Advertiser Disclosure

💳 Save money on credit card processing with one of our top 5 picks for 2024

9 Best iPad POS Systems For Small Business

The best iPad POS systems for your small business are easy to use and affordable. Our top options include Square, Shopify, Lightspeed, and more.

    Nicolette Kier
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Matt Sherman
  • REVIEWED BY

    Matt Sherman

    Lead Staff Writer

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

iPad POS systems are affordable, accessible, and low-commitment in-person sales software. The best retail iPad POS systems offer strong inventory management, flexible hardware options, and multichannel sales features. The best iPad POS for restaurants offers raw ingredient tracking, fast order-taking, and ticket management from multiple ordering platforms.

We reviewed 15 different POS systems for iPads based on pricing, ease of use, feature set, hardware options, and contract requirements to help you find the best POS system for your business.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanyBest ForNext StepsBest For
Square POS

Read More

  • Best overall iPad POS system
  • $0-$60+/month/location
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Best overall iPad POS system
  • $0-$60+/month/location
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Lightspeed Retail

Read More

  • Best for in-store retail, rentals, and golf courses
  • $89-$289/month ($69-$199/month billed annually)
  • Monthly and custom contracts, early termination fee
  • Best for in-store retail, rentals, and golf courses
  • $89-$289/month ($69-$199/month billed annually)
  • Monthly and custom contracts, early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Revel POS

Read More

  • Best for established and niche businesses
  • $198+/month
  • Custom contracts, early termination fee
  • Best for established and niche businesses
  • $198+/month
  • Custom contracts, early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

TouchBistro

Read More

  • Best for small quick-serve restaurants and food trucks
  • $69-$399+/month
  • Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee
  • Best for small quick-serve restaurants and food trucks
  • $69-$399+/month
  • Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Shopify POS

Read More

  • Best for multichannel retail businesses
  • $39+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Best for multichannel retail businesses
  • $39+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Show More Options
Helcim POS

Read More

  • Best for B2B/B2G services and subscription sales
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, early termination fee
  • Best for B2B/B2G services and subscription sales
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Lightspeed Restaurant

Read More

  • Best for growing restaurants and hotels
  • $189+/month
  • Custom contract, early termination fee
  • Best for growing restaurants and hotels
  • $189+/month
  • Custom contract, early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

talech POS

Read More

  • Best budget POS for businesses in the service industry
  • $0-$99+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Best budget POS for businesses in the service industry
  • $0-$99+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Loyverse

Read More

  • Best free POS for small foodservice and grocery businesses
  • $0+/month
  • Free software download, no early termination fee
  • Best free POS for small foodservice and grocery businesses
  • $0+/month
  • Free software download, no early termination fee

Visit Site

Read More

Show Fewer Options

Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Table of Contents

9 Best iPad POS Systems

The best Apple POS systems are easy to use and affordable. They should also offer good inventory management, online selling, and marketing features like a loyalty program and customer discounts.

Our top choices include:

Pricing Hardware Cost Payment Processing Free Trial
Square $0-$60+/month/location $0-$1,189 2.5%-2.9%
Lightspeed Retail $109-$289+/month $299-$349+ 2.6%-2.9%
Revel Systems Custom Custom Custom
TouchBistro $69-$399+/month Custom Custom
Shopify $29-$399+/month $49-$459 2.4%-2.9%
Helcim $0 $99-$349 Custom interchange-plus
Lightspeed Restaurant $189-$399+/monrh $299-$349+ 2.6%-2.9%
talech $0-$99+/month Custom Custom
Loyverse $0-$59/month/location Custom Custom

Square POS: Best Overall iPad POS

Total Rating 4.9
Pricing4.9

Ease Of Use5.0

Features4.8

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.8

Pricing Range

$0/month

Contract Length

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 POS for retail, restaurant, and service-based businesses
  • Free online store
  • Affordable POS hardware
  • Unlimited devices on free plan

Cons

  • Locked into Square payment processing fees
  • Must upgrade for 24/7 support
  • No built-in ingredient-level inventory tracking

Square Apple POS system

Square For Restaurants iPad POS checkout.

Why We Chose Square POS System As The Best Overall iPad POS System

We love that Square is such a low-cost, versatile, and easy-to-use POS system. Whether you're an independent beautician working out of your house, a home services contractor taking payments on the go, a CBD business owner, a bakery owner, or any other type of business owner, you'll find that Square has the majority of features you need for your day-to-day operations. Many people can get away with paying absolutely nothing to use Square (apart from payment processing, which you have to pay no matter which POS system you use).

It's also a highly scalable product. Although the free Square POS works great for quick-service and mobile businesses, the paid versions Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants have options to suit even larger retail businesses and full-service restaurants (these plans also offer a 0.1% discount on payment processing).

Note: Square's base plan is free, so you can just sign up, but there's also a 30-day free trial of paid plans available.

Square 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-$89/month If you are a retail business with needs for advanced features
Square For Restaurants $0-$69/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

Square has several free POS plans: Square POS, Square for Restaurants Free, Square for Retail Free, and Square Appointments Free. These plans are best for small businesses with only one location (or mobile-only/online businesses) and straightforward inventory needs.

The Square Plus plan costs $60/month for retail, $60/month for restaurants, and $29/month for service-based appointment booking businesses. These plans are best for multi-location businesses or businesses with more complex inventory and employee management needs.

Popular paid add-ons include:

  • Square Loyalty: Starts at $45/month/location
  • Square Marketing: Starts at $15/month
  • Square Payroll Services: $5/month/person (for paying contractors only); $35/month + $5/month/person (includes employees and contractors)

Square 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 POS is a popular, highly affordable system for small businesses in the retail, restaurant, and service industries. There’s a very generous free plan available, which includes everything from an online ordering website to an appointment scheduler that’s so helpful, that it places Square on our list of best salon POS systems.

