Mobile POS Guide
Mobile POS systems turn tablets and smartphones into full payment terminals. They're cheaper, more portable, and more flexible than traditional countertop systems. But they're not right for every business. This guide helps you decide if mobile POS fits your needs and which solution to choose.
When Mobile POS Makes Sense
Mobile POS excels when you need portability or low upfront costs. Food trucks, pop-up shops, farmers markets, home services, and tableside restaurant service all benefit from mobile systems. Retail stores with line-busting capabilities use mobile POS to check out customers anywhere in the store. If you need a fixed countertop setup or process hundreds of transactions daily, traditional terminals may be more durable.
- •Ideal for: Food trucks, markets, pop-ups, home services, event vendors
- •Also good for: Tableside ordering, line-busting in retail, mobile sales reps
- •Less ideal for: High-volume checkout counters, harsh environments
- •Cost benefit: $50-300 for mobile setup vs. $500-2,000 for traditional
iPad vs. Android Tablets: Platform Comparison
iPads dominate mobile POS due to reliability, longevity, and universal software support. Every major POS app runs on iPad. Android tablets are cheaper but have shorter lifespans and less consistent software support. For business use, iPad is worth the premium—a $329 base iPad will last 4-5 years. Android tablets typically need replacement after 2-3 years.
- •iPad: Best reliability, longest support, universal app compatibility
- •iPad cost: $329 (base) to $599 (Air) - business sweet spot is base iPad
- •Android: $100-300 tablets, shorter lifespan, app compatibility varies
- •Recommendation: iPad for primary POS, Android for secondary/backup
Smartphone POS: The Smallest Option
Your smartphone can become a POS with a card reader attachment. This is the cheapest entry point—just $49 for a Square reader. Smartphone POS works for low-volume businesses (under 20 transactions/day) or as emergency backup. The small screen makes it awkward for complex inventories or menu management. Perfect for service professionals, mobile contractors, and side businesses.
- •Best for: Service professionals, contractors, occasional sales, side businesses
- •Limitations: Small screen, not ideal for complex menus/inventory
- •Cost: $49-99 for card reader, use your existing phone
- •Top choice: Square Reader ($49) with iPhone or recent Android
Card Readers: Chip, Tap, and Swipe
Mobile card readers come in three types. Magstripe-only readers ($10-20) are obsolete—don't buy them. Chip-and-swipe readers ($49-99) are the baseline—Square Reader, Stripe Reader. Chip-and-tap readers ($99-299) accept contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) which are increasingly common. For customer-facing businesses, chip-and-tap is worth the extra $50.
- •Minimum acceptable: Chip + swipe ($49) - Square Reader, Stripe Reader
- •Better option: Chip + tap ($99-299) - Square Terminal, SumUp readers
- •Avoid: Magstripe-only readers (not PCI compliant for new deployments)
- •Contactless adoption: 50%+ of payments in many markets, growing fast
Receipt Printers and Cash Drawers: Adding Peripherals
Pure mobile setups use digital receipts (email/SMS). But if customers expect printed receipts, you'll need a portable printer. Bluetooth receipt printers ($200-400) connect wirelessly to your tablet. For semi-mobile setups (food trucks, pop-ups with a base), you can add a cash drawer and standard receipt printer just like a traditional POS.
- •Digital receipts: Free, eco-friendly, customers provide email/phone
- •Portable printers: Star Micronics SM-L200/300 ($250-400), battery-powered
- •Semi-mobile: Add Ethernet/USB printer and cash drawer at base location
- •Paper costs: Budget $10-20/month for thermal paper
Internet Requirements: WiFi, Cellular, and Offline Mode
Mobile POS systems need internet to process payments. WiFi is free but not always reliable at events or markets. Cellular data (hotspot or tablet with cellular) costs $10-50/month but works anywhere. All major mobile POS systems have offline mode—they store transactions and process when connection returns. Test offline mode before relying on it.
- •WiFi only: Free, works for fixed locations (restaurant, shop)
- •Cellular: $10-50/month, essential for truly mobile businesses
- •Offline mode: Square, Toast, Shopify, Clover all support it
- •Test offline: Try it before your first event—approval process varies
Security and Durability: Protecting Your Investment
Tablets are fragile and attractive to thieves. Buy a rugged case ($30-100) immediately. For public-facing use, consider tablet stands with locks ($100-200). AppleCare+ or device insurance ($100-150/year) is worth it for business-critical devices. Use a business Apple ID, not your personal one. Enable remote wipe in case of theft.
- •Rugged case: OtterBox Defender, UAG cases ($50-100)
- •Locking stands: Bouncepad, ArmorActive ($100-300)
- •Insurance: AppleCare+, Square Care, or business insurance
- •Security: Business Apple ID, remote wipe enabled, passcode required
Top Mobile POS Systems to Consider
Square dominates mobile POS with free software, simple hardware, and no contracts. It's the best starting point for most mobile businesses. Toast Go is purpose-built for mobile restaurants. Shopify POS is ideal if you also sell online. Clover Go and SumUp offer international options. All support iPad; Square and Shopify have the best Android support.
- •Best overall: Square (free software, $49+ hardware, no contract)
- •Restaurant-specific: Toast Go (requires contract, better for full-service)
- •Retail + online: Shopify POS (best ecommerce integration)
- •International: SumUp (Europe), Square (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using a cheap Android tablet for primary POS
Budget tablets ($100-150) fail within a year under daily business use. An iPad pays for itself in longevity.
Relying on venue WiFi without testing
Event and market WiFi is often unreliable or restricted. Always have cellular backup or test offline mode.
No case or physical security
Tablets break and get stolen. A $50 case and $10/month insurance prevents a $500 replacement cost.
Using personal Apple ID for business device
Makes device management messy and insecure. Create a business Apple ID from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an iPad POS system as reliable as a traditional terminal?
For low-to-medium volume (under 100 transactions/day), yes. iPads are very reliable. High-volume businesses (200+ daily transactions) may prefer dedicated terminals for durability, but many busy restaurants successfully use iPad-based systems.
Can I use my personal iPad for business POS?
Technically yes, but not recommended. Business data and personal data shouldn't mix. Buy a dedicated iPad ($329) for business use. You can resell it later if you switch systems.
What happens if my tablet dies or gets stolen?
Your data is stored in the cloud, so you can log in from any device. Keep a backup tablet or smartphone with the POS app installed. Most businesses can be back up and running in under an hour.
Do I need a cellular iPad or can I use WiFi + hotspot?
WiFi iPad + smartphone hotspot is cheaper and more flexible. Cellular iPads cost $130 more upfront plus $10-50/month. Hotspot from your phone costs nothing extra and works identically.