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Best Android POS Systems For Small Business

If you are in the market for a point of sale system for Android, you may feel lonely in this industry. But there's hope! Here are our favorite POS systems for Android.

    Nicolette Kier
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Matt Sherman
  • REVIEWED BY

    Matt Sherman

    Lead Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.

Android POS systems can offer more flexibility and customization options than iPad-based devices. Some of the best POS systems are built on the Android operating system and use Android hardware.

We evaluated several retail, restaurant, and service-based business POS systems based on pricing, feature sets, niche industry offerings, and flexibility to help you find the best Android POS system for your business.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanyBest ForNext StepsBest For
Square POS

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  • Best free/low-cost option
  • $0-$60+/month/location
  • Monthly contract, no termination fee
  • Best free/low-cost option
  • $0-$60+/month/location
  • Monthly contract, no termination fee

Visit Site

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Clover POS

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  • Best customization options
  • $14.95-$64.90+/month
  • Custom contracts and terms
  • Best customization options
  • $14.95-$64.90+/month
  • Custom contracts and terms

Visit Site

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Toast POS

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  • Best for growing restaurants
  • $0-$165+/month
  • Standard two-year contract, early termination fee
  • Best for growing restaurants
  • $0-$165+/month
  • Standard two-year contract, early termination fee

Visit Site

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Shopify POS

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  • Best for multichannel retailers
  • $39-$399/month ($29-$299/month with annual billing)
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Best for multichannel retailers
  • $39-$399/month ($29-$299/month with annual billing)
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

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Helcim

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  • Best for B2B/service businesses and subscription sales
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Best for B2B/service businesses and subscription sales
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee

Visit Site

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KORONA POS

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  • Best for high-risk businesses and reducing theft
  • $59-$69+/month/terminal
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Best for high-risk businesses and reducing theft
  • $59-$69+/month/terminal
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee

Visit Site

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Loyverse

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  • Best free restaurant option
  • $0
  • Forever free download with no contracts
  • Best free restaurant option
  • $0
  • Forever free download with no contracts

Visit Site

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Table of Contents

7 Best Android POS Systems For Small Business

The best Android POS system allows you to take payments, manage inventory, and customize your software/hardware setup for an affordable price.

Our top choices include:

Compare The Best Android POS Systems

Pricing POS Hardware Cost Payment Processing Fees Online Ordering Free Trial
Square $0-$60+/location/month $49-$1,189 2.5%-2.9%
Clover $14.95-$64.90+/month $49-$1,799 Custom
Toast $0-$165+/month $627+ 2.49%-3.49% or custom
Shopify $29-$399+/month $49-$459 2.4%-2.9% or custom
Helcim $0 $99-$349 Custom interchange-plus
KORONA $59+/month Custom Custom WooCommerce integration
Loyverse $0 Custom Custom eCommerce integration

Square POS: Best Free/Low-Cost Option

Total Rating 4.9
Pricing4.9

Ease Of Use5.0

Features4.8

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.8

Pricing

$0/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$49-$799

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Free retail, restaurant, and service-based business software
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable Android-compatible hardware
  • Free online store builder

Cons

  • Average inventory management
  • Must use Square for payment processing

Square POS for Android

Square POS app on a tablet.

Why We Chose Square POS As The Best Free Option

We love that Square software offers retail, restaurant, and service-based business POS software at no monthly cost, with affordable hardware options and transparent payment processing fees. On free Square plans, you can add Square POS software on an unlimited number of Android smartphones, tablets, and browsers, another reason Square is one of our best free POS systems.

Since you do not need equipment other than a card reader, the barrier to entry is extremely low for any new and budget-strained business. Whether you are an independent photographer or opening a new restaurant in your neighborhood, Square can work for you.

Who Should Use Square?

Square POS on Android is best for:

  • Small retail, restaurant, and service-based business owners looking for low-cost POS software
  • Business owners looking for durable but affordable POS registers, kitchen displays, and handheld POS systems
  • Business owners looking for simple payment processing terms and low-commitment contracts

Note: Square has limitations on Android devices. For example, you need to open Square on a web browser to manage online store orders because you cannot manage Square Online store orders with Android tablets.

Square POS Pricing

Square POS Plans Price  When To Use
Free Plan $0/month If you have basic POS and processing needs
Square Appointments $0-$69/month If you are a business with extensive scheduling needs
Square For Retail $0-$60/month If you are a retail business with needs for advanced features
Square For Restaurants $0-$60/month If you are in the foodservice industry and need restaurant-specific features
Square Online Store $0/month depending on plan If you have eCommerce needs

Note: Free Square For Retail and Square For Restaurants plans apply to single-location businesses only. You must upgrade to a Plus plan if you open multiple locations. The Plus plan includes one device per location. Additional devices cost $40/device/month.

The Square For Retail Plus plan includes inventory management features like vendor management, inventory counts, automated purchase ordering, and barcode printing. You can also accept cross-location returns and exchanges on the Plus plan.

The Square For Restaurants Plus plan includes unlimited Square KDS software licenses and operations management features like menu reports, section reports, and the ability to duplicate tablet settings across all devices. You can purchase KDS software device licenses for $20/device/month if you are on the free plan.

Square also offers an appointment booking software for service businesses, called Square Appointments, at the following prices:

  • Free: $0/month; includes unlimited POS mobile app licenses, appointment booking website, automated appointment reminders, contract templates, and employee management
  • Plus: $29/month/location; includes no-show protection, multiple staff appointments, automated appointment confirmations, and multi-location management
  • Premium: $69/month/location; includes resource management, multiple wage rates, and staff commissions

Popular add-ons include Square Loyalty (starting at $45/month), Square Payroll (starting at $35/month), and Square Email Marketing (starting at $15/month).

