The short answer
A portable POS is a battery-powered reader or handheld that takes payments away from the counter. Options run from a $59 Bluetooth reader paired to a phone to all-in-one devices such as Square Terminal at $299 and Square Handheld at $399. Most run on Wi-Fi; for cellular, Stripe's S710 has 4G/LTE. Offline mode covers short outages.
What Kinds of Portable POS Are There?
Four kinds, from smallest to most complete.
- A Bluetooth card reader paired to a phone or tablet. Square Reader is $59 and connects over Bluetooth LE 5.3; Stripe's M2 reader is $59.
- An all-in-one terminal that prints and takes cards on its own. Square Terminal is $299 with a battery Square says "lasts all day."
- A handheld that runs the whole point of sale in one hand. Square Handheld is $399, or $37 a month for 12 months, and is rated IP54 against splashes and dust.
- The phone alone, with Tap to Pay. See Tap to Pay for small business.
Does a Portable POS Need Wi-Fi, or Can It Run on Cellular?
Most need Wi-Fi. Square Terminal connects "through a Wi-Fi network or Ethernet connection," and Square Handheld "requires connection to a Wi-Fi network with access to high-speed internet." A Bluetooth reader uses the paired phone's connection, including its cellular data.
For a device with its own cellular connection, Stripe's documentation lists cellular on the S710 only (4G/LTE), at $299, with cellular data billed at $10 per reader per month. Food trucks, markets and delivery are where that matters most.
Can a Wireless POS Take Payments When the Internet Goes Down?
Yes, with limits. Square's offline mode stores card payments and processes them "when you reconnect your device to the internet within 24 hours (no later than 72 hours)." You choose a maximum per offline transaction "between $1 and $50,000."
The risk is yours: "You will not receive notifications for declined payments while processing offline payments." Set a sensible offline limit, and reconnect as soon as you can.
Which Businesses Benefit Most From a Handheld?
Any business where the sale happens away from the register: tableside payment in a restaurant, line busting in a busy shop, a barber at the chair, a contractor at the job, a vendor at a market. A counter with a steady line, a printer and a cash drawer still usually runs best on a fixed terminal.
See the setups for food trucks, restaurants and barbershops.
How Do You Choose?
Start with where you take payment and what the connection is like there. Then add up the device cost, any monthly fees, and the processing rate on your real sales, which keeps costing on every sale after the hardware is paid off. BatchOut sets up portable and fixed hardware, free for qualifying volume, leased or bought outright. The full cost picture is in how much a POS system costs.
Commonly Asked Questions
How much does a portable card reader cost?
Square Reader and Stripe's M2 reader are both $59. All-in-one devices cost more: Square Terminal is $299 and Square Handheld is $399.
Does Square Handheld work on cellular data?
No. Square says Square Handheld requires a Wi-Fi network with high-speed internet access.
Is there a card terminal with its own cellular connection?
Yes. Stripe lists cellular (4G/LTE) on its S710 reader, with cellular data at $10 per reader per month.
How long can Square take payments offline?
Square processes offline payments when the device reconnects within 24 hours, and no later than 72 hours. Declined payments are not reported until then.
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