Best Open Source POS Software in 2026: Free Point of Sale Solutions Compared

The free POS providers may tell the story of competitive technology without the “high prices”, but with all the work that POS software needs to do, it’s important to know whether it can deliver when your business needs it. Is the money saved more than the money lost? Will the reduced output from your POS result in more labour costs or fewer sales converted?

If you’re considering choosing (or switching to) open source POS software, this is the guide for you. Today, we’re covering:

• What is open source POS software?

• Open source POS: pros and cons

• Is open source POS right for your business?

• Top open source POS software (2026)

• How to Get Started with Open Source POS

• Open Source POS vs. Proprietary POS: Which Is Right for You?

• Real-world examples

Once we’re done here, you’ll have a better understanding of the world of open-source POS software. Ready? Then let’s get into it!

What is open source POS software?

Open source POS (Point of Sale) software is a type of retail or hospitality checkout program. The creators of open source code have, instead of copyrighting, made the software publicly available so anyone can view it, modify it, and distribute it. This means that businesses can download this software free of charge instead of buying a locked, vendor-controlled product.

The biggest difference between open source and proprietary POS systems comes down to control and ownership. Proprietary POS platforms are closed: the vendor manages the code, features, pricing, and updates. Businesses typically pay subscription or licensing fees and must rely on the provider for changes or fixes. Open source POS, on the other hand, gives you direct access to the codebase, allowing developers to tailor workflows, add integrations, or host the system themselves.

Open source POS tools are rooted in the same open source movement that has led to other free, publicly available programs like open source firewalls and the free alternatives to Microsoft Office. Open source has been popularized by collaborative development communities and platforms like GitHub, where contributors build and improve software together.

Key characteristics include:

• Full access to source code

• Community-driven development

• Personal responsibility for setup, maintenance

• Flexibility

• Self-hosting options

• Little or no support

• Few upfront costs

Open Source POS: Pros and Cons

Open source POS systems can look like an easy win: no license fees, full control, and endless flexibility. But “open source” doesn’t automatically mean “easy” or “free.” The reality sits somewhere in between. Here’s a closer look at the real advantages—and the hidden challenges—you should plan for.

The Advantages of Open Source POS

Cost-Effective (But Not Free)

If a business opts to use open source POS software, they likely won’t incur a monthly fee, like they would with proprietary software like Square. This lowers upfront costs. Although, this doesn’t necessarily show the whole picture. You may still pay for your setup, for technicians to customise the software, and for hosting. It may well wind up being cheaper (particularly in terms of monthly subscriptions), but this doesn’t make it free in real-terms.

Customizable and Flexible

Open source means access! You can read the code your business relies on and adapt it to make it uniquely suited to your needs. This means you can create a custom loyalty program, or write a special feature to help your team sell quicker. Plus, with so much open code, there are open source projects like Odoo that offer readily adapted POS software that can suit more niche business types.

No Vendor Lock-In

Proprietary POS software often requires long-term contracts that limit the freedom of your business to switch to other providers, which can be frustrating if your business evolves beyond the abilities of the providers system. With open source, you can switch whenever you like!

Community Support

Open source tools are created, maintained, and developed by a community of contributors who don’t just build software: they share solutions to problems and offer advice to users. This collaboration can lead to fast innovation in an entirely different way to market-leading POS systems, although this depends on how involved these contributors are with the POS.

Transparency

With public code, your business (and anybody else) can audit how the software operates, which helps to ensure compliance and security for your operation and for customers trusting you with their data.

The Hidden Challenges

“Free” Can Get Expensive

While you escape the monthly subscription, open source POS users incur the cost of cloud-hosting, backups, security tools, payment integration, and most significantly of all: developers and maintenance. Depending on your business needs and your experience with the software, a system you initially choose to save money can easily end up costing your business far more.

Technical Expertise Required

If your business doesn’t already have a highly technical employee, you may need to hire a developer, as your business will need to configure your server, network, and manage your database to maintain the system.

Support Uncertainty

Community forums and documentation can help, but there’s no guaranteed response time (and no one is obligated to help you if you run into trouble). Using open source POS can bring a lot of uncertainty into your business, which can get out of control when things start to go wrong.

Security Responsibility

With proprietary POS, the provider handles most security patches and compliance updates, something a monthly subscription helps to pay for. With open source, that responsibility falls on you. Missed updates or poor configuration can expose sensitive payment or customer data. In an evolving and increasingly technical landscape, this can be a heavy burden on your business.

Update and Maintenance Burden

Updates, fixes, server maintenance: on open source POS, it’s all part of your job. You’ll need to continuously manage your commitment to your personal POS system, which becomes part of your operational duties and expenses, rather than something that works quietly in the background.

