Ecommerce · Ranked by price to features
8 Best Free POS Systems of 2026
By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 26, 2026
Square Point of Sale is the best free POS system for new shops and market stalls in 2026: Square Free costs $0 a month and charges 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person card payment, with offline sales for 24 hours. Loyverse suits cafes and small shops that want free loyalty and inventory tools, with debit cards at 1.99% + 15¢, and PayPal Point of Sale has the lowest fixed fee at 2.29% + 9¢ with a $29 first reader. Prices and rates were checked in November 2026; Odoo suits shops that want a full business suite later.
- Tools ranked
- 8
- With free plan
- 8
- Cheapest paid plan
- Loyverse, $7
- per store per month (add-on)
By the numbers
- $198.25 billionUS merchants paid $198.25 billion in card processing fees in 2025, a new record according to the Nilson Report.Nilson Report
- 1.59%The weighted average card processing fee paid by US merchants reached 1.59% of purchase volume in 2025.Nilson Report
- 79.34%Credit cards accounted for 79.34% of all card processing fees US merchants paid in 2024.Nilson Report
- $0.52Debit transactions exempt from Regulation II, mostly cards from issuers under $10 billion in assets, carried an average interchange fee of $0.52 in 2023.Federal Reserve Board
- 1.15%After Brexit, Visa and Mastercard raised interchange on UK-EEA online card payments fivefold, from 0.2% to 1.15% for debit and from 0.3% to 1.5% for credit.Payment Systems Regulator
- £170 millionUK businesses pay at least £170 million more a year in Visa and Mastercard scheme and processing fees than seven years earlier, the PSR estimates.Payment Systems Regulator
Comparison table
| Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Point of Sale | 01 | 9.2 | 9.3 | $49per location per month | Yes |
| Loyverse | 02 | 8.9 | 9.4 | $7per store per month (add-on) | Yes |
| PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle) | 03 | 8.5 | 9.0 | Freeno monthly fee | Yes |
| SumUp | 04 | 8.4 | 8.8 | $49per month | Yes |
| Helcim | 05 | 8.3 | 8.7 | Freeno monthly fee | Yes |
| Odoo Point of Sale | 06 | 8.2 | 8.5 | Free plan | Yes |
| Payanywhere | 07 | 7.9 | 8.0 | Freeper transaction | Yes |
| eHopper | 08 | 7.6 | 7.6 | $10per month, billed yearly | Yes |
Click a column to sort. Prices are the cheapest paid plan quoted from each vendor's US pricing page; "Check price" means the US price check is pending.
How this ranking works
One method for every tool. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests. Value carries the most weight.
Full methodThis list is for new shops, market stalls, food carts and pop-ups that want a point of sale with no monthly fee and need to see what each sale will cost in card fees. Every option here has a $0 monthly plan or free software. We ranked them by value first (40%), then features (35%) and ease of use (25%), using each vendor's own pricing and product pages. The starting price shown is the cheapest paid plan or add-on, because the free tier is the default for all of them; the card rate next to it usually matters more. We compared documented features and published prices, and marked a price pending where the vendor showed no USD price to us.
The verdict
Start with Square Point of Sale unless one detail of your business points elsewhere. Its $0 plan, flat 2.6% + 15¢ in-person rate, phone-based Tap to Pay and 24 hours of offline payments cover most stalls and new shops. Loyverse gives away loyalty, kitchen display and multi-store tools and has lower debit rates through Loyverse Payments. PayPal Point of Sale wins on small tickets with a 9¢ fixed fee, and Payanywhere drops the fixed fee entirely at 2.69%. Helcim makes sense once card volume grows, because it uses interchange plus pricing with volume discounts.
- 01Top value

Square Point of Sale
9.2/10Square's free point of sale app for phones, tablets and Square hardware, sold with flat in-person card rates.
Price
$49per location per month
Square Free costs $0 a month; Square Plus from $49 per location per month; in-person cards 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free
“With Square Plus and Square Premium, the monthly fee applies to each location you run. $0/mo. per location $49/mo. per location $149/mo. per location” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.3
- Features (35%)
- 9.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.2
Best fornew shops and market stalls that want one free app with offline sales
Square Point of Sale ranks first because its free plan covers almost everything a new shop or pop-up needs and the rates are published up front. Square Free costs $0 a month per location, and every tap, dip or swipe costs 2.6% + 15¢. You can take contactless cards on a phone with Tap to Pay on iPhone or Tap to Pay on Android, or buy Square hardware, which starts at $59. Offline payments keep a stall selling when signal drops: Square stores them for 24 hours and processes them when the device reconnects, but declines them if it does not. Transfers to a bank account are free the next business day, with instant transfers for a fee. The limits show up as you grow. Online and invoice payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on the free plan, and the lower card rates of 2.5% + 15¢ need Square Plus at $49 a month per location. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓No monthly fee on Square Free
- ✓Sell with only a phone through Tap to Pay
- ✓Hardware from $59 if you want a reader
- ✕Offline payments are declined if you do not reconnect within 24 hours
- ✕Online and invoice payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free
- ✕Lower card rates need Square Plus at $49 a month per location
- Monthly fee:
- $0 on Square Free
- In-person rate:
- 2.6% + 15¢
- Online rate:
- 3.3% + 30¢
- Hardware:
- From $59
Bottom line: Square Point of Sale is the best free POS for most new sellers because Square Free costs $0 a month and lists a flat 2.6% + 15¢ in-person rate. Move to Square Plus only when the lower rate saves more than $49 a month.
- 02

Loyverse
8.9/10A free POS app for phones and tablets with optional paid add-ons and its own US card processing.
Price
$7per store per month (add-on)
Free POS; add-ons from $7 per store per month; Loyverse Payments 1.99% + 15¢ debit, 2.49% + 15¢ credit
“Unlimited sales history View and export sales reports beyond the last 31 days. $7/month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Value (40%)
- 9.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.6
Best forcafes and small shops that want free inventory and loyalty tools
Loyverse gives away more of its POS than most rivals. The free tier includes the point of sale, sales analytics for the last 31 days, essential inventory with low-stock alerts, a loyalty program, customer and kitchen displays, multi-store management and integrations, and no credit card is needed to sign up. Loyverse Payments charges 1.99% + 15¢ on debit cards and 2.49% + 15¢ on credit cards, which is below Square's flat in-person rate for many sales, with no monthly, statement, PCI or batch fees. Tap to Pay on a compatible phone is free, a mobile reader costs $59 and a smart reader $269. Paid add-ons are where costs appear: unlimited sales history is listed at $7 a month per store, and employee management and advanced inventory are $25 a month per store each. Cards issued outside the United States add 1.5%, and chargebacks cost $20 per case. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓Loyalty program and kitchen display are free
- ✓No monthly fees, minimums or contracts on payments
- ✓Mobile reader costs $59 one-time
- ✕Free sales reports cover only the last 31 days
- ✕Employee management costs $25 a month per store
- ✕Cards issued outside the United States add 1.5%
- Monthly fee:
- $0
- Debit rate:
- 1.99% + 15¢
- Credit rate:
- 2.49% + 15¢
- Cheapest add-on:
- $7 a month per store
Bottom line: Loyverse is the best free POS for small cafes and shops that want loyalty and inventory tools because both are included at $0 and debit cards cost 1.99% + 15¢. Budget $7 a month per store if you need sales history beyond 31 days.
- 03

PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle)
8.5/10PayPal's free POS app, formerly Zettle, paired with a low-cost card reader or terminal.
Price
Freeno monthly fee
No monthly fee; card-present payments 2.29% + 9¢; first Card Reader $29
“No monthly or setup fees.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.0
- Features (35%)
- 7.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.8
Best forsellers with small tickets who want the lowest fixed fee per sale
PayPal Point of Sale, the product formerly called Zettle, is the cheapest way here to take a card on a low-value sale. There are no monthly or setup fees, and card-present payments cost 2.29% + 9¢, as do QR code payments. On a $10 sale that is about 32¢, against 41¢ at Square's 2.6% + 15¢. The first Card Reader costs $29 for a new business user, extra readers are $79, and an all-in-one Terminal costs $199, or $239 with a built-in barcode scanner. The app covers checkout, inventory and sales metrics on iOS and Android, and money lands in your PayPal balance within minutes. It is a lighter POS than Square or Loyverse, with no loyalty or kitchen tools listed on the pricing page, and manual card entry costs 3.49% + 9¢. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓9¢ fixed fee is the lowest here among flat-rate options
- ✓QR code payments at the same 2.29% + 9¢ rate
- ✓$29 first reader keeps start-up cost low
- ✕Manual card entry costs 3.49% + 9¢
- ✕The $29 reader price applies to one reader per new business user
- ✕No paid tier with extra POS features
- Monthly fee:
- $0
- In-person rate:
- 2.29% + 9¢
- Card Reader:
- $29 first, then $79
- Terminal:
- $199
Bottom line: PayPal Point of Sale is the best free POS for low-ticket sellers because card-present payments cost 2.29% + 9¢ with no monthly fee. Pick Square or Loyverse if you need deeper POS features.
- 04

SumUp
8.4/10Card readers and a free POS Lite app with a $0 plan and flat card rates.
Price
$49per month
Free plan $0 a month; POS Plus $49 a month; in-person cards 2.6% + 10¢
“POS Plus For businesses that need more, POS Plus is an opt-in plan that includes extra POS features. Monthly cost $49/month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.8
- Features (35%)
- 7.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.7
Best forsolo sellers who want next-morning access to card sales
SumUp's free plan suits a seller who mainly needs a reader and a simple checkout. You pay the one-time hardware cost and $0 a month, then 2.6% + 10¢ for each in-person card payment, a fixed fee 5¢ below Square's. The free tier includes the SumUp Business app, appointment bookings, payment links, invoicing and reporting, plus a free Business Account and Visa card. Money reaches that account by 7am the next day, even on weekends and public holidays, which helps market traders who restock on Monday. There are no monthly minimums or hardware rental costs, and declined payments are not charged. The ceiling is lower than Square's: multi-device sync, several ticket printers and floor plans need POS Plus at $49 a month, and the full SumUp POS starts at $99 a month. Online and manual entry payments cost 3.5% + 15¢. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓10¢ fixed fee is lower than Square's 15¢
- ✓No monthly minimums or hardware rental
- ✓Weekend access to funds through the free Business Account
- ✕Online and manual entry payments cost 3.5% + 15¢
- ✕Multi-device sync needs POS Plus at $49 a month
- ✕Full SumUp POS starts at $99 a month
- Monthly fee:
- $0 on the free plan
- In-person rate:
- 2.6% + 10¢
- Online rate:
- 3.5% + 15¢
- Paid plans:
- $49 and from $99 a month
Bottom line: SumUp is a strong free POS for solo sellers because its $0 plan charges 2.6% + 10¢ in person and pays out by 7am the next day. Growing shops will hit the $49 POS Plus tier sooner than on Square.
- 05

Helcim
8.3/10Free POS software with interchange plus card pricing and no monthly account fee.
Price
Freeno monthly fee
No monthly account fee; interchange plus processing; Card Reader $199
“No minimums, software fees, or statement fees.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.7
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forshops with growing card volume that want cost-based rates
Helcim is the pick for a new shop that expects card volume to grow and wants to pay close to cost. There is no monthly account fee, no minimums, no software or statement fees and no cancellation fee, and the POS software is free on a laptop, tablet or smartphone with unlimited users. Instead of a flat rate, Helcim charges interchange plus: what the banks and card networks charge, plus its stated margin, with volume discounts. That is usually cheaper at higher volume but harder to predict per sale than Square or SumUp. The POS covers inventory with low-stock alerts, customer profiles, split payments and tipping, and deposits arrive the next business morning for free. Hardware costs more up front: the Card Reader is $199 and the Smart Terminal $349, or $32 a month for a year. Tap to Pay on iPhone needs no hardware but adds 10¢ per transaction. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓No minimums, software fees or statement fees
- ✓Inventory with low-stock alerts and customer profiles included
- ✓No contracts or cancellation fees
- ✕Interchange plus means the rate varies by card
- ✕Card Reader costs $199, more than most rivals
- ✕Tap to Pay on iPhone adds 10¢ per transaction
- Monthly fee:
- $0
- Pricing model:
- Interchange plus
- Card Reader:
- $199
- Smart Terminal:
- $349 or $32 a month for 1 year
Bottom line: Helcim is the best free POS for shops with rising card volume because it charges interchange plus with volume discounts and no monthly fee. Very small stalls may prefer a flat rate and a cheaper reader.
- 06

Odoo Point of Sale
8.2/10Odoo's open source POS app, free with unlimited users when it is your one Odoo app.
