Published October 7, 2026 · FirstFintech Editorial Team
What is SoftPOS?
SoftPOS is software that turns an NFC-enabled smartphone into a payment terminal, so a merchant can accept contactless cards and wallets without extra hardware. The customer taps their card or phone on the merchant's device, and the payment goes through like any other card payment.
The name stands for software point of sale. The phone's built-in NFC chip reads the contactless card or wallet, and the SoftPOS app sends the payment for authorization.
How is SoftPOS different from a POS terminal?
A POS terminal is dedicated payment hardware, while SoftPOS is an app on a phone or tablet. That makes it easy to take payments in store, at events or anywhere staff are on the move.
| POS terminal | SoftPOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Device | Dedicated payment hardware | An NFC smartphone or tablet |
| Getting started | A terminal for each till or seller | Install an app on a device you already have |
| Where it works | Mostly at the counter | In store, at events, on deliveries |
| Payments accepted | Cards and wallets | Contactless cards and wallets |
Is SoftPOS secure?
Yes, when it meets the PCI standards written for phone-based payments. PCI MPoC covers solutions that let merchants accept contactless payments and cardholder PINs on a smartphone or other commercial off-the-shelf device.
MPoC builds on two earlier PCI standards: CPoC for contactless payments on phones and SPoC for PIN entry on phones. When you evaluate a SoftPOS provider, ask which of these standards their solution follows.
Who is SoftPOS for?
Small merchants, delivery and field-sales teams, and event sellers who need to take card payments without buying terminals. Banks and acquirers use it to sign up merchants quickly, because there is no hardware to ship.
How does SoftPOS fit with an e-wallet and loyalty program?
SoftPOS works best as part of a wider payments setup. In FirstFintech's platform it is a feature of the e-wallet, runs through the payment gateway alongside online and QR payments, and can redeem loyalty points at the point of sale.
That means one merchant set-up covers online checkout, wallet and QR payments, and in-person SoftPOS payments, managed from the same Merchant Management System.
About the author
FirstFintech Editorial Team is the product and engineering team behind FirstFintech's digital banking, payments and AI platforms, serving 180+ clients since 2010. About FirstFintech
Planning to offer SoftPOS to your merchants? Talk to our payments team or see the FirstFintech e-wallet and SoftPOS.