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No monthly fee option- No PCI compliance fee
- No termination fee
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Square POS
Best for Overall free POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Square's website
Pros
- Item and menu management for cafes, restaurants and bars.
- Booking and invoicing tools for service-based businesses.
- Low-stock alerts and an online store for retailers.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- No chargeback fees.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square is my top pick for the best free POS system because it supports so many different industries. For example, you’ll find features for retailers, restaurants, cafes and service-based businesses. This makes it more versatile than industry-specific options, like SpotOn.
Square’s hardware is also relatively inexpensive. For example, its card reader costs $59. Clover’s mobile card reader costs $199.
Unlike some alternatives, Square also lets you upgrade to a paid plan to access more features. This makes it more scalable than options like PayPal POS that only offer a free plan.
Square’s paid plans come with cheaper processing rates too. For example, the free plan charges 2.6% plus 15 cents per in-person sale and 3.3% plus 30 cents per online one. Plus plan rates come out to 2.5% plus 15 cents per in-person transaction and 2.9% plus 30 cents per online sale. These are much more competitive.
If you do all in-person transactions, the Plus plan pays for itself once you process more than $49,000 per month. If you do all online sales, you’ll hit your breakeven point much sooner at $12,250 per month. Let’s say half your sales are online and half are in-person. At that point, you should opt for the Plus plan if you process more than about $19,600 per month.
Pros
- Item and menu management for cafes, restaurants and bars.
- Booking and invoicing tools for service-based businesses.
- Low-stock alerts and an online store for retailers.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- No chargeback fees.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square is my top pick for the best free POS system because it supports so many different industries. For example, you’ll find features for retailers, restaurants, cafes and service-based businesses. This makes it more versatile than industry-specific options, like SpotOn.
Square’s hardware is also relatively inexpensive. For example, its card reader costs $59. Clover’s mobile card reader costs $199.
Unlike some alternatives, Square also lets you upgrade to a paid plan to access more features. This makes it more scalable than options like PayPal POS that only offer a free plan.
Square’s paid plans come with cheaper processing rates too. For example, the free plan charges 2.6% plus 15 cents per in-person sale and 3.3% plus 30 cents per online one. Plus plan rates come out to 2.5% plus 15 cents per in-person transaction and 2.9% plus 30 cents per online sale. These are much more competitive.
If you do all in-person transactions, the Plus plan pays for itself once you process more than $49,000 per month. If you do all online sales, you’ll hit your breakeven point much sooner at $12,250 per month. Let’s say half your sales are online and half are in-person. At that point, you should opt for the Plus plan if you process more than about $19,600 per month.
Helcim POS
Best for Interchange-plus processing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- Inventory management for retailers.
- Invoicing tools for service-based businesses.
- Branded, customizable online payment page and online store.
Cons
- No full POS register options.
- Limited scalability.
Helcim’s free POS system stands out for its payment processing structure. Instead of charging flat-rate fees like the rest of the options listed here, it uses interchange-plus pricing. That means you’ll pay varying amounts for each transaction. So when a customer uses a card with low interchange rates, you’ll save.
This pricing model is ideal for higher-volume businesses processing tens of thousands of dollars per month.
Helcim’s POS software doesn’t include as many features as competitors like Square. But you’ll still find invoicing tools, a free online store and the ability to sell on social media. It also has inventory tracking tools.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- Inventory management for retailers.
- Invoicing tools for service-based businesses.
- Branded, customizable online payment page and online store.
Cons
- No full POS register options.
- Limited scalability.
Helcim’s free POS system stands out for its payment processing structure. Instead of charging flat-rate fees like the rest of the options listed here, it uses interchange-plus pricing. That means you’ll pay varying amounts for each transaction. So when a customer uses a card with low interchange rates, you’ll save.
This pricing model is ideal for higher-volume businesses processing tens of thousands of dollars per month.
Helcim’s POS software doesn’t include as many features as competitors like Square. But you’ll still find invoicing tools, a free online store and the ability to sell on social media. It also has inventory tracking tools.
SpotOn Restaurant POS
Best for Full-service restaurants
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.79% + $0.20
Online: 3.79% + $0.20
Online: 3.79% + $0.20
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on SpotOn's website
Pros
- Table layout and menu management tools.
- 24/7 support.
- Variety of restaurant-specific POS hardware available.
Cons
- Free plan processing fees are higher than competitors.
- Locks you into a contract for two or more years.
- Requires processing minimums.
- Need the $50 Core bundle to integrate with other software.
SpotOn isn’t the only restaurant POS system with a free software plan. But if you need to scale up down the road (and most full-service restaurants will), its paid options are more accessible than much of the competition.
Toast’s paid plans, for example, start at $69. But if you use multiple hardware devices or need customizable tip pooling, you’ll likely pay more. SpotOn’s middle-tier plan, on the other hand, charges a flat $55 per POS station each month. If budget is top of mind for your restaurant, SpotOn is the better pick.
