Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.
From a firm you presumably already know, ADT Identity Protection is an intriguing service. ADT as a company already defends consumers from genuine thieves attempting to break into your home and steal your possessions as a reputable name in home security, with their alarm systems, video cameras, and motion detectors. You might just be more inclined to trust ADT to protect your personal information because of its well-established reputation and credibility.
In order to safeguard your credit card information, banking information, credit history, and other sensitive information, ADT Identity Protection offers a very well-established feature set. The monitoring and theft detection are well worth the fair price, despite some minor niggles along the way, for example, the fact that you can only access your credit score only once a year.
ADT Identity Protection: Plans and pricing
When you subscribe, the price is a fair $9.99 per month, and you might be wondering if there is a catch. That is $20 less than the premium plans, such as Norton LifeLock, and around half the price of some other comparable programs. It's also important to note that ADT only provides the single tier of plan, and neither a free tier nor a free trial are offered. This simplified pricing structure is easier to deal with, but consumers looking for more plan options should look elsewhere.
(Image credit: ADT)
ADT Identity Protection: Reimbursement
Identity theft protection insurance with ADT Identity Protection is included for up to $1 million. This can cover the cost of recovering your identity as well as any direct losses due to theft. According to ADT, recovering from identity theft takes an average of 104 hours per victim.
Additional services include Dark Web to identify your personal information for sale or use in fraud, monitoring for a change of address, and public record monitoring to see if your identity is used for criminal activity. These services are in addition to monthly credit score assessments and daily credit monitoring for changes to credit information and any new account openings.
You don't need to sign any long-term contracts or become an ADT home security subscriber in order to use ADT Identity Protection. This contrasts with Complete ID, one of our other top selections for inexpensive IT theft protection, which costs $8.99/month, but requires a Costco membership. It may take weeks or even months for ADT's subscription to become fully active, which is a warning that likely applies to every other identity theft protection program. This could imply that you are paying your membership dues while you are waiting patiently to become fully enrolled.
It reads this way: “Credit score tracking and non-credit monitoring require an additional enrollment and services aren't available until you are fully enrolled.” While no one wants to pay for a service they are not receiving, ADT at least makes this clear before signing up for the service. This could be an indicator of their truthfulness in their other disclosures.
ADT Identity Protection: Interface
ADT Identity Protection's user interface is rather standard, with a predominantly white background and tabs along the left to access the key features. It won't win any awards for being particularly creative. Despite this, it doesn't appear overly antiquated or like a tax program. It's interesting that the app doesn't quite resemble the home security interface you may be accustomed to. The ADT emblem is a well-known blue color that you may have noticed in the yards of people who utilize the home security system. The interface's primary goal is to make it simple for you to locate functions. However, without the status updates and wizards that make Norton LifeLock a little bit more user-friendly ADT appears a little too simple for our taste.
(Image credit: ADT)
ADT Identity Protection: Features
ADT Identity Protection has you covered for the essential security measures for preventing identity theft. There are all the standard solutions for fraud detection and credit monitoring. Along with some of the most popular "extras" for examining and keeping track of your passport and other forms of identification, you'll find all the entry-level features for spotting activity on a bank account or credit card. Nothing groundbreaking here, but for $9.99 a month, it's unquestionably a solid starting point.
Only one annual report is available, although many of the best identity theft prevention programs, like Equifax Complete, offer a monthly credit score update. At this pricing point, ADT Identity Protection does offer $1 million in theft protection insurance, which is unique. Other applications frequently have lower prices but only provide $100,000 to $500,000 in identity theft insurance.
ADT Identity Protection: The competition
Although it isn't the most complete tool in this category, ADT Identity Protection isn't at the bottom of the list of identity protection apps either.
IdentityForce and Norton LifeLock provide more functionality and a better user experience in our opinion. But there is much to be said for picking a value play offering that focuses on the essentials. If you are experiencing identity theft issues and are unsure of who to contact, ADT is a reputable security provider with the staff and financial capacity to assist you. In fact, according to ADT, you can reach a fraud resolution specialist with just one call. While it's debatable that Experian and Equifax have better apps with more features, both have had well-publicized data breaches, and their premium plans—which include credit scores and insurance—are significantly more expensive.
ADT Identity Protection: Final verdict
This means that signing up for ADT Identity Protection and getting the best identity theft protection available is not a foregone conclusion. It may meet your needs if it provides the essentials from a reliable source at a reasonable price.
It's crucial to note that signing up for ADT Identity Protection has no obligations that we are aware of, and you can cancel at any moment without having to pay for the home security services. Personal identity protection may serve as a lead generator for home security goods, but since these services are all stand-alone, you don't have to fall for the trap or feel compelled to utilize ADT.
There are many reasons why you’d want to explore architectural software. The most obvious one, is because you’re a builder and need software to plan your next project.
But in my experience, even some of the best architecture software is aimed at the more casual designer. The ones who have fun visualising their existing home, with new furniture, or perhaps planning with a new extension.
Although Home Designer Suite can easily deal with the latter, despite being the cheapest in Chief Architect’s range, it’s clearly more aimed for the former, and best of all, it’s available for both Mac and Windows. How does it compare to the best interior design software (and even the best landscaping software)? I tested out the latest version to find out.
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2025: Pricing and plans
Compared to its most expensive alternatives, the Home Designer Suite is affordable software, and the tools it offers are quite extensive, but if you're still unsure, download the trial version
Home Designer comes in three flavours, Suite, Architectural and Pro. The prices for the two higher end models can feel pretty steep, with Architectural clocking in at $249, while Pro is almost eye watering at $595 (although that one also has a rental option for $59 a month).
By contrast, at $129, Suite feels much more affordable. But don't be lured into thinking a cheaper versions means fewer available tools: the standard set which is available across the range, is quite extensive, and includes features such as smart cabinets (objects know where they are in relation to the walls and to each other, and automatically face the right way as you add them), and the automation of building walls, roofs, stairs, floors, and even external landscaping, including customised elevation and vegetation. Various 3D views and CAD tools are also part and parcel of even the cheapest version.
If you’re looking for more custom options, such as specific wall types, custom backsplashes and countertops, and features such as curved decks, then Architectural will be better suited to you, and if you need printable construction document layout sheets, a master list material, pricing management tool, and advanced customisation, then Pro would be the only way to go. But if your needs are more, shall we say, modest, you’ll find Suite to be incredibly capable. Even better, Chief Architect has a free trial of Suite, which you can get by handing over your email address.
Score: 4/5
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2025: Interface
The default interface is designed to help you create a home quickly and with precision (Image credit: Chief Architect)
The designers have managed to cram all the tools you’d need in a small interface. It can make it a bit daunting at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll be flying - or rather, building…
Looking at the latest version of Home Designer Suite, you’ll be hard pressed to notice what's different this time. As before, your screen is divided into multiple sections, the largest part of which is dedicated to your design, with all the tools you need crammed in a sidebar to the left, rows of icons at the top, and a library on the right. It’s not an unfair assessment to state that if you’re new to design software, you could easily feel intimidated, but not only will you be able to find your way around pretty quickly, Chief Architect also offers a series of tutorial videos to help you hit the ground running.
Home Designer was made to hide the complexities of what you’re building, helping you focus on the fun part: creating. Walls are created by clicking and dragging, or by clicking on an existing wall’s dimensions to fine tune its length, or by dragging said wall to another position. If you add another wall close to an existing one, Home Designer is clever enough to seamlessly join them together. The beauty here, aside from the nearly effortless design process, is that a list of all the needed materials, although mostly hidden from you, is available to let you know how much to order, be it bricks, insulation, felt, timber, etc.
Not only that, once you've completed the walls for your house, the software automatically adds a basic roof, framing and foundations for you. If this feels like too much hand-holding, rest assured you remain fully in control over the entire design process: click on an item to select it, and drag its edges to resize it, or double-click on it to open a new window containing the chosen object’s changeable parameters, which you're obviously free to alter.
Score: 4/5
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2025: Tools
A 3D-like view helps you navigate through your design, and carry on customizing it (Image credit: Chief Architect)
You have a vast array of tools and views to work with, which allow you to design an entire house, both inside and out, with surprising ease
By default, you’re working in a top-down view, just as if you were designing blueprints, although whichever view you choose, even a 3D one, you’ll still be able to work on your design, and add and amend any object you bring to it. You’re also able to label parts of your creation, making it easy to see where everything will go, and what everything is supposed to be.
Additional views include ‘Doll House’, which removes the roof and lets you get a bird’s eye view of each floor. ‘Perspective’ includes the roof along with any outdoor landscaping you’ve created. ‘Glass House’ is perhaps the oddest one: everything, and we do mean everything, is now made of glass and is therefore see through.
Now fun though it is to add walls, windows and doors, choose their materials, height, thickness, etc, if you really want to bring your design to life, you need furniture, and rest assured: on that front, Chief Architect has you covered. They have a massive library of every conceivable piece of furniture. Not all of them are available by default, but you can easily download the ones you’re looking for as and when you need then (you’ll need to set up an account, but this, along with many objects you’re able to download, is also free). Additionally, a visit to the site's gallery will also reveal a slew of extra items you can download. Every item you add is fully customisable.
One such customisation is being able to choose the material an object is made of. You get to do this with the ‘Material Painter’ tool (cheekily represented by a spray paint icon). Such decoration can be applied to absolutely anything: tea pots, pianos, windows, walls, you name it. Home Designer doesn't care: you want a wall made out of grass and bluebells? Spray away.
