Choosing Your POS Method
Showpass offers several ways to sell tickets on-site. A POS (point of sale) is the tool your staff uses to ring up a sale in person. The right one depends on the device your staff will be using and whether you need features like printing or self-serve. This guide gives you a side-by-side comparison and a quick decision tree.
If you're new to this, start with the Selling On-Site Overview for the short version.
POS methods at a glance
| Desktop App | iPad POS | Kiosk Mode | Mobile POS | Web Box Office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Installable Windows/macOS app | Showpass iPad app from the App Store | Self-serve mode within the iPad app | Showpass mobile app on any smartphone | Browser-based box office in the Showpass Dashboard |
| Runs on | Laptop or desktop computer | iPad | iPad | iOS or Android phone | Any device with a browser (Chrome preferred) |
| Best for | Full box office with in-app printing | Dedicated on-site sales with card payments and printing | Unattended self-serve stations | Roaming staff, small events | Quick setup, flexible hardware |
| General admission | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Assigned seating | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best available seating | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Card via Square Tap Reader | No | Yes (in-app) | Yes (via connected Tap reader) | No | No |
| Card via Square Terminal | Yes | Yes (in-app) | No | No | Yes |
| Manual card entry | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cash | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Add-ons / merch | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt printing | Yes (in-app, direct USB, Star Micronics) | Yes (in-app with Bluetooth Star MC Print-3) | No | No | Yes (with Star WebPRNT App) |
| Ticket printing | Yes (in-app, direct USB, BOCA; also in-app direct USB Star Micronics) | Yes (in-app with Bluetooth Star MC Print-3) | No | No | Yes (with Star WebPRNT App) |
| Auto check-in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline capability | No | No | No | Yes (scanning only) | No |
| Refunds on-device | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Supported in-app printers: Star MC Print-3 (MCP31 Bluetooth, or MCP30 wired only) and BOCA Lemur.
Choose by device
You have a laptop or desktop computer
Use the Desktop App. It supports card payments via Square Terminal, direct USB receipt and ticket printing (in-app), assigned seating, best available seating, add-ons, and refunds. Best for permanent box offices and high-volume printing. See Desktop App Guide.
You have an iPad or tablet
Use the iPad POS (Showpass app). All core selling features now live in the app, including in-app Square Terminal or Square Tap Reader and in-app printing. This is the primary on-site path for tablet-based setups. The iPad POS app is not compatible with Android tablets. See iPad & Tablet POS Guide.
Note: Earlier versions of the iPad app sent the customer over to the Square app to complete payment. That step is gone. Card payments now happen entirely inside the Showpass app via the paired Square Terminal.
If you want unattended self-serve ticket sales on a tablet, use Kiosk Mode within the same iPad app.
You have a smartphone
Use Mobile POS (Showpass app on iOS or Android). Best for roaming staff, small events, or as supplementary sales points at large events. Supports cash, comp, and manual card entry, but not Square Terminal or printing. See Mobile App Organizer Guide.
You only have a browser
Use Web Box Office. Open the Showpass Dashboard in Chrome (or another browser) and sell from there. No app install required. Printing runs through the Star Web PRNT helper app. Web PRNT still works for browser-based setups, though in-app printing in the Desktop App and iPad POS is the preferred path going forward. See Web Box Office Guide.
Choose by need
You need to accept card payments on-site
Desktop App, iPad POS, or Web Box Office all integrate with Square Terminal (Kiosk Mode does not). Web Box Office and Mobile POS also support manual card entry. Square Tap Reader works on iPad POS and Kiosk Mode.
You need printed receipts or tickets
Use the Desktop App (laptops) or iPad POS (tablets), both have in-app printing. Web Box Office in a browser on an iPad can print via Star Web PRNT as a fallback.
You want unattended self-serve kiosks
Use Kiosk Mode. Card payments via Square Tap Reader are required (no cash). Assigned seating, add-ons, and refunds are not supported.
You have roaming staff with phones
Use Mobile POS. Manual card entry and cash are supported. Square Terminal is not.
You want the simplest setup with no extra hardware
Use Web Box Office. Any device with a browser works. Good as a backup or temporary box office.
Quick decision tree
Do you plan to sell tickets on-site?
- No - you only need scanning. See Mobile App Organizer Guide.
- Yes - continue.
What device will staff be using?
- Laptop or desktop - Desktop App.
- iPad or tablet - iPad POS.
- Phone - Mobile POS.
- Browser only - Web Box Office.
Do you need printed tickets or receipts?
- Yes - stick with Desktop App or iPad POS (in-app printing).
- No - any method works.
Do you want self-serve kiosks for attendees?
- Yes - iPad app with Kiosk Mode.
Combining methods
You can use multiple POS methods at the same event. A common setup: Desktop App at a permanent main box office, iPad POS at secondary entry points, Mobile POS with roaming staff for overflow. All sales sync to the same Showpass Dashboard in real time.