12 Best POS Software For Android Tablets and Mobile Phones in 2024

An Android POS system offers flexibility, lower pricing, and a broader product selection of your preferred tablet device. You can choose among many brands — like Samsung, Lenovo, Asus, and Huawei — based on the features you need and the price point that fits your budget. A POS software for Android is also highly regarded for offering better customization.

By carefully exploring and evaluating which Android POS system you’ll deploy, you can maximize the full benefits of POS software if you choose the right POS system for your business. To jumpstart your search, we compiled the 12 best POS software products for Android devices.

Many consider POS software for mobile OS leader Android as more integrated and reliable. This means fewer glitches and greater flexibility because they run on an open-source operating system, which is highly customizable.

In particular, Android OS can avoid a central point of failure, unlike a single-company-controlled platform. And, as mentioned, by opting for an Android device for POS, you’d have a wider range of choices on which device you want to use and the specs you need. Thus, it can be more flexible when it comes to your budget.

Here are the other advantages of Android POS software:

• Software updates are faster in Android; unlike in iOS, where Apple requires a series of approval processes.
• Android devices are more durable in the context that more Android manufacturers build their devices for a restaurant-specific environment – heat, moisture, and all.
• It is open to more customization because the OS allows it.

Also, because it is the most popular OS, there are more POS systems being developed for it. So, there are more choices. There are even those with integrated restaurant management system capabilities that you can access anytime, anywhere.

How secure are Android POS systems for handling sensitive data?

While Android POS systems provide extensive customization and flexibility, businesses must also consider data security to protect customer information and prevent potential breaches. Android POS systems are increasingly fortified with robust security protocols to safeguard sensitive data, such as customer payment details and transaction records.

Here are some essential security features and best practices for Android POS systems:

• End-to-End Encryption: Many Android POS systems, like Helcim and Clover, incorporate end-to-end encryption to protect payment data from interception. This ensures that customer information remains secure throughout the transaction process, from payment input to processing.
• PCI Compliance: Android POS systems generally adhere to PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements, which mandate rigorous security measures to safeguard payment card data. Look for POS systems that are fully PCI-compliant to ensure they meet industry standards.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Some Android POS solutions offer two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification in addition to a password. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access to the system.
• Regular Software Updates: Choosing a POS system with frequent security updates is crucial to protect against new vulnerabilities. Android POS solutions typically benefit from Android’s open-source nature, enabling rapid software patches and improvements.
• User Access Controls: Advanced POS systems allow businesses to set user permissions, limiting access based on job roles. This prevents unauthorized employees from accessing sensitive data and performing restricted functions.
• Cloud-Based Backup and Recovery: Cloud-based Android POS systems, like Lightspeed and Toast, often provide secure data backups, ensuring that business records are safely stored and recoverable in case of system failure or data loss.
• EMV Chip Card Technology: Ensure that your Android POS system supports EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) chip technology, which provides a higher level of security than traditional magnetic stripe transactions.

So, without further ado, here are the 12 best POS software for Android tablets and mobile phones:

1. Toast POS

Among the best POS software for Android tablets and mobile phones is the cloud-based restaurant management platform Toast POS. It offers US-based businesses complete visibility and control over their processes. Likewise, this Android-based system is loaded with features like CRM, reporting, credit card processing, online order and inventory, and labor management.

What’s more, the solution helps businesses save on costs as it gets rid of the need to invest in hardware that comes with traditional systems. It has APIs that allow the solution to integrate with third-party apps. Toast POS offers a free trial, which you should try if you want to learn more about the product’s capabilities.

Toast POS

Try out Toast POS with their free demo

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Toast POS’ full restaurant features include menu customization, set up, and menu pricing. An ordering feature allows users to split both bills and menu items, while automatically notifying the staff when an order is ready. It enables faster service as the tool allows you to take orders on the fly.

The system also makes payment processing reasonably simple with its ‘pay at the table’ feature, where users can print receipts and email them. Meanwhile, customers can tip using tablet computers. Toast POS can be purchased in customized and flexible pricing models. Pricing begins at $79/terminal for the tool, $899 for hardware plus, a flat processing fee. Contact the vendor and ask for a quote.

2. Cova

Cova is a POS solution made exclusively for the cannabis industry. This popular cannabis dispensary POS platform is known to deliver total cannabis retail compliance. It likewise provides all the necessary features that cannabis retailers need to help ensure the best customer service.