Square Android POS System Features

Square POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards Add-on
Customer Loyalty Add-on
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management With Square for Restaurants
Delivery Management Add on
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Square has software features for retail, restaurant, and service businesses, but no matter which industry plan you choose, you get these free features:

  • Square Online: Free online store builder that allows you to sell retail items, take restaurant orders, and/or schedule appointments
  • Square Invoices: Free invoice builder to send estimates, charge deposits, and charge cards on file for things like catering orders, multi-stage home improvement projects, or B2B retail orders
  • Unlimited Devices: On the free plan, you can use any number of tablets at your location
  • Checkout Links: Accept payments via QR code, hyperlink, email, text, social media profile, or buy button embedded in a website
  • eGift Cards: Sell eGift cards for free, including group eGift cards, a feature now available as part of Square’s new features released in September 2023
  • Square Dashboard: Manage your inventory, reports, online store, appointments, customer profiles, and your team from anywhere on one tablet dashboard

Square Android POS system

Square Online store builder for selling physical items and digital ones like memberships.

Retail establishments will appreciate the Square social media integrations so you can sell on Instagram or make TikTok sales, the Google product listing integration, and features like product reviews and saved carts. On September 26, 2023, Square announced a product update to the Square For Retail checkout interface, including online order fulfillment in-store, buy in-store for shipping, and item pickup from several locations.

Restaurants will appreciate that Square offers delivery solutions for restaurants with delivery staff and those who need to call on Square’s DoorDash delivery partners. You can also integrate Square with major third-party delivery platforms, embed your Square ordering site on your Google business profile, and route all orders from all ordering sources to your kitchen display screens.

Note: If you want more restaurant software features but do not want to pay a monthly fee, the Toast Quick Start Bundle is an excellent alternative Android POS system for restaurants.

Service businesses such as salons or home repair will appreciate the Google appointment booking integration, customer confirmation notifications and automated reminders, retail sales capabilities, and the ability to manage resources like labor, in-store product usage, and tools.

Note: If you have a service-based business and want free invoicing features, plus custom payment processing rates that will help you lower your monthly payment processing fees, Helcim may be a better choice than Square.

Hardware Cost & Options

square hardware

Square register, cash drawer, and receipt printer.

One of Square’s new features is Tap to Pay on Android, which turns regular Android smartphones into contactless card readers, meaning you can accept tap card and digital wallet payment types with no card reader required. To accept chip card payments, you need at least the $49 Square card reader (or the newly released $69 second-generation Square card reader.) This is ideal for businesses with no budget, especially mobile-only businesses.

Square’s proprietary hardware is Android-based, including the $299 Square Terminal, the new $259 Square Restaurant Mobile POS kit, and the $799 Square Register.

The provider also offers hardware peripherals such as weight scales and stands to create self-serve kiosks.

Since our last update, Square has made the kitchen display software available exclusively on Android devices, including the $599 15.6″ Microtouch Android screen and the $699 Microtouch 21.5″ screen.

Payment Processing Costs

You may only use Square for payment processing, and the provider charges these payment processing fees for these payment types:

  • Card-Present: 2.6% + $0.10 on the Free plan; 2.5% + $0.10 on the Plus plan
  • Online: $2.9 + $0.30
  • Invoice: 3.3% + $0.30
  • Manually-Keyed Card: 3.5% + $0.15

Note: Online payments include payments made via an online store, as well as QR codes and other Square Checkout links.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square subscriptions are month-to-month, and you can cancel your account without consequences.

If you damage your Square hardware within your hardware warranty period, the company will send you new equipment, even if you don’t purchase the hardware directly from Square. Send old pieces back to Square within 14 days of getting your new hardware, or you will be charged for the new equipment.

Get Started With Square POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Clover POS: Best Customization Options

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.8

Features4.5

Customer Service4.4

User Reviews4.1

Pricing

Starts at $0/month

Contract

Depends on merchant services provider

Equipment Cost

$49-$1,799 per device

Pros

  • Retail, restaurant, and service-based business software plans
  • Sturdy Android-based proprietary hardware
  • Custom payment processing fee options
  • Huge app market to customize POS software

Cons

  • Proprietary hardware is a big investment
  • Potential for merchant account scams

Clover Android POS system

Clover Mini Android POS system.

Why We Chose Clover POS As The Best Customizable System

We like Clover's line of Android-based mobile and countertop POS systems, which are sleek, easy to set up, and generally user-friendly. We also appreciate Clover's extensive app market which includes hundreds of general and niche add-on apps that integrate nicely with your POS software. Clover is made to work like an Android smartphone, so if you know how to use a smartphone, you'll be able to figure out a Clover device.

Clover allows you to choose where you purchase your POS hardware from several merchant services providers. When you purchase your Android POS system, you'll also get your own merchant account with custom payment processing rates, which means that you'll get the opportunity to get the best payment processing rates, not just the flat-rate processing fees provided by companies like Square and Shopify.

Who Should Use Clover?

Clover POS on Android is best for:

  • Business owners looking for their own merchant account
  • Retail and restaurant businesses looking for a custom countertop POS hardware setup
  • Business owners looking for customizable software and lots of third-party software integrations

Clover POS Pricing

Clover POS Plans Price  When To Use
Clover Payments $0/month If you only need to process payments and don’t need any POS hardware
Clover Essentials $14.95/month If you have a small retail/service-based business and don’t take returns
Clover Register $49.95/month If you have a small to mid-size retail/service-based business and need more POS features
Clover Counter Service Restaurant $54.95/month If you have a quick-serve restaurant, cafeteria, or mobile food service business
Clover Table Service Restaurant $84.95/month If you have a full-service restaurant or bar

The prices listed are for plans purchased directly through Clover.

