Best POS Apps for Small Businesses in 2026

Square is a cloud-based POS app built for mobile and in-person selling. It includes a free plan, built-in payment processing, inventory tracking, customer management, reporting, and a basic online store.

When I evaluated mobile POS systems, Square performed well across pricing, ease of use, and mobile functionality. I was able to set it up and start processing payments quickly using only a smartphone and card reader, and its straightforward interface helps reduce onboarding time.

Square also stood out for its flexibility. It supports retail, restaurant, and appointment-based businesses on the same system, and its mobile app handles transactions, inventory updates, and reporting without requiring extra software.

Compared with Shopify, which is better for ecommerce-first businesses, Square is the stronger fit for in-person and mobile sales. It earned the top spot because it combines a free entry point, integrated payments, and reliable mobile performance in a system small businesses can use right away.

Who should use Square

• Small brick-and-mortar businesses that need a flexible, all-in-one solution: Square is our top pick for mobile and in-person sales thanks to its free plan, free mobile card reader, and offline capabilities.
• Pop-up shops, market vendors, and mobile service providers: Square’s mobile-first design, offline mode, and compact hardware make it one of the most reliable options for businesses selling on the go.
• New businesses or side hustles with low startup budgets: Square offers the most generous free plan on our list, with built-in sales tools, inventory tracking, and even a basic online store, all without a monthly fee.

Software:

• Square Free: $0 per month
• Square Plus: $49 per month per location
• Square Premium: $149 per month per location
• Custom pricing available for businesses that process over $250,000 sales a year
• 30-day free trial for paid plans

Hardware:

• Free magstripe reader with every account ($10 for additional readers)
• Chip and tap readers: From $59
• Terminals: From $299 (financing available)
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: Free via the Square app

Payment processing rates:

• In-person transaction: 2.6% + 15 cents per transaction
• Online: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
• Keyed-in and card-on-file transactions: 3.5% + 15 cents per transaction
• Chargeback fee: Waived up to $250 per month

• Square POS app: Available for iOS and Android. Includes sales, inventory, and customer tools with no monthly cost.
• Offline mode: Accept payments even with no internet connection — great for pop-up events or outdoor markets.
• Mobile hardware: Use with a simple magstripe reader (free on signup), or upgrade to a contactless and chip reader for tap payments.
• In-app invoicing and estimates: Send quotes and invoices straight from the app.
• Customer directory and notes: Track preferences, purchase history, and contact info.
• Digital receipts and tipping: Let customers tip and get receipts via text or email.
• Square AI: Square’s conversational AI assistant. It is built directly into the Square Dashboard, letting sellers ask natural-language questions about sales, staff, customers, and transactions to get instant insights without running reports. It is currently available for sellers in the US.

Square has the broadest user base and strongest review volume in this group, which supports its position as the best free POS app for most small businesses. The rating gap between Android and iOS is worth noting, with App Store sentiment much stronger.

Shopify POS is built to connect in-person and online sales through one system. It syncs inventory, orders, and customer data across sales channels, making it especially useful for retailers that sell both online and in person.

In testing and product walkthroughs, Shopify POS stood out for its multichannel capabilities. Its POS app connected cleanly with the Shopify ecommerce backend, allowing me to manage inventory, customer profiles, and order fulfillment from one dashboard.

Compared with Square, which is better for in-person-first businesses, Shopify offers stronger ecommerce functionality out of the box. It also supports social commerce, local delivery, and buy online, pick up in store, and handles cross-channel inventory and order management more consistently than systems like Clover.

The main drawback is that Shopify POS works best within the Shopify ecosystem. Businesses need Shopify ecommerce to get the most value, and some advanced features, such as detailed inventory management and staff permissions, require POS Pro. It also does not support offline payments, which can limit mobile sellers.

