Cinder POS vs Helcim
Cinder POS
cinderpos.comHelcim
helcim.comSide by side
| Figure | Cinder POS | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $79/mo | $0.40/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 6 |
| Spec score · Point-of-Sale Software | 7.7 (#62) | 9.0 (#5) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Reporting | Cinder describes eight retail report views covering sales, products, payments, cashiers, inventory, tax, refunds, voids, and discounts. | Real-time reporting provides sales and transaction data from a centralized dashboard. |
| Security | The site states that traffic is TLS encrypted and merchant data is isolated by tenant database. | Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. |
| What it does | Cinder combines point-of-sale checkout and back-office tools for independent retail businesses. | Helcim is a payment-processing platform for small and medium-sized businesses accepting card, debit and ACH/EFT payments online and in person. |
Plans
Helcim
- Helcim payment processingFree
- Helcim platformFree
- Recurring payments$0.40 a month
- 4G wireless data$7 a month
- Helcim Card Reader$199, paid once
- Helcim Smart Terminal$349, paid once
In their own words
Cinder POS
Cinder POS has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Helcim
Helcim provides businesses with payment processing tools for in-person and online sales, invoices, and virtual-terminal transactions. Its tools include point of sale, online checkout, payment links, recurring payments, invoicing, a customer vault, and an inventory catalog. In-person payments support major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Eligible merchants can also accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Helcim lists integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce, as well as its API and HelcimPay.js for custom integrations and website payments. The Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details for future or recurring payments, while Helcim says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. It identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider. The POS app is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, with listed device requirements. The processing plan costs nothing, with no account monthly fees; transaction rates vary by volume and payment method.