Price
Free plan
One App Free plan with unlimited users; Standard plan price in USD pending
US price check pending. Vendor pricing page
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.5
- Features (35%)
- 8.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.0
Best forshops that may later add Odoo inventory, ecommerce or accounting
Odoo Point of Sale is the most expandable free option here. Odoo's One App Free plan lets you run one app with unlimited users at no cost, and Point of Sale can be that app. It handles loyalty cards, coupons, gift cards and an eWallet for refunds, supports multiple cashiers secured by badges or PIN codes, and keeps selling offline, syncing payments when the connection returns. Customers can self order from a kiosk or their phone, and it works on tablets, laptops and desktops with barcode scanners and scales. Odoo does not set the card rate: you connect a payment terminal from a provider such as Adyen, Stripe or Worldline and pay that provider's fees, so compare those before you start. The free plan stops being free once you add a second app such as Inventory or eCommerce, and the paid Standard plan showed no USD price to us, so it is marked pending. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓Free forever for one app with unlimited users
- ✓Runs on tablets, laptops and desktops with barcode scanners and scales
- ✓Grows into Odoo eCommerce, Inventory and Accounting
- ✕Free only while Point of Sale is your single Odoo app
- ✕Card rates come from a separate payment provider, not from Odoo
- ✕More setup than phone-first apps
- Free plan:
- One App Free, unlimited users
- Offline mode:
- Yes, syncs on reconnect
- Payment terminals:
- Adyen, Stripe, Worldline and others
- Paid plan:
- See vendor pricing (USD check pending)
Bottom line: Odoo Point of Sale is the best free POS for shops that plan to grow into a full business suite because the One App Free plan includes unlimited users. Expect more setup and a separate payment provider bill.
- 07

Payanywhere
7.9/10A free POS app and merchant portal with one pay-as-you-go card rate and no monthly fee.
Price
Freeper transaction
No monthly fee; swipe, dip or tap 2.69%; keyed 3.49% + 19¢
“Swipe, Dip, or Tap: 2.69% Keyed: 3.49% + $0.19” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.0
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forUS sellers who want one percentage rate with no fixed fee
Payanywhere is the option for sellers who dislike fixed per-sale fees. Its pay as you go plan charges a single 2.69% for swipe, dip or tap with no cents added, so a $5 sale costs about 13¢, less than on Square, SumUp or PayPal. On larger tickets the math flips: at $50 the 2.69% rate costs more than PayPal's 2.29% + 9¢. The POS software and the Payments Hub back office are free and include inventory, employee and customer management, reporting, invoices, a virtual terminal and dispute management. You can accept contactless payments on an iPhone with Tap to Pay, use a Bluetooth reader, or get a payment device placed at your business for free. Funding is same day or next day. Watch two details: keyed and invoice payments cost 3.49% + 19¢, and a $3.99 monthly inactivity fee applies if you process nothing for 12 months, which matters for seasonal stalls. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓No fixed fee per in-person sale
- ✓Free hardware placement is offered as an option
- ✓Custom pricing available for higher volume
- ✕$3.99 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months without a transaction
- ✕Keyed and invoice payments cost 3.49% + 19¢
- ✕Available only in the United States
- Monthly fee:
- $0
- In-person rate:
- 2.69%
- Keyed rate:
- 3.49% + 19¢
- Inactivity fee:
- $3.99 a month after 12 idle months
Bottom line: Payanywhere is the best free POS for very small ticket sizes because in-person payments cost a flat 2.69% with no fixed fee. Seasonal sellers should note the $3.99 inactivity fee after 12 idle months.
- 08

eHopper
7.6/10POS software for Android tablets, Windows PCs and eHopper terminals, free when you process cards with eHopper.
Price
$10per month, billed yearly
Free with eHopper card processing; Essential Plus from $10 a month billed $120 yearly
“Essential Plus Software plan for basic operations and lower transaction volume SAVE 30%! 10.00 month Billed at $120.00 /1yr.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 7.6
- Features (35%)
- 7.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.4
Best forUS counter shops that want free software on a Windows PC or Android tablet
eHopper is the one choice here built around a Windows PC as well as Android tablets. Its free offer gives US merchants the POS software at no charge when they sign up for eHopper card processing, which it markets as 0% card fees with no additional monthly fees or commitments; the pricing page does not list the processing rates, so ask how that model works before you sign. The free software covers sales, unlimited products, inventory, customer and employee management and reporting, and it supports printers, scanners and cash drawers. If you want to keep your current processor, paid plans start with Essential Plus at $10 a month billed $120 yearly, or $14.99 month to month, capped at 1,000 products and 1,000 transactions a month. The Freedom plan from $20.99 a month billed yearly removes those caps and adds loyalty, a self-service kiosk and QuickBooks integration. We compared documented features and published prices.