Who should use Shopify POS

• Retail businesses that primarily sell online: Shopify is our pick for best ecommerce platform, and basic Shopify POS comes free with any of its ecommerce subscription plans.
• Multichannel retailers: Shopify also tops our list of leading multichannel POS systems. It lets you sync online and in-person sales, process curbside and pickup orders, and start sales in-store and finish them online.
• Businesses that already use a Shopify ecommerce store: Every Shopify ecommerce account comes with Shopify’s basic POS already integrated

Software:

• POS system:
• • POS Lite: $5 (free with Shopify ecommerce plan)
  • POS Pro: $89 per month, per location
• Ecommerce plan:
• • Monthly pricing: $5-$399/month
  • Annual pricing: $29-$299/month (Billed once per year)
  • Plus plan (available on a 1-year or 3-year term): $2,300+/month
• 3-day free trial

Read more: Shopify Pricing Plans: Comparison, Fees & Calculator

Hardware:

• Card reader: $49 (free shipping, 30-day free returns)
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: First 100 transactions per month free with Shopify plan; $0.25 per transaction thereafter
• Shopify Terminal: $349 (Financing available)

Read more: Shopify Hardware: Ultimate Guide for Small Businesses

Payment processing rates:

• In-person transaction: 2.4%-2.7%
• Online: 2.4%-2.9% + 30 cents

• Shopify POS app: Works on iOS and Android with a customizable home screen and access to online order history, customer profiles, and product catalog. A recent update includes a customizable smart grid, quicker access to key tools, and improved navigation for faster checkouts, designed to support smoother workflows for busy retail teams.
• Unified inventory and orders: Automatically syncs stock across online and retail channels, including returns and exchanges.
• Omnichannel tools: Supports in-store pickup, local delivery, social media selling, and buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS).
• Smart staff and customer management: Add custom roles, permissions, and detailed customer profiles with tags and notes (POS Pro required).
• Integrated payments and hardware: Includes Tap to Pay on iPhone and Shopify card readers; terminals and stands sold separately.

Shopify POS has stronger user sentiment on iOS than Android. The review patterns fit its positioning as a strong ecommerce-connected POS app, but users are more sensitive to checkout changes because the app sits directly in the sales flow.

Clover is a flexible POS system that supports in-person and mobile selling across various business types. It offers proprietary hardware, a feature-rich mobile app, and the unique ability to work with multiple merchant service providers, giving sellers more control over payment processing rates and contracts.

Clover offers mobile POS features such as barcode scanning, staff management, and time tracking. It also offers offline payment processing, which not every POS system can provide. The software also features strong customer and loyalty tools, as well as various integrations. It offers fairly affordable monthly plans for multiple industries, and you get hardware included in each subscription.

While you can use nearly any merchant account, unless otherwise specified, Clover will default and automatically enroll its new members into Fiserv upon sign-up if you purchase directly through the Clover website.

Just a few things to take note of: Clover terminals can’t be reprogrammed for different payment processors once you have opted in, so you’ll have to stick with the processor you purchased it from. Also, Clover’s pricing structure is complicated; businesses operating in different industries will pay different monthly prices.

Who should use Clover

• High-volume or high-risk businesses: Clover’s support for third-party merchant accounts makes it ideal for businesses that want more flexibility with payment providers or need better control over processing fees.
• Retailers that want full control over hardware and payment terms: Clover gives you the option to choose your own processor and access different hardware configurations to fit your setup.
• Established businesses with stable operations: Clover works best when you’ve already got systems in place and need a reliable POS that can adapt to your preferred payment setup and industry tools.

Clover has a payments-only plan that is $0 per month, but it is only for payment processing, not a full POS system.

Software*:

• Retail POS: $16-$240/month
• Restaurant POS: $179-$354/month for full-service restaurants; $135-$245 for quick-service restaurants
• Service POS: $16-$180/month

*Prices may vary based on provider. Prices reflected are from the Clover website.

Hardware*:

• CloverGo Card Reader: $49
• Terminal and other hardware: $599-$1,799
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: Free with the Clover Go app

*Prices may vary based on provider. Prices reflected are from the Clover website.

