By Vickie Boykin May 27, 2025
As companies become more mobile oriented and customers’ expectations increase, a stable mobile POS system is crucial. Whether selling on the go or running a high-volume store, the best mobile POS solutions today provide flexibility, simplicity, and strong features. In this guide, we’ve curated the seven best mobile POS systems for 2025 to assist you in finding the ideal tool for your company.
What Is a Mobile Point-of-Sale system?
A mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) system is a new, adaptable method for businesses to take payments. Unlike traditional POS arrangements that are bound to a cumbersome cash register or desktop terminal, an mPOS operates on a tablet or smartphone. It allows you to accept card and digital payments from just anywhere anytime—making it ideal for businesses that must remain mobile.
MPOS technology was once perceived to be less powerful than their equivalent, but modern systems are robust, stable, and packed with functions that render them equally good at managing transactions.
They’re lightweight and portable, cheaper to buy, and totally convenient—especially for entrepreneurs of small businesses and mobile sellers. Not only are they catching on quickly but with the growing demand and changing features, mPOS is building up to be the future of retail, providing the flexibility and speed new businesses require to remain competitive.
Advantages of Mobile Point-of-Sale System
1. Receive Payments Anywhere with Mobile Flexibility
As opposed to traditional POS systems huddled behind a counter, an mPOS enables you to process payments from almost anywhere. If you operate a food truck, create a pop-up store, or offer services in a customer’s office, mPOS empowers your staff to go where customers already are.
For instance, restaurants can utilize mPOS to accept payments at the table—making it quicker and more efficient overall. Such mobility is a game-changer for companies that live on personable, on-the-move service.
2. Put the Customer First
Changing to a mobile POS system is not just about technology—it’s about making the customer experience more excellent. With instant payments, your staff can spend more time relating to customers and less time dealing with logistics. Most mPOS systems also provide omnichannel experiences, so clients get consistent service if they’re shopping in-store, online, or both. Pre-built loyalty programs and intuitive promo integration increase engagement and repeat business.
3. Simple to Learn, Fast to Use
Modern mobile POS systems are equipped to be easy to use and intuitive. Workers can be up and functioning in no time, even if they don’t know much about technology. That’s particularly useful during peak periods when there’s no time for mistakes. Features such as email receipts and minimal checkout flow aid in establishing a seamless process for staff and customers alike, reducing wait times and faster business growth.
4. Improved Security for Each Transaction
Managing payments involves working with sensitive customer information, and security is not optional but a priority. Thankfully most mPOS systems include robust encryption and secure processing practices to protect that information. In contrast to standard POS systems, most mobile POS systems don’t keep customer data resident on the device. This means if the device is stolen or misplaced, there’s much less chance of a breach.
5. Greater Store Layout Flexibility
With mPOS, you’re no longer tied to bulky checkout counters. That opens up your floor space for better displays, more products, or interactive shopping areas. You can create a more open, customer-friendly layout that encourages browsing and increases sales—all while keeping checkout lines moving.
6. Scale Up Checkout Capacity When It Matters
During peak periods or major sales, old checkout counters get bogged down. You can simply add additional points of sale with mobile POS devices. Workers can roam around with tablets or phones and ring up customers anywhere in the store.
7. Take All the Ways People Pay
Consumers today expect choices—credit cards, digital wallets, tap-to-pay, and the list goes on. New-generation mPOS solutions accommodate many types of payments, allowing customers to pay in the way that best suits them. Being so flexible, it not only enhances the consumer shopping experience but also enables you to ring more sales by minimizing checkout friction.
8. Inventory in Real-Time at Your Fingertips
Most mobile POS platforms are integrated with inventory systems, so your employees always have a track of what’s in stock. Employees can verify availability, re-order items, or access product information immediately and directly from their device.
That results in fewer stockouts, improved inventory control, and better business operations for customers.
7 Top Mobile Point of Sales System
Square: An Easy, Popular Option to Get Started
Square is among the most recognized names in mobile POS for a reason. It was an early pioneer in making payment processing for mobile as easy and accessible to small business owners. The POS app is entirely free to download, with no monthly fees for the base software. You only pay processing fees when you sell something, and Square comes with a free card reader to get you started quickly. What really sets Square apart is its flat-rate pricing. You’ll always know exactly what you’re being charged per transaction.