However, you can purchase your Clover POS system from several Clover-authorized sellers, so prices will vary. Read our Clover pricing guide to understand more about how much you may pay for your Clover hardware, software, and payment processing fees.

Clover Android POS System Features

Clover POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments Depends on hardware choice
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering Depends on software plan
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance Add-on app
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Clover offers retail, restaurant, and service-based business software plans. All Clover users will appreciate the provider’s built-in loyalty program and free online ordering page.

The real power of Clover comes from the app market, which offers everything from form builders to employee management apps to appointment schedulers. For example, the niche gym membership integrations make Clover one of the best POS systems for gyms, while a more general ticketing app used in creative ways can make Clover one of the best coffee shop POS systems.

Clover POS for Android

Clover POS app market categories.

Note: If you like Clover’s numerous software integrations but want a stronger eCommerce presence, Shopify is a good alternative POS for Android.

Hardware Cost & Options

Clover POS hardware

Clover countertop POS system, handheld POS system, barcode scanner, cash drawer, and card reader.

The $599 Clover Flex handheld POS system is great for mobile sellers, especially professional and field service providers like mobile hairdressers and landscapers.

The $799 Clover Mini is a small countertop terminal that includes a built-in receipt printer and is great for quick-serve restaurants as well as small retail establishments. The $1,699 Clover Station is a full countertop solution with a cash drawer, receipt printer, and card reader.

In June 2023, Clover released proprietary kitchen display software and hardware. On Clover.com, the Android-based kitchen screen costs $799 plus a $25/month software subscription.

Note: The above pricing is for hardware purchased on Clover.com. It’s important to note that Clover hardware costs will vary depending on Clover hardware providers.

Payment Processing Costs

Clover payment processing rates vary depending on where you get your Clover hardware and accompanying merchant services from.

If you get your POS from Clover.com, you’ll pay 2.3% plus $0.10 for card-present transactions and 3.5% plus $0.10 for all card-not-present transactions, which includes invoice payments and online ordering website payments.

Small businesses can get flat-rate payment processing. Larger businesses can seek a merchant services provider that offers an interchange-plus payment processing model, the most cost-effective model for processing large sales volumes.

Read our post on the best Clover resellers to find a Clover-authorized merchant services provider with the best payment processing rates and contract terms for your business.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Clover offers 36-month and 48-month contracts with early termination fees should you cancel your contract early. There’s also nothing you can do with your Clover hardware if you stop using Clover POS software since Clover hardware is proprietary. The company won’t fix hardware that you obtain from any source other than Clover.com.

If you work with a Clover reseller, you are subject to that reseller’s terms, so do your research before committing. Read your contract and other customer reviews of your potential merchant service provider to avoid Clover scams.

The bottom line is that no matter where you get your Clover hardware, buying expensive proprietary hardware is a big commitment. So, make sure Clover is right for you before spending a lot of money on POS hardware.

Get Started With Clover POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Toast POS: Best For Growing Restaurants

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing2.6

Ease Of Use4.7

Features5.0

Customer Service5.0

User Reviews4.1

Pricing

$0-$165 plus custom plan

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$0+

Pros

  • Complete restaurant management software solution
  • Durable, heatproof Android POS restaurant hardware
  • Strong loyalty program
  • Excellent inventory and menu management

Cons

  • Long-term contract with early termination fee
  • No free trial available
  • Expensive for smaller restaurants

toast self ordering kiosk

Toast Android POS system self-ordering kiosk.

Why We Chose Toast POS For Growing Restaurants

We believe that Toast is one of the best POS systems for restaurants because it offers a complete suite of restaurant management software that integrates nicely with durable Android-based POS hardware and kitchen display systems. Using Toast, customers can order on touchscreen Android kiosks, from a server at the counter, or tableside with Toast's high-quality handheld restaurant ordering system.

With Toast's numerous product offerings, from payroll to employee scheduling to the Toast Kitchen Display--one of the best kitchen display systems--restaurants of all sizes can keep organized, cut costs, and pull in profits.

Who Should Use Toast?

Toast POS on Android is best for:

  • Restaurant owners who want a self-contained restaurant ecosystem
  • Sit-down restaurants looking for one of the best handheld restaurant POS systems and kitchen display software
  • Quick-serve restaurants looking for strong self-serve kiosk software and a loyalty program
  • Restaurant owners looking for the most heat-proof and spill-proof POS hardware available

Toast POS Pricing

Toast POS Plans Price  When To Use
Quick Start Bundle $0/month You have a small, single-location restaurant with basic feature needs
Core $69/month You need a full point of sale suite with processing and custom hardware
Growth $165/month You need advanced features and are looking to bundle with digital ordering
Custom Custom Larger businesses looking to access the entirety of Toast’s features

Toast’s $0 upfront Quick Start Bundle plan looks like a good deal, but to get this deal, you have to pay much higher per-order fees, to the point where it could be worth it to purchase your POS equipment upfront and pay a monthly fee if you can afford it. If you can’t afford it, find a way to finance your purchase or switch to a paid plan as soon as you have the money to do so.

On the $69/month Core plan, you’ll have to pay an additional fee if you want to add digital ordering, which includes online orders to takeout and Toast delivery services. The $165/month Growth plan comes with digital ordering at no extra cost.

