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Loyverse is a free-to-use POS system offering advanced features as an add-on at a low price. This pricing approach allows businesses to only pay for the necessary features, making it suitable for small businesses on a tight budget. It’s designed to support retail, clothing, and food business sales processes with features such as inventory management, loyalty programs, kitchen displays, employee management, and sales analytics across multiple stores.
I’ve tested Loyverse POS by evaluating its features, pricing, usability, user reviews, and more to help you understand how it works and the unique offerings most suited to your business needs.
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What Is Loyverse?
Loyverse POS is a point-of-sale system that Five Galaxies Commerce Ltd. created and is designed to support small and medium-sized businesses. It’s known for its generosity, allowing users to manage sales without financial commitments. Its built-in tools include customer display, kitchen display system, inventory management, analytics, multi-store management, and loyalty programs.
Who Is Loyverse Best For?
As a free-to-use POS system, Loyverse is best for small businesses or startups seeking ways to reduce business software costs. Loyverse supports businesses in getting started with no financial commitment.
Food-based businesses needing basic restaurant-specific features will also find Loyverse useful because of its kitchen display system. Most retail shops use loyalty programs to enhance consumer interaction and experience. Loyverse provides this feature for free, making it an excellent option for merchants looking to attract and keep consumers through a loyalty program.
Loyverse Pricing & Plans
Loyverse has no price plans, as all needed features are free. However, its advanced features are available as add-ons for an extra fee.
| Plan Tier/Level | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Loyverse POS | Multiple stores management, sales analytics, inventory management, loyalty program |
| Loyverse Dashboard | Sales summary, trends, display themes, inventory control |
| Loyverse KDS | Order management, ticket, and dish information |
| Loyverse CDS | Order information display, email entry, loyalty points, offline mode |
Overall, Loyverse is generous with its offers, especially considering how much competitors charge for the same service. For instance, TouchBistro POS starts at $69 per month, and inventory management starts at $195 per month. Even as Loyverse offers free POS, it still provides a 14-day free trial on each add-on.
Loyverse Add-Ons
| Add-On | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Sales History | $5/store/month | $50/store/year |
| Employee Management | $25/store/month | $250/store/year |
| Advanced Inventory | $25/store/month | $250/store/year |
Loyverse offers sales analytics and inventory management in its free plans but also provides an advanced option for more customization. For instance, its advanced inventory allows users to transfer orders to another store while the inventory count automatically updates. Its production feature appeals to food businesses like bakeries with advanced production processes, e.g., bread or cakes.
Its employee management includes tools to track employee performance and efficiency. It has a built-in time tracker to monitor employees’ productivity, work hours, and time off. Its sales report includes a filter to sort each report by employee.
Integrations
Beyond Loyverse’s built-in add-ons, you can access more third-party applications to connect essential business tools with Loyverse. Loyverse integrates with 30+ applications that are available in its app marketplace. The available application categories include accounting, such as QuickBooks Online and Xero; eCommerce, such as Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Cosmos; Online Ordering, such as Otter, My Menu, and FeedUs; Marketing, such as SyncApps and NearSt; Digital receipts and Connectors.
A POS that integrates with many business tools helps you streamline data transfer across different channels, reducing errors due to human data entry.
Loyverse Hardware
Loyverse allows users with modest POS requirements to use existing devices to process sales since the Loyverse POS app is compatible with popular operating systems such as Android and iOS. However, you can add relevant hardware if your business needs more than POS software. Although Loyverse does not sell hardware, it has specific requirements based on the operating system on which the POS software is installed. On their website, you will find the criteria for different hardware components, such as POS printers, mobile printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, Android POS terminals, card readers, and tablet stands.
Its mobile printer will be a good addition for all business types, especially mobile retailers or food trucks, because its portability will allow users to print receipts for customers who wish one.
Loyverse Cancellation
As a free POS system, Loyverse also allows premium users to cancel their memberships anytime. Cancellation is easy and doesn’t require sending an email to support. Users can click the unsubscribe button on the Billing & Subscriptions section of the back office. The good part is that any outstanding amount at the time of cancellation will be converted into a credit that may be utilized for future subscriptions.
Users can also pause subscriptions with Loyverse. All you need to do is send an email request to the support team.
Loyverse Key Features
Below are the full details of Loyverse’s unique features.