Square Appointments iPad POS system

Square iPad POS appointment scheduling.

The free plan also includes social media selling capabilities and free employee management features. Most notably, the free plan also allows you to take payments on an unlimited number of iPad devices, a rare POS subscription feature.

Paid plans allow you to use Square in multiple locations, use an unlimited number of kitchen display systems (Square KDS), add Square mobile POS terminals at your restaurant, and use advanced inventory tracking tools.

Hardware Cost & Options

Square best POS system hardware

Square POS on iPad, Square Register, and Square contactless card reader.

To use Square on your iPad or iPhone, you’ll need at least the $49 Square contactless card reader to accept chip and mobile wallet payments. This is ideal for businesses with no budget, especially mobile-only businesses.

You can also purchase a $149 Square Stand, which holds up your iPad and includes a built-in card reader, so you won’t need to deal with a separate card reader. This is a low-cost countertop POS option.

Business owners, especially restaurant owners, who want the ability to take payments on the go should consider purchasing the $299 Square Terminal or the new $249 Square Restaurant Mobile POS kit.

Square also offers register kits starting at $659, which include cash drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and more. The provider also offers hardware peripherals such as weight scales and stands to create self-serve kiosks.

Payment Processing Costs

All Square accounts include processing with Square Payments. Square charges 2.6% + $0.10 for all in-person payments and 2.9% + $0.30 for all online payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square is entirely pay-as-you-go with no contract. You can even sign up for Square and decide never to use it or only use it as a backup POS option.

The downside is that Square is a third-party payment processor, which means you don’t get the same account stability or customer service you’d typically get with a dedicated merchant account. As a result, some Square merchants have faced unexpected fund holds on large transactions and even sudden account terminations (in very rare cases).

Get Started With Square POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Lightspeed Retail: Best For In-Store Retail, Rentals, & Golf Courses

Lightspeed Retail

Total Rating 4.1
Pricing3.7

Ease Of Use4.4

Features4.3

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews4.0

Pricing Range

$109-$239/month ($89-$289/month billed annually)

Contract Length

Monthly, annual, and custom

Equipment Cost

$199-$329

Pros

  • Great loyalty program
  • Retail and golf course plans available
  • Excellent inventory management
  • Rental item/venue integrations

Cons

  • Can get pricey
  • Early termination fee
  • Must use Lightspeed’s in-house payment processor

ipad pos system
Why We Chose Lightspeed Retail POS For In-Store Retail, Rentals, & Golf Courses

We love that Lightspeed Retail offers such a scalable Apple POS system with extensive inventory management capabilities, eCommerce functionality, and a comprehensive loyalty program. Plus, if Lightspeed’s built-in feature set isn’t enough for your retail or business, there are about 70 integrations available for you to create the retail or rental POS you need for success.

Lightspeed Retail is one of the best retail POS systems due to its unique inventory organization and ordering capabilities, plus its multi-store creation features that allow you to sell in permanent and temporary locations for things like popup events or kiosks. It’s also one of the best rental POS systems because of its dedicated rental integrations, online quoting/reservation system, and built-in item hold/layaway management.

Lightspeed also offers a specific solution for golf courses, making it one of our best golf course POS systems.

Note: Lightspeed Retail offers a 14-day free trial; no credit card is required.

Lightspeed Retail Pricing

Lightspeed Retail Plans Price  When To Use
Basic Plan $109/month ($89/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail business looking for strong inventory management and a customizable POS interface
Core Plan $179/month ($149/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for eCommerce and accounting features
Plus Plan $289/month ($339/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for a strong loyalty program and advanced business reporting

Lightspeed plans all come with one POS register software license and Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed’s in-house payment processor.

Extra registers cost $59/device/month.

Third-party software integrations cost extra and are billed by third-party software providers.

Lightspeed Retail Features

Lightspeed Retail Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling Standard plan and up
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty Advanced plan
Marketing Tools Standard plan and up
Online Ordering Standard plan and up
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lightspeed Retail includes all the standard in-store POS functions, along with multistore and multi-sales channel inventory management. There are functions for holds and layaways, shop by appointment, store credit, retail product reporting, and a free barcode scanner for scanning large amounts of inventory.

Lightspeed Retail also has rental item management integrations and appointment scheduling functions that make this Apple POS system a great option for renting out items such as sports equipment or appointment-based rental businesses such as clothing rentals.

Lightspeed iPad rental POS system

Lightspeed iPad POS rental business integration.

The dedicated golf POS solution offers everything you need to run a public or private golf course, including tee time management, individual and family accounts, and automated payments.

Hardware Cost & Options

lightspeed restaurant hardware bundle

To download Lightspeed software, you must use an iPad that can run iOS version 14.5 or higher. You can spend around $200 on an older iPad that still gets updates (e.g., iPad Air 2) or purchase one of the latest iPad models (e.g., 2022 iPad Pro) for up to $3,000.

You can purchase a Lightspeed Payments-compatible WisePOS E-card reader for $299 and an iPad for $329.

Lightspeed offers accessories such as an iPad stand for $199, a cash drawer for $129, a barcode scanner for $199, a label printer for $124, and a receipt printer for $399.

Contact a Lightspeed representative and ask about a discount on a retail POS hardware bundle.

