Native Station vs. Virtual Station
How Native and Virtual Stations differ and the features unique to each. A Native Station runs in the Final POS app on a device; a Virtual Station runs in a web browser.
The short version
A Native Station runs your point-of-sale inside the Final POS app on a dedicated device (Apple or Android).
A Virtual Station runs in any modern web browser — no app to install. You open it from a URL and sign in.
The biggest practical difference is hardware: a Native Station connects to payment and printing hardware, while a Virtual Station is about quick, portable, install-free access. A station's type is decided when it's created — created from the Final POS app, it's Native; created or opened in a browser, it's Virtual.
What's unique to a Native Station
Because it runs in the app, a Native Station can talk to connected hardware:
Connect local and Bluetooth card readers — for example the Stripe Reader M2 and WisePad 3. Reader discovery and connection happen in the app; in a web browser the app shows that card readers aren't available.
Tap to Pay on mobile — accept contactless payments directly on a supported phone or tablet.
Connect a receipt printer, choose the paper size, and trigger the cash drawer on a sale.
Print receipts to a connected printer.
See the device's Environment Data — the device/environment settings tab appears only in the app.
What's unique to a Virtual Station
Open from a shareable URL, with no install — a Virtual Station launches in the browser straight from its URL, and the correct Station is selected automatically. Great for pop-ups, training, temporary tills, or back-office order entry.
Single-session use — because a Virtual Station can be opened from any browser, only one session can run it at a time. If the Station is already in use, anyone else who opens its URL is blocked until that session ends.
Taking payments
On a Native Station, you can take payments with a connected card reader, Tap to Pay, or a Cloud terminal.
On a Virtual Station, the app shows that local card readers aren't available in a web browser, so card payments go through a Cloud terminal.
Which should I use?
Choose a Native Station for a permanent counter that uses payment and printing hardware.
Choose a Virtual Station for pop-ups, training, a temporary till, or quick back-office access where you don't need connected hardware.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a station "Native" vs "Virtual"? It's set when the station is created: a station created from the Final POS app is Native, and one created or opened in a browser is Virtual.
Can a Virtual Station connect a card reader or printer? No. Connecting card readers and receipt printers is available on Native Stations. In a web browser, the app shows that readers aren't available.
Can two people use the same Virtual Station at once? No. While a Virtual Station is in use, anyone else who opens its URL is blocked until the session is free.
Can a Virtual Station still take card payments? Yes — through a Cloud terminal.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a station "Native" vs "Virtual"?
It's set when the station is created: a station created from the Final POS app is Native, and one created or opened in a browser is Virtual.
Can a Virtual Station connect a card reader or printer?
No. Connecting card readers and receipt printers is available on Native Stations. In a web browser, the app shows that readers aren't available.
Can two people use the same Virtual Station at once?
No. While a Virtual Station is in use, anyone else who opens its URL is blocked until the session is free.
Can a Virtual Station still take card payments?
Yes — through a Cloud terminal.