Similar to full point-of-sale (POS) system setups, iPad POS systems fulfill core business functions, like accepting customer payments, calculating sales tax and recording sales. However, they’re typically more flexible and less costly, making them ideal for mobile businesses and small brick-and-mortar shops on a budget.
Here are some of our top iPad POS system picks, along with a full list of options.
- Best overall: Square Stand.
- Best for omnichannel businesses: Shopify.
- Best for mostly mobile businesses: Clover Go.
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Best iPad POS Systems
Calculate your monthly cost estimate
Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.5/5 Best for Omnichannel businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website |
Square Stand Learn more on Square Stand's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall iPad POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Learn more on Square Stand's secure website | ||
Clover Go Learn more on Clover Go's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Mostly mobile businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan. | Learn more on Clover Go's secure website | ||
Lightspeed Retail POS Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Customer relationship management features | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109.00 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Restaurants | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Helcim POS Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for High-volume businesses | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.0/5 Best for Low in-person transaction rates | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Omnichannel businesses
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$39.00
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
If you make most of your sales online or plan to, it’s hard to beat Shopify’s selection of website templates and online checkout features. Businesses wanting to supplement those online sales with in-person ones might also try Shopify’s iPad POS software. It integrates with your online store so that inventory is always up-to-date. Additionally, the integration allows customers to order items online and pick them up in-store.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Our pick for
Overall iPad POS system
Square Stand
Learn more
on Square Stand's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
The Square Stand wins the top spot, thanks to its reasonable price tag, brand familiarity and ease of use. It uses an iPad as a screen, giving you the feeling of a register-style terminal without the high price, and swivels so customers can see transaction details. You can use it to accept credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and QR codes through Cash App. And with both free and paid POS software plans for a variety of industries including retail, restaurants and professional services, it can grow alongside your business.
Pros
- Accepts credit card payments, including magstripes, digital wallets and QR codes.
- Features a swivel screen so customers can see transaction details.
- Built-in reader for contactless and chip payments.
- Allows offline payments.
Cons
- Requires an iPad to use as a screen.
- Can’t scan barcodes on its own.
Our pick for
Mostly mobile businesses
Clover Go
Learn more
on Clover Go's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
Businesses that travel to different locations on a daily basis will appreciate the Clover Go app, which you can download on an iPad, and the accompanying, low-profile mobile card reader. The app has an offline mode in case your work site doesn’t have an internet connection, and you can purchase a card reader dock and iPad stand if you decide down the road that you’d rather have a countertop POS option.
Pros
- Charges via standard USB charger.
- Uses passcodes for employees.
Cons
- Takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge.
- Requires a monthly fee for advanced POS features.
Our pick for
Customer relationship management features
Lightspeed Retail POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$109.00
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
Lightspeed Retail makes customer relationship management efforts easier with templates for marketing emails or landing pages, and automatically segments out your customer base by purchase history, so you can send them the most relevant offers. Other competitors also offer loyalty programs and promotions, but Lightspeed stands out for giving you more ways to customize them. For example, you can take customer rewards to the next level by adding rewards multipliers based on spend thresholds.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- Free one-on-one onboarding session for all new merchants.
- 24/7 phone and live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include e-commerce features.
- Charges termination fee and may require annual contract.
- Does not include a virtual terminal or offline mode.
Our pick for
Restaurants
TouchBistro
Learn more
on TouchBistro's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69.00
and up.
There are lots of restaurant POS systems out there, but TouchBistro is made with iPads top of mind. Restaurant employees can use iPads to log orders tableside and send them straight to the kitchen, or offer customers the option to cash out and select from preset tip amounts right from the table. You can also purchase cash drawers and receipt printers for iPad POS systems sitting on the counter.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Includes restaurant-specific features, like table and menu management.
- Optional profit management system provides tools for improving margins.
- As a hybrid POS system, TouchBistro can operate without the cloud. Offline capabilities include accepting payments, taking orders, editing menus and managing staff.
Cons
- Payment processing rates are quote-based, making them difficult to compare to the competition.