Keeping track of stock levels may take time and effort for businesses. However, Loyverse simplifies stock management with its inventory management tools. Loyverse automates stock counting and sends daily notifications to users’ emails to keep up with customers’ orders to avoid running out of stock. Even as a freemium user, you can upload thousands of products to the inventory using a spreadsheet.
However, if you need advanced features such as product valuation, label printing, and ingredient tracking, you may pay an additional $25/month. One of its advanced features that retailers will find time-saving is the order transfer feature, which simplifies stock transfer between multiple stores.
As its name implies, Loyalty Universe (Loyverse) provides a free loyalty program and customer relationship management. Its loyalty program monitors each customer’s visit and purchase frequency to automate the process. You can issue a loyalty card with a barcode to establish a strong brand authority and sense of belonging with your customers. Cashiers can easily determine customers’ loyalty status and provide discounts when visiting the store.
While it’s common for most POS to charge an extra fee for CRM, Loyverse does this freely without sacrificing efficiency.
One of the things that fascinates me with Loyverse is its intuitive design and uncomplicated feature layout, especially with its KDS. I like its menu screen, which is customizable to suit your restaurant’s style. It also has multiple kitchen displays, which allow users to create different kitchen stations.
For example, you can set aside different kitchen stations for appetizers, main dishes, and drinks. This setup helps streamline kitchen operations by directing orders to specific stations, reducing confusion, and improving speed and accuracy in food preparation. There’s no sophisticated table reservation like popular restaurant POSs, Toast or TouchBistro, but it allows you to assign names to available tables.
Although this add-on offer requires extra payment, it’s affordable and feature-rich. In terms of price to value, Loyverse is extremely affordable. For example, competitors like TouchBistro, with advanced labor management features, require users to pay at least $65 per month. I also found its built-in clock-in and clock-out tools very effective. Once employees input their PIN into the system, the system automatically counts and records employees’ work time.
It doesn’t offer scheduling and task management functions like TouchBistro, but its basic time management, productivity, and access control serve businesses well.
Its sales analytics is a standard reporting tool, helping business owners access real-time information about their sales performance. It compares the previous day’s sales data with the current one to show you gaps and areas for improvement. Likewise, managers can see sales information, receipts, and employees’ productivity at the end of each shift and work day, helping them make informed, data-driven decisions to improve business operations.
Latest Updates
Loyverse added a new feature to improve the efficiency of the software in March 2024. This update starts with Loyverse software version 2.73 for iOS and 2.40 for Android devices. This new update, Favorites, is specifically designed for cashiers to speed up their sales and order management process. This is a thoughtful approach to help cashiers access the most used items and quickly add them to customers’ orders.
Loyverse vs Top Competitors
| Loyverse | Toast | Square | Lightspeed | TouchBistro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Retail and coffee shops on a budget | Restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops | Retail with online stores, restaurants, and service businesses | Retail stores and restaurant | Restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops |
| Starting Price | $5/month (Add-ons) | $69/month | $29/month | $89/month | $69/month |
| Free Version | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Free Trial | 14 days | Demo | ❌ | 14 days | Demo |
| Transaction Fee | N/A | Custom | 2.6% + $0.10 | 2.6% + $0.10 | Custom |
| Hardware Cost | Custom | Custom | $10 for card reader, terminals start at $299 | Doesn’t offer its own hardware | Custom |
| Reporting | Standard | Custom | Custom | Custom | Advanced |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Loyverse vs. Toast
Toast is a complex POS system, from its pricing to its features. It specifically serves retail and restaurants with customizable features and automation. It can serve more restaurant types than Loyverse. It’s also known for its online ordering app, restaurant management app, and Toast tables. Regarding free plans, Loyverse outshines Toast with its generous and easy-to-set-up features.
Loyverse vs. Square
Square is a popular multi-purpose platform that can support businesses with POS, ecommerce, payroll, and payment processing. Square POS’s free plan for its retail, restaurant, and appointment services is feature-rich. Its built-in payment processing makes it more valuable than Loyverse. The major caveat with using Square is its complexity. So, if you’re a small business with little to no POS system experience, Loyverse is a better alternative.
Loyverse vs. Lightspeed
Lightspeed is another complex POS system that serves retail, restaurants, and golf. It’s super-packed with advanced features such as contactless ordering, advanced insights, online ordering, API access, and single-view reconciliation, which you won’t find in Loyverse. However, using it efficiently requires a learning curve. Aside from the fact that Loyverse is easy to use, it’s cost-saving. For example, Loyverse offers a kitchen display system at no cost, while Lightspeed provides it as a paid add-on.
