8 Best Mobile POS Systems of September 2025
A mobile POS gives you the flexibility to process sales from a tablet, phone or other handheld device. The best system for you will depend on your specific industry, as well as your budget.
Learn more Why trust NerdWallet
Best overall POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Square's website
Pros
- Offers free hardware and POS software with the option to scale up.
- POS software is designed to work well for in-person and online businesses.
- Pricing is competitive and transparent.
- Plans are month to month; you can cancel the service anytime at no cost.
Cons
- The hardware lineup is best suited for Apple devices, though it also works with Android devices.
- The free magstripe card reader doesn’t have the option to tap or dip a card.
Best overall POS system
Square POS
Best for Overall mobile POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Square's website
Pros
- Offers free hardware and POS software with the option to scale up.
- POS software is designed to work well for in-person and online businesses.
- Pricing is competitive and transparent.
- Plans are month to month; you can cancel the service anytime at no cost.
Cons
- The hardware lineup is best suited for Apple devices, though it also works with Android devices.
- The free magstripe card reader doesn’t have the option to tap or dip a card.
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
- Transparent interchange-plus payment processing.
- Free POS software plan.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- No contract required.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- May not be ideal for low-volume businesses.
Helcim POS
Best for High sales volume
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
- Transparent interchange-plus payment processing.
- Free POS software plan.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- No contract required.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- May not be ideal for low-volume 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
- Offers a variety of tools for selling online.
- Competitive processing rates, which drop lower if you subscribe to higher-tier plans.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- POS Pro upgrade for brick-and-mortar locations can be expensive.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Online-first 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
- Offers a variety of tools for selling online.
- Competitive processing rates, which drop lower if you subscribe to higher-tier plans.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- POS Pro upgrade for brick-and-mortar locations can be expensive.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.3% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can pay for hardware in installments.
- Clover Flex prints receipts.
- Customer loyalty program available.
- 24/7 live support with software plans.
Cons
- No free hardware options.
- Accounting integrations only available through third-party providers.
Clover POS
Best for Working with third-party processors
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.3% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can pay for hardware in installments.
- Clover Flex prints receipts.
- Customer loyalty program available.
- 24/7 live support with software plans.
Cons
- No free hardware options.
- Accounting integrations only available through third-party providers.
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available with one or two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone, email and chat support.
- Hardware is spill-resistant and built with restaurant-specific needs in mind.
Cons
- Contract required.
Toast POS
Best for Restaurants
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available with one or two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone, email and chat support.
- Hardware is spill-resistant and built with restaurant-specific needs in mind.
Cons
- Contract required.
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 Retail
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 Cafes and food trucks
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.
Pros
- In-person transaction costs are low compared with other flat-rate options.
- Low-cost hardware and free software.
- Ability to pay with PayPal or Venmo gives customers additional payment options.
- No long-term contract.
Cons
- The all-in-one POS terminal doesn’t have a built-in printer.
- Funds are initially transferred to your PayPal account and not a bank account.
PayPal POS
Best for Alternate payment options
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- In-person transaction costs are low compared with other flat-rate options.
- Low-cost hardware and free software.
- Ability to pay with PayPal or Venmo gives customers additional payment options.
- No long-term contract.
Cons
- The all-in-one POS terminal doesn’t have a built-in printer.
- Funds are initially transferred to your PayPal account and not a bank account.