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
- No free plan options and charges setup fee.
- Ability to accept online orders costs extra.
Our pick for
High-volume businesses
Helcim POS
4.5
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on Helcim POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Helcim’s interchange-plus processing and volume discounts make it a good fit for businesses pulling in more than $50,000 in credit card transactions each month. You can download Helcim’s POS app to desktop computers, smartphone and tablets, including iPads. To complete the setup, you can purchase the company’s mobile card reader, which is small enough to be portable but can also sit on your countertop.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Our pick for
Low in-person transaction rates
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
Above all, PayPal Zettle’s in-person transaction rates are less expensive than many of its competitors. Plus, you can choose to run its free app on just an iPad paired with a card reader or on a full iPad POS setup, complete with an iPad stand, cash drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer.
Pros
- No monthly software fees for accepting in-person payments.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Our picks for the best iPad POS systems
Square
Best overall iPad POS system
Why we like it: Square Stand is a top-notch iPad POS system that’s scalable, convenient and promises no hidden fees. In addition to being a one-stop shop for payment processing, POS software and POS hardware, Square offers a variety of add-ons and plans. And its “shop now, pay over time” options, free online store builder and free POS software — which includes essentials like inventory management and employee time tracking — all lower the cost of entry for new small businesses. The company also offers its own in-house payroll software and payment processing, and business owners who don’t already own an iPad can buy one straight from Square’s hardware shop. Read our full Square POS review.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
- Free software plan available, and it includes a wealth of features.
- Can finance hardware and pay in monthly installments. APR is 15%.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance or setup.
- Offers plans tailored to retail stores, restaurants and service-based businesses.
- Phone, email and messaging support with all plans; available 24/7 in paid restaurant plans.
- Customer loyalty programs and email marketing tools are monthly add-ons.
Clover Go
Best for mostly mobile businesses
Why we like it: The free Clover Go app lets business owners accept payments, send receipts and track sales directly through a smartphone or tablet. Small businesses that would benefit from inventory management and need to set up employee logins, discounts, tips and tax rates might consider purchasing a software plan to use alongside the app. The product is ideal for businesses that already use Clover or operate mostly on the go. Read our full Clover review.
- $0 for Payments plan.
- $14.95 for Essentials plan.
- $199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $279 for countertop card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer and slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
- $3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
- Free software plan available.
- Minimal hardware investment needed.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Inventory management and the ability to set discounts, tips, tax rates and employee logins aren’t included in the free software plan.
- Clover is sold by a number of resellers, so prices and contract terms could vary.
TouchBistro
Best for restaurants
Why we like it: TouchBistro is an iPad POS system built specifically for restaurants. It offers customizable solutions for full-service restaurants along with food trucks, quick-service restaurants, bars, bakeries and coffee shops. The company’s core software plan includes inventory management, menu and table management, reporting, tableside ordering capabilities and staff management tools. Reservations, online ordering, digital menu boards and customer loyalty programs are available for an extra monthly fee. The system is a solid option for restaurants that need more functionality than other companies’ free plans have to offer. Read our full TouchBistro review.
- $69 for base plan.
- $25 for gift cards feature.
- $50 for online ordering feature.
- $99 for loyalty features or marketing features.
- $229 for reservations feature.
Quote-based.
Quote-based.
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Offers customizable plans for a variety of restaurant types.
- Add-ons like customer loyalty programs and online ordering can get expensive.
- No free plans.
» MORE: The best food truck POS systems
Lightspeed
Best for customer relationship management features
Why we like it: Lightspeed’s CRM tools let businesses create customer profiles, offer discounts to regulars, record each customer’s purchase history and explore shopping trends. The product is a good fit for restaurants and retail stores that know how to use this type of data to grow and better appeal to their audience. The company’s inventory management tools are also notable. Businesses can create product variants, assign unique serial numbers to products and order new stock directly through the POS system. Read our full Lightspeed review.
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $289 for Plus plan ($239 if billed annually).