Payment Processing Costs

Lightspeed plans include built-in payment processing with Lightspeed Payments. Lightspeed Payments charges a flat rate of 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person payments and 2.9% + $0.30 for online payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lightspeed allows you to sign up for monthly or annual plans. While you’ll get the best pricing for annual plans, we recommend signing up for a monthly plan until you decide you really like your POS solution.

If you decide to cancel your plan before your subscription term is up, you will have to pay an early termination fee that, depending on your term length, can be pretty substantial. This is another reason to start out with month-to-month pricing.

Also, Lightspeed plans will automatically renew unless you let a Lightspeed Representative know that you do not intend to renew your plan within 90 days (if you have a longer contract length) or 30 days with a monthly plan if you signed up for a plan without a custom order form.

Lightspeed hardware is only eligible for the 30-day warranty (14 days on Apple products) if you verify that you have received your hardware within five business days of receiving it.

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Revel POS: Best For Established & Niche Businesses

Total Rating 3.9
Pricing3.6

Ease Of Use3.9

Features4.3

Customer Service4.2

User Reviews3.8

Pricing Range

Quote-based

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

Call for quote

Pros

  • Strong offline mode
  • Several payment processor options
  • Several built-in niche business features
  • Lots of software and hardware integrations

Cons

  • Pricing not transparent
  • Early termination fee

revel iPad Pos system
Why We Chose Revel Systems POS For Established & Niche Businesses

We love that Revel is a well-established powerhouse of a POS that can handle large-scale restaurant and retail establishments, counting national chains like Cinnabon and Goodwill among its clients. It can also be customized to fit the needs of just about any niche business with specific needs, especially businesses that operate in one or several locations.

Revel offers real-time inventory management with a convenient matrix for importing mass items and tracking them across multiple locations. Revel's comprehensive POS reporting suite features a convenient layout and runs nearly any report you could think of. Revel also has a fantastic kiosk option that allows customers to order and pay on their own, as well as an advanced kitchen display system to help cut down on ticket times and increase communication between the front-end and back-end of a restaurant.

The only downsides to Revel are its high cost and long-term contract, which is why Revel is best for businesses with the budget for a premium iPad POS system.

Note: Revel does not offer a free trial but the company does offer a free demo.

Revel Systems Pricing

Revel POS Plans Price  When To Use
Revel plan Quote-based: three-year commitment for cheapest plan Use if you are committed to the product and have a need for high-end features.

Revel pricing starts at $99/month per terminal, with a two-terminal minimum. This price includes a three-year contract and payment processing with Revel Advantage.

Considering that Revel is made for established businesses, possibly with multiple locations, many business owners will get a custom quote for their monthly POS subscription.

There is also a mandatory one-time $674 POS implementation fee for professional software setup and training.

Revel Systems Features

Revel 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

Revel Systems is a highly customizable Apple POS system with features for almost any business: drive-through restaurants, mobile catering companies, multi-store retail businesses, franchises, grocery stores, salons, and more. Revel is flexible enough to take one feature and apply it to many situations.

Revel POS has built-in drive-through ordering capabilities, self-serve kiosks, online ordering/delivery modules, multi-store management, in-depth inventory management, appointment scheduling, open ticket functions (to charge for rental items or custom services/repairs), invoicing, a loyalty program, a gift card program, and more.

Revel iPad POS for food truck business.

Revel Systems iPad POS catering reports.

Businesses that do on-site events or operate without a physical location will love that you don’t need a WiFi connection to take payments or for most of Revel’s features.

Plus, Revel offers several software and hardware integrations. There are even drive-through digital menu board and speaker system integrations, which is one reason why Revel is one of our best drive-through POS systems.

Hardware Cost & Options

Revel POS hardware

Revel iPad POS register, iPad stand, iPad customer-facing display, cash drawer, receipt printer, and card reader.

You must get a quote and then purchase hardware directly from Revel or get approval from Revel in writing for specific hardware purchases.

Revel offers a hardware and service leasing program from Apple Financial Services to help merchants reduce their upfront purchase costs with an extended payment plan. However, we generally recommend purchasing your hardware upfront whenever possible to avoid interest and so that merchants will never have their hardware taken away.

Payment Processing Costs

Revel offers in-house payment processing, Revel Advantage, but like many payment processors, you must get a custom quote.

You may also choose to work with several external payment processors, such as Moneris, Adyen, and Tyro. Revel may charge an extra monthly fee for doing this, though.

Shop around for the best payment processing rate before committing to Revel Advantage. Consider bringing in a quote from an external payment processor and ask Revel to match it (or even beat it).

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Revel contracts have a 36-month standard term length, and to get the best pricing, you are expected to stick to this contract length and use Revel Advantage payment processing.

If you cancel your Revel contract early, you’ll pay an early termination fee equal to twice your usual monthly payment for the rest of the contract term length or $15,000, whichever is greater.

You can back out of your contract before an annual automatic renewal if you give at least a 30-day notice.

Do not start with a long contract whenever possible. Get your POS provider to agree to a month-to-month contract or extended free trial before committing, especially when a provider expects you to sign up with them for at least three years.

Get Started With Revel POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

TouchBistro: Best For Small Quick-Serve Restaurants & Food Trucks

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.6

Features4.9

Customer Service3.9

User Reviews4.1

Pricing Range

$69/month

Online Ordering

Add-on

Equipment Cost

Call for quote

Pros

  • Several payment processor options
  • Fast server mode
  • Full offline mode
  • Easy to learn and use

Cons

  • No self-serve kiosk function
  • Add-ons are expensive
  • Early termination fee

iPad pos systems

Why We Chose TouchBistro POS For Small Quick-Serve Restaurants & Food Trucks

We appreciate that TouchBistro was designed with restaurant owners and their employees in mind. TouchBistro's strength lies in how simple it is for servers and restaurant employees to navigate, making things like splitting checks, walking through modifiers, and handling voids exceptionally easy. It also has a kitchen display system to keep your restaurant running smoothly, and lots of integrations if TouchBistro doesn't have a built-in feature to meet your restaurant's needs.