• Clover Go mobile app: Accept card and mobile wallet payments on the go with a compact reader and iOS/Android support.
• Customer engagement: Clover includes both loyalty programs and customer engagement features. You can create real-time promotions via email, text, or social media; start a rewards program; and create profiles that automatically update credit card sales and contact info.
• Customizable hardware: Clover has proprietary hardware that you can purchase from Clover directly or from authorized resellers. Portable devices and countertop registers are paid via monthly financing, billed with your software subscription. Or, you can get a Clover Go card reader for only $49, which you can pair with your smartphone.
• Customization options: Clover prides itself on being a highly customizable POS option. Not only can you use the merchant account of your choosing to process transactions, but Clover also has a massive suite of app integrations for any tools or features you need to run your business at no cost.
• Robust reporting: Clover lets you generate and view reports for sales performance across locations, overall and hourly revenue, refunds, tips, and credit card transactions. You can sync these reports with software like QuickBooks for more efficient accounting, and you can view reports from your computer or mobile device.

Clover has one of the strongest overall rating profiles in this group, especially on the App Store. Its large iOS review base and high rating support its fit for businesses that want a polished mobile POS app connected to Clover payments and hardware.

Loyverse is a free mobile POS app built for small retail and food businesses. It includes built-in sales, inventory, and loyalty tools, and works with a wide range of third-party hardware. Its offline mode and built-in customer rewards program make it especially appealing for lean business operations.

I like that Loyverse gives small businesses access to tools that typically require a paid plan, especially its free, built-in loyalty program. You don’t have to upgrade or subscribe just to track repeat customers or offer rewards, which sets it apart from competitors like Square or Shopify, where those features come with extra fees.

Loyverse is also one of the few POS apps that work completely offline, including sales, inventory, and syncing, something even Square can’t do fully. And while you’ll need to pay for more advanced tools, such as inventory counting or staff analytics, the free version goes surprisingly far for basic retail and quick-service needs.

That said, Loyverse isn’t as strong when it comes to ecommerce or North American payment integrations. But if your focus is on in-person sales and customer relationships, it’s a flexible, low-cost POS option that delivers more value than what it’s worth.

Who should use Loyverse

• Retail shops and cafes on a budget: Loyverse offers core POS and loyalty features for free, making it ideal for small retailers or food businesses with tight margins.
• International sellers or mobile operators: With broad hardware compatibility and flexible processor support, it’s a strong choice for businesses outside the US or those with mobile setups.
• Businesses focused on customer retention: The free loyalty program stands out from competitors like Square or Clover, which charge extra for similar tools.

Software:

• POS account and dashboard: Free
• POS customer display (CDS): Free
• POS kitchen display (KDS): Free

Hardware:

• No in-house Loyverse hardware
• Operate the free Loyverse POS app from your Android or iOS device + a compatible card reader (starting at $50)

Add-ons:

• Employee Management: $5 per month, per employee
• Advanced Inventory: $25 per month
• Integrations: From $9 per month
• 14-day free trial for add-ons
• Annual pricing available with two months free