And speaking of grass and bluebells, designing a house from scratch and furnishing it to your liking is already pretty impressive, but Home Designer also lets you go beyond, and create the surrounding gardens. You can alter the elevation, add paths, and plants - although we did notice that unlike many of the indoor furniture we experimented with, it seems most plants come at a cost.
Score: 4.5/5
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2025 : What’s New
Fill your home with furniture, objects, specific materials, the options are almost limitless (and most are free) (Image credit: Chief Architect)
Aside from the Undo History panel, which is useful for any project, none of the new features are truly must-have additions, but they do add welcomed improvements to an already impressive application
All of these tools have been available for a few years now, and although version 2025 isn’t radical in terms of new features, it does bring some interesting features to the table. Some of which affect the software system-wide, such as gaining access to the 'Undo Action History’, which is very similar to how Photoshop does it, and makes it easy to go through multiple undo's in a single step.
Other improvements include being able to choose a thumbnail for a plan file, or select how often files are archived. When it comes to designing, you have more automation when building a deck for instance, corner shelves are now a thing, as are electrical connections for fixtures. It’s not earth shattering, but every tweak, every improvement, adds to an already highly impressive application.
Should I buy Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2025?
Those who live in glass houses... can see right through everything, even cars (Image credit: Chief Architect)
Buy it if...
You need to design a building, need to be as meticulous as you can, as well as being able to decorate your project as you see fit with a plethora of objects to furnish your virtual home.
Don't buy it if...
You just want to play around, in a SIMS-like way, and don’t really need all the professional tools that come as standard with this software.
Wix is an Israeli company best known for developing a website builder. The main Wix platform allows anyone to create a personal or business website without having deep programming knowledge. It’s a drag-and-drop builder that a technical layman can understand. You can use it to build portfolio websites, school websites, membership websites, online stores, etc.
Wix got into point-of-sale systems much later than many competitors. The company unveiled its point-of-sale system in 2021 by partnering with Stripe, a payments processor, and HP, a hardware manufacturer. Businesses can use the solution to charge customers’ cards and collect payments with ease. However, it’s only available in the U.S. and Canada currently.
Wix POS offers a wide range of point of sale, e-commerce and website pricing plans (Image Credit: Wix) (Image credit: Wix)
The main fees to consider in any point-of-sale system are hardware fees, software fees, and payment processing fees.
Hardware fees are what you’ll pay upfront for the hardware required to process payments. A full suite of POS hardware includes a card reader or payment terminal, tablet, charging dock, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and cash drawer. Some of these items aren’t compulsory, e.g., the cash drawer and charging dock, but they make it easier to process payments.
The good thing about choosing Wix is that the company offers bundles of hardware made by HP and Stripe, including
The Complete Retail POS Package: This includes a 14-inch HP tablet for customer display, a cash drawer, a barcode scanner, a receipt printer, and a Stripe card reader and charging dock. The bundle costs $850, which is cheaper than ordering the items individually.
Your Retail Essentials: This includes the HP tablet and Stripe card reader and charging dock. It costs $630.
A Stripe Card Reader + Dock for $98.
You can also order a cash drawer individually for $78, USB Terminal Scanner for $95, and a Terminal Receipt Printer for $130, all made by HP.
Unlike many other platforms, Wix does not charge additional monthly fees for its point-of-sale software. However, you will need to subscribe to a Wix Premium account to receive payments, and you can choose from one of three plans;
- Business Basic for $17 per month
- Business Unlimited for $26 per month
- Business VIP for $35 per month
You’ll also pay a fee on every in-person transaction facilitated by Wix; 2.6% + 0 USD for American users and 2.7% + 0 CAD for Canadian users. Canadian businesses can also use Interac e-Transfer to accept payments and pay a flat 0.15 CAD per transaction.
(Image credit: Wix)
Wix POS: Features
Hardware
A good thing about Wix is that it offers a hardware bundle, so users don’t need to stress about choosing the necessary hardware to receive payments. The hardware bundle includes
Stripe Card Reader M2
The Reader M2 is a card reader made by Stripe, a popular payments processing company. This card reader is compact and easy to handle. You can use it to charge customers' cards with ease; they can either insert, swipe, or authorize their cards to authorize the payment.
This card reader works with all major credit cards and comes with end-to-end encryption to protect customer information. It's battery-powered, and a full charge can last you a whole business day.
Wix offers a 14-inch display tablet made by HP, a well-known computing manufacturer. This tablet is where you'll display information about purchases to the customer. You can select the items they want to buy and automatically calculate the price. Then, customers can confirm the price and pay easily through their cards.
Barcode Scanner
Wix also offers a barcode scanner built by HP. This scanner translates barcodes into numbers and letters, so you can use the scanner to retrieve the prices of items automatically. This process is far easier than typing into the software to detect the price of an item.
You can also purchase additional POS hardware if needed (Image Credit: Wix) (Image credit: Wix)
Payment Processing
Wix offers its own payment processing solution aptly called Wix Payments. This solution is what lets you collect money from customers’ cards and send it to your own account. It works with all major debit and credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, etc. You can also integrate Klarna, a “buy now, pay later” app, to let customers split their purchases into multiple payments (but you receive the total amount upfront).
Of course, Wix takes a fee for using its payment processing solution.
(Image credit: Wix)
Wix POS: Interface and use
If there’s something that Wix is very good at, it’s user-friendliness. The original Wix platform was built to enable non-technical people to create websites, and user-friendliness wasn’t negotiable. Wix’s point-of-sale software has an intuitive and visually appealing interface that you’ll likely find enjoyable.
(Image credit: Wix)
Wix POS: Support
Wix offers direct customer care through email, live chat, and telephone. You can log into your account and file a complaint, and support personnel will get back to you through email or telephone. Live chat is available in some regions and in many languages including English, French, Dutch, Italian, Hebrew, etc.
Wix POS hardware can be used in a variety of business types (Image Credit: Wix) (Image credit: Wix)
Wix POS: The competition
Lightspeed and Shopify POS are two main competitors to Wix’s point-of-sale solution. Both of them offer more features than Wix and are more suitable solutions for large-volume retailers. Wix is a smarter choice for smaller retailers because it’s more affordable, but it has limited features outside of processing payments, unlike Lightspeed and Shopify.
Wix POS: Final verdict
Wix is an okay point-of-sale solution. It does one job and does it well; processing payments. But, if you’re the type that needs many complementary features such as inventory management and customer loyalty tools, then you’ll be best served by other point-of-sale software.
Many software packages and services let you design the perfect house, complete with plumbing, electrics, furniture, and more. Some even go further and expand their canvas to allow you to design the surrounding landscape.
Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Pro 2025 does things differently, focussing primarily on the landscape itself, and its features and quite impressive. it's easily one of the best landscape design software tools around - as long as you own a Windows PC, the only platform it supports.
You can download Realtime Landscaping Pro from Idea Spectrum by clicking here.
Realtime Landscaping Pro 2025: Pricing and plans
Fine tune your design with numerous changeable parameters (Image credit: Idea Spectrum )
Far from the cheapest landscaping software out there, but at least you own it outright: no subscription deals, plus you can download a trial version to check it out
Idea Spectrum deserves praise for not treating their software as a service they can let out. Instead, you need to purchase Realtime Landscaping Pro outright - the old fashioned way - for $279. This is quite refreshing in this day and age. Yes, you have to pay more upfront, but that’s one less rental you have to deal with every month.
Additionally, you can upgrade from a previous version: Pro owners of versions 2011 to 2023 can do so for $129, whereas Plus owners from 2011 to 2025 have to pay $149 to get the latest version of Pro.
If you wish to try the software out for yourself, you can also download a free trial which limits some of the features, but will give you a good feel for what’s on offer.
Score: 3.5/5
Realtime Landscaping Pro 2025: Interface
Design your home in minutes thanks to the help of one of Realtime Landscaping Pro’s handy wizards (Image credit: Idea Spectrum )
A clean, easy to understand interface, with multiple views and handy wizards to speed up the design process
Realtime Landscaping Pro is designed for you to work in a 3D environment. Should you prefer to focus on a 2D space, Idea Spectrum also offers ‘Realtime Landscaping Photo’ as an alternative.
The interface is very standard: all your tools can be found on a sidebar to the left, with all the objects you can add being located at the top, broken down by category, such as Terrain, Water Features, Utilities, and Building (yes, you can add buildings to your design; you just can’t venture into them). The left side of the interface is your Inspector, showing all of a selected object’s changeable parameters.
Since you can’t explore the inside of the house, you’d be forgiven for thinking the options available for designing the outside might be limited. Although a lot is automated for you, you have a heck of a lot of customisation capabilities. From setting up the structure, to adding windows, guttering, lights, it’s pretty much all there. Plus you can change the types of material, their colour, the wall heights, the pitch of the roof, etc. Everything you need to make a building look great - from the outside. You also have the ability to add ‘window facades’ that make it seem like your house has an interior when looking through the windows.
There are three separate views at your disposal, all accessible via buttons, lower left of the interface: ‘Plan’ is a top-down view - selected by default; ’Perspective’, allows you to see elevation and work in a 3D environment, which we found helped us design better. The third view is called ‘Walkthrough’, and is really there for you to peruse your creation using your mouse and keyboard. As the project is rendered in high quality, there is no way to alter it in that view.
