Apple’s iPad tablet has quickly become one of the most popular smart devices for businesses that use point-of-sale (POS) software solutions.
This versatile tablet provides a practical alternative to purpose-built, expensive touchscreen registers and Windows-based POS solutions, but you need a suitable POS system that’s compatible with Apple. And with so many POS providers available in the UK market, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that not all may withstand the competitive landscape in the coming years.
In this article, we’ll explore the best iPad POS Systems UK and explain how businesses can choose the most suitable iPad POS solution for their specific needs. Let’s get into it.
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Best iPad POS Systems UK
The versatility, portability, and user-friendly interface of iPad tablets make them a favoured choice for many UK-based businesses. Businesses that commonly use iPad devices with POS systems include:
- Retail shops
- Bistros, restaurants and coffee shops
- Food trucks
- Pop-up retail shops
- Spas, salons, and similar beauty businesses
- Gyms and fitness studios
We’ve selected five of the most popular, user-friendly POS solutions used by UK-based businesses that can be installed on an iPad device, so let’s start with the first one.
1. Vend by Lightspeed
Vend is a POS software solution by Lightspeed that offers plenty of management tools and features specifically created for retail, hospitality, and sports businesses.
This robust software is versatile enough to accommodate various store sizes, ranging from small-sized shops to large, major high-end retailers, restaurants, food kiosks, etc. It can be installed on PC, Mac, and iPad devices and tailored to meet the specific needs of any type of business.
The POS cannot be installed on smartphones, but businesses can use a mobile app called Lightspeed Scanner to scan the QR codes of each product during inventory tracking and stock counting.
Vend’s POS offers a complete suite of tools and features that can help businesses manage their inventory, such as the following:
- An extensive product library
- In-depth reporting on products and sales
- Processing payments
- Insights into sales trends
- Product performance tracking
- Employee performance metrics
Since the POS can be custom-made, businesses can add third-party integrations for payment processing, such as:
Prices and Fees
There are several monthly subscription plans, which include an iPad device license and the third-party integration Lightspeed Payments pre-installed in the POS software:
- Lean: £59 per month
- Standard: £79 per month
- Advanced: £119 per month
- Enterprise: Custom-made plan with a unique quote for each business
With any of these plans, businesses will get 24/7 technical support, a POS mode that collects data office, a third-party integration for processing payments, and business data reports.
Every monthly and annual subscription includes a license for a single register, compatible with an iPad tablet, PC, or Mac. For businesses requiring Vend POS on additional registers, the cost with an annual payment plan is £39 + VAT monthly, and with a monthly plan £49 + VAT per month.
Large-scale enterprises or high-end franchise operations can benefit by choosing the Enterprise package. Unlike the other plans, this one doesn’t have a fixed price since it’s custom-made for businesses that require a plethora of POS tools, features, and third-party integrations. Unlike the other three plans, this package features a dedicated Account Manager and tailored onboarding experience, along with all the functionalities available in the Pro plan.
If you’re interested in trying out Vend’s POS for free before subscribing to a monthly or annual plan, you can submit an application for a 14-day free trial.
2. Zettle by PayPal
Zettle by PayPal, previously known as iZettle, is a great budget-friendly POS software option for retail or hospitality businesses of all sizes. This mobile POS solution can be installed on both Android and Apple smartphones and tablets.
This POS is only available on the Zettle Go mobile and tablet-friendly application that businesses can download and use free of charge. With this app, they’ll have 24/7 access to their POS software from anywhere in the world, anytime during the day.
Although the app requires internet access to function, it continues to collect payment data when it switches to offline mode. Once the connection is back, any change created with the POS software while it was offline will be automatically updated.
The Zettle Go application includes the following features:
- Product catalog
- Payment processing with debit and credit cards and Apple and Android-based digital wallets
- In-depth reports on transactions per day, week, or month
- Analytics on sales revenue
- An option to scan QR codes using the iPad’s camera
- Inventory tracking and analytics
- Digital Invoicing
- Staff management tool
Businesses can choose from a vast number of third-party integrations that can be installed in their Zettle POS software. Some of the most popular ones include the following:
- extendaGO
- Goodtill
- Hike
- Lightspeed
- AirPOS
- Timely
- Tabology
- Sitoo
- SalesVu
If businesses want to use the Zettle Go app but require additional advanced tools and integrations, they can integrate it with another tablet and mobile app, like Revel or Tabology.
