PHP Point of Sale vs PayPal Point of Sale

Epos Now

Shopify

RetailEdge

Epos Now is a leading global cloud-based point-of-sale and payment system that specializes in helping US retail and hospitality businesses trade efficiently.

Thanks to a selection of tools, and an extensive app store, users can create bespoke systems that make running a business simple.

Shopify is a commerce platform that allows anyone to easily sell online, at a retail location, and everywhere in between

RetailEdge is a point of sale solution that helps retail businesses manage inventory and sales orders. Key features of the platform include barcode scanning, item listing, customer history tracking, credit card processing, price management, invoicing, secure data storage, and gift card distribution.

Technician

PHP Point of Sale is a cloud-based retail POS solution designed for small to mid size businesses that aids with managing inventory, sales reports, customer relations, employee onboarding, sales commissions, and more. The system is mobile friendly and designed to manage multiple locations.

Access Controls/Permissions

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Barcoding/RFID

Calendar Management

Cash Management

Commission Management

Credit Card Processing

Customer Accounts

Customer Database

Customizable Reports

Data Import/Export

Discount Management

eCommerce Management

Electronic Payments

Electronic Signature

Email Marketing

Employee Management

For iPad Devices

For Retail

Gift Card Management

Inventory Management

Inventory Replenishment

Inventory Tracking

Item Management

Layaway Management

Loyalty Program

Merchandise Management

Multi-Location

Order Management

Payment Processing

Point of Sale (POS)

Pricing Management

Promotions Management

Purchase Order Management

Receipt Management

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Retail Inventory Management

Retail Management

Retail POS

Returns Management

Returns Tracking

Sales Reports

Stock Management

Touch Screen

Most reviewers indicate that PHP Point of Sale delivers strong value for money, with affordable pricing and robust features. However, some users report concerns about recent price increases, extra costs for add-ons, and higher upgrade fees.

Value for money

The PHP Point of Sale integration most frequently cited by reviewers is WooCommerce, an eCommerce product rated 4.1 out of 5 for its integration with PHP Point of Sale.

Integrations

By industry, PHP Point of Sale reviewers are most commonly professionals in retail (36%). The most frequent use case cited is retail POS system (56% of reviewers).

Proprietary

PHP Point of Sale

Web-based

Android

iPhone

iPad

Square Point of Sale

Clover

Shopify POS

Lightspeed Retail

RepairDesk

WooPOS

Cloud

web engineer assistant

In addition, the rest of the team was able to generate invoices, manage customer orders and track inventory without problems, among that and more features. Although my main focus remains architecture, PHP Point of Sale has provided me with valuable experience in back office management and contributed to my professional growth.

As an architecture student intern at a construction company, although I was initially overwhelmed by web development, PHP Point of Sale's intuitive interface allowed me to learn quickly and perform tasks efficiently, yet I didn't take care of the rest of the development. .

From the little experience I had with PHP Point of Sale, it has been extremely positive despite the fact that it is not something in my area of study, and what I liked the most was its ability to manage inventories and generate detailed reports for the operational efficiency of the area.

President

It adapts to cell phones, laptops, tablets and you can access it from anywhere by creating a network that allows you to do it.

Manager

With a direct access to the database, I am able to create scripts & reports that help to cover the 20% of our needs.

We need more custom fields in the Expenses module where we can upload pdf, jpg files.

Founder

We started using it in our own stores and watched it grow of the last 11 years from a small opensource project to what it is today.  

We have used PHP for many years and, during the years, compared other systems to make sure we are still using a premium platform, which also resulted in staying the PHP.

license is all that is required per location even if you have 50 computers running POS.

System Administrator

lack of inbuilt deep invoice and receipt customization.

I will not stop using and recommending other businesses that cannot afford the high price Point of sale software to try PHP point of sale as they are getting better and better by the minute

I've implemented it in all 3 of my businesses with 3 different segments and use cases.  

Owner/Operator

The amount of features compared to the big players in this space for literally a fraction on the price.

Owner

They take the time to work through any issue(s) whether through instruction or logging on to help directly.  

The UI is super intuitive, an optimized for touch screens.

Like most businesses I also have a terminal for card transactions.

IT manager

We've invested a lot of time in customizing it for our specific needs.