On the Quick Start Bundle plan, you can add the digital ordering and marketing suite (includes digital ordering, loyalty, gift cards, and email marketing) for no monthly cost, but Toast will increase your per-order payment processing fees again to a relatively high percentage.

You can purchase these popular Toast software add-ons at the following prices:

  • Digital Ordering: $75/month (included for free on Growth plan)
  • Third-Party Ordering Platform Sync: $30/month for Grubhub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats; $75/month for all three
  • Loyalty: $50/month
  • Gift Cards: $50/month
  • Kitchen Display: $25/month plus one-time hardware purchase
  • Self-Serve Kiosk: $90/month plus one-time hardware purchase
  • Email Marketing: $75/month
  • Catering & Events: $100/month

Other popular add-ons, such as Toast Payroll and Toast Scheduling, require you to get a custom quote which will be determined based on factors like the number of employees and locations you own.

If you plan on purchasing multiple Toast products at once, make sure to ask about a discount for bundling products.

Toast Android POS System Features

Toast POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Toast has an extensive number of proprietary software products that all integrate with the Android POS system. Each one touches on another aspect of running a mid-size to a large restaurant, such as employee scheduling and payroll, vendor management, and centralized multilocation management.

Toast has one of the best rewards programs restaurant owners can offer their customer base. The Toast loyalty program builder includes these best features:

  • Multiple Enrollment Opportunities: Customers can enroll during or after checkout on in-person, self-serve kiosks, tableside, delivery, and takeout orders, plus via a link on your website.
  • Custom Account Information: Customers can sign up via text or email and receive a welcome message, plus updates on your loyalty program.
  • Earn On Every Purchase: Customers automatically earn points with every purchase made through a card linked to their loyalty account (automatically set to whatever card was used to pay for the order during signup). They may add more linked cards whenever they want and manually enter their loyalty account information on purchases made with cash or check.
  • Customer Loyalty Account Link: Customers get their own digital loyalty account link where they can view their points, see ways they can earn, and add their birthday to get a birthday reward.
  • Automated Redemption Prompt: Once customers have spent enough to earn a reward, they are automatically asked if they’d like to redeem it. This automated prompt shows up on online, takeout, and in-person orders, so customers will never forget to redeem their points.

Toast restaurant POS loyalty program

Toast restaurant POS loyalty program signup prompt.

We believe Toast’s loyalty program integration with kiosks makes Toast one of the best kiosks for restaurants.

Toast’s handheld POS system, the Toast Go 2, is another one of the provider’s best offerings. With this handheld POS, it’s easy to navigate multiple floor plans, fire orders by prep time so that everything comes out at the same time and temperature, manage seats and large parties, and more. We believe the Toast Go 2’s features make Toast one of the best bar POS systems, especially for large restaurants with a bar section.

The company has focused much of its September 2023 Toast product update on simplifying the handheld POS interface, including adding button labels for more clarity and reducing the number of steps required to start and update an order.

Finally, Toast’s restaurant costing tool, xtraCHEF, allows you to create a catalog of vendors and an ordering guide so that anyone ordering stock can easily do so. You can generate one large purchase order from several vendors simultaneously or send one based on a previous invoice. The tool makes purchase ordering feel like a B2C experience, with an easy checkout function that looks like you’re just shopping online.

Toast restaurant POS system

Toast restaurant POS system purchase order.

Hardware Cost & Options

Toast POS hardware

Toast handheld POS system, countertop POS system, kitchen display system, and PC restaurant management dashboard.

Since our last update, Toast has slightly increased the hardware pricing for the handheld and countertop POS systems. Toast hardware now comes at the following prices:

  • Toast Go 2 Handheld POS: $627
  • Countertop POS: $875
  • Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point: $104
  • Kitchen Printer: $269
  • Cash Drawer: $134
  • KDS: $629
  • Self-Serve Kiosk Terminal: $809

On the pay-as-you-go Quick Start Bundle plan, you can get the handheld POS for no upfront cost and no monthly fees, as long as you agree to pay higher per-transaction payment processing fees. If you pay upfront for your POS hardware, you’ll pay between $69/month and $165/month for your POS software.

In general, we do not recommend the pay-as-you-go plan because the higher per-order fees will cost you more than the original price of the hardware once you get in enough orders.

If you can, pay for your POS hardware upfront. Otherwise, look into equipment financing to help you cover the costs of the restaurant hardware you need in your establishment.

Payment Processing Costs

Individuals who purchase a Starter Kit are subject to the following payment processing fees from Toast’s in-house payment processor:

  • Quick Start Bundle Plan: 2.99% + $0.15 per transaction; 3.49% + $0.15 per transaction if you add Toast’s optional digital ordering suite
  • Core Plan: 2.49% + $0.15 per transaction

Individuals on the Core, New Restaurants, and Growth plans who get a custom hardware quote will also receive a custom payment processing rate.

Note: If you like Toast’s wide range of Android-based restaurant hardware but want better payment processing rates, Clover hardware paired with a reputable merchant services provider is a good alternative.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Toast requires at least a two-year agreement and processing contract with Toast. If you decide to terminate your contract early, you will pay hefty fees to do so. If you choose Toast,  read your contract thoroughly and make sure you understand all the fees and how long you are committed.

Get Started With Toast POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Shopify POS: Best For Multichannel Retailers

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.4

Pricing

Starts at $29/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0-$500+

Pros

  • Excellent online store builder
  • Sales on social media and marketplaces
  • Affordable POS hardware
  • Local delivery, domestic shipping, and international shipping tools

Cons

  • Shopify register stands are only compatible with iPads
  • Must use Shopify Payments to avoid transaction fees
  • Advanced inventory management requires paid Shopify Pro subscription

Shopify POS for Android

Shopify POS interface on Android tablet.

