Is A Free POS System Right For You?

Is A Free POS System Right For You?

 

If you’re opening a small business, chances are you’re looking to save a few bucks wherever you can. (Point of sale) Epos software can certainly get expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Depending on your needs and what you’re willing to sacrifice, you may be able to function perfectly well without spending a dime on your system. But is a free POS system really right for you?

 

Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on your needs. Free POS software can have restrictions on things like inventory size, monthly sales/transactions, and number of registers/users. Usually, they only include basic features such as basic register functionality, basic inventory management, and basic sales reports. Some free POS plans do not include integrated payment processing, which could be a pain if you don’t have another way of taking payments. Limitations on customer support could also be problematic for some merchants, since problems are bound to arise from time to time.

 

If you answer yes to the following questions, a free POS could work for you:

 

    Do you only need one register?

    Do you only sell a few different items?

    Do you sell fewer than 1,000 items per month?

    Do you only need basic POS features (register functionality, basic inventory management, sales reports)?

 

If you answered no to one or more of those questions, it might be worth paying a bit more for advanced features.

 

Before deciding on a free POS system, be sure to test it out to make sure it meets all of your needs. Many free POS systems also allow you to do a free trial of their paid plan, which can help you determine if you would actually use the added features and functionality that come with a paid account.

 

In the event that you do decide to go with a free POS, I would recommend Square as the best all-around option, as has the most features and doesn’t have the same limits that most other free systems have. Square includes integrated payment processing, unlimited inventory and transactions, multiple users and locations, and phone-based support. You can also integrate with other business software to extend its functionality. However, if you’re not sure any of these options fit the bill, check out our POS comparison chart for some of our favorite options!

 

A Last Look At Our Top Picks

 

    Square

    Summary - Square is an excellent all-around app-based POS software for small businesses. You even get a free credit card reader, which lets you accept (swiped) card payments from your phone or tablet.

    ShopKeep POS

    Summary - ShopKeep is an iPad POS geared toward QSR and coffee shops, and it offers a lot of restaurant POS functionality. However, this versatile POS also has useful features for small retail businesses.

    Vend POS

    Summary - Vend is a retail-centric POS with an entry-level plan that might work for you if you only sell a few products---for example, sales at craft fairs or farmer's markets or small startup businesses.

    Imonggo POS

    Summary - Imonggo's free plan allows for up to 1,000 inventory items, which means you could find a use for the free option even if you have a large inventory. Imonggo also includes integrated inventory management with its free version.

    Loyverse

    Summary - Aside from a few add-ons to its product, Loyverse is entirely free. This POS is best suited for small retail businesses, cafes, or food carts.

    eHopper

    Summary - eHopper provides an astounding number of features for free, including inventory management, customer management, modifiers, reporting, order tracking, tip management, and more.