On the whole, the interface is clear, and easy to understand, giving you a large canvas in the centre of the interface to design your project. Should you feel at a loss, Idea Spectrum offers a series of online tutorials to help you familiarise yourself with what’s on offer.
In order to facilitate the design process further, Realtime Landscaping Pro comes with various wizards. One is used for creating houses, as mentioned above, but others are also available to quickly create landscapes, decks, ponds, accents and swimming pools. The concept is very simple: choose a template, place it onto your project and more often than not, you’re done. These templates are fully customisable of course, to help them blend in more perfectly with your landscape.
Score: 4/5
Realtime Landscaping Pro 2025: Planting
You’ve got over 6,000 plants to choose from, and customize to suit your needs (Image credit: Idea Spectrum )
An unbelievable inventory of plants which you can customise, choose their size, and set their look. You also have control over the time of day, and season. Your customisation options are as impressive as the number of plants available
Software designed to recreate an outdoor environment should be well stocked when it comes to flora, and this is exactly what Realtime Landscaping Pro offers. You have at your disposal over 6,000 plants, subdivided by category such as Annuals, Succulent, Tropical, etc, to make it easier to find what you’re after. But with so many to choose from, you’ll be grateful for that handy search field as well!
But that’s not all: you get to choose plants ideal for the geographical location you’re designing in - or not - the choice is completely up to you, as you add trees and shrubs that can look great together, but might not survive in the real world. You also get to choose each plant’s age, which mostly just alters their height, as well as the season you’re working in. This is set for your overall design, but you can also supersede that choice for each plant individually if you’re looking for an unusual and striking look, such as having plants displaying their spring appearance, next to others in the fall. Essentially, you can be as realistic and accurate as you please, or as fanciful as you desire.
This level of control extends to the weather, time of day, season, and even the phase of the moon. All of this is available through the ‘Settings’ menu.
You’ll find that each category has a ‘Currently Used’ section, which allows you to reuse objects currently in your project, elsewhere. This only works on your current project though. Should you wish to use the same plants in multiple projects, that’s where the ‘Favourites’ section comes in, making it easy to locate items once, and use them again and again in future works.
Score: 5/5
Realtime Landscaping Pro 2025: Objects, people, and animation
Change the weather and time of day to suit your needs (Image credit: Idea Spectrum )
You also have a large list of materials, objects and people to further refine your design, and bring your creation to life with a few fun animations
Plants are but the start of your designing journey. Realtime Landscaping Pro also contains a generous library of 3D objects, from lawn furniture, to cars, as well as a wealth of materials you can use for your walls, driveways, and more.
But what we particularly enjoyed was how you can bring your design to life through animation. Water can shimmer, and fountains flow, for instance. But people - and even animals - can be animated as well. Some can walk, others jog, and a few even swim. Set a path for them to follow and they’ll repeat their action on a loop. Even those sitting or lying around will have some kind of animation set for them, like a head tilt, or a hand movement. All of these help your creation come to life when exploring it in Walkthrough.
Speaking of Walkthrough, you’re able to create movies meandering through your project, although you don’t actually control the movement through your keyboard and mouse, but rather by setting a path for the camera to follow. You can even connect it to an Oculus Rift.
As it stands, this software is very versatile with a wealth of features. It’s simple enough for casual users to have fun with, yet versatile enough for professional use, creating your dream garden, virtually, complete with seasons, and fun animations.
Score: 4/5
Should I buy Realtime Landscaping Pro?
Set up a video path around your project to create a movie of your design (Image credit: Idea Spectrum )
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a detailed landscaping tool with a wealth of features to help you design the project of your (or your clients’) dreams.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t fancy playing with so many features that you can get lost in the minutia, and you find the animations superfluous and creepy.
Using a password manager is crucial if you want to protect your important information and ensure that you’re covered if you forget one of those all-important codes. If you’re looking for the best password manager, consider 1Password. This app has a strong business pedigree, with companies like IBM, GitLab, and Slack trusting the software to keep passwords secure and consistent. With customers like that, it’s undeniably a top option for your family or organization.
Like any technology solution, 1Password has its mix of advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of using 1Password to help you decide if it's the right password manager.
One of 1Password’s most significant advantages is its strong focus on security. It utilizes end-to-end encryption, meaning your data is encrypted before it leaves your device and can only be decrypted with your Master Password, which 1Password does not store or have access to. This approach minimizes the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
1Password boasts a sleek and intuitive interface that simplifies password management whether using the desktop app, browser extension, or mobile app, navigating through your data and accessing your passwords is straightforward and hassle-free.
With the increasing importance of two-factor authentication (2FA), 1Password's ability to generate and store one-time passwords (OTPs) is a significant plus. This feature enhances security and consolidates your login and 2FA data in one spot.
Another notable advantage of 1Password is the ability to securely share passwords and sensitive information with family members or team members. Depending on your subscription plan, you can control who can access specific items, ensuring that sensitive data is only shared with authorized individuals.
1Password supports various devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. It also offers extensions for popular web browsers, ensuring you can access your passwords no matter where or what device you're using.
Unlike some competitors offering a free version, 1Password operates on a subscription model. While there is a 14-day free trial, long-term use requires a subscription. This ongoing cost may be a drawback for users who prefer a one-time purchase or a free solution.
For users new to password managers, the array of features and settings with 1Password can be overwhelming at first. While user-friendly, there's a learning curve to utilize all its functionalities efficiently.
While 1Password's free trial allows users to explore its features, it could be more robust in functionality compared to the full version. This limitation might not provide a comprehensive user experience assessing the tool's capabilities.
For the highly security-conscious, storing sensitive information in the cloud (even with solid encryption) might be a concern due to the theoretical risks of cloud breaches. Although 1Password's security is top-notch, the very nature of cloud storage can be a deal-breaker for some.
Certain features of 1Password, such as accessing your password vault from a new device, require an internet connection. While you can view and use stored passwords offline, initial setup and synchronization across devices need the internet.
We’ve evaluated 1Password’s family and business plans to see if this app is worth using – or if you should seek out a competitor instead. And if you want to explore those alternatives, take a look at our roundup of the best business password managers.
(Image credit: 1Password)
1Password: Plans and pricing
1Password offers different plans tailored to fit individual and business needs. Let's take a closer look:
For Individuals and Families
* Individual Plan (from $2.99 per month): Designed for one person, this plan includes access to all devices, protection for your data, and around-the-clock email support.
* Family Plan ($4.99 per month for up to five): This plan is ideal for household use. It has all the features of the individual plan but allows you to share passwords, credit cards, secure notes, and more with family members.
For Teams and Businesses
* Teams Plan ($20 per month for up to 10 users): Built for collaboration, this plan provides features that help manage team access to shared vaults, with admin controls and secure document storage.
* Business Plan ($8 per user per month): Tailored for larger organizations, the business plan includes everything from the Teams plan and additional advanced tools for security audits, custom roles, and more.
1Password may also offer unique plans, typically discounted, targeted at specific users, such as students, educators, or non-profit organizations.
1Password: Setup
As a leading password manager that simplifies password management while bolstering security, setting up 1Password in a work environment is a strategic move towards enhancing your company's digital security posture. In this guide, we'll walk you through every step of the process.t
Before diving into the setup, it's crucial to understand why 1Password is an asset for any organization. It goes beyond storing passwords - 1Password can manage secure notes, documents, and credentials, ensuring that all sensitive information is kept within a tamper-proof digital vault. Additionally, it enhances productivity by streamlining the login process for various work tools and platforms, reducing the time employees spend managing their passwords.
Step 1: Sign Up and Create Your Account
Begin by visiting the 1Password website and signing up for the plan that best suits your organization's needs. During this process, you'll create an account that will serve as the main administrative hub for managing your team or business.
Step 2: Configure Your Vault
Upon setting up your account, the next step is to configure your vaults. Vaults are secure containers where items like passwords, notes, and documents are stored. You can create multiple vaults for different departments or projects to keep your organization's data organized and accessible to the right people.
Step 3: Adding Users and Groups
After your vaults are configured, you'll need to add your team members. This can be done individually or in bulk through an invitation link or email. Additionally, consider setting up groups for easier management, allowing you to assign vault access to entire teams rather than individual users manually.
Step 4: Establish Security Policies
One of the key benefits of 1Password is the ability to customize security policies. This includes enforcing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), setting password strength requirements, and configuring other security settings tailored to your organization's security guidelines.
Step 5: Training and Support
With your 1Password setup complete, the final and crucial step is training your team. Ensure that everyone understands how to use 1Password effectively, including storing and managing passwords, using the browser extension, and accessing their vaults. Take advantage of the resources and support provided by 1Password for a smooth transition.
(Image credit: 1Password)
1Password: Interface and performance
1Password provides convenient access on virtually all devices. Along with mobile apps for iOS and Android, the platform also provides desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus a command-line tool and extensions for popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Safari. There are also some more quirky options, like Apple Watch support.
It’s a very intuitive app. On the left-hand side, there’s a navigation column that allows users to access their private or shared vaults, tutorials, and their popular passwords. Here you’ll also find the Watchtower, which keeps track of security breaches and lets you know if your details have been compromised. In the main window, you can see all your passwords, messages or alerts, and the search box – which is extremely fast.
Adding new passwords is simple and comprehensive. You’re able to choose from more than two dozen security categories – from straightforward login and credit card details to medical records and passports – and each category collects different kinds of relevant information. It makes creating passwords easier – and speeds up categorization, too.
