7 Best Mobile POS for Business Owners in 2024

The best mobile POS (Point of Sale) systems ensure business owners and staff don’t have to be tied to a desk or countertop.

A mobile POS system allows you to manage operations, inventory, staff, and more from a flexible mobile device, such as a tablet, or smartphone.

For hospitality and retail companies, these convenient software-based solutions ensure you can track and manage important data anywhere, and can even help you improve relationships with crucial customers.

Today, I’ll be sharing some of my top picks for the best mobile POS solutions based on their ease of use, affordability, features, and flexibility.

Best Mobile POS Systems

1. Shopify Retail POS: Best for businesses with a strong online presence​​.
2. Square POS: Noted for its integrations, offline mode, and versatility​​​​.
3. Clover POS: Offers versatility with an all-in-one device and various plans​​.
4. PayPal Zettle: Economical choice with low in-person transaction costs and no monthly fee​​.
5. Toast POS: Specifically designed for the restaurant industry with durable, spill-resistant hardware​​​​.
6. Lightspeed Retail POS: Recognized for its robust features​​.
7. Revel POS: Best suited for enterprise businesses​​.

Key Takeaways

The best mobile POS solutions are critical for keeping your retail or hospitality business running smoothly. To find the right system for your needs, keep these points in mind.

• The best mobile POS should be easy to use, with a convenient and customizable interface that ensures you can sort through data and process information quickly.
• Select a point of sale system that supports a range of payment options, including contactless payments and mobile wallets.
• To keep your business running smoothly, it’s worth choosing a solution that offers offline functionality, so you can still access transaction processing features without the internet.
• Ensure your mobile point of sale system has robust inventory management features, as well as tools for employee management and customer relationship management.

The Best Mobile POS Systems for 2024

I chose the follow point of sale systems based on their overall functionality, ability to integrate with critical business tools, and convenience for on-the-go payment processing.

1. Shopify Retail POS: Best for Businesses with a Strong Online Presence

Shopify POS is one of my favorite POS software solutions for ecommerce vendors who want the option to sell products and solutions in-person.

While this cloud-based solution offers all of the core features you might need from a POS app, such as inventory management and an integrated payment processor, it stands out for it’s robust connection to the Shopify ecommerce landscape.

With Shopify POS, you can sync your online store and brick and mortar location, managing everything from online ordering to customer relationships in one intuitive system.

Features range from omnichannel and multichannel selling options, to comprehensive loyalty programs.

Customization and Integrations

You can process any type of payment, from credit card and debit card transactions to mobile wallets. Plus, you’ll have access to integrated marketing tools, and small business management features.

There’s even the option to integrate your POS system with a range of tools for enterprise resource management, invoicing, fulfillment and more.

Pricing

The basic version of Shopify POS is included with most Shopify ecommerce plans, starting with Basic Shopify for $39 per month (or $29 per month paid annually).

The Shopify POS Pro plan is included with Shopify Plus, or you can add it onto any Shopify plan for $89 per month.

Payment processing fees range from 2.4 to 2.7% in person, or 2.4% to 2.9% plus 30 cents online, depending on the Shopify plan you choose.

2. Square POS: Excellent range of integrations and versatility

Square is one of the go-to POS providers for a range of retailers. Designed by a leading credit card processing company, the software gives companies the freedom to manage all types of businesses, from food trunks to fully functional retail stores.

Square offers real-time inventory tracking, access to a range of analytical and reporting tools, employee management features and more.

It also has a highly customizable checkout system, with options for accepting all kinds of payments, including mobile payments.

Customization and Integrations

Square POS offers fantastic compatibility with a range of hardware solutions and integrations. Both the retail and restaurant POS can accept all forms of payments, including Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Square also integrates with a host of credit card reader solutions, iPad, and tablet hardware.

Plus, the technology can integrate with your ecommerce store (or Square Online store), as well as accounting, order fulfillment, and business management tools

Pricing

Square’s standard retail POS is free to use, although there are monthly fees for the restaurant POS, which can vary depending on your feature requirements.

Transaction fees are compatible with the industry standard, starting at 2.5% for online orders, and 1.75% for in-person transactions.

There may also be hardware costs to consider for any readers or registers you might need.

3. Clover POS: Best versatility with an all-in-one device

Clover is one of the most popular POS solutions for both restaurants and retailers alike. The software platform offers tools for everything from tableside ordering to employee management, and options to integrate with a kitchen display system.

