- Free POS systems compared at a glance
- Free point of sale options for shops, cafes and stalls
- What a free POS plan usually leaves out
- Cloud POS or open source till?
- Questions to ask before you choose a free POS
- Keeping sales records the taxman expects
- Hardware for a free POS setup
- My advice on starting with a free POS
- Frequently asked questions
A free POS system can run a small shop, cafe or stall, as long as you check what the free plan leaves out. Cloud apps with free plans suit new and mobile sellers, while open source tills suit owners with a spare computer and some technical help. Always check card processing terms and how you export your sales history.
Every new shop or stall needs a way to take orders and record sales, and it's tempting to buy the first till you see. Free point of sale software has improved a lot, and for many small businesses it's all they need for the first year or two.
This list covers free cloud POS apps, free plans from bigger providers and open source tills you run yourself. If tech is starting to pile up in your business, my office tech health check is a quick way to see what's earning its place.
Free POS systems compared at a glance
Each POS, the kind of business it suits and whether its own site shows a free plan. The list is alphabetical and in no particular order.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromis | Open source POS | Running your own till software | Yes |
| eHopper | Retail and food POS | A free plan with card processing | Yes |
| Elementary POS | Mobile POS | Selling from a phone | Yes |
| Floreant POS | Restaurant POS | Tables, kitchen tickets and tabs | Yes |
| Imonggo | Cloud POS | New shops on a free plan | Yes |
| Loyverse | Retail and food POS | Loyalty and stock on a free plan | Yes |
| Odoo | Business suite POS | Shops that want accounting and stock too | Yes |
| PayPal Point of Sale | Card reader POS | Taking cards at events | Yes |
| uniCenta | Open source POS | Retail and hospitality on your own hardware | Yes |
Free point of sale options for shops, cafes and stalls
Chromis
Best for: Small retailers with a spare PC who are happy to install and look after free open source till software themselves.
eHopper
Best for: Small cafes and shops that want a free POS plan and are happy to use the provider's own card processing.
Elementary POS
Best for: Micro businesses and market traders who want to sell from a smartphone or tablet and keep the back office online.
Floreant POS
Best for: Independent restaurants and takeaways that want table service, kitchen tickets and tabs from free open source software.
Imonggo
Best for: New stores that want cloud sales, inventory and basic reports on a free plan before they add branches or users.
Loyverse
Best for: Coffee shops, bakeries and boutiques that want sales, stock and a built-in loyalty programme from a free POS app.
Odoo
Best for: Growing retailers who want the till, inventory and accounting in one suite and can start with a single free app.
PayPal Point of Sale
Best for: Market stalls, fairs and pop-ups that want a card reader and a free app they can set up in minutes.
uniCenta
Best for: Shops and bars with some technical help who want full control of open source till software on their own hardware.
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What a free POS plan usually leaves out
- Extra registers, staff logins or a second location.
- Detailed reports or more than a few months of sales history.
- Advanced inventory, such as variants, suppliers and purchase orders.
- Priority support when the till stops on a Saturday morning.
- Integrations with your accounting software or online shop.
Cloud POS or open source till?
A cloud POS runs in an app or browser, updates itself and keeps your data online, which makes it easy to start and easy to check sales from home. An open source till is installed on your own computer or server, so you control it completely, but you're also responsible for updates, backups and fixes. If nobody in your business enjoys that kind of work, a cloud plan is the safer choice.
Questions to ask before you choose a free POS
- Does it work with the card reader and receipt printer I already have, or will I need new hardware?
- Can it keep selling if the internet drops, and sync later?
- Can I export every sale to a spreadsheet or my accounting software?
- What happens to my data if I stop using it?
- Does it handle the way I sell: tables, tabs, weighed items, appointments or stock by size?
Keeping sales records the taxman expects
GOV.UK says self-employed people must keep their records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year, and HMRC may check them. A free POS is only useful if your sales history survives that long, so export reports regularly and keep them somewhere safe. My guide to invoicing correctly as a sole trader covers the paperwork side for service sales.
Hardware for a free POS setup
Software can be free, but you'll still need something to run it on. Most small businesses start with a tablet or phone, a card reader that's compatible with the POS and, if customers want them, a receipt printer and cash drawer. Check the supported hardware list on each provider's site before you buy anything, because a reader that works with one app often won't work with another. If you already have a till printer or barcode scanner, look for a POS that supports it so you're not buying new kit straight away.
Do you make point of sale software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice on starting with a free POS
Run a free POS side by side with your old method for a week, including your busiest day. Watch how quickly it rings up a sale, how it copes with refunds and whether the end of day report matches the cash in the drawer. If it passes that test, you've saved yourself a subscription until you outgrow it.
Read the card processing terms as carefully as the software features. That's where free plans differ most.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free POS system?
Yes. Several cloud POS apps have free plans, and open source tills are free to download and run on your own hardware. Card processing and hardware are usually separate.
What's the best free POS for a small shop?
For most new shops, a cloud POS with a free plan is the easiest start. Owners with a spare computer and technical help may prefer an open source till they control.
Can I use a free POS on an iPad or phone?
Many free POS apps run on tablets and phones. Check which devices each one supports, and whether it works with your card reader.
Do free POS systems track stock?
Most track basic stock levels on the free plan. Variants, suppliers and purchase orders are often limited to upgraded plans.
How long should I keep my POS sales records?
GOV.UK says self-employed people must keep records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year, so export and store your reports.