Square Pricing Structure
| Plan | Price / Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
|
Square for Retail Plus |
$89/month per location
|
Advanced inventory, exchanges, retail analytics, Square Team Management |
|
Square for Retail Premium |
Custom rate |
All Retail Plus features, custom-negotiated rates, extra enterprise tools |
|
Square for Restaurants Plus |
$69/month per location |
Advanced order routing, check-splitting, cash drawer management, kitchen display tools, 24/7 support |
Square offers a range of hardware options to suit different retail and restaurant setups. Basic readers include the Magstripe Reader at $10 (free for new users’ first device) and the Contactless & Chip Reader for $59. For more advanced needs, the Handheld Terminal is priced at $299, while the 2nd Gen iPad Stand costs $149. Hardware kits bundle multiple components for complete setups—options include the Square Stand Kit at $579, Countertop POS Kit at $729, Full Register Kit at $1,219, and the Restaurant Station Kit at $1,389.
Square provides several optional software tools to enhance business operations. Square Shifts costs $4 per employee per month and includes time tracking, permission settings, and detailed reports. Marketing tools start at $15/month for email campaigns, while the Loyalty program begins at $45/month, boasting a 37% increase in post-enrollment spend. Gift card options are available at $0.50 per physical card and a 2.5% + $0.30 fee for virtual cards. For payroll needs, Square Payroll charges $35/month plus $6 per employee, covering tax filing and timecard synchronization.
Square Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
No cost to start (free app and card reader) |
Higher transaction charges for long-established or large-volume companies |
|
Flat-rate, predictable fees |
Personalization is dependent on add-on payments |
|
Easy-to-use software |
|
|
Integrated inventory and customer management |
Shopify POS: Ideal for Online-First Businesses
If your company is based on e-commerce but you also sell face-to-face, Shopify’s POS could be your best option. All Shopify POS plans come with a complete online store with unlimited product listings so it’s ideal for brands that are already selling online.
Shopify Pricing Structure
| Plan | Cost | Transaction Fees | Hardware Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Starter |
$5/month |
– 5% in-person – 5% + $0.30 online – Extra 5% for third-party gateways |
POS Terminal ($349), Countertop Kit ($459), Tap & Chip Kit ($219), Wireless Bundle ($999) |
Entry-level for very small businesses |
|
Basic |
$39/month |
– 2.6% + $0.10 in-person – 2.9% + $0.30 online – 2% for third-party processors |
Same as Starter |
Includes basic online store functionality |
|
Shopify |
$105/month |
– 2.5% + $0.10 in-store – 2.7% + $0.30 online – 1% for third-party processors |
Same as Basic |
Better reporting and mid-tier features |
|
Advanced |
$399/month |
– 2.4% + $0.10 brick-and-mortar – 2.5% + $0.30 online – 0.6% for third-party |
Same as above |
Advanced reporting and shipping features |
|
Shopify Plus |
From $2,300/month |
Custom transaction rates based on business volume and requirements |
Compatible with all Shopify POS hardware |
Enterprise-grade solution with full support |
All Shopify plans support the same POS hardware options, giving businesses the ability to scale as their business expands. Whether you’re launching or operating multiple retail storefronts, Shopify has a plan that will meet your objectives.
Shopify Pros and Cons
| Proa | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Includes a website and online store |
Increased monthly price |
|
Easy to use and feature-rich |
Additional fees unless you use Shopify Payments |
|
Ideal for omnichannel selling |
No free hardware |
Revel: Professional Tools for Serious Operations
Revel is a strong mobile POS solution designed for expanding or multi-location companies. If you require tableside ordering, self-service, or an online ordering platform, Revel has you covered. It is best suited for retail and food service operations that require a more sophisticated system. One of the standout features of Revel is its advanced inventory management. It lets you manage everything from SKUs and product variations to ingredients and raw materials.
Low-stock alerts keep you ahead of your game, and the mobile app can be used as a barcode scanner.
Ravel Pricing Structure
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
|
Software |
$99/month*
|
|
Features |
Point of Sale (POS) functionality – Inventory management – Employee management – CRM functionality – Detailed reports & insights |
Ravel charges a one-time installation fee of \$649, which covers the complete onboarding of the system. This includes training on the management console, consultation for menu and setup configuration, hardware installation, and assistance with payment setup. This comprehensive installation package ensures that businesses are fully equipped and ready to operate smoothly from day one.