Prices and Fees
Businesses can use the mobile and tablet-friendly application Zettle Go without paying anything. Although the app is free, they’ll still need to pay a fixed fee whenever they get a payment by card. The fee is 1.75% for each transaction that is processed through Zettle’s POS. In addition to the POS, businesses can buy additional hardware equipment, such as cash drawers, QR code scanning devices, and thermal printers for receipts.
3. Square
Square’s mobile POS software is suitable for retail, hospitality, and beauty businesses of all sizes looking for a cost-effective and user-friendly solution.
To make use of the mobile app, however, businesses must purchase Square’s hardware, which includes:
The POS cannot be installed on any other device except the company’s card readers.
Luckily, the rates per transaction are fixed and there are no monthly fees. Once you buy the hardware, you’re good to go – all you’ll have to pay is the rate per transaction.
The Square app offers plenty of tools and features for both brick-and-mortar and eCommerce businesses, such as:
- Virtual payment terminal
- Online eCommerce shop builder
- Templates for contracts
- Inventory management tool
- Team management tool
Businesses that provide hospitality services have the option to switch to Square’s POS solution, which is specifically designed for iPad tablets. This POS system is tailored with unique and user-friendly features for food and beverage services, while retail businesses can opt for the version of the same app known as Square for Retail.
Each of these specialised applications can be used for free. However, to access the app’s advanced features, Square users will have to pay a monthly subscription.
Square offers numerous software integrations, including:
- Xero
- QuickBooks
- Wix
- Linktree
- Easyship
- WooCommerce
- GoDaddy
- Ecwid
- Trunk
- Noterro
- Local Line
- Thrive Inventory
Prices and Fees
Although Square’s iPad and mobile app is free, there are fixed rates per transaction:
- In-person chip & pin and contactless debit or credit card, and digital wallet payments: 1.75% per transaction
- Online payments: 1.4% per transaction plus an additional 25p for any type of credit or debit card issued in the UK, and 2.5% per transaction plus an extra 25p for international cards issued outside of the UK
- Keyed-in payments: 2.5% per transaction
In addition to the free mobile app, businesses can purchase Square Stand, a package consisting of a tailor-made POS for iPad devices and a card reader for £99 and additional VAT expenses.
4. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an intuitive and user-centric POS specifically created for restaurants of all sizes. It consistently ranks as a top choice for restaurant EPOS due to its user-friendly and practical tools and features, which are designed to streamline daily sales and management tasks.
Businesses interested in testing out TouchBistro without paying can apply for a one-week trial and a free-of-charge demo without making an account or a three-week trial and free demo if they create a free account. All they have to do is submit an application for a free demo trial via TouchBistro’s website.
For businesses that use multiple iPads and would like to sync them together or require offline functionality, establishing a local network using an iMac or Mac server is essential to ensure constant synchronisation. While TouchBistro operates exclusively on Apple devices, it also offers compatibility with basic POS hardware, such as receipt printers and cash drawers.
Businesses can customise the TouchBistro POS and integrate their preferred third-party apps and add-ons for delivery, accounting, payment and payroll, stock management, and sales analytics, such as:
- Deliveroo
- Deliverect
- Uber Eats
- Barclaycard Business
- MarginEdge
- Avero
- Sage
- Shogo
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- MarketMan
- Moneris
- WorldPay
- BarclayCard
Prices and Fees
TouchBistro’s monthly POS software subscription plan starts at £54,92, and businesses can customise their plan by adding as many tools and features as they want.
The company also offers yearly subscription plans for POS software and iPad licenses:
- One license: £49 monthly plus additional VAT expenses
- Two to three licenses: £45 monthly plus additional VAT expenses
- Four to nine licenses: £40 plus additional VAT expenses
- More than ten licenses: Businesses need to request a personalised quote
5. EPOS Now
EPOS Now offers an iPad tablet POS bundle, a complete POS solution excellent for hospitality, retail, beauty, and spa businesses of all sizes.
