thread Re: POS Alternative to iPad in Payments Troubleshooting

POS Alternative to iPad

SmallBatches — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:53:13 GMT

I currently use an iPad for my POS, which can no longer be updated. My question is can I use a Chromebook (Acer brand) with my Bluetooth contactless reader and do the same thing? Ring up orders, take cards, etc.
Thanks in advance for your help. As a very small business owner, a new iPad is not in the budget so trying to find an alternative.

Missy, Owner

Small Batches Soap

Re: POS Alternative to iPad

Donnie-M — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:29:17 GMT

@SmallBatches Good news/bad news. It isn't officially supported on a chromebook, but some have gotten it to work, but you will not be able to pair the contactless reader.

The good news is just about any phone and most android tablets work just fine with the point of sale software. So you should be able to find something that will work for you in a pinch to get by. I always have the app on my phone in case something goes down. I have a Galaxy s24 ultra and I can even tap on my phone.

Re: POS Alternative to iPad

Candlestore — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:01:56 GMT

@SmallBatches ;

I just tried this with my Bluetooth reader on an Acer Chromebook 315 through Chrome, and was not able to connect by Bluetooth or USB to my card reader. Now when I installed the Square App then went through installing a new reader in Square App on the Acer chrome book it worked through Bluetooth. In the App from the Play store my reader does work by Bluetooth and USB.

Just make sure on the Chromebook you download the Square APP as the reader will not work through the Chrome Browser.

If you have a Chromebook try it with the App and make sure your Chrombook has the required ports being a USB or a Bluetooth connection. Some Chromebooks do not have these connections from my understanding.

Other options could be:

Now you could use a cell phone to keep costs down to connect to the Bluetooth Reader.

You can also look into buying a Refurbished Ipad that connects to Wifi only for cost savings also.

I actually have to of the Refurbished Wifi only styles in 2 Square stands since 2019. Since my cell plan was set to renew, I was also able to upgrade my old Android Tablet to a New Ipad with cell signal for $99.00, plus my current data plan that was on the android tablet. Just giving you other ideas since the Bluetooth to Chromebook seems like it does not work.

Re: POS Alternative to iPad

JJ_ — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:38:33 GMT

Thank you for jumping and providing a real-life example @Candlestore ✨

Not every device will be compatible with our hardware. We recommend starting with some device and app troubleshooting:

We test as many devices as we can, @SmallBatches - you can confirm device compatibility prior to purchasing hardware by looking for your device here. If the device is not listed here, that means we haven't tested it and cannot guarantee compatibility.