Why We Chose Shopify POS For Multichannel Retailers

We appreciate that Shopify has rolled out a retail-centric in-person POS app that blends well with the company’s excellent eCommerce platform. Shopify offers the “light” version of the POS app for free with all Shopify online store owners and an advanced “pro” version of the app at a reasonable price. Shopify also has the most free and paid add-on apps out of all the Android POS system providers on this list, so you can customize your online and on-site business management features.

Shopify works on most Android tablets and smartphones, although the retail kits Shopify offers are outfitted for iOS devices. Mobile businesses and independent sellers can sell on the go with the highly affordable Shopify card reader, while retail stores can use their POS devices at pop-up shops and events.

The affordable price point and easy setup make Shopify a great option for business owners who want to sell retail items, subscriptions, event tickets, services, and/or other nonperishables both online and in person.

Note: Shopify offers a three-day free trial; no credit card is required, so try Shopify yourself.

Who Should Use Shopify?

The Shopify Android POS system is best for business owners who want to:

  • Sell online, on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart Marketplace, and/or social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram
  • Offer in-store pickup, local delivery, and domestic/international shipping options
  • Customize their POS system interface and eCommerce store

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify POS Plans Price  When To Use
Basic $39/month ($29/month billed annually) If you have a growing eCommerce business with occasional in-person sales
Shopify $105/month ($79/month billed annually) If you want additional reporting and reduced payment processing fees
Advanced $399/month ($299/month billed annually) If you want advanced reporting and additional discounts on processing fees
Shopify Plus $2,000+/month If your high-volume or large business needs an enterprise-level solution

All eCommerce plans come with the free POS Lite app. There is a POS Pro app you may add onto one of the above plans for an extra $89/month/location. This app comes with more employee permissions, better inventory reporting, and in-person workflow automations.

Your payment processing rate decreases on higher-level plans. Businesses with larger transaction volumes and inventory management needs should strongly consider upgrading to save money in the long run.

Shopify Android POS System Features

Shopify POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support Supports multiple inventory locations
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Shopify’s unique features come in the form of its synced online/in-person sales features, which (depending on your version of the Android POS app) include:

  • An elegant yet easy-to-use eCommerce store builder with in-store pickup, local delivery, and lots of shipping options
  • Exchanges and returns on online items at any of your retail locations
  • In-app social media sales through TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp, and more, so customers can buy products without having to leave their feed
  • Integrations with online marketplaces such as Etsy, Walmart, Amazon, and Wish so you can get more sales and more exposure online
  • Inventory syncing between all online and offline sales platforms

Shopify tablet POS

Return online purchases at the Shopify POS register.

In August 2023, Shopify launched Shopify Marketplace Connect, an app that connects all your marketplace sales accounts in one place and makes selling on multiple platforms much easier. For example, if you change a product’s pricing in your Shopify account, that change will immediately be reflected on your eBay, Amazon, and/or Etsy storefronts. The Shopify Marketplace Connect product syncing capabilities make Shopify one of our best inventory management POS systems for retail stores.

We also like Shopify’s international sales features, which are bundled into the constantly updating Shopify Markets suite of tools. You can set shipping and delivery fees/policies, automatically generate different versions of your online store in different languages, accept local currencies, and more. With Shopify Markets, you can expand your local offering on a global scale.

If you need a tool that Shopify lacks or want to connect Shopify to something like your favorite email marketing platform, Shopify’s app market offers over 8,000 add-on apps (both free and paid) for your online store and your Android POS system. These apps allow you to add functions like event ticket sales, a catalog builder, customer accounts, an appointment booking calendar, gift registry and wish list signups, and more.

There are very few limitations with Shopify for both online and in-person sellers, which is why we consider Shopify to be one of the best retail POS systems on the market.

Hardware Cost & Options

shopify hardware seasonal businesses

Shopify card reader.

Shopify works on any Android tablet or smartphone.

Like Square, Shopify offers Tap to Pay on Android. You’ll need the $49 Shopify card reader to accept chip card payments. Shopify’s retail kits are built for iOS devices, so you won’t be able to use them with Android tablets.

The Shopify app paired with the company’s card reader makes Shopify one of the best mobile POS systems for retail stores.

The $399 Android-based Shopify Go all-in-one handheld POS system is similar to the Clover Flex and the Square Terminal. However, the Shopify Go is shaped more like a smartphone, making this a sleek option for taking swipe, chip, and tap payment types.

Payment Processing Costs

Shopify offers its own in-house payment processor, Shopify Payments, in several countries. To avoid transaction fees that range from 0.5% to 2% per transaction, qualified business owners must use Shopify Payments.

Shopify Payments charges a payments processing fee between 2.4% and 2.7% for in-person orders, while online orders have a processing fee between 2.4% and 2.9%, plus a $0.30 flat fee.

The higher your monthly Shopify subscription, the lower your payment processing fees will be. As companies increase their sales volumes, they should move to a higher plan to save money on fees. At some point, it may be worth it for larger businesses to switch to a third-party payment services provider that offers better payment processing rates and just pay the transaction fees.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Shopify has monthly and annual contracts. Annual contracts have better pricing, and Shopify doesn’t charge early termination fees. However, you won’t get a refund on any plan, so consider this as you’re purchasing your subscription plan. As always, make extensive use of your free trial before committing.

Most Shopify POS users get a one-year warranty on Shopify POS hardware. If you sign up for the POS Pro plan, you’ll get an extended two-year warranty.