Being a locally installed POS system with a slightly basic feature set and an affordable starting price, TouchBistro is ideal for smaller, single-location restaurants.

Note: TouchBistro does not offer a free trial but the company does offer a free demo.

TouchBistro Pricing

TouchBistro Plans Price  When To Use
TouchBistro Plan $69+/month If you have basic restaurant needs and are interested in purchasing add-ons

If you don’t use any integrations or add-ons, TouchBistro is $69/month for one register, billed annually. The Dual plan includes two user licenses and costs $129/month. The Team plan includes five user licenses at $249/month, and the Unlimited plan includes unlimited user licenses at $399/month.

There are also several add-ons available, including an online ordering module for $50/month, a gift card program for $25/month, and a reservations system for $229/month.

The reservation system is very well designed, but given its price point, smaller restaurant owners may want to choose another software for taking reservations.

The company also charges a nonrefundable setup fee that starts at $200 and includes your hardware setup plus software walkthrough.

TouchBistro Features

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

TouchBistro is a POS designed by and for servers and kitchen staff to take orders, process payments, and monitor inventory as smoothly as possible.

It has all your standard restaurant POS features plus server-centric features such as a customizable server interface to promote smooth, correct ordering taking and upsell prompts to remind servers to ask about add-ons. With automated inventory tracking, items get auto-86’d when a key ingredient is out, so servers never sell what you don’t have in stock.

On the back-of-house side, TouchBistro has a great KDS system that allows you to monitor individual items by ticket priority, cook times, and ticket history. TouchBistro makes it easy for kitchen staff to navigate online, tableside, and third-party delivery app orders so you never miss a sale.

TouchBistro restaurant POS system offline payment mode.

TouchBistro iPad POS offline payment mode.

TouchBistro’s hybrid cloud-based/locally installed setup allows your POS to function completely offline, making TouchBistro one of the best food truck POS systems out there.

Hardware Cost & Options

TouchBistro POS hardware

TouchBistro countertop iPad POS, iPad stand, handheld iPad POS, cash drawer, card reader, and receipt printer.

TouchBistro sells iPad POS hardware kits, including a kit for smaller venues with an iPad, router, kitchen printer, and cash drawer. Larger venues with a multiple-iPad setup can use a Mac mini server to sync all the iPads.

As with many restaurant POS vendors, you’ll have to call for a custom hardware quote.

Payment Processing Costs

TouchBistro includes built-in payment processing with TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase), which has an interchange-plus payment processing model.

You can also use TouchBistro with an outside payment processor, such as Square, TSYS, or WorldPay. As far as we can tell, TouchBistro doesn’t charge extra for using an integrated processor.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Like most other POS systems, TouchBistro gives you options to sign up month to month but offers its best rates if you pay for its services a year in advance. However, TouchBistro does charge an early termination fee if you cancel your plan early, and the fee is dependent on how long you had between your cancellation date and the end of your contract.

Consider starting with a monthly plan until you’re sure TouchBistro is right for your business.

If you do end up canceling your plan, you must send a written notice to TouchBistro at least 30 days before the end of your subscription term, or you’ll be automatically charged for another term.

Get Started With TouchBistro

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Shopify POS: Best For Multichannel Retail Businesses

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.4

Pricing Range

$29 - $299/month

Contract Length

Month-to-month

Equipment Cost

$0-$459+

Pros

  • In-person, website, social media, and marketplace selling
  • Several add-on apps
  • Good inventory management
  • Excellent international sales management

Cons

  • Limited offline mode
  • Third-party payment processing costs extra

Shopify iPad pos
Why We Chose Shopify POS For Multichannel Retail Businesses

We love that Shopify POS is a scaleable, omnichannel retail selling solution and that it offers features for every size of retail business, whether you only sell at events or you have a multi-location retail outlet. Shopify's online selling features cannot be beaten, and its eCommerce function is fully integrated with your iPad POS system so inventory stays synced across all your channels.

Shopify also has multichannel selling features that combine online and in-person sales, like the ability for customers to buy online and pickup in-store, or buy in-store and have the item shipped to them. Customers can also easily return items they purchase on your website in your store.

Even if you don't sell online, Shopify's plans are affordable and packed with in-person selling features, including gift cards, store credit, and custom discounts created at your iPad register.

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

Shopify 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

Shopify’s eCommerce pricing plans range from $39/month to $399/month. You get 25% off if you pay for an entire year upfront. Each eCommerce plan (that comes with a full store) offers the “Shopify POS Lite” app for free.

For more retail features, such as store pickup and unlimited staff accounts, you’ll need the $89/month/location Shopify Pro subscription, which is added to your monthly eCommerce plan. Additionally, while there are many free Shopify apps on the company’s app market, some require you to sign up for a paid subscription.

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

Shopify 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 is first and foremost on eCommerce retail software but has since branched out into in-person, social media, and online marketplace sales. Retail sellers, and arguably subscription sales and digital item sellers, will find everything they need to run a successful business either built into the Shopify platform or within the Shopify App Store (which now offers over 8,000 free and paid apps.)

Multichannel retail sellers will appreciate selling options like BIPOS (buy online, pick up in-store), BORIS (buy online, return in-store), and local delivery. Plus, sellers can post in-store items on marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Shopify allows you to publish your items on all channels and automatically decreases your inventory across all channels when you sell something.

