7 Best iPad POS Systems of September 2025
IPads that function as point-of-sale systems are affordable, flexible and easy to use. Here’s how to pick the right one.
Learn more Similar to full point-of-sale (POS) system
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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Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
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.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Omnichannel businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
on Square's website
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.
Square Stand
Best for Overall iPad POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
on Square's website
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can purchase from third-party payment processors.
- Uses passcodes for employees.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
Cons
- Takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge.
- Requires a monthly fee for advanced POS features.
Clover Go
Best for Mostly mobile businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can purchase from third-party payment processors.
- Uses passcodes for employees.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
Cons
- Takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge.
- Requires a monthly fee for advanced POS features.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Customer relationship management features
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
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.
TouchBistro
Best for Restaurants
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69
and up.
on TouchBistro's website
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
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.
Helcim POS
Best for High-volume businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
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.
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
PayPal POS
Best for Low in-person transaction rates
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Jump to
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
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
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
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
TouchBistro
Best for restaurants
Why we like it: TouchBistro is an iPad POS system built specifically for restaurants TouchBistro review
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
» 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
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
» 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
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
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
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
PayPal POS
Best for low in-person transaction rates
Why we like it: PayPal POS'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 POS review
Monthly POS software fees
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Pros
Cons
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 POS 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.
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.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines