Best Free POS Systems of April 2026
The best free POS systems include core POS functions, like basic reporting and flexible mobile apps. They also offer competitive payment processing rates to keep overall costs low. Here are our top picks.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
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.
Learn more on Square's website
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
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
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 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.
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
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- 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 and accounting integrations cost extra.
SpotOn Restaurant
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
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.
PayPal POS
Best for Free POS system 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
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
Loyverse
Best for Free loyalty program
Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0
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.
- 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 advanced inventory.
eHopper
Best for Free POS system with cash discount program
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
And up.
Pros
- Paid plans work with a variety of processors.
- Customer support requests can be submitted through a ticketing system.
- Cash discount program available.
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.
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Default 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
- 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
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized 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.
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
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized 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.
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
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- 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 and accounting integrations cost extra.
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.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- 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 and accounting integrations cost extra.
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.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- 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 and accounting integrations cost extra.
SpotOn Restaurant
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PayPal POS
Best for Free POS system 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
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
PayPal'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.
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
PayPal'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.
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
Loyverse
Best for Free loyalty program
Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0
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.
- 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 advanced inventory.
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.
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.
- 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 advanced inventory.
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.
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.
- 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 advanced inventory.
eHopper
Best for Free POS system with cash discount program
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
And up.
Pros
- Paid plans work with a variety of processors.
- Customer support requests can be submitted through a ticketing system.
- Cash discount program available.
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.
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. You can also opt for the cash discount program to save on processing fees.
Pros
- Paid plans work with a variety of processors.
- Customer support requests can be submitted through a ticketing system.
- Cash discount program available.
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.
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. You can also opt for the cash discount program to save on processing fees.
Pros
- Paid plans work with a variety of processors.
- Customer support requests can be submitted through a ticketing system.
- Cash discount program available.
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.
Jump to
Who should get a free POS system?
What each free POS plan includes
What is a free POS system?
How to choose the best free POS system
Who should get a free POS system?
A free point-of-sale (POS) system doesn't charge a monthly software fee. That means they can make sense for any business that wants to keep expenses down.
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.
What each free POS plan includes
- Square. Free plan includes comprehensive features, including sales dashboard, reporting, inventory management and multiple location management.
- Helcim. Free plan includes reporting, inventory management and unique user permissions.
- Toast. Quick Start Bundle accommodates up to two terminals at one location and includes reporting, table management, menu management and invoicing.
- SpotOn Restaurant. Quick Start plan includes menu and table management, reporting and marketing tools.
- PayPal POS. Free version includes a sales dashboard, reporting, inventory management, staff productivity tracking and more.
- Loyverse. Free version includes POS access for multiple stores, inventory management, analytics, loyalty program, transaction details and kitchen display system.
- EHopper. Free version includes basic features, including inventory management, customer management, cash discounts, split payments and basic reporting.
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.
» MORE: How does a POS system work?
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.
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.