Shopify iPad POS system

Shopify iPad POS admin dashboard.

With Shopify, it’s easy to create and send gift cards, complete exchanges, take deposits and partial payments, create custom sales/discounts, and build your own marketing campaigns.

Plus, you can convert your store into multiple languages and currencies if you plan on taking your business across your country’s borders.

Hardware Cost & Options

Shopify POS hardware

Shopify POS register stand with card reader.

Shopify POS can use iOS or Android hardware, but you’ll need to use an iPad to take advantage of all the features. To sell on an iPad, you will need a $49 Shopify card reader, and an optional POS hardware kit.

Shopify sells hardware bundles such as a $639 Star Micronics mPOP bundle that includes a tablet stand, cash drawer, receipt printer, and hand scanner (iPad not included).

Payment Processing Costs

Shopify payment processing is included via Shopify Payments. The rate you pay is dependent on your plan level and in-person transaction fees can range from 2.4-2.7%.

You can also integrate an outside payment processor, but you will have to pay an additional transaction fee on each sale, ranging from 0.5 to 2%.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Shopify plans are month-to-month with no contract. However, you can save 50% on your first year of service if you pay ahead for a year.

Like Square Payments, Shopify Payments is a third-party payment processor, which means you won’t get your own dedicated merchant account and may not have great account stability. Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe, and you can read our Stripe Payments review to get a better idea of what to expect from this processor.

Get Started With Shopify POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Helcim POS: Best For B2B Services & Subscription Sales

Total Rating 4.2
Pricing4.1

Ease Of Use4.8

Features3.9

Customer Service4.5

User Reviews4.0

Pricing Range

$0

Contract Length

Monthly

Equipment Cost

$99 - $329

Pros

  • Completely free POS
  • Interchange-plus payment processing
  • Excellent invoicing and subscription management
  • Good B2B customer management features

Cons

  • No built-in loyalty program
  • Very few third-party integrations

Helcim Apple POS system interface

Helcim POS register interface.

Why We Chose Helcim POS For B2B Services & Subscription Sales

We love that Helcim offers completely free Apple POS software and transparent interchange-plus payment processing fees to all business owners. With this POS model, many business owners (especially ones with higher average transaction sizes) will save money and understand exactly what they’re paying for.

While the company’s in-person iPad POS system is adequate for many small retail and countertop restaurant businesses, its invoicing, card storage vault, and custom online checkout designer are Helcim’s most outstanding features. These features are most beneficial for B2B businesses, businesses that provide services such as veterinarian offices and carpet cleaners, and businesses selling subscriptions.

Helcim Pricing

Helcim POS Plans Price  When To Use
Free Plan $0 If you need free in-person POS software, an online store builder, subscription manager, and/or customer account manager

Helcim’s POS software is completely free to use. You only pay Helcim’s payment processing fees.

Helcim Features

Helcim 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

Helcim’s free iPad POS system offers all standard POS functions, and it’s easy for employees to add products, discounts, tips, and customer accounts during transactions. You can also sell individual items and sell to businesses using customer portals and large catalogs.

Helcim’s invoicing and recurring payments features are what really set Helcim apart from the other providers in this list. Helcim’s invoicing features include:

  • Custom drag-and-drop invoice creation and payment settings
  • Set full and partial invoice due dates
  • Send reminders to customers about upcoming and overdue invoice payments
  • Set recurring invoice payments with card or account on file
  • Create automated and manual tax settings for invoices

Helcim best point of sale

Helcim POS invoice theme designer.

Helcim’s subscription management includes prorated billing, so you only charge customers for the days they use their subscription, metered billing. With this billing method, you charge based on monthly usage data and the ability to add one-time fees and add-ons. Customers will get an automated reminder when their card is about to expire.

You can also create free trials for customers, and if a customer cancels their subscription, you can get feedback that will help you understand why they canceled to optimize your subscription business.

Helcim’s POS and web pages (including checkout carts, subscription signup, approvals, and client portals) can be built with a drag-and-drop builder, so your pages will have only the information you want, and they will all be custom-branded. This is useful for businesses that only need certain information fields, like those selling services, as you can remove fields like the shipping address.

Hardware Cost & Options

Helcim Apple POS system

Helcim iPad POS system and card reader.

Helcim’s card reader costs $109. It is compatible with just about all smartphone, tablet, and desktop devices.

There are also a few compatible receipt printers available.

Payment Processing Costs

Helcim offers interchange-plus payment processing for all businesses, small or large. There are no minimum sales volumes or transaction numbers. This is highly uncommon among POS providers.

The company offers a sample “find your custom rate” tool on its website. As an example, if a professional services business makes less than $25,000 per month and has an average transaction size is $250, the business can expect to pay a processing fee of 1.95% plus $0.08 for in-person payments and 2.40% plus $0.25 for online transactions.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Helcim offers very flexible month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees, much like Square does.

Get Started With Helcim POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Lightspeed Restaurant: Best For Growing Restaurants & Hotels

Lightspeed Restaurant

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing3.1

Ease Of Use3.8

Features5.0

Customer Service4.3

User Reviews4.7

Pricing Range

$189-$399+/month

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$129-$519

Pros

  • Excellent inventory and menu management
  • Lots of third-party integrations
  • Loyalty program on all plans
  • Self-ordering menu at kiosk, table, or anywhere on property

Cons

  • Add-ons get expensive
  • Early termination fees
  • Must use Lightspeed Payments

Lightspeed Restaurant tablet POS system for restaurant

Lightspeed Restaurant integration with hotel management software.

