ipad pos system

Go mobile with an easy-to-use iPad POS system

Get out from behind the counter. Whether you're running a retail store or a restaurant, Lightspeed's iPad POS system helps you provide your customers with a better experience.

Powering the world's best businesses

$87.1B

Lightspeed’s customers processed $87.1 billion in GTV* through Lightspeed’s platform in fiscal 2023

~168K

~168K locations around the world trust Lightspeed

15

Our experts have been guiding entrepreneurs for over 15 years

iPad POS tools for retail stores and restaurants.

Lightspeed's retail and restaurant cloud-based iPad POS systems are easy to learn and intuitive to use. Upgrade your business to the iPad point of sale powering over 74,000 customer locations worldwide.

  • Whether you have your own or use a Lightspeed iPad, run your business on sleek, modern hardware
  • Benefit from cloud-based data so you can keep an eye on your business' performance from anywhere
  • Provide on-the-spot service with an iPad POS that follows you and your customers

Which iPad POS solution are you looking for?

Lightspeed for Retail

From an easy-to-use iPad POS system and ecommerce tools to advanced reporting, Lightspeed Retail has what you need to help you scale and succeed.

  • Unite all your stores and channels to provide a seamless customer experience
  • Get industry-leading tools, payment technology and integrations
  • Manage inventory across every location and warehouse
  • Attract more customers, no matter where they shop
Learn more about Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed for Restaurants

Get what you need to turn tables faster, help boost revenue and grow with a mobile iPad POS system and total payment flexibility.

  • Manage all locations or revenue centers with one platform
  • Customize your menus, screens and floor plans to your unique workflows
  • Unlock real-time insights with every integrated transaction
  • Give guests a seamless experience
Learn more about Lightspeed Restaurant

Serve more customers from anywhere in your retail store

Say goodbye to legacy systems and clunky hardware. With Lightspeed Retail's iPad POS system, everything you need to create a personalized experience for your customers is right in the palm of your hand.

A mobile iPad POS system that modernizes your in-store experience.

Untether your employees from the till. With Lightspeed's iPad POS, anywhere can be your checkout counter—customers can request more information, make payments and join your loyalty program on the spot thanks to a mobile, connected workflow.

  • Give customers personalized service anywhere in store with customer profiles at your fingertips
  • Cut down on long lines and check out customers on the sales floor with your iPad POS system
  • Access your inventory levels in seconds to facilitate upselling and product recommendations

See how Lightspeed Retail's iPad POS software compares

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Give your guests a seamless dining experience

With Lightspeed Restaurant's iPad POS in hand, you have everything you need to provide excellent service. Orders get to the kitchen faster and payments are processed on the spot, freeing your staff up to focus on what matters—the guest experience.

Faster turnover from an efficient iPad POS system and tools.

Equip your employees with the tools they need to serve up experiences that leave a lasting impression. Our iPad POS system helps you improve turnover with features designed to boost efficiency.

  • Fire orders from tableside directly to the bar or kitchen with an iPad POS system
  • Let guests pay from their seat with mobile payment options
  • Activate Quick Service Mode to speed up order intake and payment processing

See how Lightspeed Restaurant's iPad POS compares to the rest.

Lightspeed vs. Toast | Lightspeed vs. Touchbistro | Lightspeed vs. Square for Restaurant | Lightspeed vs. Revel

iPad

Can you use an iPad as a POS?

Yes, you can definitely use an iPad as a point of sale (POS). With the right software and accessories, iPads can be transformed into fully functional POS systems capable of processing payments, managing inventory and tracking sales in both retail businesses and restaurants. You can integrate card readers, receipt printers and cash drawers to create a complete iPad POS system.

Can you turn your iPad into a cash register?

Yes, you can turn your iPad into a "cash" register by using it as a central component of a point of sale (POS) system. You'll probably need to integrate additional hardware with your iPad POS to complete your setup, including a card reader for processing payments, a printer for customer receipts and a lock box/cash drawer for securely storing cash.

Do I need to use an iPad to use Lightspeed point of sale (POS)?

Lightspeed Retail POS users are encouraged (but not required) to use the iPad app. Both the backend manager and point of sale can also be accessed on a desktop computer, so you can choose which device you prefer to run your business with. No matter the device you choose, you'll get full access to every feature. The main difference is that the iPad POS app lets your employees take the entire point of sale system with them anywhere in store to assist customers, transforming the shopping experience.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS users must use the iPad POS app to access ordering functionalities, however, the backend manager can be accessed on both an iPad and a desktop computer. This enables waitstaff to enter orders from anywhere in the restaurant (table, bar or terrace) and send them directly to the kitchen with one tap.

Can I use my phone as a POS system?

Yes, you can use your phone as a POS system but you'll need the right combination of hardware and software. Using an app version of your POS and a mobile card reader, you can essentially turn your phone into a portable POS terminal, allowing you to accept payments, manage inventory and run your business from anywhere.

In a restaurant, where guests want to pay at the table and staff are always on the go, using your phone as a POS system makes a lot of sense. For a sleek, all-in-one portable POS and payment solution for restaurants, check out Lightspeed Tableside.

How do the desktop and iPad versions differ?

Lightspeed Retail is an all-in-one system, no matter the device you're on. The desktop version enables backend management and point of sale functionalities. The iPad POS system can be used alongside a desktop computer for both point of sale and most backend management functionalities.

Like Retail, Lightspeed Restaurant is an all-in-one system, no matter the device you're using; the difference is the level of access you have in the POS depending on the device you're using. The desktop version is used to manage your backend only, from menus to floor plans and employee roles. The iPad POS app was designed to manage your front of house, such as taking orders, but can also let you manage the backend.

Can I use an iPad as a second register?

Lightspeed Retail plans include one register as default, but you can add extra registers to your plan by contacting your sales representative. Your registers don't all need to run on the same device—you can have both desktop computers and iPads running at the same time.

For Lightspeed Restaurant, every iPad registered to your account needs to be linked to a physical cash drawer. Note that if an iPad you’re using is not connected to a corresponding cash drawer, all payments taken through it will be deposited in a virtual cash drawer automatically associated to the user logged in to the device. However you decide to manage this, any iPad associated to your account can be used as an extra register.

Which version of iPad do I need to use Lightspeed's iPad POS system?

In order to use Lightspeed Retail or Lightspeed Restaurant on an iPad, you must have a version capable of supporting iOS 12.2 or higher.

How do I accept Apple Pay for my business?

To accept Apple Pay in your business, you need a contactless payment-enabled POS system. The good news is that if you already accept credit cards in your business, there's a good chance you're already able to accept Apple Pay.

That's because Apple uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to enable contactless payments, and NFC technology has actually been in the market for some time. As long as your credit card readers are equipped with an NFC chip, you should be able to accept all kinds of contactless payments, from tap cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay.

If you don’t already use a POS and payment provider that enables contactless payment methods, it's probably time to switch to one that does, especially as more consumers turn to digital wallets as their primary method of payment.

Lightspeed Payments supports digital wallets like Apple Pay. Your customers can pay quickly and securely, both online and in-store. Learn more about Lightspeed Payments.