This is a highly responsive app, too, with changes on one device showing up on other devices almost instantaneously. We’re really fond of the small highlights than run across the top of the UI and throughout the experience, such as Wi-Fi passwords, medical records, identity information, and payment details.
Logging in online is a little more of a task than it is with other password managers. You still use your master password to get in, but you also need to authorize it by copying and pasting a so-called secret key to verify it’s you. We feel this could be handled a little easier, even if by manner of notification to the apps that are already signed in. Dashlane does something similar, and emails a one-time code to the account holder too, just for that extra layer of protection.
(Image credit: 1Password)
1Password: Security
1Password uses a wide range of tools to keep your information as secure as possible. Accounts are locked by a master password, which is never shared with 1Password or any third parties. Beyond that, you’ve got your Emergency Kit, which includes a secure key you’ll need to use when logging in.
1Password provides two-factor authentication with Authy and Microsoft Authenticator, and it comes with security breath alerts, protection against keyloggers, and AES 256-bit encryption. Your passwords are also protected with Secure Remote Password (SRP), which adds another layer of credential authentication.
(Image credit: 1Password)
1Password Business: Team and Admin Features
1Password for Business pitches itself as a robust enterprise password management platform that’s designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. It offers a comprehensive set of features that help facilitate secure credential management, while streamlining administrative tasks, and can also integrate with your existing IT infrastructure.
Its shared vault system is particularly useful for use in a business setting. In the context of a password manager, think of a vault as a secure container that stores login credentials, as well as other secure information like credit card details.
The vaults in 1Password Business provide granular access control with over a dozen distinct permissions, which allow you as admins to control who can view, edit, copy, share, or export items within the vaults.
You can also choose which apps can be used to access this vault. For instance, if you aren’t using 1Password Business’ developer features, you can disable access to the vaults from the CLI tool. Similarly, if you only want your users to access the vault through the browser extensions, and the Android and iOS apps, you can disable access through its Windows, macOS, and Linux apps.
The platform also has an interesting Travel Mode feature that allows your users to temporarily remove access to all but certain vaults that have been marked as Safe for Travel. This helps protect sensitive business credentials and data from potential exposure during travel, especially during border inspections or other security checks.
Like all its peers, you can also use 1Password Business to create custom groups based on the departments, or projects in your organization. You can then assign specific permissions and responsibilities to these groups, such as the ability to invite, and remove people, create vaults, recover accounts, and more, facilitating efficient delegation and management.
Setting permissions at the group level allows for scalable permissioning. You can then assign vault access once to the group instead of each user.
In addition to regular users, 1Password Business also has a concept of guest users. These are individuals who are granted limited access to specific shared vaults. They don't have their own private vault, nor can they access all the shared vaults within the organization. Instead they can only access a designated vault that you’ve earmarked for them. A guest user can be a freelancer, a contractor, or anyone who needs limited access to specific information, like project-related passwords or client-specific details.
(Image credit: 1Password)
The platform also lets you define various security policies. The authentication policy helps create rules to manage how your users authenticate with, and log into the platform. You can use these to require strong master passwords, and select a two-factor authentication (2FA) mechanism. 1Password Business supports multiple 2FA options including the use of an authenticator app, security keys, and the Duo authentication service. You can also choose to make 2FA mandatory for all users.
Then there are sharing and permissions policies, where you create rules for features like credentials sharing. For instance, if you don’t want your users to share items with anyone, you can restrict them to only share items with someone who uses an email from an approved domain. You can also define the expiration settings for the shares, and more.
Finally, there are the firewall policies that you can use to restrict access to the platform, based on country, continent, or IP address.
1Password Business backs it all up with extensive logging and reporting mechanisms that provides a comprehensive trail of all actions within the 1Password account, including who accessed or modified what items and when.
1Password Business: Integrations and Compatibility
Your users can access their credentials from various devices and platforms as 1Password offers apps for all the popular desktop and mobile operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, along with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
1Password Business also integrates with all the major identity providers (IdPs) such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud, and Rippling through the SCIM Bridge. This helps streamline user management as it allows for automated provisioning and deprovisioning of users and groups.
The platform also integrates with leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools such as Splunk, Sentinel, Elastic, Sumo Logic, Panther, and several others. Thanks to this, the platform can stream activity to the SIEM tools for more detailed auditing and security analysis.
1Password Business also offers a robust set of developer tools that can help integrate secret management into various stages of the software development lifecycle. For instance, developers can generate, import, and store their SSH keys directly within 1Password, and also help it integrate with Git workflows.
Then there’s the 1Password CLI that allows developers to securely access items stored in 1Password directly from the terminal. 1Password Business can also integrate with popular CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Kubernetes, and Terraform.
1Password also provides an open source Software Development Kits (SDKs) for popular programming languages like Python, and JavaScript, and also offers an extension for the Visual Studio Code IDE.
1Password Business: Ease of Use and Deployment
Deploying 1Password Business is relatively straightforward. The initial setup, as outlined earlier, can be completed quickly, and the user onboarding process is intuitive enough.
From an administrative standpoint, the interface is clean and neatly arranged. Most of the regular admin tasks can be completed without too much mucking about the interface, and don’t require extensive technical knowledge. That said, you’ll need to have IT chops to tackle more advanced tasks like IdP integration.
(Image credit: 1Password)
1Password Business’s web-based admin interface provides an overview of user activity, vault access, security insights, and policy compliance. There’s also an activity log that can help you track events like vault access, user logins, sharing activities, policy changes, and more. All activity is timestamped, and the log can be easily filtered.
(Image credit: 1Password)
The platform also has various reports, like breach report, and business watchtower. After you’ve verified the domain controlled by your company, the breach report will flag accounts, information, and employees that have been exposed in data breaches. Then there’s the business watchtower report that identifies security issues like weak passwords, across all your vaults.
(Image credit: 1Password)
Besides these, you also get detailed usage reports, adoption reports, team reports, devices reports, and more. Then there’s the insights dashboard that offers analytics on data breaches, password health, and team usage.
All things considered, the 1Password Business admin interface strikes a good balance between power and simplicity, and works well for all sized organizations.
1Password: Support
With 1Password, you’ll have access to 24/7 support via email. The website states that Business users get VIP support, but it doesn’t explain the difference between regular and VIP—just that help is available “whenever you need it.” As mentioned above, Enterprise subscriptions come with a dedicated account manager and onboard engineer.
The 1Password site also provides helpful articles covering a variety of support topics. These are a great place to start if you run into technical issues or want to learn more about the service’s features. Users can also access security white papers if they’d like a deeper dive into how the service works.
1Password: The competition
Lastpass, one of the most popular password managers, comes with some notable pros and cons compared to 1Password. Unlike 1Password, Lastpass offers a surprisingly robust free plan that enables users to store and share passwords across all their devices.
Furthermore, Lastpass Emergency makes it easy to configure a digital will that automatically transfers your information in case of an emergency or death. The only way to set this process up on 1Password is to pay for a family or team plan and create multiple admins or organizers. That said, Lastpass and 1Password come with many of the same features, and their pricing is mostly similar aside from the Lastpass free plan.
If you’re after more than a password manager, Dashlane and Proton Pass are among the handful that offer VPN connections for certain plans, all in a bid to keep your identity protected.
1Password: Final verdict
1Password offers everything individuals and businesses need to store and share passwords and other sensitive pieces of information. The spread of pricing options means it’s a low-cost way to keep your data safe.
In addition to mobile apps, the service is also compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux along with several browsers. Its flexibility, affordability, and ease of use make it a great option for companies and home users.
In today's world, where digital security breaches are not just common but expected, the importance of robust password management cannot be overstated. Password managers have become essential tools for individuals and businesses striving to secure their digital realms. However, with many market options, it can be challenging to know what features to prioritize when selecting a password manager. Here's a curated checklist to guide your choice.
Non-Negotiable Features
Encryption is the foundation of a password manager's security. Choose a service offering strong encryption, such as 256-bit encryption — the standard governments and militaries use worldwide. This encryption level ensures that even if data gets intercepted, it remains indecipherable without the unique key.
A zero-knowledge protocol means the service provider does not know your data. Your passwords and sensitive information are encrypted locally on your device before syncing with the server. Ensure your chosen password manager offers end-to-end encryption, with decryption only possible on your device.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just the master password. This could be a biometric scan, a security key, or a code generated by an authenticator app. A password manager that supports 2FA significantly enhances your protection against unauthorized access.
Important Usability Features
Your digital life isn't confined to one device, so your password manager shouldn't be either. Cross-platform compatibility ensures you can access your passwords on a PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device. Check for seamless integration with various operating systems and browsers for a smooth experience.
One of the main benefits of a password manager is convenience. Look for features like autofill and auto-login that save time and prevent the risk of typing errors. This facilitates a smoother and faster login process without compromising security.
Strong, unique passwords are essential for secure accounts. A built-in password generator that can create complex passwords enhances security by eliminating the human tendency to reuse passwords or choose easy-to-guess options.
Additional Considerations
A simple, intuitive interface makes a big difference, especially for teams or individuals less familiar with tech. Ease of use encourages adoption and regular use, which is critical for maintaining security practices.
Consider recovering access to your account in case of a forgotten master password. Options like account recovery using a trusted device or emergency access for trusted contacts can be life-saving without compromising the security of your data.
Evaluate the cost relative to the features offered. Many password managers offer a basic level of service for free, with premium features available for a fee. Consider what features are must-haves for you and whether the cost of a premium plan justifies its benefits.
