Best Mobile POS Systems

Mobile point of sale systems allow your small business to accept payments on the go. Use this guide to choose the best mobile POS option for you.

Matt has been helping small businesses make decisions since 2017. He has written reviews and articles across many different channels but specializes in the point of sale, payroll, and small business insurance categories and has been quoted in articles for Fox Business, Forbes, and other publications. Prior to joining Merchant Maverick, Matt was a journalist and editor for 14 years for a pair of weekly newspapers. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and currently resides in Gladstone, Oregon.

• WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY

  Matt Sherman Matt has been helping small businesses make decisions since 2017. He has written reviews and articles across many different channels but specializes in the point of sale, payroll, and small business insurance categories and has been quoted in articles for Fox Business, Forbes, and other publications. Prior to joining Merchant Maverick, Matt was a journalist and editor for 14 years for a pair of weekly newspapers. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and currently resides in Gladstone, Oregon.

  Lead Staff Writer

  Last updated onUpdated December 19, 2024



Shannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.

REVIEWED BY

Shannon Vissers Shannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.

Lead Staff Writer

The best mobile POS systems could work as a countertop system or a handheld POS system for events and still have plenty of robust, back-end solutions to add mobility to your brick-and-mortar retail or restaurant business.

While the best POS systems are multi-functional, mobile point of sale systems are unique in that they also empower line-busting, floor-selling, tableside payments, and more.

Keep reading to find out our top picks for mobile POS systems.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

6 Best Mobile POS Systems In 2023

We’ve researched the most popular mobile POS systems, and through our extensive process, here’s the top of the list:

• Square POS: Best All-Around
• Clover POS: Best For Counter Service
• Lightspeed Retail: Best For Robust Features
• Toast POS: Best Restaurant-Specific Mobile POS
• Shopify POS: Best For Online Selling
• Revel POS: Best For Enterprise Businesses

The Top Mobile POS Systems Compared

Square POS: Best All-Around

Get Started With Square POS

Read our in-depth review

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Clover POS: Best For Counter Service

Get Started With Clover POS

Read our in-depth review

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Lightspeed Retail: Best For Robust Features

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail

Read our in-depth review

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Toast POS: Best Restaurant-Specific Mobile POS

Get Started With Toast POS

Read our in-depth review

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Shopify POS: Best For Online Selling

Get Started With Shopify POS

Read our in-depth review

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Revel POS: Best For Enterprise Businesses

Get Started With Revel POS

Read our in-depth review

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Retail POS Review Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing POS providers since 2012. Our writers have tested over 100 different point of sale systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate POS providers.

When comparing different POS software systems, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the depth of niche features offered, the price of hardware, and any associated payment processing fees. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points. The POS vendors we pick share qualities such as widespread availability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at niche features, such as check-splitting, inventory management, eCommerce, loyalty programs, gift cards, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

These Mobile POS Options Earn An Honorable Mention

These vendors didn’t quite make our cut, but they may work for certain types of businesses.

PayPal Zettle For Mobile POS

With PayPal Zettle (formerly PayPal Here), you’ll pay 2.29% + $0.09 per in-person transaction, which you’ll process with the $29 chip and tap reader. With no monthly fee and flat-rate pricing, it’s suitable for low-volume businesses and cheaper than Square, but it doesn’t provide the POS features Square or Shopify offer, such as a virtual terminal.

If you want a more fully-featured POS that uses PayPal payment processing, Lightspeed is an option for retail, while PayPal integrates with TouchBistro, Lavu, and talech for restaurants. PayPal Zettle can complement any of those systems for occasional mobile sales, but it is not a suitable standalone POS.

eHopper For Mobile POS

eHopper is a basic, free POS system that may appeal to certain business types, such as convenience stores and small grocery stores. You can use eHopper on an iPad, Windows tablet, Android tablet, PC, or Poynt Smart Terminal to accept cash, credit, debit cards, and EBT.

In addition to its free monthly cost, an eHopper account also includes a free terminal. eHopper also offers credit surcharge no-fee credit card processing, which allows you to pass on your credit card fees to your customers (if that practice is legal in your state). With its free plan, free Pax S300 terminal (for new customers), and even free credit card processing, eHopper is worth checking out if you want a free POS.

However, it is not the only free POS system. For example, Square is free, and although you will pay for credit card processing, Square has more features and doesn’t require you to pass your processing costs to your customers.

7 Ways A Mobile POS System Can Help Your Business

Mobile POS setups offer a plethora of advantages for small businesses, especially businesses that are very wary of the cost of POS systems. Even if your business has a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront, you can leverage mPOS to your advantage. Here are some innovative ways to use mobile point of sale systems to take your business to the next level.