• Loyalty: This is where Loyverse gets its name (an abbreviation of Loyalty Universe) and where it stands out. Its customer relationship and loyalty program has a database for storing information such as contact details, purchase history, customer notes, and points tracking. The built-in program also offers scannable loyalty cards where customers can keep their rewards.
• POS: Loyverse lets you use your phone’s camera as a barcode scanner. Plus, it has extra features, including open tickets and weight barcodes. You can also set up options for takeout or delivery. Finally, you can process sales and work with staff management features even offline (though you can’t update the customer database or process refunds).
• Inventory management: Loyverse boasts a strong inventory management system with item variants and modifiers, bulk upload, low-stock alerts, and inventory tracking. However, if you want purchase orders, the ability to transfer items between stores, inventory counting, and ingredient tracking, you need the advanced inventory program, which carries an additional monthly fee.
• Employee features: Loyverse has a free time clock for employees to clock in and out. If you purchase the employee management system, you also get time cards, access restriction capabilities, and employee analytics.
• Payment processing: Like with Clover, you can choose your payment provider, although choices for Loyverse are more limited. It works with SumUp, Zettle, Tyro, Smartpay, Yoco, STORES Payment, PAYGATE, SB payments, KICC, and NICE. Many of these are only available for iOS, and some are limited to specific countries. However, note that if you integrate a third-party service, you will have to pay an additional monthly integration fee.
• Analytics: Loyverse’s reporting tools (some of which you’ll need to pay extra to unlock) include tracking of sales patterns by day, week, and month; tax obligation reports to make your accounting easier; receipts history that monitors sales, discounts, and refunds; and popular items analytics that show you your best-selling products.

Loyverse has some of the strongest ratings in this group, especially on Google Play. The App Store review sample is much smaller, so the Android rating carries more weight when assessing overall user sentiment.

Toast POS is built specifically for restaurants, with proprietary hardware and software for food service workflows. It supports tableside ordering, tipping, kitchen routing, payment processing, and mobile setups for restaurants, food trucks, catering, and high-volume service environments.

Toast stood out because its handheld terminal is not just a companion device. It can run with full POS functionality, which makes it useful for tableside service and mobile food businesses that need more than basic payment acceptance.

Compared with Square, which is more general-purpose, Toast offers deeper restaurant tools for order routing, tip tracking, and kitchen workflows. It also offers a $0 upfront starter kit with software and hardware, which is uncommon for restaurant-grade POS systems.

The main trade-off is flexibility. Toast requires its built-in payment processor and a two-year contract, making it less flexible than competitors like Loyverse or Square. Still, for full-service restaurants that need mobile POS tools built around food service, Toast is the strongest pick on this list.

Who should use Toast

• Full-service restaurants and cafes: Toast is purpose-built for food service businesses, with strong tools for table service, tipping, and kitchen display systems.
• Mobile catering or food trucks with high volume: Toast’s handheld POS terminal can operate independently, making it ideal for events, festivals, or fast-paced outdoor service.
• Restaurants wanting an all-in-one setup with no upfront hardware cost: Toast’s starter kit comes bundled with essential mobile hardware and basic software, perfect for new operators on a budget.

Software: 

• Monthly fee: $0-$69
• Cancellation fee: $0 but remaining balance of monthly fees of the contract term should be settled

Hardware: 

• From $0 to $627 + $69 per month for a handheld startup kit
• Setup and installation fee: From $0, optional, custom quoted

Payment processing rates:

• In-person transaction fee: From 2.49% + 15 cents to 2.99% + 15 cents
• Chargeback fee: $15

• Toast Go 2 handheld terminal: A fully functional POS device with payment processing, tipping, and order routing — all in one compact mobile unit.
• Tableside ordering and payment: Speeds up service and improves customer experience in dine-in settings.
• Kitchen display system (KDS): Syncs orders with back-of-house for faster, more accurate prep.
• Restaurant-grade hardware: Built to withstand heat, spills, and the pace of a busy restaurant floor.
• Free starter kit plan: Includes hardware and software for basic mobile POS use with no upfront cost (contract required).

Related read: 10 New Toast Products & Features

Toast has the most consistent ratings across both app stores, with 4.9 out of 5 on Android and iOS. Its review volume is smaller than Square and Clover, but the consistency supports its position as the best POS app for restaurants.

Helcim is a Canadian credit card processing and merchant services provider that offers a free, all-in-one POS system designed for small and growing businesses. It includes payment tools for both in-person and remote sales, plus integrations with ecommerce, invoicing, and accounting systems. It comes with no monthly fees and transparent interchange-plus pricing.