Choosing the right password manager is a balancing act between security features and usability. The ideal tool secures your digital life from threats while seamlessly integrating into your daily routine. You can select a password manager that protects your information and enhances your online experience by focusing on solid encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and essential usability features. Remember, in the quest for digital security, your password manager becomes your closest ally.
Toast has an interesting history. It was founded in 2012 initially as a consumer app for mobile payments, discounts, product promotions, etc. However, the team later pivoted to building a point-of-sale system for restaurants. The POS system saw huge success and was adopted by thousands of restaurants across the U.S. Later on, Toast added complementary software to help restaurateurs run their operations in addition to collecting payments.
Toast raised hundreds of millions of dollars as a private company before a successful public listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. The money helped the company expand across the United States and a few European countries. Though designed for restaurants, Toast’s POS system is also used by other hospitality providers such as hotels and lounges.
Toast POS: Plans and pricing
(Image credit: Toast)
The first cost to note is the upfront price of the point-of-sale hardware. Toast offers its own hardware to customers; you can choose the Flex, Go, Tap, or Kiosk. There’s no fixed price because the hardware comes in different forms and versions. For example, there are different Flex terminals for the restaurateur, customer, and kitchen, and you’ll need three of them to run a full-fledged operation. Generally, the hardware you’ll need to get starts from $899 and about $499 for installation, which is costly.
Toast plans and pricing
After buying the hardware, you’ll also need to pay a recurring subscription fee to use Toast’s software. You can choose from these plans;
Starter Kit: This is a free package that gives you access to the point-of-sale software package for a single location.
Point of Sale: $69 per month. You can run Toast’s POS system at multiple locations if you choose this package, and it also includes custom hardware configuration.
Essentials: $165 per month. This gives you access to complimentary software tools like online ordering and delivery management.
Custom: There’s no standard pricing for this plan (you have to contact Toast’s sales team for a quote). With this plan, you can go as far as managing your payroll right from Toast's platform. It also includes integrations with over 100 restaurant tools.
Transaction fees are charged separately and depend on if you pay for your hardware upfront or use a monthly plan. If it's a monthly payment plan, the fee is 2.99% + 15 cents for every card payment. If you pay upfront, it comes down to 2.4% + 15 cents.
Toast POS: Features
Hardware
Various hardware options that Toast offers include
Toast Flex
Flex is a full-service payment terminal that includes a 14-inch screen, 16GB flash memory, and WiFi & Bluetooth connectivity. The screen is spill-proof, which is much needed in a restaurant where there's a high risk of food and beverage spills. It helps you organize and manage your orders with ease.
You can’t use this screen alone to run your restaurant. You’ll also need to buy separate hardware to accept payments from customers’ cards, which we’ll mention below. Note that Flex isn’t the only terminal you can choose, but it’s the best to use.
Toast Tap
Toast Tap is a compact device that allows you to charge customers. Your customers can swipe, insert, or tap their cards to pay seamlessly. It accepts payments from all major debit and credit cards or payment apps such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
You can place this device on your counter or mount it to the side of the Flex terminal for easy use.
Toast Go
Go is handheld POS hardware that’s easy to carry around. You can use this to charge customers at their tables instead of them walking to the counter to pay. Just like Toast tap, this device supports swiping, tapping, or insertion for card payments.
Toast terminal bundle (Image Credit: Toast)
Payment Processing
Toast offers a software solution to let you accept payments from customers. Without this software, then the hardware you bought is futile. The pricing is simple; 2.99% + 15 cents if you are on a monthly hardware payment plan or 2.4% + 15 cents if you pay for your hardware upfront.
Toast does not let customers use any other payment processor except its own. This is a slight disadvantage because there are many rival processors that charge lower transaction fees.
Toast features (Image Credit: Toast)
Toast POS: Interface and use
Toast’s point-of-sale software comes with an intuitive interface that you’d likely find easy to navigate. The company’s designers and developers put a lot of noticeable effort into building a modern interface that makes navigation as easy as possible. You’d often find Toast customers praising the user-friendly interface in reviews.
Tablet running Toast with card reader (Image Credit: Toast)
Toast POS: Support
Toast offers direct customer support via email, live chat, and telephone. The company has a dedicated support email that you can message at any time and expect a response within 24 hours. Likewise, you can get connected with live support agents on the website or dial the telephone support line mentioned on the website. There's also a support portal that includes answers to frequently asked questions, user guides, and articles concerning all aspects of using Toast.
(Image credit: Toast)
Toast POS: The competition
Lightspeed and Clover are two popular competitors to Toast’s point-of-sale system. Unlike Toast, Lightspeed does not have its own special hardware; you can choose from one of several generic options. The company focuses on the software part, with fees of 2.6% + 10¢ for every successful card transaction.
Clover has expensive hardware just like Toast, and you can either pay upfront or sign a monthly payment plan. Its transaction fees go as low as 2.3% + $0.10 depending on the plan you choose.
Toast's mobile reporting running on an iPhone
Toast POS: Final verdict
Toast is a very good point-of-sale system for restaurateurs and hospitality service providers. It offers features that’ll make it easy to accept payments from customers and run your business seamlessly. The disadvantage is that it’s a pretty expensive solution to adopt, both in the cost of hardware, transaction fees, and recurring subscription.
Wellfound, previously known as AngelList, has been around since 2010, so it’s one of the newer names on the scene when it comes to the big job sites. It’s also one of the most interesting job-hunting projects around, because it’s one of the few job sites that’s dedicated to the startup scene.
It makes perfect sense for a job site to focus on startups. There have never been so many nimble, successful and fast-growing tech firms, and there have never been more people who want to work at them – and all of those people will be perfectly versed at finding jobs online.
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Wellfound allows you to speak directly to founders and hiring managers and shows you salary and stock options before you apply (Image credit: AngelList)
Wellfound: Features
Wellfound’s mission is to make startup hiring fairer and more equitable. That’s refreshing, because too often the startup scene relies on nepotism and networking rather than talent and experience.
Many of the world's top startups have used Wellfound to build out their staff (Image credit: AngelList)
At the time of writing there are more than 130,000 jobs on the site, and those positions are obviously found in startup companies and tech firms – and the firm’s database includes big companies like Revolut, Mozilla and Squarespace.
That’s no surprise considering Wellfound's focus on these markets, and it does mean that Wellfound has a great database of relevant jobs at top-notch companies. Negatively, though, this site doesn’t have the millions of job openings listed by some rivals, like LinkedIn Jobs or Monster, and it’s not much good if you don’t want to work in a tech company or at a startup.
Wellfound shows a lot more information about the companies posting positions when compared to other job sites. (Image credit: AngelList)
There are other areas where Wellfound makes up for its lack of a huge jobs database. The site places a big emphasis on transparency, which means that job listings have salaries and equity options displayed up-front. That’s not the only helpful information you’ll see on job listings, either: Wellfound displays how much investment a company has raised, information about the company culture, the size of the company and the markets where it operates. Work from home options are shown if applicable, and the site lists if companies are willing to sponsor visas.
The tags under each job listing can tell you a lot about a company 's culture and its recent growth (Image credit: AngelList)
Job listings have tags that show if companies are hiring, if they’ve been recently funded and if they share any investors with other big-name startups. Other tags illustrate if a company is highly rated by the site’s users, or if it has good scores for leadership and work/life balance. The transparency continues elsewhere – you can see profiles of staff members and see who’ll read your application if you apply.
It’s possible to use your Wellfound profile as your resume, and there are sections to add your relevant history, skills and education. You can also list your website and social profiles. You can list what roles you’re interested in, add a small biography and indicate if you’re currently open to job offers.
Elsewhere, many of the profile options are unsurprisingly startup-focused. There are questions about VISA sponsorship and the size of companies you’d like to consider, and you can link your GitHub profile. The Culture section of your profile allows users to set out their ideal workplace, which is handy for finding an environment where you’re more likely to be happy.
Skill assessments allow you to show businesses areas in which you excel (Image credit: AngelList)
Wellfound also has other handy features and innovative additions on the rest of its site. You can specify if you’re looking for full-time work, contract positions, or an internship, and there’s an extensive quiz where you can match your preferred work environment and career goals to suitable workplaces. There are also skills assessments, like on most other job sites.
There’s a lot to like about Wellfound, but in other areas the site is potentially divisive. It has a straightforward interface that presents job openings like search results, but those results are a bit busy and filled with potentially unhelpful information like news articles.
It doesn’t have as many features as LinkedIn Jobs and Glassdoor – you won’t find learning resources, interview prep modules or proper social networking here. And, of course, Wellfound's focus on startups means that it doesn’t have the breadth of opportunities you’ll find on mainstream sites.
Wellfound: Final verdict
Wellfound has thought of everything when it comes to startup recruitment. That makes it the best tool available if you want to work in the startup scene, and especially if you want a position at a tech company. If that sounds like you, then this should be your first port of call.
It’s undoubtedly excellent for startups, and it’s got some good features – but if you want a broader look at the job market, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
Freshdesk is a customer support platform from Freshworks. This CRM offers a helpdesk, messaging center, and call center all in one. In our Freshdesk review, we help you decide if this is the best CRM software for your business.
Freshdesk is designed specifically for customer engagement, and is one of a series of Freshworks CRMs with different focuses – including Freshmarketer for marketing, Freshsales for sales management, and Freshservice for IT support.