1) Mobile POS Systems Are Easy To Use & Train Employees On

Mobile POS is remarkably easy to use, allowing businesses to quickly and easily set up their system and train new employees on it in hours or even minutes. Mobile point of sale is intuitive for anyone familiar with smartphones and tablets, and many iPad-based systems do not even require professional installation. In most cases, getting started with a new mobile POS is just a matter of setting up your account, installing the app, and going through a self-guided tutorial. The best restaurant POS systems often feature mobile options that are easy for waitstaff to learn and use.

2) Accept Contactless Payments With A Mobile POS

Mobile POS systems generally allow you to take payments on a mobile device and accept payments from customers’ smartphones and smartwatches. Contactless payments (also called NFC payments, mobile payments, or mobile wallets) include options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay (formerly Android Pay), and PayPal.

Some POS systems also accept contactless QR code payments wherein customers scan a code with their phone’s camera and pay from their device. Giving your customers contactless options to pay makes it much quicker and easier for them to buy from you. Especially during COVID-19, many customers prefer safer contactless payments, and most of the best point of sale systems for retail offer this feature.

3) Use A Mobile POS For Line Busting & Flexible Checkouts

Mobile devices can be used in tandem with traditional registers, or you can eliminate the registers if you have that kind of trendy biz! You can use mobile checkouts to reduce lines — for example, a cafe server can work their way down the line at the counter with a handheld device on a busy morning. Or you can offer multiple low-key places to check out in a store. Many people prefer self-checkout POS systems whenever possible, which is another option you have with mobile hardware. With mPOS, it’s all about options!

Sephora is an example of a company that uses mobile checkout options on an as-needed basis. The company gives its staff mobile devices, so the floor sales agents can check people out if there’s a very long line.

4) Pop-Up Shops, Tradeshows, & Sidewalk Sales

Many retail businesses can benefit from non-traditional sales opportunities at special events, such as craft fairs, festivals, or pop-up shops. Retail businesses increasingly take advantage of these events to make direct sales, spread the word about their products, and generate social media buzz. Mobile POS lets you travel to other cities, bring inventory to conventions or tradeshows, or join the local sidewalk sale.

With mobile POS, if you can get an internet signal via your cell or mobile hotspot, it is often a lot cheaper than buying it for a wired terminal at a convention center. Some mobile POS systems even have an offline mode, letting you take credit card payments even when you don’t have an internet or data signal.

5) Mobile POS For Food Trucks & Catering

Mobile POS lets you take your restaurant on the road! Food truck events are super popular, and you don’t want your restaurant to miss out on the chance to impress new customers with your cuisine. Our list of best food trucks POS systems should get you started there.

Even if your restaurant uses a full POS, you can use a mobile system in conjunction with your POS for events. You can also use mPOS to take payments on the go when you are catering events.

Mobile POS systems offer features such as digital receipts and have a much smaller footprint than traditional POS registers, so they are ideal in cramped quarters. Free restaurant POS systems do exist, and many offer great mobile options for smaller businesses.

6) Mobile Systems Make Tableside Ordering Easy For Customers

There are a couple of different ways in which mobile POS lets restaurants leverage tableside ordering.

One way is self-checkout tablets at tables that allow customers to order and make payments right from the table.

Another is with mobile devices that your employees can carry, enabling the servers to digitally send orders to the kitchen and process customers’ payments from the floor. Tableside ordering technology saves time and reduces mistakes in orders because the POS prompts for details, such as dressings, toppings, sides, etc. Many mobile solutions make any gift card systems you already have work easily and well.

7) Accept Payments Wherever Your Client Is With A Mobile POS

Whether you’re in plumbing, pest control, lawn care, contracting, or another type of mobile business — e.g., a business that visits clients at home or primarily interacts with them on a worksite — mobile POS lets you take payments wherever your clients are. Instead of waiting on invoices, you can accept payment right on the spot. That makes things easier for your customers, as it’s typically much more convenient to hand someone your credit card than to hunt down your checkbook or enter your credit card number in an online payment portal. Onsite payments also reduce the number of late payments you’ll have to chase down later on.

Which Mobile POS System Is Right For Your Business?

Mobile POS is the future of point of sale technology, not just due to its portability or small footprint but also its advanced web-based features, scalability, and ease of use. Even if you don’t absolutely need one of the best mobile point of sale systems right now, it’s important to think of the future and the flexibility of a tablet-based POS system.

If you’re brand-new to mobile POS and mobility is the most important quality you’re looking for — particularly if you want to take payments on your smartphone — I’d recommend starting with Square. It’s free to use, and since there’s no commitment required, you can always move on to more advanced POS mobile systems later on if you find you need a Square alternative.

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