BEST OF

7 Best Mobile POS Systems of June 2023

Cost, flexibility and convenience are top considerations when taking payments from customers with a mobile point-of-sale system.

By Kurt Woock  and  Lisa Anthony  

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Mobile point-of-sale, or POS, systems allow you to process customer transactions on a tablet, phone or mobile device. The best systems include a combination of fair pricing, flexibility and advanced capabilities. When comparing options, it’s helpful to consider these three costs:

Software: Using a POS system can mean paying a monthly subscription price, although the systems on our list offer free software options. Advanced plans and optional add-on features will cost extra.

Hardware: Some basic POS hardware, mainly card readers, are free or low cost, while more advanced all-in-one devices can run a few hundred dollars or more.

Payment processing: In addition to the POS system itself, you’ll pay transaction fees for each payment that is processed.

Best Mobile POS Systems

Our pick for

Overall mobile POS system

Clover
Learn more

on Clover POS's secure website

Clover POS

Clover

Payment processing fees

2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢

in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online.

Monthly fee

$15

$14.95 and up.

Learn more

on Clover POS's secure website

Why we like it

Clover’s impressive mobile hardware options, flexible plan selections and competitive payment processing fees make it our top pick overall. And the free Clover app paired with a low-cost Clover Go plan offers a mobile POS option for businesses that are starting out.

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.

Read Full Review

Our pick for

Restaurants

Toast
Learn more

on Toast POS's secure website

Toast POS

Toast

Payment processing fees

2.99% + 15¢

if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront.

Monthly fee

$0

Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.

Learn more

on Toast POS's secure website

Why we like it

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.

Read Full Review

Our pick for

Cost and transparency

Square
Learn more

on Square POS's secure website

Square POS

Square

Payment processing fees

2.6% + 10¢

in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.

Monthly fee

$0

Free plan; $29 Plus plan; Custom plan available.

Learn more

on Square POS's secure website

Why we like it

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.

Read Full Review

Our pick for

Alternate payment options

PayPal
Read review

PayPal Zettle

PayPal

Payment processing fees

2.29% + 9¢

in-person; 3.49% + 9¢ keyed.

Monthly fee

$0

Read review

Why we like it

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.

  • Option 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.

Read Full Review

Our pick for

Retail

Lightspeed
Learn more

on Lightspeed POS's secure website

Lightspeed POS

Lightspeed

Payment processing fees

2.6% + 10¢

in-person; 2.6% + 30¢ online.

Monthly fee

$69

and up.

Learn more

on Lightspeed POS's secure website

Why we like it

Lightspeed is a good match for more established small businesses, such as shops with multiple locations. Newer small businesses with simpler operations could be better served with a less expensive product.

Pros

  • Offers robust inventory management.

  • Good customer service offerings.

  • Lots of integrations.

Cons

  • High price.

  • Annual contracts required for lower pricing.

Read Full Review

Our pick for

Customer loyalty

Loyverse

Loyverse

Loyverse

Payment processing fees

Varies by processor.

Monthly fee

$0

Why we like it

Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. It can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants, for example. It can also handle retail store inventory.

Pros

  • Can be used for a variety of businesses, including retail stores, boutiques, grocery stores, cafes, restaurants and bars.

  • Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.

  • Can be used with other payment processors without an integration.

  • Customer support is available by email and chat.

Cons

  • Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and integrations into accounting and e-commerce apps.

Our pick for

Cafes and food trucks

TouchBistro
Read review

TouchBistro

TouchBistro

Payment processing fees

Varies

Determined by the payment processor you select.

Monthly fee

$69

and up.

Read review

Why we like it

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

  • Tailored for the restaurant industry.

  • Helpful features such as menu cloning, time tracking and inventory management.

  • Customizable add-ons.

  • Offline mode.

  • Customer support available 24/7 at no additional cost.

Cons

  • No free or pay-as-you-go options.

  • No transparency on hardware or payment processing costs; quote only.

  • Automatic contract renewal with short cancellation window.

Read Full Review

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. $499 for Clover Flex all-in-one device.

Payment processing cost: 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction for Clover Go and Flex Starter and Standard plans; 2.3% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction for Advanced plan; 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: A terminal or handheld kit is included with the free plan at no cost. Printers, barcode scanners and other accessories are offered for a fee.

Payment processing cost: Quote-based pricing.

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.

» MORE: Check out all our picks for best restaurant POS

Square: Best for cost and transparency

Monthly software cost: Free and up.

Mobile hardware cost: First Square magstripe reader is free, then $10 each. $49 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 $200 cheaper. Read our full Square POS review.

PayPal Zettle: Best for alternate payment options

Monthly software cost: Free.

Mobile hardware cost: $29 for first reader, then $79 each. $199 for terminal only or $269 for terminal with printer and docking station.

Payment processing cost: 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person transactions; 3.49% plus 9 cents for manually entered card transactions.

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.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best small-business apps

Lightspeed POS: 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. Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad hardware kit is quote-based.

Payment processing cost:

  • 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.

  • 2.6% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.

Why we like it: Lightspeed’s best retail features are accessible via mobile app and can enhance your experience as a business owner. With its cloud-based software, you can check out with 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, 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: Varies by provider.

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.

» MORE: Check out the best POS systems for coffee shops

Last updated on April 24, 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.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Mobile POS Systems of June 2023