The best implementation of a POS system that make retail business easy to manage and profit from.

Cash transactions required manual clicking to open.

Opensource where I can access the database directly.

Ease of use and installation is the most important, factor that with how [SENSITIVE CONTENT] listens and innovates and you have a winning POS that just works.

I had to write additional scripts to fill in the missing gap.

Director of I.T.

Even though in some instances there is no optimal resolution he always has a reply and suggestion.

The system is easy to get started and full of features that can be adjusted to the business requirements.

There are no hold music or keys to press.

You can work in the cloud or you can simply do it locally.

SENSITIVE CONTENT] is a "straight shooter" and replies to all my techy questions and needs promptly.

Simple, easy to use, if you have knowledge in Excel you can transfer products, suppliers and customers in seconds.

Everything from installation to features to customer support is exemplary

Offline mode could use some improvements.  

Fantastic tool for stores with lots of inventory.

This applies to me because I have few customers to whom I grant credit.

There was no remote access to the database.

As mentioned before I would like to see more versatility with the sales reports.

We run two computers on it simultaneously.

owner/Master Tech

Can't obtain a work order authorization signature and no before and after function check lists.

PHP is a perfect fit for me and my store!

Webmaster

Overall great for the value, ease of use, and inventory management.

I'm an active PHPPointofSale user for 3+ years now and I can say with confidence that this by far is one of the best POS systems I've used.  

Sometimes if correct wording for repairs isn't used it has a hard time finding them.

We haven't had any  issues with them yet.

Has a ton of features, not even all of which we use. And offers so much more compared to other POS systems, truly value for money.

Entrepreneur

The cashed money has to correspond with the sales made per day.

owner

We've used it on Windows pc's, ipads, and android devices.   As mentioned, they offer exceptional support, including a robust feature request/implementation feature.  

Pricing

Customer Support

Internet Access

Card Payments

User Interface

Code and Documentation

Features

Device Compatibility

Register and Accounts

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Freelancers

Most reviewers indicate that PHP Point of Sale offers strong value for money, especially for small businesses and those with multiple locations. They say the software is attractively priced compared to other POS systems, providing a wide range of features at a fraction of the cost. Users think the flexibility, ability to customize, and options for local hosting add to its cost-effectiveness. Most users consider the included functionalities—such as inventory management, multiple register support, and integration options—to be robust for the price point. Reviewers appreciate that the software is affordable, easy to use, and scales well with business growth. Some users report that the price was a key factor in their decision to choose PHP Point of Sale over more expensive competitors, and they find the ongoing costs reasonable. However, some reviewers find recent price increases concerning and feel that upgrade options, especially for cloud-based versions, can be expensive for smaller operations. Some users say that certain features require additional costs, and a few mention that the price has become less competitive over time. Reviewers indicate that while the base offering is good value, extra functionalities or add-ons may increase the total cost.

PHP Point Of Sale

Stripe

Stripe is a financial infrastructure platform that enables businesses to accept payments online and in person. It offers a suite of APIs for payment processing, subscription management, fraud prevention, and financial services integration Stripe provides both developer-focused tools with extensive documentation and no-code solutions for businesses without technical staff.

Shopify Point of Sale (POS) is a retail management system that integrates everything needed to run a successful brick-and-mortar or omnichannel business. The POS software and hardware work seamlessly together to streamline daily operations, from inventory management and staff controls to smooth checkout and detailed reporting.

SumUp

SumUp offers card readers and POS systems designed for small businesses across various industries. The platform provides comprehensive payment solutions including portable card readers, self-service kiosks, and invoicing capabilities. SumUp also features financial management tools such as business checking accounts and customer engagement options through gift cards and reward programs, all accessible through a single mobile application.

Sales manager 

One common complaint about PayPal Zettle is its customer support, which some users have found to be lacking in responsiveness and helpfulness.

Executive Assistant

PayPal Zettle's customer support options are limited, with no phone support available and email support only available during business hours.

Good health

Customer support is generally regarded as responsive and helpful, with users reporting prompt assistance and guidance in resolving any issues or inquiries. While there are areas for improvement, such as occasional connectivity issues, limited payment options, inventory management limitations, and occasional delays in transaction processing, these concerns are not prevalent across all user experiences.

