Mobile point-of-sale (POS) systems give you the flexibility to process sales from a tablet, phone or other handheld device. Compared with countertop point-of-sale systems that let you process customer transactions from only one location, mobile POS systems provide additional convenience, whether you run a restaurant that accepts payments tableside or a retail store branching out beyond its brick-and-mortar location.
The best mobile POS systems include a combination of fair pricing, useful features and some advanced capabilities. Consider your specific industry needs, as well as software, hardware and payment processing costs.
Here are NerdWallet’s picks for the top mobile POS systems.
Best Mobile POS Systems
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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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.0/5 Best for Overall mobile POS system | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $14.95 and up. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website |
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurants | 2.99% + $0.15 if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront. | $0.00 Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Cost and transparency | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Free plan; $60 Plus plan for retailers and restaurants. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website | ||
Lightspeed POS Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Retail | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Cafes and food trucks | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.5/5 Best for Alternate payment options | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 2.99% + $0.49 | $0.00 | |||
Loyverse | 4.0/5 Best for Customer loyalty | N/A Varies by processor. | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Overall mobile POS system
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$14.95
and up.
Clover’s impressive mobile hardware options, flexible plan selections and competitive payment processing fees make it our top pick overall. Its most basic software plan for the Clover Go card reader is free, making it a great mobile option for businesses that are starting out. Software plans with fuller POS functionality, including the ability to create items and track stock, start at $14.95 a month.
Pros
- Can pay for hardware in installments.
- Clover Flex prints receipts.
- Customer loyalty program available.
- Includes option for customers to pay online.
- 24/7 live support with software plans.
Cons
- No free hardware options.
- Differing pricing structures depending on business type.
Our pick for
Restaurants
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.99% + $0.15
if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.
Toast’s restaurant-grade POS hardware and low-cost pay-as-you-go payment processing plan with no upfront costs or monthly subscription fees make it a top option for mobile businesses that serve food.
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.
- Quote-based pricing makes it harder to compare payment processing rates.
Our pick for
Cost and transparency
Square POS
Learn more
on Square POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Free plan; $60 Plus plan for retailers and restaurants.
Square offers an impressive POS system with pricing that is transparent and highly competitive. With options for zero monthly fees and a free magstripe card reader, it’s a good option for new small businesses.
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.
Our pick for
Retail
Lightspeed POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$69.00
and up.
Lightspeed sells a POS system tailored specifically to retailers. You can choose from a couple of types of card readers as well as more robust iPad hardware kits. It has e-commerce tools, 24/7 support and useful inventory management features.
Pros
- Offers robust inventory management.
- Good customer service offerings.
- Lots of integrations.
Cons
- High price.
- Annual contracts required for lower pricing.
Our pick for
Cafes and food trucks
TouchBistro
Learn more
on TouchBistro's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69.00
and up.
TouchBistro is built just for restaurants and includes a wide variety of add-on features. As a hybrid POS system, it saves data locally in your iPad app and in the cloud, meaning you can complete most POS functions — across multiple devices — even during an internet outage. And when your system is running online, it’s syncing data in real time and can be accessed anywhere.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
- Greater offline mode capabilities than many competitors.
Cons
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
Our pick for
Alternate payment options
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
PayPal Zettle offers a complete POS system at a low cost with no monthly fee or contract. In addition to taking payments — including ones from PayPal and Venmo — you can also manage inventory, watch sales and review reports.
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.
Our pick for
Customer loyalty
Loyverse
4.0
NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. For example, it can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, retail stores and boutiques.
- Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
- Can be used with other payment processors without an integration.
- Free software includes a loyalty program, which most competitors offer as an add-on with additional cost.
Cons
- 24/7 live chat support is only available with paid add-on subscriptions.
- Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and integrations into accounting and e-commerce apps.
Clover: Best overall mobile POS system
Monthly software cost: Free and up.
Mobile hardware cost: $49 for Clover Go card reader, which works with your own phone or tablet. $599 for Clover Flex all-in-one device.
Payment processing cost: 2.3%-2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction; 3.5% plus 10 cents per online transaction.
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. The economical Clover Go system 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.
Toast: Best for restaurants
Monthly software cost: Free and up.
Mobile hardware cost: You can cover your handheld hardware kit cost with higher processing fees with Toast’s pay-as-you-go plan or pay for the hardware upfront and receive lower processing fees. The handheld kit costs $627 upfront.
Payment processing cost: 2.99% plus 15 cents per transaction if you pay for the handheld hardware kit as you go; 2.49% plus 15 cents if you buy it upfront.
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.
Square: Best for cost and transparency
Monthly software cost: Restaurants and retailers can choose among a free option, a $60-per-month Plus plan or a custom-priced Premium plan. Square Appointments offers a free plan along with a $29-per-month Plus plan and $69-per-month Premium plan.
Mobile hardware cost: First Square magstripe reader is free, then $10 each. $49-$59 for Square contactless and chip card reader. $299 for Square Terminal all-in-one device.
Payment processing cost: 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction; 2.9% plus 30 cents per online transaction; 3.5% plus 15 cents per keyed-in transaction.
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 $300 cheaper. Read our full Square POS review.
PayPal Zettle: Best for alternate payment options
Monthly software cost: Free.
Mobile hardware cost: $29 for first card reader, then $79 each. $199 for terminal only, $239 for terminal with barcode scanner, $269 for terminal plus printer and dock, or $299 for terminal with all three add-ons.
Payment processing cost: 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person transactions; 3.49% plus 9 cents for manually entered card transactions; 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoice payments.
Why we like it: PayPal Zettle 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 Zettle review.
Lightspeed: Best for retail
Monthly software cost:
- $89 for Lean plan ($69 if billed annually).
- $149 for Standard plan ($119 if billed annually).
- $269 for Advanced plan ($199 if billed annually).
Mobile hardware cost: $99 for Chipper 2X BT card reader and $299 for the WisePOS E card reader. Kits are quote-based.
Payment processing cost:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
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.
Loyverse: Best for customer loyalty
Monthly software cost: Free.
Mobile hardware cost: Varies by third-party providers.
Payment processing cost: Through a third-party payment processor.
Why we like it: Loyverse offers robust inventory management capabilities and hybrid options for working offline. Perhaps its most noteworthy feature is its loyalty program, which allows you to manage customers from the POS system, issue loyalty cards from your scanner and customize your loyalty program to fit your business goals.
» MORE: Best free POS options
TouchBistro: Best for cafes and food trucks
Monthly software cost:
- $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.
Mobile hardware cost: Quote-based.
Payment processing cost: In-house payment processing is quote-based; otherwise, costs are determined by the third-party payment processor you select.
Why we like it: TouchBistro offers a POS system that is built for different types of food businesses, including restaurants, cafes and food trucks. 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 that can track customer preferences. It can be run from an iPad and integrated with pre-existing hardware. Read our full TouchBistro POS review.
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 could be an iPad or iPhone, Android tablet or branded mobile device that you buy through the mobile POS provider.
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 typically 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, while others only use their in-house option. Consider your sales volume and which types of payments you’d like to be able to accept.
- 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.
Last updated on August 22, 2023
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.