If you're looking for an all-in-one CRM that combines sales and marketing, we recommend Freshsales Suite.
Freshdesk review: Snapshot
Freshdesk is a capable CRM that enables your business to offer outstanding customer support. The platform helps you manage email ticketing, live chat support, and a call center, and it’s much simpler to use than competing CRMs like Zendesk.
It offers a number of useful tools for team collaboration, including shared inboxes and tools for automating the organization of incoming requests. The software also includes highly advanced reporting features, although using them involves a steep learning curve.
Freshdesk is one of the more expensive support center platforms we have reviewed, so it may not be suitable for businesses on a tight budget. However, if you can handle the software’s cost, it’s one of the top CRM platforms for customer support.
Score: 4.5/5
Read on for the full review.
5 reasons why small businesses need a CRM
Freshdesk competitors
Freshdesk: Key features
Freshdesk is split into three modules: Support Center, Messaging, and Contact Center.
The Support Center module handles customer support tickets. You can set up ticketing across multiple platforms, including your website, an app, social media, and more. New tickets can go not only to an individual but also to shared inboxes to enable collaboration. Teams can share tickets with other teams, as well as split up tasks to speed up answering complex requests.
Messaging, formerly known as Freshchat, is Freshdesk’s chatbot service. You can deploy automated chatbots across your website, mobile app, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Apple Messages. As for support tickets, incoming messages can be directed to a shared inbox to promote collaboration within support teams.
Freshdesk: Highlights
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Freshdesk Support Center sends new tickets to a shared inbox for collaboration (Image credit: Freshworks)
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Freshdesk Messaging enables you to build automated chatbots for live chat requests (Image credit: Freshworks)
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Freshdesk Contact Center enables you to take incoming support calls and coordinate agents across more than 90 countries (Image credit: Freshworks)
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Freshdesk tracks all current and past tickets for all of your customers, plus keeps transcripts of past chat sessions and phone calls (Image credit: Freshworks)
Contact Center, formerly called Freshcaller, is a voice-over-IP (VoIP) service that lets your business answer incoming phone calls from customers. It supports agents in more than 90 countries and lets you bring your own carrier if you already have one. Contact Center automatically records and transcribes calls, and agents can even switch a phone call to live chat.
Freshdesk tracks all support interactions between your company and your customers, giving you detailed insights into everything that’s happened on a customer’s account in the past. For any contact, you can see current tickets, archived tickets, agent notes, transcripts of past chat and phone conversations, and more.
You can also tag and segment contacts to organize your database, and offer priority support to some customers.
Freshdesk: What’s new?
Since we last reviewed Freshdesk, the platform has added a few important features. First, teams can now share ownership of tickets with other teams or with third parties outside your company. That opens more opportunities for collaboration.
Freshdesk also added more functionality for scheduling agents, including tracking vacation time. That way, the software can automatically route tickets and messages to agents who are working when a new request comes in.
In addition, Freshdesk introduced a quality coach tool. This enables you to create scorecards for your agents’ interactions with customers. You can also quickly analyze scorecards to find your top support agents.
Freshdesk: Pricing
Freshdesk offers four Support Desk plans, which don’t include Messaging and Call Center, and three Omnichannel plans, which do. You can try out any plan for 21 days before committing to a subscription. Freshdesk lets you pay monthly or annually, and annual subscribers save 17%.
Testing Freshdesk
We tested out Freshdesk to see how easy the platform is to use, and how it handles reporting. The reporting test is particularly important, because if the data Freshdesk collects isn’t helping your company improve customer service, then the software isn’t doing its job.
How easy is it to use Freshdesk?
Freshdesk’s dashboard displays a summary of new support requests and customer satisfaction (Image credit: Freshworks)
We were impressed with how simple it felt to use Freshdesk, especially given the breadth of tools included in the platform. The Support Desk, Messaging, and Contact Center modules are neatly organized into a left-hand menu along with your contact database, reporting center, and administrative settings.
A right-hand sidebar displays customization options as you navigate through Freshdesk, so you don’t have to deal with pop-ups or buried pages.
When you first log into Freshdesk, an overview dashboard gives agents a clear look at everything that’s on their plates. There’s a summary of new, unresolved, and due today tickets, plus a to-do list based on what tasks you or team members have been assigned. The dashboard also shows the results of customer satisfaction surveys, which helps agents keep track of how they’re doing.
We especially liked the layout of Freshdesk’s Support Center, which is set up like an email inbox. A tag makes it easy to identify new support tickets, and every ticket can be assigned a priority level. Plus, you can filter all tickets in your inbox based on what agent or team they’re assigned to, what priority level they have, or when the next response is due.
How good is Freshdesk’s reporting?
Freshdesk’s pre-made reports let you quickly analyze support ticket load and agent performance (Image credit: Freshworks)
Freshdesk offers built-in reports and analysis tools to help you constantly improve the quality of your customer service. We thought the platform did a great job with its pre-made reports, which offer customizable charts for support ticket load, agent and team productivity, and customer satisfaction surveys. You can filter these reports by agent, team, or support type, and it’s simple to export them to a PDF.
If you want more detailed analytics, Freshdesk gets a lot more complicated quickly. The platform’s custom report builder lets you drag and drop analysis widgets onto a page to create your own dashboards. There are some templates to get you started, but for the most part, you’ll add blank charts and tables, and then select what data to display. You can also add images and text boxes, customize the fonts and colors for each graph, and more.
The flexibility this offers is hard to beat, especially if you want to create a professional-looking report for a big meeting. However, the learning curve is quite steep when building your first few reports, and it takes a lot of time to work through all the customization options.
Alternatives to Freshdesk
Freshdesk isn’t the only CRM focused on helping you offer exceptional customer support. Zendesk and LiveAgent are two competing software platforms that give you tools for ticketing, live chat, and phone support.
We found Zendesk to be extremely versatile. It offers more than 1,000 apps and integrations, and includes automation features at a cheaper price point than Freshdesk. Plus, it has an internal help desk, which is a great tool for larger companies.
The downside to Zendesk is that it’s not as user-friendly as Freshdesk. For small companies that want to get a support center up and running quickly, that could be an important reason to choose the latter.
LiveAgent is more affordable than Freshdesk, but we found that this platform doesn’t offer nearly the same depth of features. Ticketing takes a backseat to live chat support within the platform, which means that there are fewer reporting options and automations for ticketing. It also doesn’t offer phone support at all.
So, LiveAgent can be a good option if you primarily want to set up chat support, but it’s not as powerful as Freshdesk for creating a complete support center.
Freshdesk: Final verdict
Freshdesk is high-quality CRM software that can help your company set up a comprehensive customer support center. It supports email ticketing, live chat, and phone support, and works across all the channels your company operates on. Plus, Freshdesk includes automations and chatbots with its higher-tier plans.
Despite the large number of tools and features that Freshdesk brings to the table, we found the software to be surprisingly easy to use. It’s well organized, and makes it easy to start answering tickets and chats right away. The only area where we found friction was in the advanced reporting tools, which are so advanced that they can be difficult to master.
The only real downside to Freshdesk is its cost. Features like workflow automation are pricey, and you’ll need an expensive Omnichannel subscription if you want to add live chat or phone capabilities to your support center. Zendesk offers a similar set of features at a significantly lower price, but it’s not as easy to use. So if your company has a large enough budget, we’d recommend sticking with Freshdesk.
Freshsales, a CRM that’s part of the Freshworks suite of business software, is a platform designed to streamline and optimize the sales process for businesses of all sizes.
What sets Freshsales apart is its focus on sales-centric features, such as visual sales pipelines, built-in communication tools, and AI-powered insights. One of the best CRM platforms, Freshsales offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor it to their specific needs and workflows. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Freshsales aims to provide a comprehensive solution for managing leads, deals, and customer relationships, all while keeping the user experience simple and intuitive.
In this in-depth review, I'll explore the key features, pricing, ease of use, and overall value of Freshsales CRM — based on my experience with the platform. I've looked beyond the marketing to provide hands-on, objective analysis. I spent many hours navigating its "Freddy AI" ecosystem, testing its predictive lead scoring with real-world datasets, and evaluating its built-in telephony to see if it truly offers a single pane of glass experience. As with all our reviews, we never accept payment for product rankings, ensuring that my verdict on Freshsales’ ease of use and its value for high-growth teams is based entirely on practical performance. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of whether Freshsales is the right fit for your business and sales team.
Freshsales is just one of a suite of CRM solutions offered by Freshworks, which combine phone, email, and messaging. Each solution is intuitive, user-friendly interface and boasts strong sales features; all reasons why our editors recommend Freshworks for small businesses.View Deal
Freshsales core capabilities
(Image credit: Freshsales )
Freshsales offers a comprehensive set of tools that cover all the essential aspects of customer relationship management. Its centralized database makes it easy to store, organize, and access customer data from a single place. Meanwhile, the ability to enrich contact profiles with additional information from social media and other public sources is a valuable time-saver.
The platform provides a visual sales pipeline that helps me track the progress of each deal from initial contact to closure. I can easily create and assign tasks, set reminders, and collaborate with my team to nurture leads effectively. I can also customize the deal stages, pipelines, and contact fields to match my specific sales process. The new AI-powered lead scoring is particularly useful, helping to prioritize the most promising opportunities based on their likelihood to convert.