Get Started With Shopify POS

Read our in-depth review

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Helcim: Best For B2B/Service Businesses & Subscription Sales

Total Rating 4.9
Fees & Rates5.0

Products & Services4.4

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.5



Pros

  • All features are free
  • Custom payment processing rates for lowest fees
  • Excellent invoice/subscription builder
  • B2B and B2G customer management

Cons

  • Average inventory management
  • No built-in loyalty program manager

Helcim Android POS system

Helcim POS interface on Android tablet.

Why We Chose Helcim POS For B2B/Service Businesses & Subscription Sales

We love that Helcim offers a free Android POS solution with custom interchange-plus payment processing rates (which can lead to lower fees) for all businesses. The free POS works for retail and food sales. However, we believe Helcim is best for companies that provide services or subscriptions to other businesses, government organizations, and retail consumers. This could be in addition to one-off sales (for example, if your spa sells clients at-home facial serums on a one-time or subscription basis.)

Helcim has a secure card/bank vault that stores customer and organization payment information. You can automatically charge an account on file for an invoice or a recurring subscription payment without any worry about data breaches.

Service-based businesses will appreciate Helcim’s custom invoice builder that you can use to send quotes, estimates, invoices, and receipts. There are also custom invoice payment settings. If someone pays part of an invoice at the register, you can attach the payment to that invoice at the time of checkout.

Subscription-based businesses can create custom subscription rules and membership levels, and get feedback on canceled accounts. You can also add customers to a subscription at the register, provide free trials, and sell add-ons (online or in person).

Who Should Use Helcim?

Helcim POS is best for:

  • Business owners processing $5,000+/month who want lower payment processing rates than what they have now
  • B2B/service business owners looking for excellent invoicing and customer management features
  • Subscription and membership-based business owners looking for strong subscription management features

Helcim POS Pricing

Helcim started as one of the best merchant services providers and, from there, built free Android POS software, so you only pay your payment processing fees (which you have to pay no matter which POS system you use.)

Helcim Android POS System Features

With all checkouts, whether online or in person, customers will be automatically added to a customer registry. You can sign customers up for subscriptions, take deposits and partial payments, send invoices, and quickly add custom products and services with an Android tablet or smartphone.

Helcim’s unique subscription settings allow you to create free trials for memberships, build customer portals, bill on a prorated or metered basis, add one-time fees and add-ons, and send automated reminders to customers when their card is about to expire. If a customer cancels a subscription, you can get feedback about why they canceled to improve your service.

Helcim tablet POS

Add a customer to a subscription tier at Helcim tablet POS.

Service-based businesses will appreciate the drag-and-drop template builder that allows you to customize information fields. You can build quotes, estimates, and invoices with custom recurring payment schedules. With customer cards/accounts on file, you can bill automatically so customers do not miss deadlines. You can also send reminders about upcoming and overdue invoice payments.

Helcim best point of sale

Helcim POS custom invoice theme designer.

Finally, with Helcim’s higher levels of payment processing security, you can accept B2B and B2G (business to government) payments and get lower payment processing fees.

Note: Helcim may not be able to work with you if you own a high-risk business. Clover and KORONA are alternative Android POS systems compatible with high-risk merchant account providers.

Hardware Cost & Options

Helcim POS hardware

Helcim POS on smartphones, tablets, and desktops, plus Helcim card reader.

You need a tablet, smartphone, or desktop computer and the $109 Helcim card reader to make sales. Alternatively, Helcim released the new $349 Android-based Smart Terminal in August 2023, a handheld POS system that, similar to the Clover Flex and Square Terminal, allows you to take swipe, chip, and contactless payment types. It has a built-in printer and an option to email customers purchase or invoice payment receipts.

Payment Processing Costs

Each business, no matter the size or industry, will get its own custom interchange-plus payment processing rate. For many business owners, interchange-plus processing is much more cost-effective than flat-rate processing provided by companies such as Square and Shopify. This is why Helcim is one of our best payment processing companies.

The company offers a calculator on its website to give you an idea of how much you may pay per transaction based on your industry, total monthly sales volumes, average transaction size, payment method mix (online or in-person), and card mix (e.g. Visa, Discover, etc.)

The more money your company makes, and the higher the average transaction size, the better your payment processing rates will be.

Note: Helcim allows you to capture Level 3 transaction data, which translates to less risk on the part of credit card companies, volume payment processing discounts, and a lower payment processing rate for your business. With a Level 3 PCI compliance level, you can also accept corporate cards and government spending account payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Helcim offers flexible month-to-month contracts and charges no early termination fees, making Helcim a low-risk POS provider for you to try out.

Note: Helcim and Square offer similar contract terms and free POS software. Read our Helcim vs. Square comparison to help you choose the right POS software for you.

Get Started With Helcim

Read our in-depth review

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KORONA POS: Best For High-Risk Businesses & Reducing Theft

Total Rating 4.4
Pricing4.9

Ease Of Use4.1

Features3.7

Customer Service5.0

User Reviews4.4

Pricing

$59-$69/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

Contact for quote

Pros

  • Open API to create integrations specifically with high-risk industry software
  • Works with high-risk payment processors
  • Affordable monthly plans
  • Lots of inventory and loss prevention features

Cons

  • No built-in eCommerce
  • Somewhat dated interface

KORONA POS for Android

KORONA POS interface on Android device.

Why We Chose KORONA POS For High-Risk Businesses & Reducing Theft

We like that KORONA is a flexible POS system that works across all device types, including Android. The provider offers flexible monthly plans and an unlimited free trial. With KORONA, you can choose your payment processing service provider, so high-risk businesses that do not qualify to use POS software like Square and Shopify can use KORONA paired with a high-risk merchant account provider.

