Compare
Cloud POS vs desktop POS
Desktop POS software is installed on one computer in the shop and usually sold as a licence. Cloud POS keeps your data online and runs on any device. Each has trade-offs; here is how they compare.
Side by side
| Desktop POS | Cloud POS (Revoluno) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Licence, installation and often a PC | None — from US$5 a month |
| Ongoing cost | Annual support and upgrade fees | Monthly subscription, updates included |
| Devices | The computer it is installed on | Phone, tablet, PC or POS terminal |
| Internet outage | Keeps working locally | Keeps selling offline and syncs later |
| Several branches | Often a separate install per branch | All branches in one account |
| Seeing sales away from the shop | Usually not | From any device, any time |
| Backups | Your responsibility | Handled for you |
Which should you choose?
Desktop POS made sense when internet access was rare. Today the main argument for it, working offline, is covered by cloud tills that sync when the connection returns. For most small and growing businesses, cloud POS costs less to start and less to grow.