Free point-of-sale (POS) systems can help keep your business’s expenses down, since you don’t have to pay a monthly software fee. Lots of POS systems offer free rudimentary plans, as well as paid ones. If you opt for a free plan, make sure to consider other related costs, too, like payment processing fees, add-ons and hardware. Those expenses can easily eat into your expected savings if they’re not priced competitively.
The best free POS systems include core POS functions, like basic reporting, flexible mobile apps, competitive payment processing rates and add-ons such as advanced inventory management, online ordering or customer management tools.
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Here are NerdWallet's top picks for free POS systems.
Best Free POS Systems
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helcim POS Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.5/5 Best for Interchange-plus processing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website |
Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall free POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website | ||
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Startup restaurants | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0.00 Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
SpotOn Restaurant Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurant add-ons | 1.99% + $0.25 For most cards in paid plans. | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.0/5 Best for Free POS system for mobile sales | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0.00 | |||
Loyverse | 4.0/5 Best for Free loyalty program | N/A Varies by processor. | $0.00 | |||
eHopper | Best for Free POS system with low processing fees | In-person: 2.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 And up. |
Our pick for
Interchange-plus processing
Whereas most of our choices use flat-rate processing, Helcim’s free POS system stands out for its interchange-plus processing. In terms of free features, it includes invoicing, online checkout options, virtual terminal access, reporting, subscription plans for customers and inventory management.
Helcim POS
4.5
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on Helcim POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Helcim doesn’t charge any fees for its POS software and, like many of its competitors, it has built-in payment processing capabilities. Unlike some of the competition, however, it uses interchange-plus pricing that can help businesses save in processing costs. Businesses doing more than $50,000 in monthly credit card sales are eligible for greater savings.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Our pick for
Overall free POS system
Square is our pick for the overall top free POS system because it accommodates multiple industries (retail, restaurant and appointment-based) and offers a free software plan that includes a breadth of useful features: sales reports, customer profiles, low-stock alerts, invoicing, an online store, built-in payment processing, gift cards and virtual terminal access.
Square POS
Learn more
on Square POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Square is one of a few in the space that offers a free version of its POS system. Even the free version comes with a long list of features and functionality, including sales tracking and reporting, offline mode for accepting payments without a Wi-Fi connection and a customizable interface. It’s a strong choice for businesses that don’t require specialized or advanced POS features.
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Our pick for
Startup restaurants
Toast, a restaurant-specific POS system provider, has a free POS software plan with integrated payment processing, table and order management tools, digital menus and basic employee scheduling and time tracking. However, it comes with higher processing fees that cover the cost of both the hardware and software over time.
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
Toast’s Starter Kit, meant for single-location restaurants just starting out, includes a terminal or handheld hardware kit that you pay for through higher processing rates. In other words, there are no upfront costs for hardware or software — just for payment processing. Businesses can upgrade plans as they grow to access online ordering, delivery services and additional add-ons. If you select the Standard processing rate option, as opposed to the Pay-as-You-Go choice, you’ll have to pay a monthly software fee.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 support via web messaging.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering is considered an add-on for all plans.
Our pick for
Restaurant add-ons
SpotOn Restaurant’s free POS software plan features reporting, menu and table management, marketing tools and online review monitoring. Instead of having to subscribe to higher-tier plans to access certain features, you can keep the free plan and pay for just the add-ons you need.
SpotOn Restaurant
4.0
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25
For most cards in paid plans.
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
SpotOn Restaurant’s Quick Start plan is similar to Toast’s — it includes table and menu management, along with reporting. Plus, higher processing fees allow you to avoid upfront hardware costs. You can choose from a range of restaurant specific add-ons, including booking tools for experiences, such as wine tastings.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Our pick for
Free POS system for mobile sales
PayPal Zettle’s free mobile app, competitively priced mobile hardware and low in-person processing fees make it an easy solution for entrepreneurs that make most of their sales at markets or pop-up events. Free features include the ability to accept PayPal and Venmo QR code payments from customers, basic inventory management and sales reporting.
