Using an iPad to run your POS system can be both affordable and easy to use – but which platform is right for your small business? We’ll tell you everything you’ll need to know.
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Square is the best iPad POS system for small businesses as a result of our latest testing and evaluation.
If you’re looking for the best POS system for your small business, an iPad-based software can be just as effective in taking payments, without paying for expensive terminals.
Modern iPad POS systems offer much more than card payment processing, as most also include features like inventory management, sales reporting and customer relationship management (CRM) – making them a useful all-in-one solution for service-based businesses.
While Square is our number one choice, the best iPad POS system depends on your specific business needs. To help you decide, read on for our expert picks, along with a breakdown of pricing, key features, and the pros and cons of each provider.
- Square is our number one choice for an iPad POS thanks to its free plan, array of features, and competitive pricing.
- iPad POS systems are more affordable than most traditional till systems – making them a popular choice for small businesses.
- Square and SumUp are the cheapest solutions on this list, with both offering forever-free plans.
- While cloud-based systems are cheaper, providers like TouchBistro and Lightspeed Restaurant can operate offline when connectivity is lost.
- You should consider usability, tools and features, customer support, long-term support, and cost when choosing an iPad POS system.
The best iPad POS systems: quick comparison
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Best iPad POS for driving repeat business |
Best overall iPad POS |
Best iPad POS for a fast-paced restaurant environment |
Best iPad POS for beginners |
Best iPad POS for balancing usability with features |
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3.9
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4.8
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4.4
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4.2
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3.7
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£9.99 per month (on an 18 month contract) |
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We use an independent in-house testing process that combines extensive research with hands-on testing of each POS platform.
We based our final ranking on six criteria: usability and user experience (30%), software capabilities and features (25%), pricing (20%), help and support (15%), hardware ecosystem quality (5%), and market reputation (5%).
You can read our full methodology process at the end of the article.
On this date, I verified that all the pricing and information here is correct and up to date. However, given the rapidly changing nature of the payment processing industry, I always recommend confirming prices directly with the POS provider before making a buying decision.
1. Square: Best for new hospitality businesses
Software price: £0-£69 per month, per location
Hardware price: £19-£699 plus VAT
Free plan: Yes
Square is the best option for early-stage hospitality businesses because it’s easy to learn, quick to deploy, and designed to keep service moving smoothly – even with high staff turnover and a constantly changing workforce.
Square’s pricing model is also well-suited to new businesses, with no monthly software fees or long-term contracts on its free plan. Instead, businesses just pay a 1.75% transaction fee for in-person card payments, helping to keep costs predictable while reducing upfront investment.
Square is Level 1 PCI compliant and provideslive transaction monitoring. It also uses strong cryptographic protocols for data transfer, is end-to-end encrypted, and has its own proprietary tokenisation scheme.
- Offers a free iPad POS software, charging only standard transaction processing rates
- Businesses can add payroll, appointments, restaurant tools, marketing, and other services as they grow
- Square's entry-level hardware is just £19 + VAT for the standard Square Reader – significantly cheaper compared to providers like Clover
- No training more for new staff. In this case, Lightspeed will be worth looking at
- No option for cost/profit management tools, whereas Clover can provide this
- Limited customisation compared to enterprise-focused POS systems
How much does Square cost?
| Pricing | |
| Software | Free plan: Free Square for Retail Plus plan: £49/month, per location Square for Restaurants Plus plan: £69/month, per location Premium plan (for businesses that process more than £200,000 per year): custom pricing |
| Hardware | Entry Level: From £19 plus VAT Square Stand (to turn your iPad into a countertop terminal): £99 plus VAT Square Handheld: £169 plus Square Stand Kit with USB Printer: From £529 plus VAT Square Register (2nd generation): £699 p;us VAT |
| Transaction fees | Free plan: 1.75% in person, 2.5% for virtual terminal and invoices, 1.4% + 25p for online transactions Square for Retail Plus plan: 1.6% in person, 1.4% + 25p for online transactions Premium plan: custom rates |
| Free trial? | You can test the system using the free plan on a tablet |
If you’re on Square’s free plan, then you’ll be subject to a 1.75% transaction fee for in-person card payments. In the grand scheme of transaction fees, this is roughly average. So you won’t be overpaying, and considering it’s on a free plan, that’s a solid deal.
Just keep in mind, if you’re planning on using Square on iPad as your sole POS, you’ll most likely need to also purchase the Square Stand, which is currently £99 plus VAT. If you need any accessories, such as a cash drawer and a printer, then the cost could add up quickly. Square sells a bundle which is comprised of the Square Stand, cash drawer, and USB/Ethrenet receipt printer, starting at £529 upfront.
2. SumUp: Best for budget-conscious retail stores
Software price: £0-£49 per month
Hardware price: £0-£649
Free plan: Yes
SumUp is the top choice for budget-conscious retailers, as its Standard Plan comes with no monthly costs or setup fees – businesses only have to pay a flat transaction fee of 1.69% for in-person payments and 2.50% for online payments.