When it comes to sales forecasting and pipeline management, Freshsales offers customizable sales reports and dashboards that provide real-time insights into key metrics such as revenue, win rates, and sales cycle length. I can easily filter and segment data to identify trends, spot bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions when optimizing my sales process. I can track everything from individual rep performance to overall team productivity and revenue growth. The visual dashboards make it easy to digest complex data and share insights with stakeholders across the organization.
(Image credit: Freshsales )
For those in the field, Freshsales offers a fully-featured mobile app for iOS and Android devices, allowing me to access customer data, update deals, and communicate with my team on the go. The app also allows me to view and update contact information, log calls and emails, schedule appointments, and even access key reports and dashboards. Applications are well-designed and responsive, making it a seamless extension of the desktop experience.
Another signature selling point of Freshsales is its integration with other tools in the Freshworks ecosystem, such as Freshdesk for customer support and Freshmarketer for marketing automation. It allows me to gain a holistic view of each customer's journey and ensures that sales, marketing, and support are always on the same page. Additionally, the platform supports a wide range of third-party integrations through its open API, allowing me to connect with my favorite productivity tools to simplify my daily workflow.
Beyond these core capabilities, Freshsales offers a range of advanced features that set it apart from other CRM platforms. For example, the built-in phone system allows me to make and receive calls directly from the CRM, with automatic call logging and recording. The email integration is also top-notch, with the ability to send personalized bulk emails, track opens and clicks, and sync conversations with contact records.
What's new?
Freshsales has undergone a significant transformation in late 2025 and early 2026, moving away from passive data entry toward a more proactive, AI-driven "Assistant" model. The most notable change is the rollout of the Freddy AI Copilot, which has evolved from a simple lead-scoring tool into a comprehensive generative assistant. This new version of Freddy can now autonomously summarize sprawling email threads, draft hyper-personalized follow-up messages based on the detected sentiment of a prospect, and even suggest the "Next Best Action" for deals that have remained stagnant in the pipeline for too long. For sales managers, this shift means less time spent on manual deal reviews and more time spent on strategy, as the AI identifies at-risk opportunities before they drop off the board.
The platform's connectivity has also seen a major boost through the Unified Customer Data Hub, a 2026 initiative that bridges the gap between the sales and support departments. Freshsales users now benefit from real-time visibility into active Freshdesk support tickets and "Customer Frustration Scores" directly within the CRM contact timeline. This integration ensures that sales reps aren't making outreach calls to clients who are currently experiencing technical issues, a common point of friction in high-growth companies. Furthermore, the introduction of Advanced Multichannel Sequences allows for smarter automation; for instance, if a lead ignores an email but engages with a LinkedIn post, the CRM can automatically pivot its outreach strategy to social channels or SMS, creating a more fluid and responsive buyer journey.
Finally, the onboarding experience has been modernized with the AI-Guided Data Importer, launched in January 2026. This tool drastically reduces setup time by using machine learning to map complex custom fields and historical data from competitors like Salesforce or HubSpot with over 90% accuracy. Coupled with the new Role-Based Workspaces, which declutter the interface by showing only the tools relevant to a user's specific job - such as prospecting for SDRs or territory management for Directors - Freshsales has successfully maintained its easy-to-use reputation while adding the depth required for larger, global sales organizations.
How easy is Freshsales to use?
When it comes to user experience, Freshsales features a clean and modern layout that’s very easy to get familiar with. Its dashboard provides a clear overview of key metrics, upcoming tasks, and recent activities, allowing me to quickly access information without feeling overwhelmed. The main menu is well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear labels and icons for each section of the platform.
(Image credit: Freshsales )
I can quickly access my contacts, deals, reports, and settings without having to hunt through multiple submenus or click through endless screens. The platform also allows me to tailor the interface to my specific needs and preferences, from rearranging widgets on the dashboard to creating custom fields for contacts and deals. The drag-and-drop functionality for managing deals and pipelines is particularly user-friendly, enabling me to quickly update the status of my sales opportunities with just a few clicks.
When it comes to the onboarding curve, Freshsales offers a wealth of resources to help new users get up to speed quickly. The comprehensive knowledge base includes detailed articles, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides covering every aspect of the platform. Based on my experience with other CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce, I’d say that Freshsales stands out for its simplicity without compromising on the core capabilities that sales teams need for their day-to-day.
In addition to the self-service knowledge base, Freshsales also provides a dedicated onboarding program for new users to the platform. This includes a series of interactive walkthroughs that guide you through the key features and functions, as well as best practices for setting up your account and importing data.
Freshsales also offers a range of time-saving features and shortcuts that further enhance its usability. For example, the global search function allows me to quickly find any record or file within the platform, while the bulk editing tools enable me to update multiple records at once. These small but impactful features make a big difference when you have to use the platform everyday.
While Freshsales is generally very user-friendly, I did encounter a few minor challenges. For example, the page timeout feature can be a bit annoying, as it requires you to refresh the page if you need to stay on it for an extended period. But overall, the combination of an intuitive interface, extensive customization options, comprehensive onboarding resources, and time-saving features leave me with a positive impression of the platform’s user experience. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of a proper onboarding program, something that’s sadly missing from a lot of other CRMs.
Freshsales integrations
(Image credit: Freshsales)
In my experience with Freshsales, I've found its integration capabilities to be a mixed bag. While the platform integrates seamlessly with other products in the Freshworks suite, such as Freshdesk for customer support and Freshchat for live chat, the number of native integrations with third-party applications is somewhat limited compared to other solutions.
Freshsales offers around 30 pre-built integrations with popular business tools, including Google Calendar, Mailchimp, Twilio, Quickbooks, Xero, and Trello. These integrations allow for streamlined data synchronization and workflow automation, saving time and reducing manual effort. For example, the Google Calendar integration enables me to sync my Freshsales appointments and tasks with my Google Calendar, ensuring I never miss an important meeting or deadline.
However, when compared to other CRM platforms like Pipedrive offering 400 integrations, or HubSpot with over 1,600 third-party app integrations, Freshsales' native integration options seem relatively sparse. This limitation may be a concern for businesses that rely heavily on a wide range of tools and require seamless data flow between them.
Fortunately, Freshsales provides a robust API that allows for custom integrations and extensions. API documentation is comprehensive and well-structured, making it easier for developers to build custom integrations tailored to specific business needs. Additionally, Freshsales offers native connectors for Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat), which enable users to create automated workflows between Freshsales and hundreds of other apps without coding.
Leveraging the Freshsales API and Zapier has allowed me to connect the CRM with several crucial tools in my tech stack. For instance, when a deal is won in Freshsales, I was able to set up a Zap that automatically creates a task in Asana for the customer success team to onboard the new client. This integration helps streamline the handover process and ensures that no critical steps are missed.
While the limited number of native integrations in Freshsales may seem concerning at first glance, the platform's API and compatibility with iPaaS tools like Zapier and Make provide ample opportunities for customization and extension. With a bit of technical know-how or the help of a developer, businesses can create powerful integrations that suit their unique needs and workflows.
How good is Freshsales customer support?
Again with customer support, Freshsales CRM is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, Freshsales offers a variety of support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, which are available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. However, the lack of 24/7 support that competitors such as Monday.com offer, can be a drawback for some, especially those with global operations or customers in different time zones.
However, I appreciate that Freshsales offers phone support across all subscription tiers, a welcome addition of a must-have feature that’s often missing from some competitors’ entry-level plans. Being able to speak with a support representative directly can be invaluable when facing complex issues.
In terms of self-service resources, Freshsales provides a solid foundation with its collection of case studies, how-to videos, and knowledge base articles. These materials cover a wide range of topics, from basic features to advanced workflows, and can be helpful for users looking to troubleshoot issues or learn more about the platform on their own.
Additionally, Freshsales offers an academy program with courses and certifications for admins and agents. This is a great way for users to improve their skills and demonstrate their expertise with the platform, which can lead to better adoption and more effective use of the CRM.
While its customer support is still strong enough, there are more areas where the company could improve. For example, the average first response and resolution times are not readily available, making it difficult to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of the support team. Similarly, customer satisfaction scores are not publicly disclosed, which could leave users wondering about the quality of support they can expect.
It’s also worth noting that Freshsales’ customer support is only available in English. This may be a barrier for users in non-English speaking countries or those who prefer to communicate in their native language. Expanding support to include more languages could help Freshsales better serve its global user base.
Freshsales pricing and plans
(Image credit: Freshsales )
Plan
Free
Growth
Pro
Enterprise
Price
$0/user/month
$15/user/month
$39/user/month
$69/user/month
Best for
Small teams just starting out with CRM
Startups and SMBs seeking efficient pipeline management
Multiple sales pipelines; AI deal insights; Advanced workflows
Custom modules; AI-based forecasting; Audit logs
Limitations
Limited to 3 users
Lacks some advanced features
Higher cost may be prohibitive for smaller teams
Might be overly complex for small businesses
Freshsales’ pricing is flexible and competitive, offering a range of options to suit businesses of various sizes and needs. Its free plan supports up to 100 active contacts, with basic features like contact management, deal tracking, and built-in phone and email. For businesses requiring more advanced features, Freshsales offers three paid plans: Growth, Pro, and Enterprise.
The Growth plan starts at $15 per user per month (billed annually) and includes additional features like AI-powered contact scoring, sales sequences, and workflows. This plan help make Freshsales one of the best CRM of small businesses and startups looking for a cost-effective CRM solution with essential automation capabilities.