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
PayPal Zettle delivers the essentials at a relatively low cost with a small commitment. But consider other options if you want features like customer loyalty and email marketing programs. Although Zettle can expand through hardware, it doesn’t offer plan upgrades or those types of add-ons.
Pros
- No monthly software fees for accepting in-person payments.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Our pick for
Free loyalty program
The highlight of Loyverse’s free POS system is its free loyalty program, which lets you build a customer base, assign loyalty card barcodes to each customer and establish a points program. Other free features include sales reporting and basic inventory management. Businesses must integrate the software with a third-party payment processor to accept card payments.
Loyverse
4.0
NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Loyverse stands out for its free loyalty program that lets your customers earn rewards points for their purchases. The system’s free POS software has several other features that are well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. For example, it can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, retail stores and boutiques.
- Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
- Can be used with other payment processors without an integration.
- Free software includes a loyalty program, which most competitors offer as an add-on with additional cost.
Cons
- 24/7 live chat support is only available with paid add-on subscriptions.
- Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and integrations into accounting and e-commerce apps.
Our pick for
Free POS system with low processing fees
Like most other options listed here, eHopper offers both free and paid POS software plans. Its free plan features in-house payment processing, a credit card terminal, employee accounts, reporting, inventory management and the ability to collect customer data.
eHopper
Monthly fee
$0.00
And up.
EHopper offers businesses in qualifying states a cash-discount program, allowing businesses to accept credit card payments without paying the processing fees. This means you offer your customers two prices for the same service: If they pay by credit card, the customers pay your processing fees. If they pay with cash, there is no processing fee, so they pay a cheaper price for the same service or product.
Pros
- Paid plans work with a variety of processors.
- Customer support requests can be submitted through a ticketing system; support also includes videos, a chatbot and an online knowledge base.
Cons
- The free plan has limited features, including only one POS license to cover 50 products and 300 transactions per month.
- Certain integrations, such as with QuickBooks, are unavailable with the free plan.
Square
Best overall free POS system
Why we like it: Square’s free POS is small-business focused and includes less common features, like email notifications for low inventory and a wide range of app integrations. The company also offers solid customer service, a variety of credit card readers — including a free magstripe reader — and app options for Apple and Android OS. Read our full Square POS review.
The free version of its POS software includes comprehensive features, including sales dashboard, reporting, inventory management and multiple location management.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
Square transaction fees apply.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Helcim
Best for interchange-plus processing
Why we like it: Helcim’s interchange-plus payment processing isn’t as easy to understand as flat-rate pricing models, but it’s more transparent. If you’re willing to dig into the details, you can break down processing fees for each card type and identify exactly how much you’re paying in markups. Read our full Helcim review.
Helcim’s free POS software includes reporting, inventory management and unique user permissions.
$0.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
Toast
Best for startup restaurants
Why we like it: Toast’s beginner plan is basic, but still includes built-in table and menu management features along with reporting tools. As restaurants expand or open new locations, they can upgrade plans and opt for add-ons like mobile ordering and pay, email marketing and reservations. Read our full Toast review.
Quick Start Bundle accommodates up to two terminals at one location and includes reporting, table management, menu management and invoicing.
- $0 for Starter Kit plan.
- $69 Point of Sale plan.
- Custom plans available.
- 3.09-3.69% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose a pay-as-you-go plan.
- 2.49% plus 15 cents for card-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
- 3.50% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
SpotOn Restaurant
Best for restaurant add-ons
Why we like it: SpotOn is a capable POS system built specifically for restaurants. Add-ons include loyalty programs, employee management tools, delivery options and online reservation tools.
Quick Start plan includes menu and table management, reporting and marketing tools.
- $0 for Quick Start plan.
- $99 for Counter-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- $135 for Full-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- Custom pricing available as well.
- 1.99% plus 25 cents for most cards in the Counter-service, Full-service and Customizable plans.
- 2.89% plus 25 cents for Quick Start plan subscribers (this processing rate includes hardware and software costs).
- 2.99% plus 25 cents for reward, international, corporate and keyed-in cards.