Ravel Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Powerful inventory and reporting capabilities |
Long-term contract obligation |
|
Handles multiple business locations |
Expensive onboarding fees |
|
Works for restaurants, retailers, and service businesses |
Incompatible with Android devices |
|
Tableside, kiosk, and mobile checkout solutions |
Uncertain payment processing fees |
Lavu: Designed Specifically for Food and Beverage Businesses
Lavu is a cloud-based POS system designed with restaurants, cafes, and bars in mind. Your staff can access it from anywhere—great for fast-paced food service environments. With tableside ordering and real-time reporting, Lavu optimizes service and makes managing your operations much simpler.
Lavu Pricing Structure
| Plans | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
|
Starte |
$59/month |
24/7 Support – 1 Lavu POS Terminal – Inventory Management – Lavu Pay & Lavu Pilot – Gift Cards (Limited Time) – Loyalty Program (Limited Time) – Reporting & Team Management – Cash Discount Program – Bluetooth Scale Plugin |
|
Growth |
$129/month |
Includes all Starter features, plus: – API Access – DoorDash Delivery Integration – Full Gift Card & Loyalty Support – Menudrive Online Ordering – QR Code Ordering |
|
Optimized |
$279/month |
Includes all Growth features, plus: – Lavu POS for 2 Terminals – Kitchen Display System – QuickBooks/Xero Integration – Tableside Ordering (up to 5 Devices) – Sourcery AP Automation (up to 100/month) |
Lavu Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Built specifically for restaurants and cafes |
Not suited for non-food and beverage businesses |
|
Inventory tracking and performance reporting |
Some useful features have additional fees |
|
Tableside ordering features |
|
|
Extremely customizable for various service models |
Lightspeed Retail POS: Suitable for Inventory-Heavy Retail Stores
Lightspeed has POS solutions designed specifically for restaurants and retail stores. Its retail-oriented mobile POS solution is especially robust for stores with big inventories to keep track of. No matter if you’re processing sales at the register or on an iPad on the sales floor, Lightspeed provides robust features—but you’ll have to upgrade to the pricier plans to take full advantage.
Lightspeed Pricing Structure
| Plan Type | Plan Name | Price (Annually / Monthly) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Retail POS |
Basic |
$89/month (annually) $109/month (monthly) |
Inventory tracking – Basic sales and performance reporting – Free onboarding session – Supplier catalog access |
|
|
Core |
$149/month (annually) $179/month (monthly) |
Includes Basic features, plus: – Advanced analytics and reporting – Mobile scanner app – In-store and online loyalty tools – Integrations for accounting, eCommerce, and marketing |
|
|
Plus |
$289/month (annually) $339/month (monthly) |
Includes Core features, plus: – Custom reporting – Integrated forecasting tools – Personalized onboarding – Workflow automation – API access and custom user roles |
|
Restaurant POS |
Essential
|
$189/month
|
Table and order management – Pay-at-table functionality – Lightspeed Live mobile app |
|
|
Premium |
$399/month |
Includes Essential features, plus: – Multi-revenue center support (ideal for hotels) – Custom processing rate options – Raw API access |
|
|
Enterprise |
Custom Quote |
Includes Premium features, plus: – Multi-location management – Advanced analytics and customer insights – Full integration suite (payroll, loyalty, inventory) – Personalized software and hardware bundles – Unlimited launch and consultation services |
The hardware pricing includes a Smart Terminal with Printer for hospitality at $399, a Black iPad Stand priced at $199, a Mobile Tap V2 Dock for retail at $49, and an Apple iPad 10th Gen costing $424. Transaction fees are consistent across different sectors, with retail, restaurant, and golf all charged between 2.6% to 2.9% plus $0.10 per transaction.
Lightspeed Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Easy-to-use system with a simple interface |
Only accessible on iOS devices |
|
Sophisticated inventory capabilities (vendor mgmt, purchase orders, stock alerts) |
Low-tier plans have few features |
|
Built-in payment processing option |
Additional $50/month if not using Lightspeed Payments |
TouchBistro: Feature-Rich POS for Food Service Businesses
TouchBistro is a POS system for food trucks, cafes, and restaurants. You can take orders at the table, control your floor map, and personalize menus with it. For $69/month, you’ll receive a solid core system with staff management and advanced inventory capabilities such as ingredient tracking and recipe logging. Where the base plan is solid, you will have to pay extra for features such as loyalty schemes, gift cards, and online ordering if you want a fully rounded POS experience.