Clover’s cloud-based ecosystem offers everything you need to grow your store, with extensive analytics and reports, and dedicated solutions for ecommerce.

There’s also the option to access a range of hardware options, including an all-in-one handheld device for store management.

Customization and Integrations

Retailers can customize their Clover POS solution with a range of in-store devices, including the Clover Go Mobile card reader, and Clover Flex System.

The solution integrates with ecommerce platforms, as well as CRM tools, marketing apps, and accounting software.

You can even access integrations for customer loyalty management, gift card creation and invoicing.

Pricing

Clover’s pricing depends on whether you’re looking for hardware, software, or a combination of both options.

Retail options range from $14.95 to $64.90 per month, while there are also specialist options for restaurants, starting at $54.95 per month.

Payment processing fees will vary depending on the merchant account or payment processer you choose, as Clover is payment processor agnostic.

4. Zettle POS: Economical Choice with Low Fees

For small business owners, Zettle POS (by PayPal) is one of the most affordable POS options, with no monthly subscription package, and low transaction fees.

Though relatively simplistic compared to some POS solutions, the software offers more than enough functionality for most business needs.

Zettle includes tools for managing various parts of your retail store, including customer loyalty programs, inventory, and employee management. Plus, it works seamlessly with a range of iOS (iPhone) and Android devices.

Customization and Integrations

You can customize your Zettle POS solution with a range of add-ons, including POS hardware like a cash drawer, cash register, receipt printer, or barcode scanner.

The system can also integrate with other inventory management tools, customer loyalty programs and more.

Plus, with Zettle, retail businesses can accept all kinds of payment types, from card payments to gift cards, mobile wallets and more. There are even add-on modules for restaurants.

Pricing

Zettle POS is free to use, with no monthly fees for beginners, and no setup or cancellation fees. However, you may need to pay extra for advanced POS features for restaurants and other types of businesses.

The company also offers some of the lowest upfront transaction fees available.

In-person transaction fees start at 1.75%, while online payment fees start at 2.5%.

5. Toast POS: Ideal for the Restaurant Industry

Toast POS is one of the top point of sale solutions for restaurants and the food service industry. The software offered by the company can integrate with a range of delivery services and takeout apps, and offers omnichannel solutions for a range of sales channels.

Toast POS includes menu management tools, employee and customer management and engagement features, and in-depth analytical and reporting modules.

It also works seamlessly with a variety of durable, spill-resistant hardware options, ideal for fast-paced restaurants.

Customization and Integrations

Toast’s highly customizable ecosystem can directly integrate with a range of third-party delivery solutions, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.

It can also work alongside a variety of accounting tools, POS terminal options, and restaurant POS systems.

Like most POS solutions today, Toast also supports a variety of payment methods.

Pricing:

Pricing from Toast can vary depending on your needs. There’s a Quick Start bundle which includes cloud POS software, and hardware setup support, ideal for pop-up stores.

Alternatively, you can choose from premium packages starting at $69 per month.

6. Lightspeed Retail POS: Robust and Powerful Feature Set

Suitable for all kinds of businesses, from food trucks to retail companies, LightSpeed offers a comprehensive point of sale solution with some of the best inventory management features around.

Lightspeed has its own payment processing solution with flat-rate fees, as well as the option to leverage integrated ecommerce capabilities.

Lightspeed can support multichannel sales, and has extensive reporting features with automated data visualization, customizable reports, and more.

Plus, there are marketing tools for social media and email marketing capabilities.

Customization and Integrations

With LightSpeed, you can integrate your solution with a huge range of third-party vendors, thanks to pre-loaded catalogs.

There’s an open API for flexible automation and integrations, as well as pre-built connectors for accounting and financial management.

LightSpeed also works with a range of hardware options, and accepts all kinds of payments, including QR code transactions.

Pricing

There’s no free POS solution from Lightspeed. Access to the software starts at $69 per month if you only need the essentials.

There’s also the $119 per month Standard plan, and $199 per month Advanced plan with comprehensive sales and marketing tools.

Processing fees start at 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions, or 2.6% plus 30 cents for keyed-in payments.

7. Revel POS: Best for Enterprise Businesses

One of the leading point of sale systems for rapidly expanding companies, Revel makes it easy to manage multiple sales points from a convenient platform.

There are solutions for both retail companies and restaurants, with powerful reporting, inventory management, and employee management and productivity tools.

Revel offers self-service solutions for larger companies, as well as an always-on mode if your Wi-Fi connection drops.

The platform is also payments agnostic, which means you can choose any payment processor to use with your ecosystem.

