The Best Tablet POS Systems in 2024

Why we chose Square

When you consider the complete package of affordability, ease-of-use, and comprehensive functionality, it’s easy to see why Square has emerged as the leading tablet POS solution. Right off the bat, Square eliminates a major barrier to entry by offering a free version of its POS software, loaded with essential tools like integrated payment processing. This allows even the smallest businesses to get up and running quickly without heavy upfront costs.

But what really sets Square apart is how user-friendly the entire experience is. The interface is clean and intuitive, while the hardware setup with affordable options like the Square Stand make it simple to start accepting payments. Conversely, systems like Lightspeed require complex custom installations.

Despite its simplicity, Square doesn’t sacrifice power. It provides sophisticated customer management and loyalty program capabilities that integrate seamlessly with a vast ecosystem of third-party apps. This open platform flexibility outshines more closed systems like Shopify. And as your business scales, Square allows you to toggle on advanced employee and reporting tools without overcommitting to high monthly fees early on.

Square has also stayed ahead of key retail trends. The ability to manage online and in-person sales through a single system is crucial in our increasingly omnichannel world. And by offering buy now, pay later options — like Afterpay for in-store purchases — Square caters to evolving customer expectations.

Why we chose Shopify

Shopify was included as a top tablet POS system due to its unparalleled native e-commerce capabilities, making it a top choice for businesses operating both online and in physical locations. 

Shopify POS natively connects with the Shopify e-commerce platform, providing a unified system for managing sales, inventory, and customer data across multiple channels. 

One of Shopify’s significant advantages over competitors like Square and Lightspeed is its omnichannel sales tools. Shopify POS supports sales across various platforms, allowing businesses to manage inventory and sales data in real-time. This is particularly beneficial for retailers who need to synchronize stock levels and order management between their online store and physical outlets.

Shopify POS also excels in inventory management, offering features such as demand forecasting, purchase orders, and detailed inventory reports with the Pro version.

Why we chose Lightspeed

Lightspeed’s inventory management is particularly noteworthy, providing real-time tracking, automated restocking, and the ability to handle product variations with ease. This level of control and precision is essential for retailers managing large and diverse inventories across multiple locations. In comparison, Square’s inventory features are more basic, while Shopify excels in e-commerce but lacks the same depth in in-store inventory management.

Another significant advantage is Lightspeed’s omnichannel capabilities. It allows retailers to unify their online and offline sales channels, ensuring a consistent customer experience and accurate inventory tracking across all platforms. This is a step ahead of Square, which doesn’t offer the same level of omnichannel support. Shopify offers similar e-commerce integration but can become costly when adding necessary in-store features.

Lightspeed also provides detailed reporting and analytics, offering over 40 types of reports that help retailers make informed decisions based on sales data, customer behavior, and inventory trends. Additionally, Lightspeed’s flexible pricing plans, including the Lean, Standard, and Advanced tiers, allow businesses to choose the best fit for their needs, with options for annual contracts providing cost savings.

Why we chose TouchBistro

When you’re running a fast-paced mobile food operation like a food truck or bustling cafe, an intuitive POS system can make or break your efficiency. This is where TouchBistro beats out the competition. Its user-friendly interface is purpose-built for these types of environments where quick service is everything. And the fact that it can operate offline is a plus for mobile businesses dealing with spotty internet connectivity.

TouchBistro offers tableside ordering, allowing servers to instantly fire off orders to the kitchen from a customer’s table. This streamlined ordering process reduces errors and bottlenecks to keep lines moving.

In addition to front-of-house capabilities, it also provides inventory management and templated, streamlined reporting tools tailored to the unique needs of food businesses. Owners can easily track stock levels and sales data to make smart ordering and staffing decisions.