TouchBistro Pricing Structure
| Components | Starting Price (Monthly | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
POS Software |
$69/month |
Core restaurant POS software |
Add-on features are priced separately and include options such as the Kitchen Display System starting at \$19 per month, the Profit Management Platform from \$330 per month, Online Ordering beginning at \$50 per month, and Reservations available from \$229 per month. Additionally, there are Loyalty Programs and Marketing Tools each starting at \$99 per month, while Gift Cards are offered from \$25 per month.
TouchBistro Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Ingredient-level inventory tracking |
No in-built payment processor |
|
Menu and floor plan management |
Not Android compatible |
|
Mobile POS is well suited for iOS |
Add-ons can drive costs higher |
Clover : The Popular Solution
Clover is a robust and versatile POS platform suitable for physical retail outlets, restaurants, and service businesses. It has an elegant hardware selection, extensive business applications, and robust integrations, particularly omnichannel commerce.
Clover Pricing Structure
| Plan | Price | Ideal For | Devices | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Payment Plan |
$0/month |
Payment processing only |
Clover Flex, Clover Go |
2.3%–2.6% + $0.10 per transaction |
|
Essential Plan |
$14.95/month |
Field, home, personal, retail |
Clover Mini, Flex, Go |
EMV & NFC payments, virtual terminal, offline mode, online ordering, employee management, theft protection, basic reporting, access to 200+ apps, 24/7 support |
|
Retail Growth Plan |
$84.95/month |
Physical retail stores |
Clover Mini, Station Solo, Duo |
Everything in Essentials plus advanced inventory, returns & exchanges, barcode scanner/weight scale support, custom loyalty programs |
|
Table Service Restaurant Plan |
$89.95/month |
Full-service restaurants |
Station Solo, Duo, Flex |
Floor planning, split checks & tipping, pre-auth for bar tabs, revenue center reporting, online/QR code ordering, Grubhub & Google integration |
|
Counter Service Restaurant Plan |
$59.95/month |
Quick-serve & fast-casual |
Clover Mini, Station Duo, Flex
|
Online ordering, pickup/delivery types, remote order firing, discounts & line busting, revenue class reporting |
Transaction fees for Clover are 2.3% to 2.6% plus \$0.10 for in-person transactions, and 3.5% plus \$0.10 for card-not-present payments. Hardware costs vary by device, with the Clover Go priced at \$49, the Clover Flex and Pocket Flex ranging between \$599 and \$649, and the Clover Station costing between \$1,699 and \$1,799.
Clover Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Robust hardware offerings |
Few native eCommerce features |
|
Suits physical retail environments |
Increased initial hardware costs |
|
Extensive app store to expand capabilities |
Possibility of contract requirements |
|
Great for eCommerce and omnichannel business |
Price opacity during sales process |
|
Easy integration with Shopify Payments |
|
|
Strong inventory and marketing capabilities
|
|
|
Scalable with business growth |
Conclusion
Selecting the optimal mobile POS system can revolutionize the way you conduct business—enhancing productivity, increasing customer satisfaction, and enabling you to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Regardless of whether you require a solution designed for retail, food service, or mobile sales, the systems presented in this roundup provide something for every requirement and budget. Get your priority list, compare features, and choose the POS that best meets your business objectives for 2025 and beyond.
FAQ's
1. What is a mobile POS system?
A mobile POS (mPOS) is a handheld point-of-sale device that operates on smartphones or tablets. It enables businesses to take payments, monitor sales, and manage their inventory anywhere. It’s perfect for retail, restaurants, and street vendors.
2. Are mobile POS systems secure?
Yes, the majority of mPOS systems employ encryption and tokenization for defending customer data. They tend to be PCI compliant and don’t retain sensitive information on the device. This reduces the chances of data breaches.
3. Is it possible to use a mobile POS without an internet connection?
Some mobile POS systems offer offline functionality. You can take orders and process transactions, which sync automatically once you’re back online. Always check if your POS supports offline mode.