Top 5 POS Systems for Phones: A Comprehensive Review
By Sam Nguyen
In this article, you will discover the top 5 POS systems for mobile phones on the market.
Key Takeaways
Mobile POS systems such as Shopify POS, Square POS, Toast, Vend, and Paypal Zettle provide businesses with the flexibility, convenience, and functionality needed to manage their operations and accept payments on the go. Shopify POS is ideal for businesses of all sizes. It works on Android and iOS devices, offers omnichannel selling features, and includes high-quality hardware.
Top 5 Mobile POS Systems
Here is our detailed evaluation of the 5 best mobile POS systems you should consider.
Shopify POS
Shopify POS stands out as the top choice on this list, offering a mobile-friendly interface for phone-based POS operations.
Pricing
- Software fees: Start at $0/month
- Hardware fees: From $39 to $399
- Processing fees: Start at 2.4% + 0¢
Pros and cons
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Why we choose Shopify POS as one of the best mobile POS
Seamless Online Store Integration
The Shopify POS app offers seamless integration between your brick-and-mortar and online stores. The synchronization allows you to manage every aspect of your stores from your mobile device no matter where you are. Additionally, you can customize the POS interface on your phone according to your preferences, ensuring a speedy payment processing experience.
High-quality hardware
You can find all the necessary hardware to run the mobile POS effectively on the Shopify Hardware Store. All products are fully compatible with Shopify POS, and you can purchase them outright or rent them at a low price. Moreover, Shopify POS also provides a handheld device called Shopify POS Go, which has a built-in card reader and barcode scanner, making checking out, accepting payments, and managing your store more accessible than ever before.
Shopify POS works best for
- Start-ups who start selling in-person
- Small businesses that frequently participate in fairs and events.
Square POS
Square is another reputable option widely trusted by retailers for its excellent mobile POS capabilities.
Pricing
- Software fees: Start at $60/month
- Hardware fees: From $39 to $299
- Processing fees: Start at 2.5% + 0¢
Pros and cons
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Why we choose Square POS as one of the best mobile POS
Free to get started
Square offers a free plan that includes a magstripe reader upon signing up. In addition, Square provides its handheld device called Square Terminal, which is suitable for all types of businesses, particularly restaurants. The Square mobile POS and card reader continue to function even without an internet connection, allowing you to take orders and payments anywhere, anytime.
Tap to pay on iPhone and Android phones
Square enables you to accept contactless payments using your own devices, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android phone. As long as you have an internet or cellular connection and an NFC-enabled phone, you’re in business.
Square POS works best for
- Businesses of all sizes, particularly those with busy operations
- Start-ups with limited budgets
Toast
Toast is widely recognized among merchants in the restaurant industry. Its handheld kit offers an excellent mobile POS solution tailored to the specific needs of food and beverage businesses.
Pricing
- Software fees: Start at $0/month
- Hardware fees: From $0 to $627
- Processing fees: Start at 2.49% + 15¢
Pros and cons
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Why we choose Toast as one of the best mobile POS
First-party hardware
Toast provides a unique handheld point-of-sale device, “Toast Go,” enhancing service mobility. With this specially designed device, servers can efficiently process orders and payments right at the table.
Toast Go is resilient to spills, drops, and dust, ensuring durability. It features an integrated card reader and a long-lasting battery that powers the device for 24 hours. Additionally, it accepts various payment methods, such as swipe, dip, and tap.
Free to get started
Toast offers a Pay-as-you-go plan, enabling you to kickstart your restaurant operations with zero initial costs. The payment processing fee covers all hardware costs, excluding shipping and taxes.
Toast works best for
- Busy restaurants
- Bars & pubs with a limited budget
Paypal Zettle
PayPal Zettle has recently introduced its all-in-one handheld mobile POS named Zettle Terminal, enabling merchants to accept payments and manage their business conveniently from anywhere.
Pricing
- Software fees: Free
- Hardware fees: From $29 to $199
- Processing fees: Start at 2.29% + 9¢
Pros and cons
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Why we choose Paypal Zettle as one of the best mobile POS
First-party hardware
Zettle offers both ready-made store kits and standalone components. You can purchase their card reader, Zettle Reader 2, which can be used with your phone. Alternatively, you can acquire their dedicated handheld Zettle Terminal with a built-in Paypal POS app, a barcode scanner, and a card reader to accept payments anywhere.
Integration options
PayPal’s point-of-sale systems and payment gateway can be seamlessly integrated with various e-commerce platforms, enabling you to synchronize operations efficiently across multiple sales channels.
Paypal Zettle works best for
- Merchants who use Paypal as their payment gateways
- Retailers with multiple international stores
Vend (Lightspeed X Series)
Vend is well-known for its versatility, making it an excellent option for merchants looking to quickly set up and run their POS directly on their mobile devices.
Pricing
- Software fees: Start at $69/month/1 location + 1 register
- Hardware fees: From $99 to $399
- Processing fees: Start at 2.6% + 10¢
Pros and cons
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Why we choose Vend ( Lightspeed X-Series) as one of the best mobile POS
It’s a web-based POS
As a browser-based point-of-sale system, Vend offers the flexibility to access it from any device with an internet connection, including iPhones, iPads, Android tablets, and smartphones. Retailers can efficiently manage their business operations and process sales through Vend’s user-friendly interface, regardless of their operating system. Moreover, Vend provides a dedicated POS app specifically designed for iPads, delivering a seamless and optimized experience for users who prefer the convenience and mobility of a tablet device.
Advanced inventory management
Vend includes their top feature, advanced inventory management, in every plan. This feature provides vendor information, purchase orders, and low-stock alerts. Additionally, you can utilize Lightspeed Payments for processing sales transactions.
Vend works best for
- Businesses with a large inventory
- Merchants that see a high volume of foot traffic in their physical stores.
Our Methodology
To identify the top mobile POS systems available, we conducted thorough research and considered several crucial factors, including pricing, the operating system on which the POS software runs, built-in features, and the hardware options provided. Additionally, we thoroughly examined current user reviews written by unbiased customers on popular review platforms such as G2, Capterra, and Software Advice.
Mobile POS Systems: FAQs
By using a phone-based point-of-sale (POS) system, you gain the flexibility to process transactions and manage your store from anywhere. Whether at your physical store, attending a pop-up event, or on the move, a phone-based POS allows you to stay connected and serve customers efficiently. The setup process is typically quick and hassle-free. All you need to do is download a compatible app and connect a card reader, enabling you to maximize sales opportunities with ease.
One of the significant advantages of using your phone as a POS is its cost-effectiveness. Instead of investing in traditional hardware systems, you can use the device you already own. This eliminates the need for substantial upfront costs and reduces ongoing maintenance expenses, which is helpful for small businesses or start-ups.
Firstly, mobile POS systems utilize smartphones or tablets as the primary device for processing transactions, whereas traditional POS systems rely on dedicated hardware terminals. This distinction offers greater mobility and flexibility with mobile POS, allowing businesses to accept payments anywhere.
Secondly, mobile POS often leverages cloud-based technology, enabling real-time data syncing and remote management capabilities. Traditional POS systems typically operate on local servers and require physical on-site maintenance.
Lastly, mobile POS systems often come at a lower cost, as they eliminate the need for expensive hardware investments and offer more affordable software options.
Overall, mobile POS provides a more agile, cost-effective, and versatile solution for modern businesses.Bottom Line
You don’t have to be restricted to the counter anymore. With these 5 mobile POS systems, you can efficiently manage your business directly from your phone, no matter where you are.
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