I like that Helcim doesn’t charge a monthly fee or offer flat-rate fees — it’s actually the only provider in this list that offers interchange pricing. That’s rare for a POS system, and it makes a big difference for high-volume sellers and B2B companies who want to save on transaction costs. This is why Helcim is also our top pick for cheapest credit card companies and B2B payment solutions.

Compared to Loyverse, Helcim does not have a native loyalty program, and you won’t find advanced inventory or ecommerce features like Shopify and Lightspeed. But for invoicing, subscription billing, and service-based payments, it’s one of the most cost-effective and flexible POS apps you can use.

If your business is more client-driven than checkout-driven, Helcim is a solid alternative to traditional POS systems.

Who should use Helcim

• B2Bs, service-based businesses and consultants: Helcim includes invoicing, recurring billing, and a virtual terminal which makes it ideal for managing client payments across multiple channels.
• Growing businesses: Helcim’s interchange-plus pricing beats flat-rate models over time, making it ideal for growing businesses and those processing high-volume sales.
• Businesses processing both remote (online) and in-person sales: Helcim’s POS, online checkout, and invoicing tools work together under one account.

Software fees: $0

Payment processing fees:

• In-person transaction fees: Interchange plus 0.15% + 6 cents to 0.4% + 8 cents
• Online transaction fees: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.50% + 25 cents
• QR codes: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.50% + 25 cents
• Tap to pay (iPhone): Plus 10 cents fee per successful transaction

Hardware:

• Card reader: $99
• Smart Terminal: $329 (financing available; $32 per month for a year)

• No separate fee for mobile access: The mobile POS is included in Helcim’s free software suite, no add-ons or tier upgrades needed.
• Interchange-plus processing: Transparent pricing with no monthly software fees.
• Virtual terminal: Accept payments from your computer without extra hardware.
• Custom-branded checkout links: Send payment requests via email or SMS with your logo and company info.
• Integrated product and inventory management: Add, edit, and organize products from the mobile app, with syncing across desktop and device.
• In-app invoicing and payment links: Create and send invoices or checkout links straight from your mobile device for remote or on-the-spot payments.
• Customer profiles and saved cards: Look up customer history, store card info securely, and manage repeat billing directly from your mobile dashboard.
• Cloud-based syncing: All transactions, product updates, and customer activity sync in real time across devices (mobile, tablet, and desktop). Offline mode is possible, but syncing happens once online access is restored.

Helcim has a much smaller app review base than most providers in this list, and its ratings are more mixed. It is better positioned for businesses prioritizing transparent processing costs than for those choosing mainly by mobile app sentiment.

Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based POS system built for complex inventory operations. It includes advanced stock management, detailed reporting, and a built-in supplier catalog, making it a strong fit for multi-location retailers, specialty shops, and wholesalers with large or fast-moving inventories.

Lightspeed stood out for how well it handles granular inventory needs, including bundles, serial numbers, purchase ordering, and vendor catalogs, without requiring additional software. It is also our top pick for POS inventory management systems.

Compared with Square or Shopify, which are better for simpler setups, Lightspeed Retail offers more inventory control and reporting depth. Its built-in supplier network and ability to place orders from the POS dashboard are features many POS apps do not offer.

The main drawbacks are cost and learning curve. Lightspeed Retail is not the cheapest option and may be more than smaller retailers need, but it is a strong fit for businesses managing large inventories or growing across multiple stores.

Who should use Lightspeed Retail

• Retailers with complex or multi-location inventory: Lightspeed’s advanced stock tools make it ideal for stores with multiple SKUs, supplier networks, or inventory that needs tracking across categories, bundles, or variants.
• Businesses that rely on data to make decisions: With built-in sales forecasting, custom reports, and detailed analytics, Lightspeed helps businesses run smarter at scale.
• Stores that want inventory and ecommerce in one system: Lightspeed Retail includes its own online store and syncs inventory across channels, no third-party plugins needed.

