, menu management, payroll and team management, and more additional tools to keep your business going. The software accepts both in-store and online payments.
Toast offers three pricing plans to fit the needs of any business, small or large and a free plan is available. The basic plan supports payment processing, customer care, and cloud-based point-of-sale software. However, for additional features, you’ll have to pay between $165-$340 monthly. The transaction fees are low, though they are calculated depending on a scope of factors in each particular case.
Pros:
- Best POS system for restaurants
- Android-based
- Low transaction fees
- Advanced menu, staff, and payroll management tools
Cons:
- Not suitable for retail
- Transaction fees are a bit tricky to calculate
7. Booker
Booker is a POS software focusing on providing handy payment solutions to businesses in the cosmetic and wellness industry. The software integrates with plenty of applications and supports a wide range of payment methods, both in-person and online. Booker automatically tracks every sale to provide users with insights related to specific customers and overall business performance.
Additionally, Booker POS features a user-friendly appointment management system. The system organizes all business customer, employee, inventory, and booking data in one convenient cloud-based app. As well, customer profiles allow you to access notes, loyalty discounts, and a record of previous sales to specific clients to provide them with the best possible service.
The software is quite costly, ranging from $129 to $549 a month. The plans differ significantly in the included functionality and supported member account numbers.
Pros:
- Best for businesses within the wellness industry
- POS integrated with an appointment management system
- Customer profiles
- Cloud-based
- Works on mobile computers
Cons:
- High price
8. Cin7
Cin7 is an all-in-one software with built-in POS available for Android, Windows, Linux, and iOS devices. The software is best suitable for retail and delivery services due to its extensive order and inventory management functionality. Furthermore, it integrates with over 550 third-party apps and e-commerce platforms, such as SalesForce, Xero, Amazon, eBay, and others.
The POS functionality of Cin7 provides tools for batch and serial sales, promotions, account payments, click and collect, mobile stocktaking, and more. In other words, it stands as one of the most technologically advanced POS systems found on the market. Consequently, it’s a perfect choice for any medium-sized to enterprise-level business, especially those using mobile computers.
Cin7 isn’t among the lowest-priced options on our list, with pricing ranging from $299 to $999 a month. However, the price is justified. That’s because it isn’t simply a POS system but rather a stock management software with built-in payment functionality.
Pros:
- Advanced inventory management
- Plenty of POS tools
- Over 550 integrations
- Available for most mobile devices, including handheld computers
Cons:
- Not suitable for businesses looking solely for POS software
9. NetSuite
NetSuite offers an e-commerce platform, a POS system, order and product content management software, and CRM. Because the plans are need-based, all the above features can be purchased separately. The system works on Android and iOS mobile computers and supports omnichannel servicing, exchanges, refunds, and various payment methods. In addition, the built-in reporting feature collects your sales data and stores it in the cloud. NetSuite can also be integrated with a wide variety of third-party apps and features an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
NetSuite’s pricing is available on request. Because it’s tailored to fit the needs of a specific business, the price varies based on the scope of features and the number of users required.
Pros:
- Pricing can be tailored to your personal needs
- You can mix and match the required tools
- Designed for mobile devices
- Great POS functionality
Cons:
- May not be the best option for small businesses
- Pricing on request
10. PayPal POS
PayPal partnered with industry-leading POS providers to ensure that the software can handle nearly any payment method, making it one of the is one of the most popular payment getaways. Another advantage of PayPal POS is the support of EMV chip cards and constant fraud monitoring. Making refunds, exchanges, accepting partial deposits, running promotions, and issuing store credits has never been so simple.
Apart from payment processing, the software also features inventory management and customizable reporting tools. This, therefore, allows users to be in control of multiple locations and platforms from a single device. In addition, the software works with a wide range of operating systems, including Android, which many handheld computers support.
PayPal charges 2.7% of the transaction sum with most payment methods, though the rate may fluctuate insignificantly. However, they don’t charge a monthly fee.
Pros:
- Competitive transaction rates
- Supports EMV chip cards
- Fraud monitoring
- Handles nearly any payment method
Cons:
- The transaction fee fluctuates and may be higher than expected with some payment methods
Choosing the Right Mobile POS System
The first step in choosing which mobile POS system is the right fit for you is defining the needs of your business. Then, you should consider the device you’re planning to use the software on.
Reach out to Energy Electronics for more information on the best mobile devices for your business. Our sales reps would love to help you with a tailored recommendation and a bulk quote.