Loyverse vs. TouchBistro
In the restaurant world, TouchBistro is a leading POS system with advanced features at an expensive rate. Right from the interface, the POS speaks to medium-sized to large restaurants. On the other hand, Loyverse is a mini version of TouchBistro that combines simplicity and affordability. Another major distinction is that TouchBistro is a comprehensive sales and payment solution, considering its built-in payment processor. Loyverse lacks this functionality but integrates with any payment processor of your choice. I recommend Loyverse to starters and TouchBistro to advanced restaurants.
Loyverse Customer Reviews
Loyverse customers’ reviews are uplifting, with positive comments driven by their long-time experience using the platform. Many comments revolve around the free loyalty program, free usage, simplicity, easy navigation, and intuitive interface. Its TrustScore of a 4.5-star rating depicts its excellence and good user experience.
Each Loyverse customer appraisal attests to my evaluation of the POS system as flexible and affordable. Of all the POS providers I’ve reviewed, Loyverse stands out with its excellent TrustPilot reviews.
Customer support
Loyverse offers multiple channels to assist its users. Its support channels include the Loyverse community, knowledge base, and priority 24/7 live chat support for add-on users. It doesn’t offer phone support.
Benefits of Using Loyverse
Yes, Loyverse is a too-good-to-be-true POS system, especially for small businesses. Beyond the affordability, there are more benefits to using Loyverse.
- Cost savings: Using Loyverse will cut costs across several categories, from loyalty program offers that most competitors offer as a paid plan to its kitchen display system, allowing small restaurants to manage menus and orders efficiently.
- Improved customer experience: Since you can freely and continuously offer a loyalty program to customers without any restriction or worry about payment, your customers will feel more valuable and will likely visit your store more frequently.
- Increased efficiency: Loyverse is easy to use and very beginner-friendly. As employees navigate the interface effortlessly, productivity and efficiency improve.
- Multiple store management: Loyverse allows you to manage up to three stores from a single dashboard at the same price. This is highly cost-effective and time-saving.
- Improved mobility: Loyverse is compatible with popular mobile devices and offers mobile printers to support businesses needing printers on the go. This flexibility allows you to take orders and complete transactions from anywhere.
How to Use Loyverse - Quick Guide
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Loyverse from my testing.
Step 1: Sign Up
Sign up on the Loyverse website and fill in your business details.
Step 2: Get the App
Download the POS app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Step 3: Set Up Features
Start setting up the POS based on your preference. Note that if you toggle the time clock feature, you will be required to set up your PIN immediately.
Step 4: Add Items
Start adding the products necessary to your business, considering price, stock quantity, and variants per item.
Step 5: Add Employees
Add employee lists accordingly.
How We Review And Test POS Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular POS products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform and how easy it is to do so to ensure companies can easily add more employees to their payroll as they scale their operations.
- Integrations: We evaluate each piece of software’s integrations to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack and whether its functionality can be expanded.
- Total Cost: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price of the software matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers customers a free trial.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain an understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Features: We examine the features offered by each POS software, how useful those features are, and how they compare to others on the market.
- Security: We delve into the security protocols of each company, assessing the measures in place to safeguard user data.
- Customer Reviews: We consider customer reviews from reputable third-party websites as a crucial aspect of our evaluation process.
How To Choose the Best POS Software
Choosing the right POS software requires a high level of precision. Consider the following factors when selecting the best POS software for your business.
Understand your business and industry standard requirements because every business is unique. For example, if you operate a clothing store, you won’t need a kitchen display system feature.
Having defined your industry requirements, identify all the features you need to operate smoothly. Then, ensure the needed features are available in your chosen plan. Some POS providers restrict advanced features to higher-tier plans.
Define your budget and features to guide your choice. Ensure you set a realistic budget that matches all the features you need. Then, evaluate the POS prices to choose the plan that meets your needs in terms of functionality.
Choosing a POS system that’s easy to use and set up is important. Loyverse is a good example, as it’s simple to set up and use without needing a hefty setup or training.
What business apps would you love to integrate with your POS system? Confirm if the POS supports them and ensure it isn’t beyond your budget because some integrations may only be available on higher-tier plans or as an add-on.
Support hours are important, especially when you’re in dire need of technical support. Understand a provider’s support options, as some offer priority support to paid users or at an extra fee.