KORONA offers great loss prevention features like forced till counts and blind stock takes, plus highly custom employee and manager restrictions so that only certain people can change prices, void items, make returns, and change anything in your back office setup. You can use KORONA's inventory app to perform many inventory management tasks.

We also appreciate that KORONA has niche features and partner integrations specifically for businesses in high-risk industries that must adhere to more regulations than other business types. For example, KORONA's built-in ID scanner makes this software one of the best liquor store POS systems, while KORONA's new integration with RFID tagging system provider RES ensures that customers scan everything at self-checkout and alerts staff if someone is trying to take an item they haven't paid for.

Note: KORONA offers an unlimited free trial, with no credit card required. You only start paying monthly fees once you’re ready to accept customer payments, so you can take your time building your custom POS solution.

Who Should Use KORONA?

KORONA is best suited for business owners who are:

  • Looking for a POS that partners with high-risk merchant account providers
  • Facing a lot of customer and/or employee theft
  • Looking for POS hardware that is compatible with just about every POS accessory available

KORONA POS Pricing

KORONA POS Plans Price  When To Use
KORONA POS Core $59/month Basic business operations
KORONA POS Retail $69/month Advanced inventory needs

KORONA offers the above monthly plans as well as these add-ons:

  • Plus: $20/month/terminal; includes advanced inventory management features like order level optimization and the ability to create different product pricing for each location
  • Invoicing: $10/terminal/month; includes features like quotes, rentals, and invoicing
  • Ticketing: $50/month/gate; includes features like ticket tiers and printing, customer management, and entry gate management
  • Franchise: $30/month/franchise; includes features like automated royalty payments and consolidated inventory management
  • Integration: $45/month/integration via KORONA’s open API

Other features, including self-serve kiosk hardware and software, require a custom quote.

KORONA Android POS System Features

KORONA POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling With integration
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering With integration
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

KORONA’s most unique Android POS system features are its loss prevention features, affordable inventory management, and new RFID (radio frequency identifying) product tagging security technology.

You get these loss prevention features with KORONA:

  • Forced drawer closing, blind till counts, and restricting cash drawer access to open only when they make a sale
  • Require manager approval for item voids, price changes, item returns, and inventory changes
  • Run cash drawer reports at any time, at the end of shifts, and set maximum allowed balance differences
  • Cashier balance and time tracking reports
  • Restrict which cashiers can grant permissions to other cashiers (used for managers who need to be able to use registers but will also need to create new cashiers and associated cashier permissions)

KORONA best POS system

KORONA POS system cashier permissions.

KORONA offers excellent inventory management capabilities for its price point, and even general businesses can appreciate these features:

  • Set reordering levels with preferred vendor/warehouse reordering sources
  • Pack to single-item conversion (which is great for managing tobacco and liquor products)
  • Product performance reports, including slow sellers, product movement, and reorder optimization level recommendations
  • Stock difference lists and product discrepancy reports
  • Inventory app so you can send purchase orders, receive items, and scan barcodes from your phone

KORONA best point of sale

KORONA POS system set reordering levels.

KORONA’s regulated item inventory management features make this system one of the best convenience store POS systems.

Franchise owners will appreciate the ability to create portals for franchisees with restricted user permissions. Owners also get franchise revenue reports and a royalty collection setup.

KORONA has recently partnered with RES, a software provider that offers retail RFID tagging technology. With RFID tags, a self-checkout kiosk or KORONA register will automatically sense the tags and add them to an order. This way, no one can steal from self-checkout. There will also be fewer employee mistakes when scanning items at the checkout counter.

Additionally, RFID tags lower the amount of stock loss and inaccuracies, which will help you maintain proper inventory practices and save money.

KORONA touch screen POS self-checkout

KORONA self-checkout kiosk with RFID tagging and automated scanning.

Hardware Cost & Options

korona pos hardware

KORONA POS tablet, countertop register, barcode scanner, and card reader.

You can use KORONA on just about any smartphone, tablet, or desktop device, or purchase KORONA’s POS bundles (which you’ll get a custom quote for.)

KORONA is compatible with Epson, PartnerTech, PAX, Genius, Dejavoo, Econduit, Aures, Honeywell, and more hardware brands. Most hardware accessories are connected via ethernet cables to ports in a centralized POS hub.

Note: If you are looking for a more sleek, cohesive POS hardware setup, Clover offers an excellent line of Android-based POS systems and works with several of the best high-risk merchant account providers.

Payment Processing Costs

KORONA does not offer in-house payment processing but integrates with several payment processors, including Merchant Warehouse and Merchant Payment Systems.

You can also integrate KORONA with several merchant service providers through PAX and Dejavoo payment devices.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

KORONA offers month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees. You can pay for an annual contract and get one month free.

The provider also offers an unlimited free trial, so try the software for as long as you need before committing to it.

Make sure your merchant agreement terms are fair for your business. High-risk business owners should expect to pay more for payment processing than lower-risk business owners.

Get Started With KORONA POS

Read our in-depth review

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Loyverse: Best Free Restaurant Option

Total Rating 4.5
Pricing4.3

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.9

Pricing

$0/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0

Pros

  • Free kitchen display and customer display screen options
  • Free multilocation management
  • Free customizable loyalty program
  • Offline mode

Cons

  • No built-in eCommerce
  • Advanced inventory management costs extra

Loyverse free POS software

Loyverse POS interface on tablet.

Why We Chose Loyverse POS As The Best Free Restaurant Option

The Loyverse app has several industry-specific and general features built into its framework. It also has several great features that normally only come with paid POS software. The software works offline, so mobile businesses can rest assured that this POS software works on the go.