What’s more, this POS software is user-friendly, fast, and offers a seamless end-to-end shopping experience to cannabis buyers. Its integrated queue functionality allows retailers to do away with dealing with long customer lines. Should you want to learn more about this product, be sure to try the Cova free trial.

Cova

Try out Cova with their free trial

Cova can also be used when you’re offline. So this means your operations can continue even without an internet connection. Overall, this POS empowers cannabis retailers to highlight their products more and better earn customer trust.

3. Helcim

Helcim is a versatile payment solution used by many small and midsized business owners due to its robustness and affordability. It features contractless and no-extra-charge access to its other tools, the ability to modify any device into a payment system, settling personal payments through any device, and easy invoicing.

To enjoy unlimited access to Helcim’s vast range of payment solutions, all you need to do is create just one account. These convenient payment solutions include virtual terminals, streamlined invoicing, and secure online checkout. Helcim also offers a subscription manager to streamline recurring payments and help business owners get paid on time.

Helcim also offers transparent pricing, so business owners don’t have to deal with hidden fees. Helcim also charges the lowest interchange rates for each transaction and offers automatic volume discounts to help business owners save money.

4. KORONA

A POS solution that can fit any business size, KORONA is one of the most flexible and complete cloud-based POS solutions available. Its in-depth inventory management features don’t only make it easier for you to keep track of your supplies. They also make ordering less time-consuming by allowing you to automate the process. This means you can avoid running out of stock or overstocking your items.

KORONA POS

Try out KORONA POS with their free trial

Aside from inventory management, KORONA also provides you with detailed reports on a variety of metrics for your business. If you want to know which seasons or periods are slow in sales or what is your conversion rate compared to return rates, you can access these metrics right from the platform. Additionally, you can see which products are performing well with turnover rates and compare your total revenue versus your total profits.

KORONA offers a free trial and a monthly subscription plan priced at $49. With this paid plan, you already get full access to its POS features.

5. Lightspeed Restaurant

Lightspeed Restaurant is a POS system designed specifically for restaurants, cafes, bars, and similar establishments. The platform combines POS and payment features, allowing restaurant staff to run the venue from a single platform. This integration helps employees save time on daily tasks like reconciliations and stocktakes.

The system is completely cloud-based, so servers can do their jobs with fewer mistakes. From a mobile device like a tablet, servers can take customers’ orders and send these orders to the kitchen as needed. Servers can also split or combine bills and receive payments, while guests can assign tips directly through the tablet.

Lightspeed Restaurant provides analytics capabilities through its iOS and Android apps. Through either of these apps, managers can easily pull up end-of-day reports and assess staff performance and customer experience. In this way, managers can quickly determine top-performing staff and be able to sufficiently prepare for peak periods.

6. AB POS

AB POS is a feature-rich POS that has all the tools needed to handle the end-to-end processes of businesses in the hospitality and retail industry. Likewise, users can manage their inventory and orders, keep tabs on important updates, view detailed reports, and more from a single dashboard.

This cloud-based software can be used on any browser-enabled device, even mobile platforms. This means users can gain a clear view of all operations and run their business without being physically present on-site.

Finally, AB POS offers excellent subscription plans, costing from $39.99 to $79.99.

7. Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based point-of-sale platform that can be accessed from any device at any time and from any location. The solution was designed to cater to a variety of merchants, including clothes, footwear, pet, and home décor stores. Businesses of all sizes and product types can benefit from the solution’s flexibility in meeting their POS requirements. The platform is intended to simplify and optimize business processes.

Manage inventory and customers more efficiently, process transactions more quickly, and gain a deeper understanding of your company’s analytics with Lightspeed Retail. The software is a powerful ecommerce solution that allows users to manage both on-site and online inventories, as well as a single customer view and the ability to do multi-channel data analysis.

Using any mobile device, your staff may check on and sell from any of your locations using the multi-store capabilities, which allow you to keep track of all of your inventory across locations. Serial numbers may also be generated and assigned to your items, allowing you to track them throughout your sales process. Using a matrix system, you may create a wide range of product variations based on the dimensions, materials, and colors of your products.

8. Sapaad

Sapaad is a restaurant POS system that can be used by both restaurant chains and small cafeterias. The software is easy to set up and easy to use so that you can get up and running in only a few minutes. Since it’s cloud-based, you need to access your browser with an Internet connection, and you’re good to go.

Also, this solution works on any desktop, laptop, tablet, and even smartphone. Furthermore, it has an “Offline Mode” capability to keep the software operational when there’s no Internet connection. Any updates will be synched as soon as connection is restored. Hence, you don’t have to worry about IT contracts and expensive servers. To use the software at no cost for 14 days, be sure to try the Sapaad free trial.

What’s more, Sapaad is highly scalable. It can continue supporting your business even as it grows when you add branches and franchises. Some of its top features include a tablet-friendly order-taking capability, back-office and inventory management, and reports and dashboards. Sapaad has four premium plans starting at $59/month.

9. Upserve

Upserve is another widely-used cloud-based restaurant and retail POS system for Android. This platform is actually more than your average POS. It’s actually a full-suite restaurant management solution, offering virtually everything a restaurateur needs. Aside from an advanced POS system, it provides various tools such as tableside ordering and inventory management.

Meanwhile, this solution offers a wide range of benefits to businesses. For instance, it is designed to help enhance managerial capabilities since it can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. Thus, managers can easily attend to their work even on the go or at home. What’s more, with Upserve’s robust reporting features, you don’t need a separate sales analytics tool. You can learn more about the product capability at no cost thanks to the Upserve free trial.

Another notable advantage Upserve offers is its robust inventory management feature that provides considerable time savings and efficiency. It doesn’t only remove the limitations of manual inventory; it also allows managers to automatically detect items that need replenishment. Furthermore, this POS system simplifies food cost management, even from various locations.

Finally, Upserve is a restaurateur-developed Android POS system. So this means all its tools and functionalities are essential in ensuring successful restaurant operations.

10. Revel Systems POS

Cloud-based Point-of-Sale software Revel Systems POS is an intuitive POS solution designed for restaurant businesses and retail stores. Boasting a comprehensive set of features, the iOS-based platform enables single and multilocational restaurants to manage operations and complete transactions with ease. Besides, the system is built to optimize service delivery, stability, security, and scalability.

Primarily, the solution streamlines and automates various aspects of restaurant management including inventory management, online ordering, and customer relationship management, thus empowering businesses to deliver stronger ROI. Other notable Revel Systems POS features include reporting and analytics modules, menu building, product management, and integrations. If you want to learn more about this product, be sure to check the Revel Systems POS free trial.

Besides, Revel Systems POS offers a self-service kiosk, a well-rounded platform built to expedite service delivery. The self-service portal improves order accuracy and contributes immensely towards customer satisfaction. Even better, the platform offers a kitchen display system (KDS) that’s designed to improve kitchen operations and reduce waste. The KDS provides color-coded alerts that enable kitchen staff to prioritize customer orders. This way, customers are never kept in wait plus they are served exactly what they order.

11. Cybersys POS

Cybersys POS is ideal for any business – from restaurants to retail stores. It is highly customizable and is flexible enough to fit with your business needs. When setting up your POS, you can quickly import your customer information, suppliers, items, and gift cards. It has all essential features such as customer loyalty programs, inventory management, delivery management, payment gateways, and data analytics.

This platform was created as a POS solution for a small fragrance shop. Since its success, it’s able to provide reliable software for small businesses. Cybersys POS works on both Android and iOS devices, along with numerous hardware options like receipt printers, cash drawers, and credit card readers.

Meanwhile, it offers two subscription models, which start from KWD$100/year (or around $329) for first-time installation and single location.

12. Clover

Clover is a POS system for restaurant, retail, and service businesses. You can customize the software–its mobile and stationary device –according to your needs and structure. Instead of charging on a per-employee basis, Clover is team-ready, so you can immediately use the software with its essential built-in POS features. As a web-based tool, it also streamlines the syncing of transactions so you can access reports, sales, and financial data anywhere, using any device.

Clover is also a robust payment processor. Taking orders and accepting payments are accomplished securely. Customers can send payments through credit, debit, and gift cards. It also simplifies accessing tabs, splitting bills, tracking product details, and merging multiple orders. Additionally, it has features for expanding your customer reach and managing your team.

Through the system’s customer engagement features, customers can share feedback directly from their receipts. This private feedback allows managers to quickly address complaints and concerns. Restaurants can also drive more traffic and sales through real-time promotions on social media and text.

Clover’s pricing is only available on a quote basis.

Why Using Android-Based POS Makes Good Business Sense

Running a business is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are tools out there that can help make your work easier. Modern POS systems, especially cloud-based ones, are more accessible to any business size. They are leaner, more affordable, and easy to deploy. Most importantly, you can choose from a range of cost-effective Android phones and tablets to operate the system.