For small retail businesses, SumUp makes inventory management much easier, offering tools that allow businesses to sell different sizes, colours or styles under a single product listing. Any stock updates are automatically synced across the system, helping to maintain accurate inventory as the business grows.
SumUp is PCI compliant, its transaction process encrypts all data, and it is transferred to a secure payment server, and SumUp doesn’t store sensitive data on smartphones, tablets or card readers. It also has qualified internal and external teams regularly testing its security systems.
- Easily integrates with online stores
- Responsive interface with a handy "park order" feature for pausing and resuming transactions
- Wide range of card readers and POS hardware to suit different business sizes
- Users report a slow-loading backend for admin tasks like creating custom receipts or generating CSV inventory tracking sheets
- Discounts can't be automated through dedicated promotional buttons
- Advanced retail and hospitality features are only available on the £39/month POS Plus plan
How much does SumUp cost?
| Pricing | |
| Software | Free POS: free Payments Plus: £19/month POS Plus: £39/month Business Account Plus: £15/month Invoices Plus: £8/month |
| Hardware | Handheld Terminal: £135 + VAT Solo (standalone card reader): £79 + VAT SumUp Solo Lite: £25 + VAT SumUp Register: £399 + VAT Retail POS Kit: £649 |
| Transaction fees | 1.69% in-person transaction fee on Pay-as-You-Go plan 0.99% in-person transaction fee on Payments Plus plan Bespoke transaction fees for businesses that process £10,000 or more a month 1.69% for international/corporate/premium cards 2.5% for online payments |
| Free trial? | Yes; 7-day free trial with Payments Plus plan |
SumUp provides a free tier, which is subject to a 1.69% transaction fee. But if you’re taking in a high number of monthly sales, you should consider the Payments Plus plan, which costs £19 per month, but unlocks extremely low 0.99% fees.
3. TouchBistro: Best for quick-service restaurants (QSRs)
Software price: From $69 per month
Hardware price: Quote-based (not publicly available)
Free plan: No
TouchBistro works best for quick-service restaurants (QSRs) because it provides pop-up menu modifiers that prompt staff to upsell side dishes, suggest meal deals, and record allergen information before an order is completed.
It also supports customer-facing displays and self-service kiosks within its iPad ecosystem, allowing customers to place and review orders independently. As this reduces the need for staff to take orders manually, businesses can redeploy employees to food preparation, customer service, or other operational tasks during busy periods.
TouchBistro is PCI compliant, and it uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure, helping to protect payment information and business data.
- Unlike cloud-based systems like Square, TouchBistro can operate even if the internet goes down
- Handles floor plans, seat management, and split checks efficiently
- Integrates with TouchBistro Payments, TSYS, Worldpay, or Square to find the best processing rates
- Lack of customisability for the QR and mobile code ordering
- Pricing is higher than entry-level POS systems like Square or SumUp
- Additional features like online ordering, reservations, and loyalty cost extra
How much does TouchBistro cost?
| Pricing | |
| Software | From $69/month (pricing available in US dollars only) |
| Hardware | Quote-based |
| Transaction fees | Quote-based |
| Free trial? | No, but you can get a free demo |
TouchBistro isn’t a beginner-friendly, low-cost POS system. However, it does take an interesting approach to its pricing. You pay the base monthly price for the software, but you can then have a certain level of choice over which features you add.
There are upsides and downsides to this. We appreciated this customisable “build your own POS” approach, as you can avoid paying for tools you won’t use. But if you do want a fully stocked pantry of features, you’re going to be faced with a large bill.
4. Clover: Best for high-volume night venues
Software price: From £9.99 per month
Hardware price: £15-£30 per month
Free plan: No
Clover is the top choice for high-volume night venues as its quick and responsive interface makes it easy for staff to assign individual orders and split bills by guest or seat order. This helps staff avoid spending too much time manually splitting large or complex bills at the tills, keeping service moving during busy periods.
Its system also supports drag-and-drop table layouts, so restaurant businesses can reconfigure their floor plan on screen as needed. Staff can quickly update table arrangements, making it easier to manage seating and adapt to periods of high demand.
Clover is PCI compliant, its hardware is end-to-end encrypted, and it uses EMV® 3DS to authenticate customers’ payments and prevent you from being exposed to card-not-present fraud.
- Advanced features like multi-variant stock categorisation, real-time profit dashboard tracking, and quick server switching
- Easy for staff to learn thanks to its intuitive touchscreen interface
- Integrates with third-party apps for accounting, loyalty programmes, inventory, and more
- Both hardware and software rates are generally more expensive compared to competitors like Square
- No option for automated tip sharing
- Clover software cannot be used on tablets or card readers you already own
How much does Clover cost?
| Pricing | |
| Software | From £9.99 per month (includes device rental) |
| Hardware | Clover Flex: £15/month Clover Flex Pocket: £15/month Clover Mini: £20/month Clover Station Duo: £30/month |
| Transaction fees | Quote-based |
| Free trial? | No |
Clover provides quote-based transaction fees, as opposed to a set fee like Square’s. So what you lose in initial transparency, you could make up for with a transaction fee agreement that’s tailored to your needs.
5. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for businesses handling multi-site inventories
Software price: From £79 per month
Hardware price: £49-£445 per terminal (depending on setup)
Free plan: No
Lightspeed Restaurant is ideal for businesses scaling into multiple locations at once, thanks to its advanced inventory management, detailed ingredient tracking, and a comprehensive reporting platform made to give businesses better visibility over stock and costs.
From a single dashboard, businesses can update menus across multiple restaurant locations, POS terminals, and third-party delivery platforms like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. This reduces manual administration and helps keep pricing and menu information consistent across every channel.
Lightspeed is PCI compliant, specific products are SOC 2 compliant, it enforces multi-factor authentication, it uses encryption protocols, and it employs strong security tools to keep merchant data secure.
- Automatically deducts the ingredients used in each dish from your inventory when an order is completed
- Offers offline functionality that lets restaurants continue taking orders even when connectivity is interrupted
- Lightspeed's analytics platform tracks your product mix to identify low-margin inventory items
- Its software subscription is expensive compared to Square and SumUp's plans
- You can't edit the floor plan directly from the iPad – you need to log into the back office
- As with Clover, Lightspeed does not offer automatic tip management
How much does Lightspeed Restaurant cost?
| Pricing | |
| Software | Basic: £79 + VAT per month Core: £149 + VAT per month Pro: £219 + VAT per month |
| Transaction fees | Quote-based |
| Free trial? | Yes |
Lightspeed Restaurant isn’t a budget option for iPad POS systems. If you’re looking for a low-cost option, you’d be far better off with Square or SumUp instead, as even the Basic plan still has a steep monthly cost attached.
However, if you’ve got multiple locations to manage and you don’t mind paying for first-class loyalty features, then Lightspeed Restaurant will be well worth your attention.
How to choose an iPad POS system for my small business
Integrating an iPad POS system into your business comes with a number of benefits, including mobility and saving costs on expensive terminals.
But how do you know which will be best for your business? Here are the key considerations you’ll need to look out for when shopping for an iPad POS:
- Usability: you’ll need a system that’s easy to navigate and well-signposted so you can quickly find the features you need. We recommend trying a free trial or demo to see if it’s right for you before signing up for any contracts.
- Tools and features: there’s no point paying for advanced features if all you need are basic payment processing tools. Make a list of all the features that are your must-haves, and make sure your chosen POS platform can provide them.
- Reliable support: technology is doomed to go haywire at some stage, so make sure your provider has a solid suite of help and support options so you won’t be left hanging at a critical moment.
- Long-term support: all successful businesses should be planning for scalability, even if it’s in the distant future, so you should choose a platform that can grow with your business. Look for providers that have plans and features to support expansion.
- Cost: don’t just go straight for the cheapest platform possible. Keep in mind things like: what features you get for your money, transaction fees and contracts. For example, if you have a high turnover of monthly sales, it can be more than worth it to pay a monthly fee in exchange for low transaction fees.
You can read more on our dedicated page about credit card processing fees, and it also has a calculator to help you work out what you should be paying.
As a merchant, there are several critical regulations that will apply to you when you start taking payments. Here are some key ones you need to know about before setting up your POS system:
1. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry data security standard)
These are a set of security standards that apply to any business taking card payments, big or small. These are mandatory. Non-compliance can result in severe fines and possibly even legal action.
There are four different levels of PCI compliance, and what’s required from you will depend on how many card transactions you take each year.
2. GDPR data protection
This is the EU/UK law governing customer data handling. Your POS system will be storing your customers’ sensitive card data, purchase history, and personal information. So you need to make sure it’s been handled correctly.
3. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Requirements
This is the UK financial services regulation. Some POS providers are FCA regulated, which will affect consumer protection.
Our methodology: how we test iPad POS systems
We analysed 11 POS systems in total to ensure that our recommendations would be up to date and accurate.
This included hours of actual hands-on user testing, conducted in our London office. We tested and analysed the systems based on the six categories that are most important for iPad POS systems for SMEs:
- Usability and user experience (30%): how easy the system is to operate and navigate, including how quickly users can complete everyday tasks.
- Software capabilities and features (25%): all the tools and features that should ensure the smooth running of your day-to-day operations.
- Pricing (20%): this includes transaction fees, monthly costs and any additional hardware you might need to purchase.
- Help and support (15%): the quality and availability of customer support, including contact options, response times, and onboarding resources.
- Hardware ecosystem quality (5%): the range, reliability, and compatibility of POS hardware, including card readers, tills, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and kitchen display systems.
- Market reputation (5%): this is determined by competitor reviews, online comments, and how likely users are to recommend the system.
Summary: the best iPad POS systems for small businesses
Square is our top pick of iPad POS systems thanks to its intuitive software, affordable pricing, and an impressive range of features available on its free plan.
That said, the best option for your business will always depend on your specific needs, so it’s important to compare features, hardware compatibility, and costs.
It’s worth taking the time to shop around, rather than just going for the cheapest option available. That way, you can find the right solution that can help you take payments, manage day-to-day operations, and support your business as it grows.
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