Finance team

We (our team) may need to explore this function as we might be missing something, but it feels like this process could be streamlined as adding customer details when you have a queue of customers feels like it takes perhaps a little longer than is comfortable for customers.

The PayPal Here app is a mobile point of sale (POS) software designed to help businesses securely process debit or credit card payments and generate invoices. The application enables retailers and manufacturers to create and organize product lists and add details including photos and descriptions.

Billing & Invoicing

Compliance Management

Contactless NFC

Data Synchronization

For Restaurants

Inventory Optimization

Invoice Management

Mobile Access

Mobile App

Mobile Card Reader

PCI Compliance

Real-Time Reporting

Reminders

Restaurant POS

Sales Tax Management

Sales Trend Analysis

Search/Filter

Third-Party Integrations

Transaction History

Transaction Monitoring

Reviews for PayPal Point of Sale come from a wide variety of industries, including retail (9% of reviewers), education management (5%), and health, wellness and fitness (4%). The most frequent use case for PayPal Point of Sale cited by reviewers is mobile credit card processing (43% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Some users report that PayPal Point of Sale offers good value for money due to no monthly fees and affordable entry costs, and reviewers appreciate the transparent, flat-rate pricing. However, some reviewers feel transaction fees can be high, and users indicate unpredictable costs and recent fee increases reduce competitiveness.

The PayPal Point of Sale integration most frequently cited by reviewers is PayPal, a payment processing product rated 4.8 out of 5 for its integration with PayPal Point of Sale.

PayPal Point of Sale is a point of sale solution offering key features such as mobile access, payment processing, sales reporting, multilocation support, eCommerce management, and electronic signature capture, among others.

PayPal Point of Sale

Square Payments

PayPal

Lightspeed Restaurant

Basic

Connectivity and speed issues

Co Owner

We've been in a spot where service is weak and the app lags or crashes.

59% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s performance and speed. Users report frequent lag, slow loading times, and occasional app freezes, especially in areas with poor internet connectivity. Reviewers say that processing transactions can be delayed, and the need for a stable connection can hinder operations in certain environments. Some users mention issues with synchronization across devices and slow verification processes. They indicate that these performance problems disrupt workflow and add stress, particularly when handling time-sensitive transactions or serving customers in real-time.

High and unpredictable fees

43% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s pricing. Users frequently mention that transaction fees are higher than those of competitors, and the variety of charges can be confusing. Reviewers say that monthly subscriptions for certain features and fluctuating service fees reduce profitability, especially for small businesses. Some users feel that the overall cost makes PayPal less competitive, and the inability to customize rates for specific products or regions adds to their frustration. They indicate that the cumulative effect of fees is a significant drawback.

Slow and complex dispute handling

70% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s handling of refunds and disputes. Some users report that resolving payment issues or retrieving funds can be slow, sometimes taking weeks or even months. Reviewers indicate that the dispute process often favors buyers, and sellers may struggle to provide sufficient evidence. They say customer support is difficult to reach during disputes, and communication is frequently unhelpful or delayed. Users feel that account holds, verification delays, and overly sensitive fraud detection add to the frustration, making the process stressful and unpredictable.

Inconsistent customer support

Accounts Payable Specialist 

the customer support is terrible you can wait for hours to speak to someone and in most cases they will say they will have to look into it and get back to you but then they take days to weeks to get back to you.

44% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s customer support. Reviewers indicate that reaching support is often difficult, with long wait times and limited availability. Some users say responses are generic or automated, failing to address specific concerns. They report that resolving issues can be time-consuming, and support staff may lack the knowledge or authority to help effectively. Users feel that the lack of proactive assistance and inconsistent service quality can be especially problematic when dealing with account holds, disputes, or technical problems.

Challenging account and fund management

40% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s bank account management. Users report difficulties linking or verifying bank accounts, especially with international or non-US banks. Reviewers say that transferring funds can be slow, with delays of several days before money appears in their accounts. Some users mention account freezes, strict verification processes, and limitations on withdrawals or transfers. They indicate that resolving account access issues is often complicated, requiring additional steps or support, which disrupts business operations and personal access to funds.

PHP Point of Sale vs PayPal Point of Sale Comparison (2026)

PHP Point of Sale

PayPal Point of Sale

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives