Phones, tablets and handhelds
Mobile POS: take card payments wherever you're standing
A mobile POS is point of sale software on a phone, tablet or handheld, so you can ring up a sale and take a card anywhere, not just at a counter. On a free plan you can start with the phone in your pocket and Tap to Pay, then add a small card reader for chip cards and offline sales.
Market stalls, food trucks, pop-ups, plumbers, dog groomers, the shop owner who wants to bust the Saturday line. Here's how mobile point of sale actually works, and which setup to start with.
By Jason at POSUSALast updated
The three ways
How do you take card payments on a phone or tablet?
All three run on the same mobile POS app, so you've got three options and can mix them on one account. Most people start with the first and add the second within a month or two.
Tap to Pay on the phone
The phone itself reads contactless cards and digital wallets. Nothing to buy or charge. The trade-off: it needs a connection, and chip-only cards won't work.
A pocket card reader
A small Bluetooth reader pairs with your phone or tablet and takes tap and chip. On some systems it's also the piece that keeps working when the signal goes.
A handheld or tablet station
A dedicated handheld with the reader built in, or a tablet in a stand that you can lift off and carry. Better battery life and a bigger screen than your personal phone.
On Square Free
Tap to Pay on iPhone needs an iPhone XS or newer on the latest iOS, with a passcode set. Tap to Pay on Android works on most phones with NFC and Android 9 or later. Tap to Pay isn't available on iPad. For chip cards, Square sells a contactless and chip reader that pairs over Bluetooth. Readers and handhelds are on our Square rates and hardware page.
When the bars disappear
Does a mobile POS work without internet?
Some do, with limits. A mobile POS normally checks every card with the bank the moment it's tapped. When there's no signal, a system with offline mode saves the payment on the device and sends it through once you reconnect.
Here's the thing nobody puts on the box: an offline card hasn't been approved yet. If it declines when it uploads, the customer has already walked off with the goods. That's rare, and for a farmers market it's usually worth it. Just keep an eye on big tickets until you're back online.
A phone hotspot or a second carrier helps more than people expect. So does a battery pack, because a phone with the screen up all day dies fast. Our offline POS guide has the full setup checklist.
- Usually works offlineCash, and card payments on a supported reader or handheld, once offline mode is on
- Usually doesn'tTap to Pay on the phone, keyed-in card numbers, gift cards and pay-later options
- Has a time limitSaved payments have to upload within a set window, or they can expire
On Square, offline card payments work on Square Reader for contactless and chip, Stand, Terminal, Handheld and Register, as long as offline payments are allowed in your settings. Tap to Pay and keyed-in cards need a connection. Square's docs give readers and Stand a 24 hour offline session, and pending payments expire after 72 hours, so reconnect within a day to be safe. Declines on offline payments are on you.
Who it suits
Who is a mobile POS system a good fit for?
Anyone who takes payments somewhere other than one fixed spot. That covers more businesses than you'd think.
Food trucks
Phone at the window, reader on a lanyard, offline mode for the parking lot with one bar.
Food truck POSMarkets and pop-ups
Weekend stalls, craft fairs and event booths that set up and tear down in an hour.
Pop-up setupsHome and field services
Get paid in the driveway when the job's done, instead of mailing an invoice and waiting.
Service business POSShops with a line
A second phone on the floor takes payments while the counter keeps ringing. Same items, same stock counts.
Retail POSHonestly, if you never leave the counter, a phone alone gets old fast. A tablet in a stand or a countertop terminal is easier on your eyes and your staff. Our POS hardware guide covers the counter options.
Where to start
Which mobile setup should you start with?
Start small. Every step up the list adds something, and you only need the next one when the last one gets in your way.
| Setup | Good for | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Phone only, with Tap to Pay | Testing the waters, low volume, occasional sales | Chip-only cards, and card sales when there's no signal |
| Phone plus a card reader | Markets, trucks, service calls | Not much. A second thing to keep charged |
| Tablet plus a card reader | A truck window or a booth where you stay put | Pocket size. A tablet is a two-hand device |
| Handheld with a built-in reader | Busy days, staff taking orders on the floor | The upfront cost of a dedicated device |
Want to see what the software itself covers? Our free POS features page walks through it, and the free POS app page shows which phones and tablets it runs on. Card fees are on the pricing page.
Square details on this page were checked against Square's support docs and device compatibility page. Square updates its apps and requirements now and then, so check Square Support before you buy a phone or tablet for it.
Questions
Mobile POS questions
What is a mobile POS system?
It's point of sale software on a phone, tablet or small handheld instead of a fixed counter computer. You ring up the sale, take the card and send the receipt from wherever you're standing. Your items, sales and reports sit in your account online, so the same numbers show up on every device you sign in to.
Can I use my phone as a POS system?
Yes. Most free POS apps run on an iPhone or Android phone, and on newer phones you can take contactless cards with Tap to Pay, no reader needed. Add a small Bluetooth reader if you want to take chip cards or keep selling when the signal drops.
Is there a free mobile POS system?
Yes. Several POS apps are free to download and have no monthly software fee. You still pay a processing fee on each card sale, and that's how the free plans pay for themselves. Our best free POS systems roundup compares them.
Is a tablet or a phone better for a mobile POS?
A phone wins when you're walking around, like a market stall, a job site or a line that needs busting. A tablet is easier to read and ring up on when you stay put most of the day, like a truck window or a front desk. Plenty of people run both on the same account.
Do I need a card reader to use Square on my phone?
Not to start. Tap to Pay on iPhone works on an iPhone XS or newer with the latest iOS, and Tap to Pay on Android works on most phones with NFC and Android 9 or later. A Square Reader adds chip cards and offline payments, which Tap to Pay can't do.
Does Square's mobile POS work without internet?
It can take card payments offline on a Square Reader for contactless and chip, Square Stand, Terminal, Handheld or Register, as long as offline payments are allowed in your settings. Tap to Pay and keyed-in cards need a connection. Upload the saved payments within 24 hours to be safe. Pending ones expire after 72 hours, and any that decline are on you.
More answers on the FAQ page and in our free POS guides, or call (888) 243-3831.
Ready to take cards on the go?
Square Free has no monthly software fee and no long-term contract. You pay a processing fee when a customer pays by card, and nothing on cash. Current numbers are on our pricing page.
No monthly fee on the free plan. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime. See current pricing.
Free POS System is operated by POSUSA, an authorized Square reseller. POSUSA may earn compensation when you sign up through our link. It doesn't cost you a cent more. Read our disclosure.