The Best Android POS Systems

Why I chose Square Android POS

Launched in 2009, Square is one of the first POS providers to harness the power of mobile software for a payment app. And to this day, its mobile software is among the most highly rated in both Apple Apps and Google Play. Square is well known for its ease of setup and ease of use, primarily because of its mobile deployment. 

What I like most about Square is that it provides the most feature-rich all-in-one POS system of all the providers on our list, allowing small and new businesses, even those on a tight budget, to get started with little upfront cost. You can download Square’s Android POS app for free on Google Play, sign up for an account, and set up your store on your smartphone or tablet. You also get a free magstripe reader to connect to the app, but you can also manually enter payments right into the app.  

I recommend Square if you want to launch your business with minimum fuss. Note that as your business grows, you will eventually want to sign up for a paid Square plan to upgrade your business management tools. You will also need to purchase hardware adaptors to keep using your Android tablet with Square’s barcode scanners and cash drawers.

Related: What is Square

Why I chose Loyverse’s Android POS

Loyverse (Loyalty Universe) started in 2014, developing app-based POS software for various industries but with a particular focus on restaurant needs. The system is compatible with both iOS and Android operating software, making it a versatile and user-friendly option. While most experts recommend Loyverse for quick-service restaurants, I also find the system very useful for food-based retailers.

Loyverse comes in a close second on this list, and with good reason. Compared to Square, Loyverse offers more flexibility with your choice of payment processor and hardware. I love that Loyverse allows you to choose between an Android tablet stand setup and a complete Android POS terminal, so it fits any type of budget. Best of all, its free basic POS software already comes with a built-in kitchen display system (KDS) and loyalty features, which would cost you extra when using popular POS alternatives like Square 

In addition to the free kitchen display system and loyalty features, Loyverse’s advanced inventory management features for restaurants also offer better value. Around 14,000 Android users on Google Play scored Loyverse significantly higher than Square. 

That said, Loyverse does come with a few trade-offs. For one, the company lists recommended hardware on the website but doesn’t offer any assistance in purchasing. Nor does Loyverse help you sign up with a payment processor (though the website can redirect you to a Loyverse-SumUp landing page to apply for a merchant account). 

What’s more, since you are purchasing hardware and your merchant account through other vendors, that means customer and technical support for those services will also be through those other vendors, and not Loyerse. This lack of seamlessness cost Loyverse points for ease of use and setup. 

Related: Best Free POS systems

Why I chose Shopify’s Android POS

Launched in 2006, today, Shopify has around 5.6 million active stores worldwide, making it one of the top multi-channel POS providers on the market today. Like Square and Loyverse, it offers free mobile-based POS software for iOS and Android users. 

There are two things that I like most about Shopify. First, its omnichannel features are top-notch. It provides everything you need to sell products on multiple channels (including social media platforms). And, it includes native local delivery and shipping functionalities.

Second, it offers tablet stands that support both iOS and Android systems. Square, on the other hand, only offers an iPad stand. Other POS hardware accessories are also available directly from Shopify, so you can build an Android-based POS countertop setup without having to deal with third-party resellers.

Note, however, that transaction rates for Shopify’s Starter POS plan ($5/month) are nearly twice the processing fee of the higher Retail plan ($89/month). Both allow you to sell in-person and online, but the Retail plan offers a better value with advanced inventory features, lower processing fees, and multichannel selling tools. 

Related: Best tablet POS systems

Why I chose Clover’s Android POS

Clover is a popular all-in-one POS solution owned by Fiserv, a global fintech and payments company. What’s unique about Clover is that aside from using Fiserv directly as a payment processor, the Clover hardware and POS system can be purchased through any of Fiserv’s resellers or independent sales partners (ISOs), which includes payment service providers Stax and PaymentCloud. 

I chose Clover for this guide, but I only recommend this to seasoned entrepreneurs who have enough experience dealing with POS providers to get the most out of the system. Because while Clover does not tie you to a single payment processor like Square, you will need to be familiar with POS and payment subscription plans to effectively compare your current payment processor’s fees against what’s available in the market.

I like how you don’t have to stick to Clover’s hardware to upgrade. Online marketplaces such as Amazon have a long list of Clover-compatible cash drawers, barcode scanners, and thermal printers to complete your countertop setup. However, again, you’ll need to have an idea of what to expect in terms of pricing.

Clover has little oversight on how resellers price their software and hardware. This may be an advantage or disadvantage (even for savvy business owners), depending on how you look at it. On one hand, you may get better all-in-one POS system deals; on the other hand, you may find it difficult to get support in case of software and hardware issues. It is also important to note that Clover hardware cannot be reprogrammed to work with a different processor once purchased from a reseller, so choose wisely.

Related: Best mobile POS systems

Why I chose Vagaro Android POS

Launched in 2009, Vagaro is a cloud-based, fully HIPAA-compliant POS software provider for professionals in the beauty, wellness, and fitness industry. The software is popular for its robust booking and marketing features. Vagaro then added a proprietary payment processing service in 2016 and recently launched a set of sleek POS hardware to its lineup. 

Today, around 83,000 businesses use Vagaro’s all-in-one POS system for appointments, online sales, customer, inventory, marketing, and employee management. While many POS apps have high ratings for their iOS version and lower ratings for their Android version, Vagaro is highly rated by both iOS and Android users. 

What I love most about this provider as an Android POS system is that, like Shopify, Vagaro’s POS terminal is compatible with Android tablets. You can purchase hardware directly from their website, so you’re assured an easy setup, seamless integration, and full support.  

While you can download the POS software for free on Google Play, you’ll need to spend at least $30 per month to use one calendar. That said, Vagaro is one of the most popular software in the appointment scheduling space, with predominantly positive reviews. And while the choice of hardware is limited compared to other popular options like Square, you won’t have problems adding compatible scanners, printers, and cash drawers to build your countertop setup.