The app offers a lot of free restaurant POS features, including a free loyalty program and free kitchen display software, which is why Loyverse is one of the best free restaurant POS systems.

The software is compatible with several POS hardware options and payment processors, so there is more freedom to choose with Loyverse than with other POS providers.

One noticeable downside of Loyverse is that there are no native eCommerce capabilities. If you want to focus on online sales, you'll have to pay for an eCommerce integration or choose another POS option.

Who Should Use Loyverse?

Loyverse POS is best for:

  • Small countertop restaurants looking to sell only in-person
  • Small bodegas or delis looking to sell items by weight
  • Newer businesses that want a free loyalty program

Loyverse POS Pricing

Loyverse is free to download and use forever. The following are paid add-ons:

  • Advanced Inventory Management: $25/month; great for wholesalers and more complex inventory needs
  • Employee Management: $25/month; great for businesses with different employee levels and user access needs
  • Integrations: $9/month; necessary for connecting Loyverse to an eCommerce website, accounting apps, and delivery apps

Loyverse Android POS System Features

Loyverse Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management With integration
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Loyverse is free POS software available for download on the Google Play Store, which means that you can use it offline and sell products from anywhere, with Wi-Fi or without.

All business owners will appreciate that Loyverse offers a free customizable loyalty program builder that can help you retain a local customer base. This is a very uncommon feature among POS systems.

Multilocation business owners can monitor multiple establishments under one account, another unique free feature. Customers can collect and redeem loyalty points at any of your establishments while you monitor the inventory and performance of all your locations.

Restaurant, bar, and grocery store owners will appreciate these unique industry-specific features:

  • Perishable and liquid inventory management
  • Free kitchen display system/kitchen printer order routing capabilities
  • Takeout/delivery sales options
  • Sales by weight, which is great if you sell fresh food in containers and fresh produce

Loyverse POS system for Android

Loyverse’s free kitchen display app syncs to Loyverse POS.

Hardware Cost & Options

Loyverse Android POS hardware

iMin Android POS devices that are compatible with Loyverse software.

The Loyverse app can be downloaded from the Google Play store. Compatible card readers range from $20 to $250, depending on what credit card processor you work with.

Loyverse also supports an assortment of hardware, including printers, barcode scanners, and Android terminals from providers like iMin and Summi.

Payment Processing Costs

Loyverse integrates with several payment processors, including PayPal ZettleSumUp, and Worldpay.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

There are no contract requirements to install the Loyverse app on Android. However, you may have to sign a contract with your payment processor.

Get Started With Loyverse

Read our in-depth review

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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.

80+

Vendors evaluated

65+

Attributes assessed per vendor

20+

Features weighed

30+

Combined years of experience


Should You Get An Android Or iPad POS System?

Here is why getting Android POS software might be more beneficial for your business than getting one of the more popular iPad POS systems:

  • Cost: While iOS hardware can be sleek and user-friendly, it can be expensive. Android tablets that have similar specs to their iOS counterparts are considerably cheaper. Getting repairs or replacement devices will cost less.
  • Variety: More brands operate on the Android platform, so you’ll have more hardware options. If you need to save more, you can purchase Android hardware secondhand.
  • Durable Proprietary Hardware: Many of the best POS system providers offer proprietary hardware. Almost all of it is Android-based because Android devices are sturdier and can be customized to give you a POS interface look and experience worth the initial investment.
  • Scalability: Many Android POS devices have advanced features, making the monthly software fees a bargain. With an Android POS, your small business will be robust enough to handle expansion.
  • Apps & Integrations: With Android devices, you’ll have access to the Google app store, and most of these POS devices sync up with dozens, if not hundreds, of other companies that can help you with everything from accounting to eCommerce.

Tablet POS VS Proprietary Android POS Hardware

Some Android POS providers allow you to use your own tablet, while others require you to use the company’s proprietary POS hardware.

You should source your own Android tablets for POS systems if you:

  • Can’t afford proprietary POS hardware (and can’t get a small business loan for it)
  • Don’t need kitchen display systems, self-checkout kiosks, or all-in-one handheld POS systems
  • Focus on mobile and eCommerce sales for the most part
  • Want to connect your POS system to hardware from multiple online providers

You should use proprietary POS hardware from a provider like Square, Toast, or Clover if you:

  • Need durable, heat and spill-proof restaurant POS hardware and kitchen displays
  • Want to place sleek self-checkout kiosks in your retail store
  • Are trying to find a holistic POS hardware setup that looks nice and functions well
  • Want hardware that comes with an extended warranty

If your main reason for not investing in POS hardware is funding, read our post on the best small business loans.

What Is The Right Android POS System For Your Business?

With so much emphasis on iPad-based solutions, it’s easy to forget that there are also excellent Android POS systems. For the budget-conscious business owner, finding a system that can be used on Android devices might be a quick way to save money.

So, what is the best Android system? It all depends on your business size, type, and budget. Once you make your decision, learn how to negotiate a good merchant agreement for the best software, hardware, and payment processing contract.

FAQs: Android POS System

How much do Android POS systems cost?

You’ll pay $100-$2,000 per Android POS machine, depending on whether you source your own tablet or purchase a proprietary POS system from a provider like Clover or Toast.

You’ll pay between $0 and $200/month in monthly software fees.

Can I use my phone as a POS system?

You can use your phone as a POS system. Square, Shopify, and Helcim are excellent mobile device POS options.

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Nicolette Kier

Nicolette Kier

Senior Staff Writer
Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Nicolette Kier
View Nicolette Kier's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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