Cafizio vs Loyverse
Loyverse is the free POS many cafes start with — and a genuinely good one. The differences appear when you need staff management or advanced inventory (paid monthly add-ons on Loyverse) and when the internet drops. Cafizio includes everything in one lifetime license.
| Feature | Cafizio | Loyverse |
|---|---|---|
| Software pricing model | One-time lifetime license per device ($200) — everything included | Free core app; employee management and advanced inventory are paid monthly add-ons |
| Staff management (PINs, roles, shift tracking) | Included in the license | Paid monthly add-on, billed per employee |
| Advanced inventory (purchase tracking, alerts, audit trail) | Included in the license | Basic stock is free; advanced inventory is a paid monthly add-on per store |
| What you pay over 5 years | One payment, then $0 | $0 if the free tier is enough; recurring monthly fees once you need add-ons |
| Works without internet | Offline-first: a local database on the device is the source of truth, cloud sync is automatic | Offline mode for sales with sync when reconnected (cloud-first design) |
| Card payment processing | Any bank terminal or cash — no processor involvement | Also processor-flexible: integrated partners or any external terminal |
| Hardware | Your own Android phones/tablets, iPads, standard POS terminals (CITAQ, ACLAS…) | Your own Android/iOS devices too |
| Owner remote monitoring | Manager companion app included (sales, stock, staff in real time) | Back office and dashboard app available |
| Free trial | 15 days, full features, no credit card | Free plan; add-ons have a 14-day trial |
Competitor details reflect publicly listed Loyverse pricing and documentation as of mid-2026 and may change; always verify current terms on loyverse.com. Cafizio has no affiliation with Loyverse.
Choose Cafizio if…
- You need staff PINs, shift tracking, or serious inventory — on Loyverse those are recurring monthly add-ons; in Cafizio they are part of the one-time license.
- You want a predictable, ownable cost: pay once per device and stop thinking about software bills.
- Your connection is unstable: Cafizio treats the local database as the source of truth, not a fallback.
- You run delivery orders and want customer details and delivery fees printed on the receipt out of the box.
Choose Loyverse if…
- You are just starting out, budget is zero, and the free feature set (basic sales + stock) covers your counter today.
- You want an established product with years of reviews and a large user community.
- You prefer paying nothing up front and accept monthly add-on fees later as you grow.
Cafizio vs Loyverse: common questions
Is Loyverse really free?
The core POS app is genuinely free. The recurring costs appear when you grow: employee management is a paid monthly add-on billed per employee, and advanced inventory is a paid monthly add-on billed per store. Cafizio includes staff management and inventory in its one-time license, so the price never grows with your team.
Which is more reliable when the internet drops?
Both handle offline sales, but the architecture differs. Loyverse is cloud-first with an offline mode that syncs when you reconnect. Cafizio is offline-first: the local database on your device is the primary store, and the cloud is the backup — so every feature, including reports, works with zero internet.
Can I move my products from Loyverse to Cafizio?
Yes. Export your item list from Loyverse, adapt it to the Cafizio Excel template, and import it in minutes. The 15-day free trial lets you test Cafizio alongside Loyverse before switching your counter.
When does Loyverse become more expensive than Cafizio?
The moment you subscribe to add-ons. For example, employee management for a handful of staff plus advanced inventory can add up to several hundred dollars per year, every year. A one-time Cafizio license typically costs less than two years of those add-ons — and after that the difference is pure savings.
Try Cafizio free for 15 days
Full features, no credit card. Run it next to your current POS and keep whichever earns its place on the counter.