Why We Chose Lightspeed Restaurant POS For Growing Restaurants & Hotels

We love that Lightspeed has shifted its pricing plans to offer features (including a very effective loyalty program builder) for quick-serve and full-service restaurants on all plan levels. We also like that Lightspeed has ordering options for all restaurant setups, whether you want self-serve kiosks for your fast-paced restaurant, tableside menus/ordering for your sit-down restaurant, or a solution for customers ordering in one or several hotel restaurants and bars (and ordering room service.)

Lightspeed also has great menu and inventory management features for restaurants of all sizes to optimize their offering and ordering cycle, an eCommerce integration to build your own restaurant website, and lots of software integrations. We’re especially impressed with the number of hospitality reservation software integrations for hotels and inns.

Lightspeed Restaurant Pricing

Lightspeed Restaurant Plans Price  When To Use
Essential $189/month Restaurants with one or more locations looking for online ordering capabilities
Premium $399/month Larger restaurants & hotels looking for custom payment processing rates

All Lightspeed plans come with one restaurant POS tablet software license. Additional tablet register software licenses cost $34/register/month.

Popular Lightspeed add-ons, such as kitchen display systems ($12+/month) and self-ordering kiosks ($39+/month) depend on the number of tablet software licenses you need.

Lightspeed integrations, such as liquid inventory management software, cost a separate monthly fee on behalf of the third-party software company.

Lightspeed Restaurant Features

Lightspeed Restaurant Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling Online and third-party delivery platform orders
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management Paid add-on
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lightspeed works well for both quick-serve and full-service establishments, as well as niche establishments such as wine bars and hotels.

With a built-in loyalty program, uniquely available on all plans, restaurants can create different tiers and groups of loyalty members, creating either an exclusive experience for fine dining restaurants or something as simple as weekly brunch specials for groups like seniors.

Places like coffee shops and bakeries can create discounts or offer free items for certain items, or parts of items, such as a free croissant after five coffee orders. All restaurants can create text and email campaigns to get their most loyal and least active customers back to their location.

Lightspeed Restaurant tablet POS

Lightspeed Restaurant loyalty program customer group discounts.

From a single iPad, restaurant owners and managers can make use of the software’s best inventory and menu management features, including:

  • Assign ingredients to preferred vendors with automated purchase ordering capabilities
  • Sync menu and inventory so that servers and managers get alerts about low-stock and disables that item/modifier on the tablet so servers can’t sell an out-of-stock product
  • Assign single ingredients to multiple dishes to get accurate inventory reports, reordering points, and reduce sales of out-of-stock items
  • Identify item spoilage, wastage, and theft so you can work to reduce lost profits
  • Generate reports about the highest-performing menu items across locations and insights about how to capitalize on those opportunities

Lightspeed also allows you to create one master restaurant account to manage multiple locations. With one iPad, you can duplicate POS and KDS settings to make employee training easier (and send employees across locations), duplicate and change menu ingredients/items, apply your loyalty program across all locations, and sell/redeem gift cards from any of your locations. Chain restaurant owners can duplicate settings across all locations, and business owners who have different restaurants with different concepts can create custom restaurant settings but still get master reports to inform their business decisions.

While many restaurant iPad ordering systems offer standing self-serve kiosks, Lightspeed offers a unique self-ordering solution for sit-down restaurants. Using Lightspeed’s self-ordering table mode, customers can order multiple items over multiple courses at their own pace and pay for the entire meal at the end. You can have them pay using a contactless payment method, paying at a register, or paying a server who meets them at their table with a card reader. Customers can request help from servers, add modifiers and notes, and view the status of their order all from their tableside iPad kiosk.

Unfortunately for busy sit-down restaurants and fine-dining establishments, Lightspeed doesn’t have its own reservation/waitlist system. However, there are several affordable and well-designed integrations for sit-down establishments and hotels. In fact, many of these integrations are cheaper than built-in reservation systems that competitors offer.

Hardware Cost & Options

lightspeed restaurant hardware bundle

Lightspeed Restaurant kitchen printer, cash drawer, iPad POS system, and receipt printer.

Lightspeed Restaurant hardware is all iPad-based. Hardware options include a countertop POS with a customer display, standalone iPads for tableside ordering, and/or iPad kiosks for self-ordering. Lightspeed’s KDS is also iPad-based.

You may purchase your own iPads or through Lightspeed at $329 per device. The iPad stand costs $199, the kitchen bump bar costs $199, the cash drawer costs $129, and the kitchen printer costs $299.

It’s important to purchase your card reader (Lightspeed supports Verifone products) from Lightspeed to make sure your Lightspeed Payments account is configured correctly with the hardware.

We advise contacting Lightspeed to get a custom quote on a hardware bundle.

Payment Processing Costs

You are required to use Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed’s payment processor (powered by Stripe), which charges the following per-transaction fees for those on the Essential plan:

  • In-Person Payments: 2.6% + $0.10
  • Online/QR Code Payments: 2.9% + $0.30

Note: With tableside QR code ordering and payments, you will get a higher fee than if you add a tableside self-ordering menu that allows customers to order from an iPad and pay with a physical card later. This is because a QR code order is essentially an online order.

While QR code ordering can be a great tool to take orders in places like pools or hotel rooms, consider using a tableside kiosk instead of an online ordering menu if your patrons are still physically sitting in your restaurant.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lightspeed requires you to fill out a custom order form, which will detail your contract length. Lightspeed Restaurant’s pricing page lists only monthly fees, meaning that you can get a monthly contract to start with.

