POS software selection for Mac isn’t as varied as it is for PC, (or even iPad), but Mac does have some heavy hitting and feature rich POS software.
These are more than capable of handling the business needs of most business types and come with rich features and integrations that can further expand their capabilities.
1. Square
Square is mostly used on iPads and mobile devices, but it also supports MacOS devices by way of a $10 connector called Square Reader. Basically, all you have to do is to create a free Square account, purchase the Square Reader (3.5mm or Lightning connector), and you’re ready to go. Here’s a short YouTube vid from Square showing it in action.
Standout features:
Exceptionally easy to setup. Square integrates payment processing into its own POS software, so you’re ready to go the moment you activate an account. As for taking payments, all you need is to hook up the Square Reader, follow the installation instructions and you’re done.
Very easy to learn. The Square app was designed to be as user friendly and intuitive as possible. This makes it a good choice for businesses that have a higher employee turnover.
Square is free. No monthly payment fees. The only thing you pay are the payment processing fees (which you would pay anyway to a different payment processor): 2.65% per card present transaction, 2.9% + 30 cents per paid Square Invoice and Square Online sale, 3.4% + 15 cents per manually entered transaction and $0.10 for Interac chip & PIN, or tap sales.
Free trial: No need, product is free.
Pricing: POS software is completely free, 10$ for Square Reader for Mac.
Link: Square POS
2. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is a MacOs compatible POS system that is laser focused on restaurants, bars, clubs and food trucks.
Standout features:
Tableside ordering: a massive advantage of TouchBistro is that it offers tableside ordering, where restaurant waiters can punch in a customer’s order in real time, instead of going back to the front of the house to type them in manually.
Staff time management. Plan shifts, manage clock-ins and clock-outs, track total hours worked and overtime, theft and loss security features and more.
Loyalty programs and customer management. These features are specifically designed for businesses with repeat customers and allows personalized pricing and incentive programs.
Comprehensive analytics. Measure staff performance, profit margins on specific items, get end of day summaries, average customer spend, discounts, average number of customers and many more.
If you’re unsure about TouchBistro, you can always hop on a demo call and see how it works and if it’s a good fit for your business.
Free trial: Yes, 14 days. Free product demo call with the TouchBistro team.
Pricing: $69 per month for base functionality.
Link: TouchBistro POS
3. Hike
Hike’s POS system uses a cloud software platform that is specifically designed to wok on a MacOS device.
Standout features:
24/7 support. Hike offers a 24/7 support team, using either email or live chat.
Inventory feature allows unlimited products and variations. This is true for all of their pricing plans.
Customization. Customize product options, tax rules, receipt content, categories, layout and more.
Integrations with online tools. Hike offers a set of integrations for useful business tools such as Shopify, Xero, Quickbooks, WooCommerce or Amazon.
Free trial: Yes, 14 days.
Pricing: $59 per month for base functionality.
Link: Hike POS
4. Vend
Vend has a dedicated Mac POS software through its cloud platform, and also sells Mac compatible hardware.
Standout features:
Best in class inventory management. Automatically reorder products when stocks reach a certain level, upload via CSV or other documents, create product offer bundles, transfer products between multiple locations, organize your product suppliers in a cloud based catalog.
Easy integration with numerous payment providers. Vend does not have its own native payment provider service, but it does have custom built 1-click integrations with numerous other payment providers such as: Square, Bluedog, CardConnect, Chase, Elavon, Klarna, Worldpay and other payment providers.
Advanced, customized reporting and analytics. Vend has the standard analytics dashboard you’d expect from a high-end POS software. However, it adds to that by giving you the ability to create your own custom reports based on the variables that matter most to you. Not only that, but it’s reporting software allows you to do a deep dive into your data using Excel-like commands and filters.
Customer management and loyalty programs. Encourage customers to spend more by using gift cards, giving store credit to certain customers, centralizing their information into an email newsletter and more.
The price for all this power is that Vend may require a few days to properly setup. This includes connecting Vend through one of their payment processors and setting up your actual inventory.
Free trial: Yes, 14 days.
Pricing: $99 per month for base functionality.
Link: Vend POS
5. Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS software works on a cloud-based system that can be accessed either from desktop devices such as Mac or PC, as well as mobile ones.
Standout features:
Has its own payment processing feature. Lightspeed comes integrated with their own payment system. In other words, you wouldn’t have to jump through hoops to find your own provider and then integrate them into Lightspeed. This can save precious time both in setup, as well as for future modifications you might want to make.
Extremely flexible and feature rich. Lightspeed is extremely feature rich, and offers different feature sets depending on what type of business you have, in a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-all kind of is situation.
For example, Lightspeed for hospitality offers a self-order function at kiosk or table tablet, food delivery support, table arrangements, a reservation system etc.
One of the more niche functions is that Lightspeed even offers a feature suite for golf courses.
Shipping tracking for stores with an online component. Through native tools and integrations with other tools, Lightspeed allows you to track the progress of your shipped orders, send notifications to customers and even organize your shipments.
Native marketing integrations for SEO and social media. For companies that generate sales through an online presence, Lightspeed offers integrations with social media tools to create posts or track sales through it. Not only that, but Lightspeed also allows for doing basic SEO optimizations for your products.
Free trial: Yes, 14 days.
Pricing: $79 per month for Retail. $69 for Hospitality businesses.
Link: Lightspeed POS