Best Free POS Systems of June 2025

POS systems don't have to be expensive. These options give you the features you need for free.
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.
Here are NerdWallet's top picks for free POS systems.
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Best Free POS Systems

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees Monthly fee Learn more
Helcim

Helcim POS

on Helcim POS's secure website

Interchange-plus processing

4.6 /5

In-person:

0.4% + $0.08


Online:

0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

$0

on Helcim POS's secure website

Square

Square POS

on Square POS's secure website

Overall free POS system

In-person:

2.6% + $0.15


Online:

2.9% + $0.30

$0

and up.

on Square POS's secure website

Toast

Toast POS

on Toast POS's secure website

Startup restaurants

2.49% + $0.15

if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.

$0

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast POS's secure website

SpotOn

SpotOn Restaurant

on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website

Restaurant add-ons

4.3 /5
1.99% + $0.25

For most cards in paid plans.

$0

and up.

on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website

PayPal

PayPal POS

Free POS system for mobile sales

In-person:

2.29% + $0.09


Online:

3.49% + $0.09

$0

Loyverse

Loyverse

Free loyalty program

3.7 /5
N/A

Varies by processor.

$0

eHopper

eHopper

Free POS system with cash discount program

In-person:

2.5% + $0.10


$0

And up.

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees Monthly fee Learn more
Helcim

Helcim POS

on Helcim POS's secure website

Interchange-plus processing

4.6 /5

In-person:

0.4% + $0.08


Online:

0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

$0

on Helcim POS's secure website

Square

Square POS

on Square POS's secure website

Overall free POS system

In-person:

2.6% + $0.15


Online:

2.9% + $0.30

$0

and up.

on Square POS's secure website

Toast

Toast POS

on Toast POS's secure website

Startup restaurants

2.49% + $0.15

if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.

$0

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast POS's secure website

SpotOn

SpotOn Restaurant

on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website

Restaurant add-ons

4.3 /5
1.99% + $0.25

For most cards in paid plans.

$0

and up.

on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website

PayPal

PayPal POS

Free POS system for mobile sales

In-person:

2.29% + $0.09


Online:

3.49% + $0.09

$0

Loyverse

Loyverse

Free loyalty program

3.7 /5
N/A

Varies by processor.

$0

eHopper

eHopper

Free POS system with cash discount program

In-person:

2.5% + $0.10


$0

And up.

Best Free POS Systems

Helcim POS

4.6

 

Best for Interchange-plus processing

Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$0

on Helcim's website

Helcim POS

Best for Interchange-plus processing

4.6

 
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$0

on Helcim's website

Square POS

Best for Overall free POS system

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on Square's website

Square POS

Best for Overall free POS system

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on Square's website

Toast POS

Best for Startup restaurants

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

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast's website

Toast POS

Best for Startup restaurants

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

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast's website

SpotOn Restaurant

4.3

 

Best for Restaurant add-ons

Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25

For most cards in paid plans.

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on SpotOn's website

SpotOn Restaurant

Best for Restaurant add-ons

4.3

 
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25

For most cards in paid plans.

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on SpotOn's website

PayPal POS

Best for Free POS system for mobile sales

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09

Monthly fee
$0

PayPal POS

Best for Free POS system for mobile sales

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09

Monthly fee
$0

Loyverse

Loyverse

3.7

 

Best for Free loyalty program

Payment processing fees
N/A

Varies by processor.

Monthly fee
$0

Loyverse

Loyverse

Best for Free loyalty program

3.7

 
Payment processing fees
N/A

Varies by processor.

Monthly fee
$0

eHopper

eHopper

Best for Free POS system with cash discount program

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10

Monthly fee
$0

And up.

eHopper

eHopper

Best for Free POS system with cash discount program

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10

Monthly fee
$0

And up.

Our picks for the best free POS systems

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.
  • 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with all free plans.
  • 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid restaurant plans.
  • 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid retail and appointments plans.
  • 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 POS

Best free POS system for mobile sales
Why we like it: PayPal'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 POS review.
Free version includes a sales dashboard, reporting, inventory management, staff productivity tracking and more.
$0.
  • 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 cash discount program
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.

What is a free POS system?

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.

How to choose the best free POS system

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 January 2, 2025