Full details: Best mobile POS systems
Square POS
Best overall mobile POS system
Why we like it: Square works well for a variety of business types, including retail and restaurants. It offers free software, and many of its hardware options work with the phone or tablet you already have, which can be helpful for new businesses looking to get started on a budget. Like the Clover Flex, the Square Terminal is an all-in-one device that includes an internal printer, but Square’s is more than $400 cheaper. Read our full Square POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
Clover POS
Best for working with third-party processors
Why we like it: The mobile Clover Flex is an all-in-one device that includes an internal printer, which sets it apart from many other standalone POS devices. There's also the Clover Go system that lets you swipe, tap and dip cards with one small device — something Square’s smallest devices don’t do. The Clover card processing rate at higher plan levels is among the best flat rates, although it comes with a larger monthly fee. Read our full Clover POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
Toast
Best for restaurants
Why we like it: Toast is built specifically for the restaurant industry, which is evident in the details found throughout the hardware and software it offers. The mobile Toast Go 2, an all-in-one device, is designed to last all day without a recharge, is durable and spill-resistant, and works well in dim indoor settings as well as outdoors. It can process chip, swipe and contactless payments, and it makes sharing information with the kitchen easier with multiple-language support. Read our full Toast POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
PayPal POS
Best for alternate payment options
Why we like it: PayPal POS offers a well-rounded POS system that is low cost and doesn’t require a long commitment. Also, the system’s ability to accept payments via QR code for PayPal and Venmo can be a convenience for you and your customers. Payment processing fees are quite competitive, especially if you do a lot of in-person business. The POS app is free to download, and there’s no monthly fee or contract to use it — you just pay per transaction. Read our full PayPal POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
Lightspeed POS
Best for retail
Why we like it: Lightspeed’s best retail features are accessible by mobile app and can enhance your experience as a business owner. With its cloud-based software, you can check out customers on the spot, track sales and employee hours, and manage inventory on the go from your iPad. Read our full Lightspeed POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
TouchBistro
Best for cafes and food trucks
Why we like it: TouchBistro offers a POS system that is built for different types of food businesses, including restaurants, cafes and bars. Its hybrid system will work even if Wi-Fi is down or spotty, making it ideal for offsite or mobile ordering. TouchBistro also has a customer relationship management system TouchBistro POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
Helcim POS
Best for high sales volume
Why we like it: On top of its interchange-plus payment processing rates, Helcim’s volume discounts could be a plus for businesses processing more than $50,000 in credit card transactions each month. And unlike some competitors’ card readers, Helcim’s reader includes a PIN pad, screen and countertop stand. You can also download its free POS app on a tablet or iPad. Read our full Helcim review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
» MORE: Best free POS options
Shopify Retail POS
Best for online-first businesses
Why we like it: Shopify’s built-in checkout portal and variety of sleek website themes are ideal for e-commerce businesses that make most of their sales online. The company sells mobile POS systems (a card reader and handheld terminal) for in-person sales, too. Read our full Shopify POS review
Monthly software cost
Hardware cost
Payment processing fees
What is a mobile POS system?
A mobile POS system allows business owners to make sales with a portable card reader from anywhere, whether it’s tableside, at a pop-up event or in store. For a brick-and-mortar retail business, most sales will be done at the counter on a POS system with a terminal, cash drawer and receipt printer. Mobile POS systems are convenient for sales that happen anywhere else beyond the counter.
A mobile POS system includes the software that allows you to track sales and sync with the rest of your business software ecosystem and the mobile device hardware. Depending on your system, the POS hardware
How to choose a mobile POS system
If your business already uses a countertop POS system, then you’ll first want to explore the mobile POS options from that provider. Adding mobile functionality is typically straightforward: You’ll download your existing software onto a mobile device such as a tablet or purchase a mobile hardware package from the provider.
If you’re choosing a POS system for the first time, here are some other factors to think about before making a decision:
- Your industry. Restaurants that want to process sales tableside will require different features than retailers selling at pop-ups. POS system providers usually brand themselves as solutions for a particular industry.
- Software costs. If you need only the basics, look for a mobile POS system that offers a free software plan. And make sure to read the fine print to find out whether you’ll be locked in a contract.
- Payment processing costs. Payment processing costs vary from one mobile POS system to the next. Some integrate with third-party
payment processing companies - Hardware compatibility. Maybe you already have a tablet that you’d like to turn into a mobile POS system. Some mobile POS system providers are compatible with iOS and/or Android devices, but you’ll probably still have to buy a card reader. Other providers only offer their own proprietary hardware options. While the latter might be costly upfront, those devices often come with convenient features, like barcode scanners and receipt printers.
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