Customization and Integrations

Revel is a highly flexible point of sale kit with open API access so you can leverage all of the tools and software you need in one environments.

You can even select from a range of convenient pre-built integrations for loyalty, analytics, delivery management and more.

The Revel solution also integrates with a range of hardware options, and can be customized with specific modules for different business models.

Pricing

Revel’s processing fees depend on the payment processor you choose, so you’re free to shop around for the best possible deal.

However, you will need to pay a $99 per month fee for the software, as well as a $674 initial onboarding and implementation fee.

Choosing the Right Mobile POS System

When it comes to choosing the best mobile POS system there are a few crucial factors to keep in mind.

The first thing to look at is the kind of functionality you’ll need, as well as how much you can afford to pay for both your hardware and software. Key points to consider include:

• Inventory management features; Comprehensive tools for tracking inventory levels and orders in real-time, across multiple channels, including ecommerce.
• Offline mode: To ensure you can continue running your business no matter what happens to your internet connection, look for a robust and secure offline processing mode.
• Cloud features: Ensure your point of sale system can store your data seamlessly in the cloud, and search for powerful reporting and analytical tools.
• Industry specific features: If you’re running a specific kind of business, such as a restaurant, you’ll need menu and kitchen management tools, alongside standard POS features.
• Payment processing fees: Look for competitive rates for payment processing, or the option to add your own payment processor to the ecosystem, based on your needs.
• Hardware costs: Think about the specific hardware you might want to purchase, such as mobile point of sale handheld devices, like Shopify POS Go.
• Customer management features: Prioritize point of sale solutions with customer profiles, CRM features, and options for setting up loyalty programs.
• Employee management: Consider how you’ll manage your employees from your point of sale system, with payroll and time tracking tools.

It’s also worth looking for an ecosystem that’s simple to set up and use for beginners. The more user-friendly your technology is, the less you’ll need to worry about training team members to use both your hardware and software.

Customization and Integration Options

Every business is different, which is why I looked at the flexibility of each of the best mobile POS solutions mentioned above.

The ideal point of sale solution should be able to adapt to suit your specific requirements, whether you’re running a retail, hospitality, or restaurant business.

Look for an ecosystem that supports integrations with all the tools you need to run a successful store, such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, accounting tools for financial management and taxes, and even marketing systems for email, social media, and SMS.

Many of the top solutions mentioned above come with customizable modules, as well as a library of streamlined integrations.

Square and Clover are both excellent for customization, with end-to-end solutions for a range of business operations.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for more robust customization options, you can look for a software solution that has its own API.

An open API will allow you to connect any form of software or hardware to your point of sale system, and automate various business operations.

Pricing and Payment Processing

As mentioned above, the cost of operating your point of sale system will be an important consideration, particularly if you’re running a smaller company.

There are a few different types of fees you’ll need to be aware of when making your choice, including:

• Monthly fees: Some POS vendors offer access to software for free, such as Square, or PayPal Zettle. Others will require you to pay a monthly fee to access all of the features. If you need to pay for a solution, then you’ll usually have access to more advanced capabilities as a result. Notably, some vendors do offer their services for “free” if you’re already subscribed to another kind of plan, such as Shopify POS (Lite).
• Payment processing fees: All point of sale vendors will charge fees for payment processing, which can vary depending on whether you’re managing in-person or online transactions. You should be able to see the average payment processing fee you can expect to pay on the vendor’s website. However, keep in mind that transaction fees can sometimes change depending on the payment method your customer chooses.
• Hardware costs: While you can run your mobile POS with nothing more than software, a smartphone, tablet, and card reader, you may choose to purchase additional hardware. Some options like Shopify POS Go give you all of the technology you need to run a fast-paced business in a single package, for a one-off payment of $399.

Remember to consider any additional “hidden” fees too, such as the price of setting up or implementing your point of sale system.

Companies like Revel will require you to pay an upfront fee to have your system integrated into your store.

There may also be additional fees to pay for any software integrations you want to take advantage of, or specialist modules for things like restaurant management.

Finding the Best Mobile POS in 2024

There are dozens of great point of sale solutions out there for business owners to choose from. I picked by list of the best mobile POS systems based on their functionality, ease of use, costs, and flexibility (ability to be customized).

When choosing your own point of sale solution, make sure you consider your specific business needs carefully, and pay attention to all of the various costs you’ll need to pay to get your system up and running.

Remember to think about your long-term requirements for growth, rather than just focusing on the functionality you need right now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)