PayPal Zettle
Best free POS system for mobile sales
Why we like it: PayPal Zettle's free POS software comes with several features, including inventory management and reporting, and works with the company's mobile card reader, named one of NerdWallet's best card readers for iPhones. The system also allows you to accept QR codes as a payment method in the PayPal and Venmo platforms and integrates with accounting and e-commerce software, like QuickBooks Online and Shopify. Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
Free version includes a sales dashboard, reporting, inventory management, staff productivity tracking and more.
$0.
PayPal transaction fees apply.
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Loyverse
Best free loyalty program
Why we like it: Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. It can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants, for example. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Free version includes POS access for multiple stores, inventory management, analytics, loyalty program, transaction details and kitchen display system.
$0.
Through third-party payment processor.
eHopper
Best free POS system with low processing fees
Why we like it: EHopper offers businesses in qualifying states a cash-discount program, allowing businesses to accept credit card payments without paying the processing fees. This means you offer your customers two prices for the same service: If they pay by credit card, the customers pay your processing fees. If they pay with cash, there is no processing fee, so they pay a cheaper price for the same service or product.
Free version includes basic features, including inventory management, customer management, cash discounts, split payments and basic reporting.
$0.
2.5% + $0.10 per in-person transaction. Merchants have the option of charging customers for processing fees, too.
Didn't find what you're looking for?
Explore NerdWallet’s exhaustive list of top POS systems, which includes both free and paid options.
Free POS systems offer $0-per-month software plans to businesses that just need the basics. They typically include the following features and capabilities:
- Calculates sales total, plus tax.
- Generates reports to help you identify your most profitable goods and/or services.
- Mobile POS app for completing sales on the go or checking in on reports.
- Integrated payment processing services.
- Invoicing.
- Basic inventory tracking.
- Integrates with your accounting software.
Even if free POS systems include these features, other must-have components will likely cost money. While you might be able to get a mobile card reader for free, countertop POS hardware can be hundreds of dollars if you need it. Processing credit and debit cards will cost you as well. Lots of free POS system providers double as payment processing companies, and others integrate with third-party services to facilitate the movement of money from customers’ bank accounts to your business’s account. Regardless, you’ll likely pay a per-transaction fee.
Outside of that, you may have to pay extra for additional capabilities, like advanced inventory POS features, multi-location management and customer loyalty programs. But if you only require the basics right now, a free POS system can be a great launching point, especially if the provider offers higher-tier plans that can scale with your business as it grows.
» MORE: How does a POS system work?
The cost of a POS system is an important part of the decision-making process — but not the only one. If you’re considering a free POS system, look at these factors as well to find the right option for your business.
Scalability
Think about your business’s growth trajectory and whether free POS software can be a long-term solution. Does the product offer higher-tier paid plans in case your business requires a more robust system down the road? If so, how much do those cost? The provider should be able to accommodate your business now and in the future.
Industry specificity
Some free POS systems are targeted toward certain industries. Restaurant POS systems, for example, might offer reservation add-ons or table management features. And retail POS systems may come equipped with inventory tracking, e-commerce platforms and options for adding multiple product variations. Many providers offer free industry-specific plans, but check out each tier’s features; you may need to upgrade to a paid option to get everything you want.
POS hardware
POS hardware is rarely free, unless all you need is a standalone card reader. Make sure the POS software provider you choose offers in-house hardware or integrates with third-party hardware that’s within your business’s budget.
Payment processing costs
Similar to POS hardware, payment processing services typically come with their own fees and are often offered through POS software providers. Consider credit card processing fees for your sales channels (rates typically differ for in-person and online transactions) to see how much you might have to pay, as well as whether a free POS system charges extra for using a third-party processor — or even allows you to. See NerdWallet’s picks for the cheapest credit card processing companies for more options.
Integrations
Your free POS software should integrate with your accounting software so that you don’t have to manually export your sales data. If your accounting software isn’t looped into your free POS system, it’ll be challenging to keep your books accurate and tell how profitable your business actually is.
App and desktop compatibility
Some free POS software is only compatible with its own in-house POS terminals, while some can be downloaded onto iPads, Android tablets or both. Similarly, some products may only be available for Windows or iOS systems. Verify that your free POS system’s software works with all of the devices you’d like to use it on.
Last updated on July 31, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