Software:

• Retail POS: $109-$339 per month (Annual pricing $89-$289 per month)
• 14-day free trial for all accounts

Hardware:

• Quote-based
• Full countertop kits, mobile payments devices, and accessories available
• Tap to Pay on iPhone/iPad via Lightspeed Mobile Tap: From $69

• Inventory: Lightspeed offers multiple item variants, sophisticated analytics, a supplier network, and smart pricing. It also syncs with its online store, Lightspeed eCom. Shopify comes close to Lightspeed for inventory features, but Lightspeed has more granular details and customization options.
• Age verification: Lightspeed has age verification features in the register app. This makes it a great choice for stores that sell age-restricted items.
• Payment processing: Every Lightspeed account holder is automatically enrolled in Lightspeed Payments for processing transactions through your POS. Lightspeed Payments offers competitive processing rates and is conveniently pre-integrated into your account. The biggest drawback here is that if you do want to use a third-party processor, your monthly POS fees will increase, unlike with Clover, which lets you choose your own processor for free.
• Lightspeed Insights: Lightspeed offers over 40 reports, including products sold, profits, total sales over a specific time frame, and employee performance. You can also create detailed custom reports. Lastly, you can ask the software to forecast future sales based on historical data and suggest order quantities based on this.

Lightspeed Retail has the weakest app store sentiment in this group, and the Google Play review sample is very small. It is better evaluated as a full retail POS system with advanced inventory and back-office tools, not as a mobile-first POS app.

PayPal Point of Sale is a free mobile POS system designed for small businesses that want to accept payments in person and online with minimal setup. It offers basic inventory and reporting tools, integrates with PayPal’s global payments network, and supports international sales, making it a solid entry-level option for occasional sellers or those operating across borders.

Who should use PayPal POS

• Low-volume or part-time sellers: If you only process a few in-person transactions each week or month, PayPal Point of Sale keeps costs low with no subscription fees.
• Businesses that already use PayPal for online sales: PayPal Point of Sale ties directly into your PayPal account, making it easy to manage funds and sync sales.
• International sellers: PayPal supports payments in over 100 currencies, and PayPal Point of Sale app is available in many markets outside the US.

Why I like it: 

I like that PayPal Point of Sale gives sellers a no-fuss way to start accepting payments, especially if they already use PayPal online. You don’t need a separate merchant account or complicated setup — just order the card reader, download the app, and you’re ready to go.

Compared to Square, which has more robust free features and offline mode, PayPal Point of Sale is more basic. But where it stands out is global accessibility. If you’re selling across borders or traveling for business, PayPal Point of Sale’s international reach and PayPal integration are hard to beat.

That said, PayPal Point of Sale lacks the advanced tools that growing businesses may need, like offline processing, loyalty programs, or detailed inventory features. However, for casual sellers or side hustlers already in the PayPal ecosystem, it’s a simple and affordable way to go mobile.

Software:

• POS system: Free

Hardware:

• Card reader: $79 ($29 for the first one)
• Terminal: From $199 (paid accessories available)
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: Free via the Zettle POS app

Payment Processing:

• Card-present: 2.29% + 9 cents
• Manually keyed-in: 3.49% + 9 cents
• Invoices: From 2.99% + 49 cents

• Free POS app: Available on iOS and Android, with product tracking, discount tools, and multi-user login.
• Low-cost card reader: Accept chip and tap payments for $29 (first reader); terminal available starting at $199.
• PayPal integration: Payments land directly in your PayPal account, and you can connect to PayPal’s online checkout, invoicing, and payout tools.
• Sales and tax reporting: Basic insights into transaction history, top-selling products, and taxable sales.
• Ecommerce and platform integrations: Connects with Shopify, BigCommerce, QuickBooks, and other platforms through PayPal.

PayPal POS has a much larger Android review base than iOS, so Google Play feedback carries more weight. The Android and iOS rating gap is worth noting when comparing PayPal POS against higher-rated mobile POS apps like Square, Clover, Toast, and Loyverse.