Features/Offline Mode
Hardware & Mobility

Offline Mode

Offline mode lets you keep selling when your internet goes down. Transactions queue and process when you're back online—critical for businesses with unreliable connectivity.

Why It Matters

  • Never lose a sale due to internet issues
  • Essential for food trucks and events
  • Peace of mind during outages
  • Works in basements and rural areas
  • Backup for unreliable connections

Key Capabilities

Offline Card Processing

Accept cards without internet connection

Transaction Queuing

Store transactions to process when online

Cash Sales

Process cash transactions offline

Product Catalog

Access products and prices offline

Receipt Printing

Print receipts even when offline

Auto-Sync

Automatically process queued transactions when connection returns

Provider Comparison

toast

Best offline mode. Purpose-built for restaurant reliability. Full menu access and card processing offline.

Limitations: Some risk with offline cards

square

Good offline support. Queue card transactions up to certain limits. Cash always works offline.

Limitations: Card limits apply, some decline risk

clover

Basic offline capabilities. Can store transactions but less robust than competitors.

Limitations: More limited offline features

shopify

Limited offline mode. Cash transactions only in most cases.

Limitations: Card processing requires internet

lightspeed

Cloud-based system requires internet for most functions.

Limitations: Poor offline capabilities

Common Questions

Is offline card processing risky?

Somewhat. Cards processed offline are verified later—some may decline. Most POS systems limit offline transaction amounts and totals to minimize risk. Cash is always safer offline.

How long can I operate offline?

Varies by provider. Square limits total offline card amount. Toast is more generous for restaurants. Plan for hotspot backup rather than extended offline operation.

Best For

  • Food trucks
  • Outdoor events
  • Rural businesses
  • Areas with poor connectivity