While longer contracts cost less in the long run, Lightspeed does charge an early termination fee, and hardware return windows are short (14 days for Apple products, 30 days for accessories). Consider starting out on that monthly plan until you’re sure Lightspeed is the tablet POS for your restaurant.

Get Started With Lightspeed Restaurant

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

talech POS: Best Budget POS For Service Industries

Total Rating 3.6
Pricing3.2

Ease Of Use4.0

Features3.9

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews3.9

Pricing Range

$0-$99/month

Online Ordering

Standard & Premium plans only

Equipment Cost

Contact talech for pricing information

Pros

  • Many payment processor options
  • Retail and service-based charges
  • Fixed and variable pricing for products/services
  • Extensive appointment booking features

Cons

  • Most appointment booking features are on highest level plan
  • Limited integrations
  • Installation fee

talech ipad pos system
Why We Chose talech POS As The Best Budget POS For Service Industries

We love how many service-based features talech offers at such an affordable price point. With combined time-based and retail sales management software, service-based businesses of all kinds can find exactly what they need with talech.

Business owners who sell only services can easily be paid for their time on the go without paying a monthly subscription. Individuals performing plumbing, home repair, gardening, cleaning, consulting, and other on-location services can get paid immediately with a card or online via invoice.

Businesses such as florists, pet groomers, and print shops can sell both products and services easily, while businesses such as spas, salons, personal trainers, and massage therapists can use an all-in-one POS and appointment booking management system for one flat price.

Note: You can sign up for a free talech plan to see what talech is like, or sign up for a free demo to see advanced paid features.

talech Pricing

talech POS Plans Price  When To Use
talech Mobile $0/month If you need a simple way to accept payments on the go
talech Starter $29/month If you operate a cafe or small retail shop
talech Standard $69/month If you operate a quick-service restaurant, a fast-casual establishment, or a medium size retail shop
talech Premium $99/month If you operate a full-service restaurant, salon, spa, or another business with multiple locations

Businesses that will really benefit from extensive appointment booking features, such as in-home cleaning services, salons, spas, and personal trainers will find everything they need on talech’s $99/month Premium plan, which includes all of talech’s features.

Extra iPads cost $29/month/device.

On the Standard and Premium plans, you are required to pay a $199 “Getting Started” package, which includes a personalized setup with a talech representative. It’s optional for the Starter plan and not available on the Mobile plan.

talech Features

talech POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support Starter plan & up
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards Starter plan & up
Customer Loyalty Standard & Premium plans
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering Standard & Premium plans only
Inventory Management Starter plan & up
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management Standard & Premium plans
Text Messaging Receipts only

talech offers retail and restaurant POS solutions that are somewhat basic compared to other options. It’s talech’s service business POS solution that sets this system apart from its competitors. Business owners in industries such as beauty, wellness, repair, construction, repairs, and cleaning services will really benefit from talech’s service POS solution.

talech POS software offers features such as fixed and variable length service charges, start and end time padding, and (on talech’s highest-level plan) an online booking website. You can send invoices for consultations, products, and services. Customers can pay online or arrange for check or cash payments and will get an automated reminder if their payment becomes overdue.

talech iPad POS system

Talech iPad POS system invoice setup.

Your online booking website can operate on its own or be embedded as a booking button on an existing website. You can create appointment blocks for clients to choose themselves, block off time for walk-ins, charge appointment deposits, and charge for no-shows.

There are also retail sale features such as product sales by weight, product bundling, and selling products with variable options. You can track suppliers, get inventory alerts, and take stock. Plus, you can offer discounts and store credit for customers to build lifelong relationships with first-time buyers.

Hardware Cost & Options

talech cafe pos hardware bundle with elo paypoint, ipad, and poynt smart terminal

talech on countertop POS and Poynt mobile POS.

talech sells various iPad stands, kits, and other peripheral hardware. You’ll need to contact talech for ordering and pricing information.

Payment Processing Costs

talech includes multiple payment processing options, giving you the ability to choose which one works best for you. Some options include ElavonGlobal Payments  Chase, and USAePay.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

talech offers month-to-month and annual plans. You can deactivate your plan at any time without facing any penalties. If you choose to reactivate your plan after deactivating it, you’ll be charged a $50 fee.

Get Started With talech POS

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Loyverse: Best Free POS For Small Foodservice & Grocery

Total Rating 4.5
Pricing4.3

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.9

Pricing Range

Free

Contract Length

None

Equipment Cost

Varies depending on need

Pros

  • Feature-packed even at free plan
  • Food and retail sales functions
  • Built-in loyalty program
  • Unlimited register, KDS, and customer display devices

Cons

  • No integration with Doordash, Grubhub, or Postmates
  • No online ordering site

Loyverse iPad POS system
Why We Chose Loyverse As The Best Free POS For Small Foodservice & Grocery

We love how Loyverse strikes the perfect balance between feature sets and price for small restaurants. While this POS is not a full-scale POS for busy restaurants, small counter service restaurants, and places like specialty markets that sell food in some capacity, will appreciate how flexible Loyverse is.

Loyverse offers excellent retail sales and inventory tracking functions, plus a free kitchen display system and customer display, so both your customers and your employees can ensure their order is right every time. Plus, Loyverse's sales by weight capabilities allow you to sell takeout by weight or package treats or cold meals to be cooked later.

Also, Loyverse's loyalty program is free, very customizable, and will help your small establishment build a relationship with your customer base. It also has an offline mode, so you can be present at special events in addition to your storefront and really get your business's name out there.

Note: You can download the free Loyverse app at any time; no credit card is required. There's a free 14-day trial on paid add-on features.