Is Open Source POS Right for Your Business?

Choosing between open source and proprietary POS isn’t just about price. You need to consider the time and skill involved to install and run each system, and how much responsibility you’re willing to take on as a business. Use the factors below to help determine which direction makes the most sense for your business:

You Should Consider Open Source POS If:

• You have in-house technical talent (or the budget to hire it): Developers or IT staff can handle installation, server management, troubleshooting, and ongoing security and performance updates without relying on a vendor or expensive third-party agents.

• You need heavy customization: If your business runs differently to many others, you may require POS software you make your own. Open source will offer more freedom to adapt to your workflows, with added special features beyond the standard operations of most businesses.

• You have time to invest in setup and maintenance: If you have plenty of time to adapt and learn your system, open source could work for you. You’ll also need to be ready to get hands-on after you launch.

• You’re comfortable with technical responsibility: When something goes wrong on open source POS, you need to be okay with the buck stopping with you. You’ll be responsible for security, backups, compliance, and system performance.

• Budget is extremely tight (but you understand hidden costs): Open source POS allows you to avoid short-term costs, which could matter more to you, even if you may spend more gradually on hosting, development, and support.

You Should Consider Proprietary POS If:

• You need a plug-and-play solution: If you want setup to be quick and painless so you can get on with trading, you might do better choosing a market-leading provider.

• You want guaranteed support: If you’d rather have someone to call for help, and resources available to you in the event of technical or user issues, avoid open source POS solutions.

• You don’t have technical resources: If there’s no one in your company you trust to manage a bespoke open source system, use the resources of an established, paid POS provider.

• You need enterprise-grade security and compliance: If you’re worried about security, going for a proprietary POS will let you rest assured you’re maintaining PCI compliance and managing all risks.

• You want integrations with leading business software: If you like using Sage or Xero for accounting, Shopify or Deliveroo for online sales etc., avoid open source programs that won’t have established links with leading software providers.

Top Open Source POS Software (2026)

Okay, so you’ve weighed up your options, and you think an open source POS might work for you. But that’s only part of the question. It’s time to start looking at the specific open source software on offer. To help you in this, we’ve compiled a list of the most recognisable open source programs. So here they are:

Best Overall Open Source POS Systems

OSPOS (Open Source Point of Sale)

Best for: Small–medium retail stores and service businesses

Key features:

• Sales, returns, and basic inventory management

• Customer and supplier tracking

• Simple reporting and analytics dashboards

• Barcode scanning and receipt printing

• Web-based interface that runs on most devices

Pricing: Free, though you will encounter hosting and maintenance costs.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to deploy compared to larger systems

• Completely free with full source code access

• Active contributor base for fixes and plugins

Cons:

• Limited advanced features out of the box

• Basic UI compared to modern commercial POS tools

• Requires manual setup and technical management

Tech stack: PHP, MySQL
Community strength: Active on GitHub

Take a look

Odoo POS

Best for: Multi-location retail and restaurants

Key features:

• Integrated POS within a full ERP (inventory, accounting, CRM, ecommerce)

• Offline mode with automatic sync

• Multi-store and multi-register management

• Built-in loyalty programs and promotions

• Extensive third-party app marketplace

Pricing: Limited free version, paid subscription for full features

Pros:

• Extremely scalable with enterprise-level tools

• Large ecosystem of integrations and add-ons

• Professional UI and modern feature set

Cons:

• Can become costly as users and modules add up

• More complex setup than simpler POS systems

• Some features locked behind paid tiers

Tech stack: Python
Community strength: Very active, large global ecosystem

Take a look

uniCenta POS

Best for: Retail and hospitality businesses

Key features:

• Touchscreen-friendly interface for checkout counters

• Inventory and stock control tools

• Employee permissions and role management

• Reporting and sales analytics

• Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  

Pricing: Free, with optional paid plans for support

Pros:

• Mature and stable platform with long history

• Cross-platform compatibility

• Optional paid support available

Cons:

• Interface feels dated compared to newer solutions

• Smaller developer community than larger projects

• Customization often requires Java knowledge

Tech stack: Java
Community strength: Moderate

Take a look

Best Open Source POS for Restaurants:

Floreant POS

Best for: Restaurants, cafés, pizzerias, bars and other food-service businesses

Key features:

• Table management with visual layouts and split tickets

• Kitchen printer/display support and routing

• Works offline without needing internet connectivity

• Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi)

• Sales reporting, tips tracking, multiple payment types

Pricing: Free basic version, with a paid subscription option

Pros:

• Very strong restaurant-specific features like table & kitchen management

• Can run fully offline without requiring cloud services

• Simple installation and broad hardware compatibility

Cons:

• Limited recent updates and community activity

• Full features come with a subscription

• Support/community quality varies and may lag commercial alternatives

Restaurant-specific: Includes kitchen displays/printers and table management tools out of the box 

Find out more

SambaPOS

Best for: Good as an open source restaurant POS and for multi-department food venues

Key features:

• Customizable floor plans, table layouts, and menus

• Unlimited users, tables, and menu configurations

• Advanced reporting and customizable payment handling

• Delivery/takeaway and multiple department support

• Loyalty and multi-currency tools (with configuration)

Pricing: Free and open source for the main system; Newer versions have paid subscriptions

Pros:

• Rich restaurant-focused feature set that covers table service, delivery, and fast food workflows

• Strong customization and flexible menu operations

• Unlimited user and device support at no cost

Cons:

• Feature set and community momentum vary depending on which branch or version you choose

• Documentation can be fragmented, requiring more setup effort

• Some newer versions of SambaPOS have shifted toward paid models and may not remain fully open source

Restaurant-specific: Designed with table and ticket handling, customizable menus, and restaurant workflows in mind 

Other Notable Open Source POS Options (2026)

While the systems above are some of the most used of the open source POS options, there are others worth checking out, especially if your business has specific needs or you haven’t found what you’re looking for.

Chromis POS

Best for: Retail shops, cafés, small food outlets and multi-terminal setups

Key features:

• Supports barcode scanning, variable-price/weight items and loyalty tools

• Kitchen screen and remote kitchen printing

• Inventory management with spreadsheet product imports

• Works on Windows, Linux and macOS

• Flexible database options (embedded Derby, MySQL, PostgreSQL)

Pricing: Free

Pros:

• Free and open source with no licensing fees

• Broad hardware options and cross-platform compatibilities

• Feature set suitable for both retail and some hospitality environments

Cons:

• Community activity has slowed and project momentum varies

• UI feels very dated compared to newer POS alternatives

Why consider it: A solid, simpler choice for smallerstores and food shops that want a traditional POS setup without subscription costs.

WallacePOS

Best for: Small to medium businesses wanting a web-based POS experience

Key features:

• Browser-based POS with responsive interface

• Real-time dashboards and reporting

• Works offline with data upload once back online

• Compatible with standard printers, scanners and cash drawers

• Central stock, customer and sales management

Pricing: Free (self-hosted)

Pros:

• Central dashboards and cloud-based trading

• No need for installed client software

• Accessible from any device with a browser

Cons:

• Less active community and development seems limited as of 2026

• Fewer plugins and extensions compared to larger POS ecosystems

Why consider it: A good fit if you want a cloud-style, browser-driven POS without paying for proprietary software.

Apache OFBiz POS Module

Best for: Enterprise-oriented businesses with complex workflows

Key features:

• POS capability integrated into a full ERP framework

• Supports hardware interfaces via jPOS and templated receipts

• Can run standalone or with e-commerce and back-office modules

• Synchronises products, pricing, promotions and customer data across systems

Pricing: Free (open source)

Pros:

• Powerful and highly extensible within a larger enterprise stack

• Full business automation beyond just POS

Cons:

• Significant technical investment needed to deploy, customise and maintain

• More framework than plug-and-play POS out of the box

Why consider it: Best suited for businesses that need POS plus ERP, ecommerce and CRM under one open source umbrella.

How to Get Started with Open Source POS

Switching to open source POS isn’t just a software download, it’s a significant IT project. Planning ahead will save you time, minimise downtime for the business, and help you avoid unnecessary expenditure. Follow these steps to optimise your open source onboarding.

Step 1: Assess Your Technical Resources

Before choosing any platform, take an honest look at your internal capabilities. Do you have someone on staff who can manage servers, databases, and troubleshooting? If not, do you have the budget to hire a developer or consultant and the time to learn the basics yourself?

Open source POS typically requires hands-on setup and maintenance. Even relatively simple systems like assume some technical comfort, so knowing your limits early on will help you pick the system with the right level of complexity, and confirm whether you really ought to be using open source at all.

Step 2: Choose Your Software

Take a look at the options available to you, and figure out which ones have features that meet your operational needs. A small retail shop might only need basic inventory and checkout, while multi-location or restaurant businesses may require advanced reports, kitchen workflows, and a table plan.

Also check the health of the project: look for active development, frequent updates, and a responsive community. A stagnant repo can create long-term security risks.

Step 3: Plan Your Infrastructure

You need a plan for everything from hardware integration to data storage and hosting. Self-hosting offers control and lower recurring costs, while cloud hosting simplifies backups and remote access, offering more flexibility and easier management.

You’ll need a reliable server, proper database setup, and a clear backup strategy. Regular automated backups are essential to protect the business.