As a business grows and requires more sophisticated features, the Pro plan at $39 per user per month (billed annually) offers advanced functionality such as multiple sales pipelines, time-based workflows, and auto-assignment rules. I found this plan to be well-suited for medium-sized businesses with more complex sales processes and multiple teams.
For larger enterprises with extensive customization and governance needs, the Enterprise plan at $69 per user per month (billed annually) provides custom modules, AI-based forecasting insights, audit logs, and other advanced features. While this plan is more expensive, it offers a comprehensive feature set that can scale with the needs of large organizations.
There’s a flat 20% discount on annual subscriptions over monthly ones. Plus, additional discounts and bundles are available throughout the year if you’re looking to save money. For newcomers, Freshsales also offers a generous 21-day free trial for all plans.
Beyond your base plan, businesses can purchase additional bot sessions, phone credits, or configure-price-quote (CPQ) licenses as needed. While this lends more flexibility to the pricing structure, overall costs can add up quickly if you aren’t careful. You should carefully review your needs and factor in the cost of necessary add-ons to make sure you aren’t overspending.
How we test
At TechRadar Pro, our review process is designed to delve into the real-life daily workflows of modern sales teams. When we evaluate a platform like Freshsales, we follow a rigorous testing framework to ensure our recommendation stands up to the pressures of a modern-day business environment:
We perform a full, clean-slate installation of the software, testing the "AI-Guided Data Importer" by feeding it messy, real-world CSV datasets and historical exports from rival CRMs to see how effectively it maps custom fields and identifies duplicates during the initial migration.
Of course, we also get to grips with one of Freshsales' key features: Freddy AI. We feed Freddy AI complex email threads and customer sentiment data to see if its "Next Best Action" suggestions and meeting summaries are actually useful or merely generic. We specifically look for hallucinations in AI-generated email drafts to ensure they remain professional and context-aware.
In addition, unique to the Freshworks ecosystem, we test the bi-directional data flow between Freshsales and Freshdesk. We simulate active customer support tickets to see if the "Frustration Scores" update in real-time on the sales rep's dashboard and if the alerts are prominent enough to prevent a poorly timed sales call.
Finally, no assessment of a modern CRM would be worth its salt without considering the mobile nature of modern marketing and sales. As such, we test the Freshsales mobile app in real-world scenarios, evaluating its offline lead-logging capabilities, the reliability of its built-in cloud telephony over 5G and Wi-Fi, and the ease of access to Freddy insights while on the move.
Freshsales review: Final verdict
Freshsales shines in its core capabilities, offering a robust set of features that cater to the needs of sales teams of all sizes. The platform's intuitive interface and customization options make it easy for users to adopt and tailor to their unique workflows.
While the number of native integrations is limited compared to some competitors, Freshsales' open API and compatibility with Zapier and Make provide ample opportunities for extensibility. Customer support is generally strong, with multiple channels available and helpful resources for self-service. However, there is room for improvement in terms of response times and language support. In any case, Freshsales offers excellent value for money, with flexible pricing plans and a generous free trial period, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
At the end of the day, Freshsales CRM is a powerful and user-friendly platform that offers a compelling blend of features, affordability, and scalability. While there are areas for improvement, particularly when it comes to the quality of support and range of integrations offered, the platform's strengths make it a top choice for businesses seeking a reliable and adaptable CRM.
FAQ
Is Freshsales actually free?
Yes, Freshsales offers a "Forever Free" plan for up to three users. It includes basic contact management, a built-in dialer, and 24/5 support. However, it is important to note that the free tier lacks any reporting, visual sales pipelines, or AI insights. It is best suited for solo entrepreneurs or micro-teams just starting to move away from spreadsheets.
What is the difference between Freshsales and Freshsales Suite?
Freshsales is the standalone sales CRM focused on pipelines and deal management. Freshsales Suite is an all-in-one platform that combines the sales CRM with Freshmarketer (for email campaigns and landing pages). If your team needs to manage the entire customer journey - from the first marketing click to the final sales signature - the Suite is the better value, though it comes at a higher starting price point.
Does Freddy AI cost extra?
This year, Freshworks moved Freddy AI from a built-in feature to a "Flexi-Add-on." For the advanced generative features (like email summarization and automated follow-ups), it costs $29 per user/month billed annually. The benefit of the flexi model is that you don't have to buy it for your entire company; you can purchase licenses only for the power users or high-volume reps who need it most.
Does Freshsales work offline
Yes, the Freshsales mobile app for iOS and Android supports offline functionality. You can view contacts, add notes, and create tasks without an internet connection. Once your device is back online, the app automatically syncs your changes to the cloud database.
Zettle is a Swedish payment technology. It was founded in 2010 as iZettle by two entrepreneurs; Jacob de Geer and Magnus Nilsson. The company launched its app and a chip card reader in 2011 to enable businesses to do payment processing simply and easily. The original name, "iZettle", comes from the expression of "settling a debt".
iZettle launched to fanfare in 2011 and its chip card reader was adopted by many European businesses. It grew rapidly and added many POS products and services over the years, including a mobile app, QR code payments, point-of-sale, small business loans, etc.
In 2018, PayPal, the American fintech giant, acquired iZettle for $2.2 billion. In February 2021, the company changed its formal name to "Zettle By PayPal".
In this review, we'll see if Zettle really is one of the best POS systems.
Zettle has developed a full suite of POS products (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: Plans and pricing
The first thing to consider for any point-of-sale system is the hardware cost. Zettle offers two main hardware; Terminal and Card Reader. The Terminal is an all-in-one system that lets you manage your inventory, charge customers' cards, and print their receipts. It costs $199 one-time or $239 if you want the version with an in-built scanner.
The Card Reader is significantly cheaper, as it’s a less sophisticated device. You need to connect it to your mobile device to start selling, unlike the Terminal which needs no external hardware. Zettle offers the first card reader for $29 and every additional card reader for $79. You can also buy a charging dock for the device for $49; this dock locks the card reader into place and charges it all day long even as you use it to collect payments.
Zettle also takes a commission on every transaction facilitated by its software. The company charges 2.29% + $0.09 for every in-person card transaction. If you enter the card details manually, the fee rises to 3.49% + $0.09. QR code transactions cost 2.29% + $0.09.
Zettle also offers hardware bundles that provide all you need to accept payments. They include:
Store Kit Mini: This bundle includes a card reader, a charging dock, a stand, and an optional iPad. It costs $249 normally or an extra $459 if you include the iPad.
Store Kit Standard: This bundle includes a card reader, charging dock, device stand, smart printer, and thermal rolls for the smart printer. It costs $499 normally or an extra $459 if you include the iPad.
Store Kit Plus: This includes everything in the Standard bundle plus a barcode scanner. It costs $699 normally or an extra $459 with the iPad.
Store Kit Portable: This bundle includes a card reader, portable printer, and thermal rolls for the portable printer. It costs $339.
Zettle offers a range of quick and easy payment options (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: Features
Hardware
Zettle offers hardware that makes it easy to accept payments from customers and run your business, including:
Zettle Terminal: This is a handheld device that point-of-sale and payments. You can use the POS software to manage your inventory and automatically calculate the price when a customer orders multiple items. Customers can pay by swiping, tapping, or inserting their cards. The money will be collated at the end of each business day and wired to your bank account in 2 to 3 days.
Zettle Reader 2: This is the card reader that Zettle offers. Customers can pay you by swiping, tapping, or inserting their cards just as they’d do with the terminal. But, this device does not come with its built-in POS software. Instead, you’ll download the Zettle mobile app and link it with the card reader to manage your payments.
Barcode Scanner: You can add products to your product library and scan them directly with the barcode scanner when it's time for payment. This way, you'll get the accurate prices of each item and sum them up for customers to pay. Note that this barcode scanner only works with the Zettle iOS mobile app and not the Android app.
Software
The PayPal Zettle mobile app makes it easy to accept payments and run your business. You can easily add products, set prices, and check stock levels from one app. When it's time to pay, just select the products the customer has chosen, and the total price will be calculated automatically. Then, the customer will pay with their card, and you'll confirm the payment in the app.
You can also track business metrics with the Zettle mobile app. For instance, you can identify the best-selling products in your store, manage staff schedules, and monitor sales activities.
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(Image credit: Vagaro)
Wondering what the best POS systems for restaurants, small businesses, and retail are?
The Zettle POS can work on a till-based system if needed (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: Interface and use
Zettle has the kind of interface you’d expect in a modern app. It’s intuitive, minimal, and uncluttered, which makes the platform easy to navigate. If you check through customer reviews, user-friendliness is a common highlight that you’d see.
Zettle's Pro app is perfect for the likes of bars and restaurants (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: Support
Zettle offers many support resources at your disposal. If you’re having an issue with the platform, you can visit the official help center which contains a collection of guides, user manuals, and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you’re not satisfied, then you can contact PayPal’s support staff directly via live chat or telephone. There’s also an online community where you can ask other experienced users for help.
The Zettle dashboard offers up all sorts of account management (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: The competition
Stripe and Wix POS are good point-of-sale alternatives to Zettle. Both of them offer a very user-friendly interface, with features that make it easy to accept payments and run your business. Zettle charges higher fees than Wix but lower fees than Stripe.
Zettle's app interface makes product management a breeze (Image credit: iZettle)
Zettle POS: Final Verdict
Zettle is a suitable point-of-sale system for businesses across Europe and the U.S. It makes collecting payments from customers as seamless as possible and provides other features to help you run your business. We’d recommend this point-of-sale system to every interested business.