Loyverse Pricing

Loyverse Plans Price  When To Use

Loyverse’s core POS package, which includes the POS software itself, the backend management dashboard, a kitchen display system, a customer display system, and a built-in loyalty program, is free forever.

Paid add-ons include:

  • Employee Management: $25/month/store
  • Advanced Inventory: $25/month/store
  • Integrations: $9/month/store

Loyverse 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 a free POS system built with grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars in mind. It comes packed with the basic inventory, menu, and customer relationship management features plus more advanced features such as a kitchen display system, loyalty program,  and a customer display system, at no monthly cost.

Restaurants that want to sell takeout or prepackaged foods by weight can do so with Loyverse’s embedded weight barcodes, while bars will appreciate how Loyverse has set up drink ordering and inventory management functions.

Loyverse iPad POS system

Loyverse iPad POS liquid sales by weight.

Advanced (paid) features include extensive employee management, more inventory features such as purchase order creation and stock takes, and third-party app integrations.

Hardware Cost & Options

Loyverse iPad POS system

Loyverse iPad, iPad case, cash register, receipt printer, and barcode scanner.

You may download the Loyverse app on any Apple device. Loyverse sells hardware such as barcode scanners (starting at $20), printers (starting at $150), cash drawers (starting at $109), and iPad stands (starting at $109).

You’ll have to purchase compatible card readers on your own.

Payment Processing Costs

You may use Worldpay, SumUp, or PayPal to accept payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Loyverse offers monthly and yearly plans with no penalties for cancellation.

Get Started With Loyverse

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

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.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Pricing 40%
Features 30%
Ease Of Use 15%
Customer Service 10%
User Reviews 5%

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


How To Choose An iPad POS System

Not every POS can work for every business type. Here’s what you need to consider so you can choose the best POS system based on your business type.

Choosing An iPad POS For Restaurants & Foodservice Businesses

While many iPad POS systems for restaurants can work for both quick-serve and full-service establishments, there are features unique to each type of dining experience.

Quick-serve restaurant POS systems need to be very easy to learn and navigate on the day-to-day, should have functions for takeout and delivery, and ideally will integrate with third-party delivery platforms. You might also want to have self-serve kiosks available, or even drive-through/curbside ordering functions.

Full-service restaurant POS systems may need to include things like reservations, waitlists, rotating menus, tableside ordering, handheld POS ordering, and meal coursing.

Then there are more specific business types to consider. For example, if you want to offer event catering or start a food truck business, you’ll definitely need an iPad POS with some form of offline mode. If you plan on selling alcohol, you should use one of the best bar POS systems, which offer niche features like drink inventory tracking and ID scanning. If you plan on selling pre-made items, you’ll need to consider where to sell them and include these items in your inventory.

In general, all food service business owners should strongly consider creating a loyalty points program and gift card program to build strong customer relationships.

Choosing A Retail iPad POS System

Your retail iPad POS system needs will mostly be determined by the complexity of your inventory, whether you have physical retail locations, what platforms you sell on, and whether you have employees.

If you sell custom items or items with several variations, you’ll need a retail POS that can accommodate more complex inventory needs. If you plan to sell on several sales channels (in-person, online marketplaces, etc.) your retail POS will need to sync your inventory in real time.

Mobile-only sellers need a retail POS that works well on the go, while multilocation retailers need to find a POS system that’s in their budget but still communicates vital sales information across locations.

If you have employees, you may need a POS that has user permissions, can help you create schedules, and can monitor employee performance.

Choosing An iPad POS System For A Niche Business

Niche businesses in areas such as home repairs, beauty services, subscription or membership-based sales, property management, item/location rentals, and event management have special POS needs.

If you require appointment scheduling and on-location payments, consider finding a POS that allows for online scheduling and invoices. You might need to take deposits, partial payments, or recurring payments if you sell subscriptions such as gym memberships or services such as bike repairs.

If you sell any regulated items like liquor or cannabis, you’ll need to find a POS that works with a high-risk payment processor.

In general, if you have a niche business, look for a POS that has the exact functions you need. If the POS that perfectly fits your niche needs is very expensive, consider using a cheaper one that you can modify to meet your current needs until you can afford the perfect POS for your business.

Which iPad POS System Is Right For Your Business?

The best iPad POS system for your business is one that fits both your business needs and your budget.

We also recommend choosing an iPad POS that offers month-to-month, pay-as-you-go pricing so that you can switch your iPad point of sale to another software if the first one doesn’t work out.

Ask for a free trial if the provider doesn’t specifically say it has one, and maybe they’ll offer you one. Otherwise, thoroughly try any free demos, ask customer service lots of questions, and argue for shorter contract terms before making any big commitments.

It’s also important to make sure the system offers competitive payment processing rates, so be sure to compare any quotes from at least a few different providers.

Always negotiate a good merchant agreement so you get the best rates and the least amount of fees possible.

Finally, if you can’t afford your POS hardware upfront, consider equipment financing to avoid leasing your hardware.

FAQs: Best POS Systems For iPad

How much does iPad POS software cost?

iPad POS software costs between $0 and $400/month or more, depending on what special features you need and the number of registers you use at your business.

Can I use my iPhone as a POS system?

You can use your iPhone as a POS system. Just download an app like Square, Lightspeed, or Loyverse and start selling from your smartphone.

Which iPad POS system is easiest to use?

Square is the easiest iPad POS system to use since it has a fast signup, setup, and inventory management process.

Does Apple offer a POS system?

Apple does not currently offer a POS system. It offers Apple Pay, a mobile wallet payment option for customers, not for merchants to take payments.

Jump back to comparison chart

Nicolette Kier

Nicolette Kier

Expert Contributor
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.