Step 4: Hardware Compatibility

Make sure your hardware works with the software before rollout. Confirm compatibility with receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and any tablets or terminals you plan to use.

Testing devices early prevents hiccups and delays as you rollout the system.

Step 5: Implementation Timeline

Open source POS rarely goes live overnight. A realistic DIY setup will likely take 3 weeks to a month, though working with a developer can limit this to 1–2 weeks. Either way, ensure you have enough time to test the system and train staff so you can be confident in both before launching.

Step 6: Ongoing Maintenance Plan

Going live is just the beginning. You’ll need a routine for security patches, backups, and feature updates that keep your system and business safe in the long-term.

Create a clear support strategy, whether that’s using internal staff, third parties, or paid support, so issues don’t disrupt daily sales. With open source POS, long-term reliability depends on consistent upkeep that you are solely responsible for.

Total Cost of Ownership (5-Year Comparison)

Below are realistic five-year estimates for a small–medium single-location business with 2–3 terminals. Your numbers will vary, but these ranges help set expectations.

Open Source POS: from £6,000–£15,000 over 5 years

Even “free” software comes with infrastructure and labor costs.

Typical breakdown:

• Hosting or cloud server: £20–£50/month, or £1,200–£3,000

• Initial developer setup/customization: £2,000–£5,000 (one-time)

• Ongoing maintenance/updates/support: £50–£100/month, or £3,000–£6,000

• Backups, security tools, misc. services: £500–£1,000

What drives costs up: heavy customization, paid contractors, or frequent troubleshooting.
What keeps costs down: strong in-house technical skills and simple requirements.

Proprietary POS: £8,000–£18,000+ over 5 years

Commercial systems usually trade higher subscription costs for simplicity and included support. Platforms like Square POS or Lightspeed Retail bundle hosting, updates, and help desks into the monthly fee.

Typical breakdown:

• Software subscription: £60–£150/month or £3,600–£9,000

• Per-register or add-on fees: £1,000–£3,000

• Hardware bundles (terminals, printers, drawers): £2,000–£4,000

• Optional premium support or integrations: £1,000–£2,000

What drives costs up: more locations, advanced features, extra registers.
What keeps costs down: basic plans and minimal add-ons.

Open Source POS: £4,700–£12,000 over 5 years

Even “free” software comes with infrastructure and labor costs.

Typical breakdown:

• Hosting or cloud server: £950–£2,400
  

• Initial developer setup/customization: £1,600–£4,000
  

• Ongoing maintenance/updates/support: £2,400–£4,800
  

• Backups, security tools, misc. Services: £400–£800
  

What drives costs up: heavy customization or hiring external developers.
What keeps costs down: strong in-house technical skills and simple requirements.

Proprietary POS:  £6,300–£14,500+ over 5 years

Commercial systems trade higher subscription fees for ease of use, bundled hosting, and support. Platforms like Epos Now or Lightspeed Retail include updates and help desks in the monthly price.

Typical breakdown:

• Software subscription: £2,900–£7,200

• Per-register/add-on fees: £800–£2,400

• Hardware bundles: £1,600–£3,200

• Optional premium support/integrations: £800–£1,600
  

What drives costs up: multiple locations or advanced features.
What keeps costs down: basic plans and minimal add-ons.

Real World Examples of Open Source POS

While we’ve looked at the open source approach to POS in detail, everything has been conceptual so far. So why not have a listen to some real-life businesses that have trusted their enterprise to some of these systems:

The Fruit Bread, Arizona, using Floreant

Dwayne Allen has been using Floreant POS since 2010 in a full-service restaurant that does as many as 200 covers for during mealtimes over the weekend. Having experimented with many open source systems, they’ve found Floreant works for them due to its simplicity and key functionality.

Odoo optimizations in multi-store retail

An anonymous SDLC case study from a multi-store retail chain demonstrated improved checkout and inventory efficiency through the implementation of Odoo POS, showing that open source POS systems can work in the right context.

The struggling business implemented the system successfully and saw an improvement in reporting insights, reduced errors, multi-store synchronization, and a bespoke loyalty program they programmed themselves. With enough resources, larger businesses can use platforms like Odoo to create their own, unique system.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Open source POS can be powerful, flexible, and cost-effective, but it isn’t the right fit for every business. Open source POS systems rely on heavy investment in time and resources; while you get control, the ability to customize your system, and lower licensing costs, you also take on responsibility for hosting, security, and maintenance.

The key decision comes down to your technical resources, timeline, and tolerance for hands-on management. If you have the skills (or budget) and need deep customization, open source can shine. If you prefer simplicity and guaranteed support, a managed solution may make more sense. For businesses that want a faster, hassle-free route, providers like Epos Now offer an easier, fully supported alternative.