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $79 for Mobile Tap V2 card reader.
- $199 for iPad stand or swivel stand.
- $299 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 24/7 phone, text and email support.
- Free onboarding session that includes live online training and one-on-one follow-up.
- Robust set of customer relationship management and inventory management features.
- No free plans.
- Annual contracts required for lowering pricing.
- Add-ons such as accounting integrations and customer loyalty programs cost extra in restaurant plans.
» MORE: See the best mobile POS systems
Shopify
Best for omnichannel businesses
Why we like it: Like Lightspeed, Shopify’s iPad POS system lets businesses create customer profiles and save order histories in all plans. Shopify really stands out, however, because of its e-commerce perks and relatively low processing rates. Businesses that do most of their sales online, particularly those that already use Shopify, will benefit the most from its shipping discounts, online marketplaces and ability to add an unlimited amount of products and variants in your POS. Read our full Shopify POS review.
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- $49 for Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Tap & Chip countertop kit (iPad not included).
- $299 for Shopify POS Go mobile device.
- $349 for Shopify POS terminal.
- $459 and up for POS terminal countertop kits.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- Low payment processing rates.
- Can pay for Shopify Retail Stand in installments.
- 24/7 email, chat and phone support.
- All plans include a free online store for your business, shipping discounts, the ability to print shipping labels and an abandoned cart recovery tool.
- Must pay separately for a Shopify e-commerce plan.
- Basic and Shopify software plans limited to two and five staff accounts, respectively.
Helcim
Best for high-volume businesses
Why we like it: Helcim can be a simple, cost-efficient solution for brick-and-mortar businesses and even mobile service-based businesses, like landscaping companies, that process high-cost transactions. Volume discounts kick in once your business begins processing more than $50,000 in credit card transactions monthly. Just pair the company’s mobile reader with your iPad, and you’re ready to go. Read our full Helcim review.
$0.
- $99 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
- $329 for a stand-alone terminal with built-in thermal printer (or 12 monthly payments of $30).
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
PayPal Zettle
Best for low in-person transaction rates
Why we like it: PayPal Zettle’s low in-person transaction rates make it a solid option for cash-conscious brick-and-mortar and/or mobile businesses. The POS app is free to download on either your smartphone or iPad. If you run a mobile business, you’ll likely only need an iPad and card reader. Brick-and-mortar locations might opt for a more robust setup with an iPad stand, cash drawer and receipt printer. Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
$0.
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $199 for terminal only.
- $239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
- $229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
- No monthly software fees for accepting in-person payments.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
How to turn your iPad into a POS system
Ultimately, turning your iPad into a POS system should take less than an hour. Here are the basic steps you should expect to take:
Benefits of opting for an iPad POS system
There are lots of reasons your small business might choose an iPad POS system over a full countertop POS setup. Here are some of the main ones:
- Versatility: iPad POS systems can live at the counter in an iPad stand or go where you do. This gives you the opportunity to complete sales from anywhere, whether that’s in your brick-and-mortar store or at a popup event.
- Cost savings: Full POS system setups with proprietary touchscreens can cost upwards of $1,000, whereas iPads cost hundreds (or nothing upfront if you already own one). And since iPad POS systems can double as both countertop and mobile POS systems, you won’t have to buy two sets of hardware. Plus, lots of iPad POS apps, like the ones from PayPal Zettle and Helcim, are free.
- Low upfront investment: Businesses that are just starting out might not have the cash-on-hand they need to invest in a full POS setup. iPads POS systems are a more reasonable option, even if it means your business upgrades to a more robust system down the road. If you do scale up, though, make sure your current POS software provider offers higher-tier plans that can grow with your business.
- Quick setup: POS system providers often walk businesses through the setup process for more complex systems. Businesses using an iPad POS system can skip those onboarding calls, if they want, and get started pretty quickly on their own. That being said, it’s always beneficial to have a representative show you the POS app’s capabilities to ensure you’re getting the fullest value out of it.
Maddie Shepherd contributed reporting to this article.
Last updated on August 22, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
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