MC-POS vs Zoho POS: all-in-one POS or a POS plus other Zoho apps?
Quick answer
Zoho POS (formerly Zakya) is a solid retail POS, and a natural fit if you already run your business on Zoho apps — accounting is in Zoho Books, a separate product.
MC-POS Cloud puts POS, inventory, full accounting, HR, loyalty, an online store and ZATCA / UAE VAT e-invoicing in one system, adds a restaurant plan, and is priced per plan per year, from $36 for 2 users — devices are not counted.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | MC-POS Cloud | Zoho POS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start. Paid plans $36 (Essentials, 2 users), $100 (Advanced, 2 users) or $120 (Restaurant, 4 users) a year, tax extra | Free plan; paid plans from AED 39 per month (UAE prices) |
| Plan limits | 2 users on Essentials and Advanced, 4 on Restaurant; devices are not counted | Each plan caps registers, users and stores (e.g. Standard: 1 register, 3 users, 1 store) |
| Apps | Native apps for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS, plus web | Windows, macOS, Android and iOS |
| Works offline | Yes — full billing with no internet; syncs when back online | Offline billing on Standard plan and above |
| Accounting | Built in — full accounting on every paid plan | In Zoho Books (separate product) |
| Staff / HR | HR app on the Advanced plan | In Zoho People (separate product) |
| ZATCA / UAE e-invoicing | Saudi ZATCA and UAE VAT e-invoicing built in (Advanced plan) | Not listed on Zoho POS pricing page |
| Online store | Online store built in (Advanced plan) | In Zoho Commerce (separate product) |
| Restaurant features | Tables, KOT printing, QR menu, split bills (Restaurant plan) | Built for retail |
One system or several
Zoho's approach is a family of apps: Zoho POS for the counter, Zoho Books for accounting, Zoho Commerce for the online store and Zoho People for HR. They connect well, but each is its own product and subscription.
MC-POS keeps all of these in one system with one login and one set of data. A sale at the counter updates stock, the ledger and the customer's loyalty at once.
Price and limits
Zoho POS has a free plan and paid plans from AED 39 a month in the UAE. Each plan sets how many registers, users and stores you get — for example the Standard plan is 1 register, 3 users and 1 store; you move up a plan for more.
MC-POS charges one yearly price per plan, with 2 users on Essentials and Advanced and 4 on Restaurant. One user can bill on a phone, a tablet and a desktop; more users come as a custom plan. See MC-POS pricing.
Restaurants
Zoho POS is built for retail. MC-POS has a Restaurant plan with tables, KOT kitchen printing, QR menu ordering, split bills and commission-free online ordering — see MC-POS Restaurant POS.
Which one should you choose?
Choose MC-POS Cloud if
- You want POS, accounting, HR and online store in one system
- You run a restaurant or café
- You need ZATCA or UAE VAT e-invoicing with your POS
Choose Zoho POS if
- You already use Zoho Books and other Zoho apps
- You run retail only and like the Zoho family of apps
Frequently asked questions
Is MC-POS a good Zoho POS alternative?
Yes. MC-POS includes POS, inventory, accounting, HR, loyalty, an online store and ZATCA / UAE VAT e-invoicing in one system, with native apps on Android, iOS, Windows and macOS.
How much does Zoho POS cost in the UAE?
Zoho POS has a free plan, and paid plans start from AED 39 per month in the UAE. Each plan limits registers, users and stores.
Does Zoho POS include accounting?
Accounting is done in Zoho Books, a separate Zoho product that connects to Zoho POS. MC-POS has accounting built in.
Is Zoho POS the same as Zakya?
Yes. Zakya was renamed Zoho POS.
Try MC-POS Cloud free
Create your business and start billing in minutes — on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS or the web. Plans from $36 a year for 2 users when you need more.
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