That said, there are some things I don’t like about SpotOn. The free plan locks you into a contract for two or more years. And a lot of features you might eventually want (e.g., online ordering, a loyalty program) cost extra, regardless of which plan you choose. These costs can be worth it if you own a full-service restaurant. Otherwise, I’d opt for something simpler like Square instead.
Pros
- Table layout and menu management tools.
- 24/7 support.
- Variety of restaurant-specific POS hardware available.
Cons
- Free plan processing fees are higher than competitors.
- Locks you into a contract for two or more years.
- Requires processing minimums.
- Need the $50 Core bundle to integrate with other software.
SpotOn isn’t the only restaurant POS system with a free software plan. But if you need to scale up down the road (and most full-service restaurants will), its paid options are more accessible than much of the competition.
Toast’s paid plans, for example, start at $69. But if you use multiple hardware devices or need customizable tip pooling, you’ll likely pay more. SpotOn’s middle-tier plan, on the other hand, charges a flat $55 per POS station each month. If budget is top of mind for your restaurant, SpotOn is the better pick.
That said, there are some things I don’t like about SpotOn. The free plan locks you into a contract for two or more years. And a lot of features you might eventually want (e.g., online ordering, a loyalty program) cost extra, regardless of which plan you choose. These costs can be worth it if you own a full-service restaurant. Otherwise, I’d opt for something simpler like Square instead.
PayPal POS
Best for Mobile sales
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- Low transaction fees.
- Inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers for retailers.
- Invoicing tools.
- Online checkout module.
- No contracts or termination fees.
Cons
- No add-ons available.
- Accounting integrations limited to QuickBooks.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
In addition to free POS software, PayPal has some of the lowest in-person rates I’ve seen among flat-rate payment processors. Its lack of add-ons and staff management tools, however, means it has limited use cases.
PayPal is not a good fit for retail operations with employees or businesses in the restaurant industry. However, it’s a great solution for solopreneurs who run simple retail or service-based businesses. And its $29 card reader makes it an especially solid option for selling on the go.
Pros
- Low transaction fees.
- Inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers for retailers.
- Invoicing tools.
- Online checkout module.
- No contracts or termination fees.
Cons
- No add-ons available.
- Accounting integrations limited to QuickBooks.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
In addition to free POS software, PayPal has some of the lowest in-person rates I’ve seen among flat-rate payment processors. Its lack of add-ons and staff management tools, however, means it has limited use cases.
PayPal is not a good fit for retail operations with employees or businesses in the restaurant industry. However, it’s a great solution for solopreneurs who run simple retail or service-based businesses. And its $29 card reader makes it an especially solid option for selling on the go.
Clover POS
Best for Choosing your own payment processor
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can purchase Clover systems from third-party processors.
- Invoicing for service-based businesses.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- Free plans include fewer features than competitors.
- Must upgrade or pay extra for integrations.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
Clover doesn’t have the most feature-filled free plan on the market. But it’s one of the only options that works with resellers. For example, you can buy Clover’s POS systems from various third-party processors. This gives you the flexibility to shop around for the best payment processing rates. Other POS systems, like Square, only work with their in-house processing services.
If you do decide on a different payment processor, just make sure to buy the Clover hardware directly from it. If you buy it from Clover’s site, you’ll be locked into processing through Clover.
Pros
- Can purchase Clover systems from third-party processors.
- Invoicing for service-based businesses.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- Free plans include fewer features than competitors.
- Must upgrade or pay extra for integrations.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
Clover doesn’t have the most feature-filled free plan on the market. But it’s one of the only options that works with resellers. For example, you can buy Clover’s POS systems from various third-party processors. This gives you the flexibility to shop around for the best payment processing rates. Other POS systems, like Square, only work with their in-house processing services.
If you do decide on a different payment processor, just make sure to buy the Clover hardware directly from it. If you buy it from Clover’s site, you’ll be locked into processing through Clover.
Jump to
How we selected the best free POS systems
What are the pros and cons of free POS systems?
Should you choose a free POS system?
What features do free POS systems include?
Are free POS systems actually free?
How to choose the best free POS system for your business
How we selected the best free POS systems
To find the best free POS systems, I started with the 20+ products I’ve rated this year. Then I looked among those for options with free POS software plans. I wanted to make sure the final choices filled a variety of niches and catered to different industries.
I also spoke with Spencer Michiel, tech consultant for Back of House, a restaurant tech consulting business. Our conversation revolved around restaurant POS systems. But it also drove home the fact that freebies sometimes aren’t worth it. That’s especially true if it means you’re paying significantly higher processing fees.
Lastly, I relied on my own experience with free POS software. When my husband opened his brewery, I recommended he use Square’s free plan. In terms of reporting features and menu management, it covered almost all the bases. However, we quickly realized we needed to upgrade plans to split tips up per shift. Upgrading was easy enough — migrating to a completely different provider would’ve been a nightmare.