The setup process for this cloud-based software is quick and easy, but if customers have any difficulties, they can always receive technical support by contacting the customer support team.
The EPOS Now software allows users to do the following:
- Download in-depth data on sales, staff, and products
- Stock management
- Kitchen management
- Delivery management
- Customer relationship management
- Real-time sales and payment analytics
The POS solution supports various accounting, delivery, payment, and management third-party integrations, some of which include:
- Sage
- Xero
- Quickbooks
- Hopt
- Deliveroo
- Wix
- Me&U
- simpleERB
- Appointedd
- Slip
- Worldpay
- Retail Merchant Services
- Connect by PaymentSense
Once you make a transaction using EPOS Now’s software, your bank account(s) connected to one of the accounting integrations (Sage, Xero or Quickbooks) will automatically update its sales data and analytics.
Prices and Fees
The POS bundle specifically tailored for iPad devices costs £349, without the extra VAT expenses. Once you pay for it, you’ll need to subscribe to use it monthly and pay £54 at the end of each month.
The package consists of the following:
- The 9th version of Apple’s iPad tablet (10.2”)
- EPOS Now point-of-sale (POS) software solution installed on the tablet
- Rotating stand specifically designed for iPad devices
- A user-friendly thermal printer (POS 80 GX model, 80 mm)
- A card payment reader designed by Epos Now
Businesses don’t need to submit an inquiry or an application to buy the bundle or subscribe to the monthly plan. The package can be directly purchased from EPOS Now’s online shop on the company’s website.
Is iPad Always The Best Touchscreen Choice?
While iPads offer some advantages, such as superior security and reliable software, you’ll need to consider a few things to determine if they are the ideal choice for your business.
Although iPads are designed for both personal and professional use, their durability in specific environments might be limited.
For example, unlike some of the latest smartphones, iPads aren’t waterproof. This can be a concern in food and beverage settings where they might be used with damp hands. Additionally, their screens aren’t resistant to dust, bacteria, or dirt, necessitating regular cleaning.
In high-traffic checkout areas, ensuring that the iPad remains charged or continuously connected to a power source is crucial to prevent it from shutting down unexpectedly. Also, iPads rely on stable internet connection (WiFi, 4G/34) or Bluetooth, and they don’t support wired internet connections.
On top of that, not all of the POS software solutions for iPad tablets collect data offline, so businesses with many customers on a day-to-day basis should consider buying POS software that can work offline.
Lastly, while iPads, being consumer-grade products, may have a shorter lifespan than specialised touchscreen tills, their high quality often targets them for theft. A secure iPad holder attached to the counter can mitigate this risk.
Expanding Your POS Software Across Multiple Displays
New businesses might lean towards an iPad POS for simplicity, but it’s essential to consider other alternative POS display options, such as:
- Traditional PC
- Laptop
- MacBook
- Dedicated touchscreen register
- Customer-facing displays
- Kitchen display screens
Additionally, some retailers might find that a more affordable Android tablet suits their needs better.
Flexibility in expanding or integrating with different hardware is also a factor. While Lightspeed and TouchBistro are exclusive to iPads, tying you to Apple’s unique ecosystem, Vend provides POS software that works on computers and laptops.
On the other hand, Square and Zettle are compatible with Android devices, which makes them more suitable for businesses that are already using Android hardware and are not interested in changing it. Square even steps it up by incorporating an Android-based touchscreen as its POS interface.
Additional POS Solutions for iPads
In addition to the best iPad POS Systems UK discussed in this article, several other noteworthy alternatives offer user-friendly POS software for iPads for an affordable price.
The following three stand out as excellent choices for businesses based in the UK:
- Tabology: An affordable option for businesses that offer hospitality services due to its robust kitchen and service management features.
- Shopify: This POS is ideal for both big and small retail and eCommerce shops since it can be seamlessly integrated between online and in-person shops.
- SumUp: A cost-effective POS software perfect for small-sized businesses in the hospitality industry.