- ✓Runs on a Windows PC you already own
- ✓Free offer advertises 0% card fees
- ✓Paid plans work with eHopper or other processors
- ✕Free software requires eHopper processing and is for US merchants only
- ✕Card processing rates are not listed on the pricing page
- ✕Essential Plus is capped at 1,000 products and 1,000 transactions a month
- Free offer:
- With eHopper processing, US only
- Cheapest paid plan:
- $10 a month billed $120 yearly
- Devices:
- Android, Windows, eHopper terminals
- Monthly billing:
- Essential Plus $14.99
Bottom line: eHopper is the best free POS for US counter shops that want to run on a Windows PC because its software is free with eHopper processing. Ask for the processing terms in writing, since the rates are not published.
What to check before you pay
Free software, paid processing
A free POS still costs money on every card sale. Square Free charges 2.6% + 15¢ in person, SumUp 2.6% + 10¢, PayPal Point of Sale 2.29% + 9¢ and Payanywhere a flat 2.69%. Multiply your average sale by each rate before you choose: on a $5 sale the fixed fee is most of the cost, while on a $100 sale the percentage dominates.
Check offline mode before market day
Outdoor stalls lose signal. Square stores offline payments for 24 hours and declines them if the device does not reconnect in time, and Odoo syncs offline payments when it reconnects. Turn offline mode on and test it before an event, because each vendor sets its own limits.
Know what triggers a monthly fee
Free tiers end at a feature line. Square Plus costs $49 a month per location for lower rates, SumUp POS Plus costs $49 a month for multi-device sync, Loyverse charges $7 a month per store for sales history beyond 31 days, and Odoo is free only while Point of Sale is your single app. Payanywhere charges $3.99 a month if you process nothing for 12 months.
Hardware is a one-time cost
Most of these apps take contactless cards on a phone with Tap to Pay. If you want a reader, PayPal charges $29 for your first Card Reader, Square and Loyverse readers cost $59, and Helcim's Card Reader is $199. eHopper also runs on a Windows PC you already own.
Flat rate or interchange plus
Flat rates such as 2.6% + 15¢ are easy to predict. Helcim's interchange plus pricing passes through the bank and network cost plus a margin, which usually costs less as volume grows but varies by card type. New sellers with low volume usually do fine on a flat rate.
FAQ
What is the best free POS system?
Square Point of Sale is the best free POS system for most new sellers. Square Free costs $0 a month, charges 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person card payment and stores offline payments for 24 hours. Loyverse is the best alternative if you want free loyalty and inventory tools.
Is there a POS system with no monthly fee?
Yes. Square Free, Loyverse, PayPal Point of Sale, SumUp's free plan, Helcim and Payanywhere all have no monthly fee. You pay per card transaction instead, from 2.29% + 9¢ with PayPal to 2.69% with Payanywhere.
Which free POS has the lowest card processing fees?
It depends on your sale size. PayPal Point of Sale charges 2.29% + 9¢ in person, Loyverse Payments charges 1.99% + 15¢ on debit cards, and Payanywhere charges a flat 2.69% with no fixed fee, which is cheapest on sales of a few dollars.
Is Square POS really free?
Yes, Square Free costs $0 a month per location. You pay 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person card payment and 3.3% + 30¢ online. Square Plus at $49 a month per location lowers the in-person rate to 2.5% + 15¢.
What is the best free POS for a market stall?
Square Point of Sale is the best fit for most market stalls because it takes cards on a phone with Tap to Pay and keeps offline payments for 24 hours. SumUp is a good alternative, with a 10¢ fixed fee and card takings in its free Business Account by 7am the next day.
Do I need hardware to use a free POS?
No, not for most of these apps. Square, Loyverse, Payanywhere and Helcim take contactless payments on a compatible phone with Tap to Pay. A reader costs $29 for your first PayPal Card Reader and $59 for Square's or Loyverse's mobile reader.
Is Loyverse free?
Yes, Loyverse is free to use with optional paid add-ons. The free tier includes the POS, 31 days of sales analytics, essential inventory, a loyalty program and kitchen display; unlimited sales history is a paid add-on listed at $7 a month per store.
Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.
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