Based on all that, I prioritized the following features:
- Free plan capabilities. For the most part, my picks include the basics — invoicing, reporting and payment processing. Some free plans, like Square’s, are more robust than others.
- Hardware costs. If you’re accepting payments in-person, you’ll likely need a card reader at a minimum. Most of the choices above offer inexpensive hardware options or let you finance devices.
- Scalability. I approached this with the assumption that lots of businesses will eventually upgrade to paid plans (like I had to). So, it was important that some picks, like Square and SpotOn, have paid options. Those paid plans also had to be relatively affordable. Each starts at under $60 per month.
- Niche features. I chose Clover, for instance, because it’s the only option that gives you payment processing flexibility.
- Industry specificity. This is where SpotOn came in. All other options support retailers and service-based businesses in one way or another. I needed a pick specifically built for restaurants’ needs.
Each of my choices has a free POS software plan. But know that you will still owe processing fees. You’ll also likely need to pay for hardware. In other words, a “free” POS system is never 100% free. You end up paying for it one way or another.
Didn't find what you're looking for?
Explore NerdWallet’s list of the top POS systems overall, which includes both free and paid options.
What are the pros and cons of free POS systems?
There will always be a tradeoff between free POS software and what you can do with it. These plans are free for a reason — they have the basics and not much else. Here are some other benefits and drawbacks to weigh:
Pros
No monthly software costs.
Ideal jumping-off point for new businesses.
Often provides sales reporting, invoicing and payment processing.
Cons
Often has limited customer support.
May charge higher payment processing rates.
Isn’t a long-term solution for growing businesses.
Should you choose a free POS system?
Many POS systems offer a free plan. But that entry-level subscription tier isn’t the right choice for every business. Here are some examples of when it might be a good fit and when it probably isn’t.
Consider a free POS plan if you:
✔️ Run a simple retail business or cafe.
✔️ Are a solopreneur.
✔️ Don’t need many industry-specific features.
Don’t consider a free POS plan if you:
✔️ Run a business with employees.
✔️ Need additional tools (e.g., marketing, staff management).
✔️ Plan to open additional locations.
What features do free POS systems include?
Here’s a list of the features each top free POS system includes, organized by industry:
Are free POS systems actually free?
No POS system is entirely free. You might not have monthly subscription fees. But you will always owe payment processing fees. If you need to accept payments in-person, you’ll also want to consider hardware costs.
Even if you plan on sticking with the free POS software plan, it’s smart to check out a product’s paid plan pricing as well. Your needs may change down the road, and you’ll want to confirm a system’s paid options are still within your budget.
Use the table below to compare these additional costs across products.
Square | Helcim | SpotOn | PayPal | Clover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payment processing fees |
|
|
|
|
|
Hardware costs |
|
|
|
|
|
Overall plan pricing |
| $0 |
| $0 |
|
How to choose the best free POS system for your business
To find the right free POS solution for your business, follow these steps:
1. Confirm the POS system can support your growth trajectory
Switching POS systems is a huge pain, to say the least. So, it isn’t worth considering free POS options if you aren’t looking at them as a long-term solution. If you think you might grow out of the free plan in a year or two, make sure the system offers paid plans as well. That way you can upgrade instead of switching to a completely new provider.
2. Consider industry-specific options
The right POS system will have features that support your industry. For example, restaurants will likely need menu management tools. If you’re looking for more restaurant-specific solutions — including free and paid options — explore our roundup of the best restaurant POS systems.
Retailers, on the other hand, might want an online storefront and inventory management. For more retail-specific options, see our list of the best retail POS systems.
Some systems can accommodate multiple business types. Square, for instance, has features for quick-service restaurants, cafes, retail stores and service-based businesses. Others serve one industry — like SpotOn for restaurants.
3. Calculate payment processing and hardware costs
Don’t let the fact that a POS system offers free software completely sway your decision. It doesn’t always help you save money.
For instance, Michiel advises restaurants to pay for hardware upfront if they have the cash flow to do so — and they'll get lower processing rates in return.
“Over the long term, if you're paying higher rates in payment processing, that's going to be the largest expense,” he says.
This kind of hardware arrangement is mostly for the food service industry. For other business owners, the math is more about when you'll start saving money with a paid plan that has lower processing rates.
That will depend on your specific situation. But a $0 monthly fee won't always be better. You can use our credit card processing fees calculator to estimate what you’ll pay with different providers.
4. Check for integrations
Your POS system should integrate with your accounting software and any e-commerce platform you use. This ensures your reports are accurate. It also helps minimize manual data entry and saves you time.
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews point-of-sale (POS) system providers before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we added a payroll integration category to our POS systems rubric. It’s important that POS systems can sync up with payroll software to minimize manual data entry and keep track of employee hours.
NerdWallet’s POS system 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 POS system 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.