Just like there are different mobile sales solutions, POS systems are not created equal. Some can cater to any business type, while others are specifically designed for retail and restaurant businesses. And, learning about them in articles is not really enough if you want to make a careful investment.

It is better to check out the house features and integrations first hand. Signing up for a free trial or demo is the best solution. This way, you can see if you will be able to test run the applications. Moreover, you will better figure out if you can reap the promised benefits of the POS tools yourself without spending anything.

To start, we highly recommend you check out Toast POS. This platform offers robust features in an easy-to-use interface, allowing you to streamline your operations quickly. It even comes with intuitive navigation that tech-averse users will surely appreciate. You can sign up for Toast POS free demo to get a customized walkthrough and a quote specifically tailored according to your restaurant’s needs.

Key Insights

• Flexibility and Customization: Android POS systems offer greater flexibility and customization options compared to iOS systems, allowing businesses to choose from various hardware brands and specifications to meet their specific needs and budget.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Utilizing Android-based POS systems can be more cost-effective due to lower pricing and a broader selection of devices, which helps businesses save on hardware investments.
• Industry-Specific Solutions: Several POS systems are tailored to specific industries, such as Toast POS for restaurants and Cova for cannabis dispensaries, providing specialized features that enhance operational efficiency and customer service.
• Offline Capabilities: Some Android POS systems, like Cova and Sapaad, offer offline functionality, ensuring uninterrupted business operations even without an internet connection.
• Integration and Scalability: Many Android POS solutions, such as Toast POS and Upserve, offer integration with third-party apps and scalability to support business growth, including multi-location management and comprehensive reporting features.
• Customer Engagement and Management: Advanced features like customer loyalty programs, real-time promotions, and detailed analytics help businesses engage customers effectively and make data-driven decisions to improve service and profitability.
• Ease of Use and Implementation: Cloud-based POS systems like Sapaad and Lightspeed Restaurant are designed for ease of use and quick implementation, allowing businesses to get up and running with minimal technical expertise.

FAQ

1. What is the best POS software for Android? The best POS software for Android is Toast POS, especially for businesses in the food industry. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including order taking, payment processing, inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM).
2. Why should I choose an Android POS system over an iOS system? Android POS systems offer greater flexibility, customization, and a wider selection of hardware options. They are often more cost-effective and can be tailored to meet specific business needs and budgets. Additionally, Android systems typically have faster software updates and more durable hardware options for various environments.
3. Can Android POS systems work without an internet connection? Yes, some Android POS systems, like Cova and Sapaad, offer offline capabilities, allowing businesses to continue their operations even when the internet connection is down. This ensures that sales and customer service are not interrupted.
4. Are there Android POS systems specifically designed for certain industries? Yes, there are industry-specific Android POS systems. For example, Toast POS is tailored for the restaurant industry, while Cova is designed for the cannabis retail industry. These systems come with specialized features that cater to the unique needs of their respective sectors.
5. How can Android POS systems help with inventory management? Android POS systems like KORONA and Upserve provide robust inventory management features that automate stock tracking, reordering, and reporting. These tools help businesses maintain optimal inventory levels, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency.
6. What are the benefits of using a cloud-based Android POS system? Cloud-based Android POS systems, such as Lightspeed Restaurant and Sapaad, offer benefits like remote access to business data, easy scalability, automatic updates, and lower upfront costs. They also allow managers to oversee operations and generate reports from any location with internet access.
7. Can I integrate third-party applications with my Android POS system? Yes, many Android POS systems, like Toast POS and Helcim, offer integration with third-party applications. This allows businesses to enhance their POS capabilities with additional tools for accounting, marketing, customer relationship management, and more.
8. How do Android POS systems handle customer engagement? Android POS systems like Clover and Cybersys POS offer features such as customer loyalty programs, real-time promotions, and direct feedback options. These tools help businesses engage with customers more effectively, gather valuable insights, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

By Shaun Baker

With 5 years of experience in digital marketing and retail strategy under his belt, Shaun Baker is the resident eCommerce expert at FinancesOnline. A contributor to Entrepreneur, The Atlantic, and other business portals, he has spoken and written about various eCommerce subjects, from AI and headless commerce to the economics of Black Mirror’s “Fifteen Million Credits”. His (highly) opinionated pieces on the ebbs and flows of eCommerce as an industry remain both a dynamic resource of talking points and entertainment in itself.