5 Best Cheap POS Systems: Affordable Solutions to Consider

The struggle to find an affordable yet effective POS solution is all too familiar. This is true whether you’re a mom-and-pop shop or a budding entrepreneur. Picking the best cheap POS system takes scrutiny, research, and trial periods.

Luckily, we’ve curated a comprehensive list of the top budget-friendly POS systems tailored to your needs. This post will guide you through finding the perfect POS system that won’t break the bank. A simpler POS is just fine for smaller businesses, and there are solutions built for just this. Read on to learn more about the most affordable but powerful point of sale solutions on the market.

#1. Square POS: Best for Cheaper Monthly Rates

Square POS turns any smartphone, tablet, or dedicated terminal into a working point of sale. You can open the Free plan and begin accepting payments within minutes, with no monthly fee and no long-term contract. It suits solo sellers, food trucks, pop-ups, and small retailers who want affordable software without heavy upfront costs.

Key Features

Square POS covers the essentials a small business needs to accept payments and track sales from one account.

Free POS App with No Monthly Fee

The Square Free plan costs $0 per month. You only pay a processing fee when a sale clears. It includes the full POS app, digital receipts, a basic item library, invoicing, and an online ordering profile at no added cost.

Built-In Online Site and Booking

Every plan comes with the option to build an online ordering profile, a basic website, or a booking site at no extra cost. Restaurants can take commission-free pickup and delivery orders, and service businesses can let clients book appointments online without a separate tool.

Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android

Square supports Tap to Pay directly on your mobile device. Customers tap a contactless card or mobile wallet on the phone, and no extra reader is required. Food trucks and pop-up sellers can accept contactless payments with just a phone.

Invoicing, Estimates, and Contracts

Square sends unlimited invoices, estimates, and contracts at no added subscription cost. Recurring invoices, deposits, and e-signatures are all built in. Contractors and service providers can bill clients and collect payment through a secure link without another billing platform.

Square Checking and Instant Payouts

Each sale processed through Square lands in a free Square Checking account right away. You can spend from a debit card or transfer funds to an outside bank the next business day at no cost. Restaurants also receive instant payouts from DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Where Square POS Shines

• Zero monthly cost on the Free plan: A new business can take card payments on day one at no software cost. You only pay when a transaction clears.
• Easy setup and a short learning curve: Most staff pick up the interface in under an hour, with no long onboarding required.
• Flexible hardware pricing: Hardware starts at $59 for a contactless and chip reader, with no contract and no device lease to sign.

Where Square POS Falls Short

• Locked into Square Payments on most plans: You cannot bring your own processor unless you qualify for Square Pro custom pricing, which requires over $250,000 in yearly card sales. High-volume sellers who want processor flexibility often review Square POS alternatives before committing.
• Higher online rates on the Free plan: The online processing fee is 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free. Plus and Premium drop it to 2.9% + 30¢, but the savings only pay off above a certain monthly sales volume.

Customer Reviews

Square POS holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on G2 based on over 1,000 reviews, and a 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra with over 3,000 reviews.

A retail user on G2 praised how fast the initial setup was and how staff learned the interface in under an hour. A separate reviewer flagged that processing fees start cutting into margins once monthly card sales grow past a few thousand dollars.

Who Square POS Is Best For

• New and solo business owners: Freelancers, side hustlers, and first-time shop owners who need a working POS with no upfront investment.
• Food trucks, pop-ups, and market vendors: Mobile sellers benefit from the free app, a free magstripe reader, and Tap to Pay on any modern phone.
• Service providers and appointment-based businesses: Hair stylists, trainers, and freelancers can use built-in booking, invoicing, and contracts from one Square account.

Pricing

All Square plans are month-to-month with no contract. Square Plus and Square Premium each come with a 30-day free trial, and the Free plan has no expiration. Card processing fees are charged on top of the monthly fee, and hardware is paid for separately, with options that start at $59.

#2 Loyverse – Best for mPOS Tablets and Smartphones

Loyverse POS is a free mobile point of sale app that runs on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The core software covers sales, inventory tracking, multi-store management, and a built-in loyalty program at no cost. It fits cafés, small retailers, food trucks, and market vendors who want a working POS without buying dedicated hardware.

Key Features

Loyverse gives small businesses professional POS tools with no upfront software investment.

Free Core POS App

The Loyverse POS app costs $0 and works on any Android phone, iPad, or iOS tablet. It handles sales, receipts, discounts, taxes, refunds, and inventory tracking. Owners can add products, record transactions, and issue e-receipts from day one with no monthly software fee.

Built-In Customer Loyalty Program

Every Loyverse account comes with a free loyalty points program. Customers earn points on purchases and track rewards through the Loyverse customer app. Small shops can run repeat-customer campaigns without paying extra for a separate loyalty program tool.

Free Kitchen Display System

The Loyverse KDS app is free to download and use. Orders placed at the register appear on a kitchen screen so cooks can see what to prepare. Paper tickets and front-of-house radio calls are no longer required for cafés, food trucks, and quick-service spots.

Free Customer Display System

The Loyverse CDS app turns any spare tablet or monitor into a customer-facing price display. Shoppers see their running total, line items, and receipts at the counter. It adds checkout transparency with no extra subscription cost.

Multi-Store Management

A single Loyverse account can manage several store locations from one back office. Inventory, staff, and sales reports stay centralized, and owners can log in from any browser to check multi-store performance at a glance.

Where Loyverse POS Shines

• Truly free core features: The base plan is not a limited trial. Owners can run the POS, dashboard, KDS, and CDS at no cost indefinitely.
• Fast setup on any device: Most users have Loyverse running on a tablet within an hour. The app is available in 30+ languages and works in 170+ countries.
• Offline sales mode: The app keeps processing transactions when the internet drops, and sales sync to the back office once connectivity returns.

Where Loyverse POS Falls Short

• Limited support on the free plan: The free app has no phone support. Only add-on subscribers get 24/7 priority chat support. Businesses that need live phone help during outages may want to review POS systems with strong customer support.
• Add-on costs scale with stores and employees: Employee management runs $25 per month per store. For a multi-location operation, the cost stacks up quickly even though the core app stays free.

Customer Reviews

Loyverse POS holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.8 out of 5 on G2.

A retail owner on said Loyverse keeps store inventory clear and straightforward to track. Another on Trustpilot reviewer feels betrayed by a paywall on previously free functionality, framing it as a cash grab rather than a value-add.

Who Loyverse POS Is Best For

• Cafés, coffee shops, and bakeries: The free KDS, loyalty program, and fast checkout handle everyday food service workflows.
• Small retail shops on a tight budget: Boutiques, gift shops, and market vendors can run the full POS, track inventory, and accept payments at no software cost.
• Food trucks, pop-ups, and mobile sellers: Offline mode, phone compatibility, and zero subscription fees fit temporary and on-the-go retail setups.

Pricing

Loyverse’s core POS, Dashboard, KDS, and CDS apps are all free. Only two paid add-ons appear on the Loyverse pricing page: Unlimited Sales History and Employee Management. Each add-on includes a 14-day free trial, and paying annually saves two months compared to monthly billing. Hardware is bring-your-own, and Loyverse runs on standard Android or iOS devices with no proprietary equipment required.

Key notes on what I pulled from Loyverse’s pricing page only:

• Only two paid add-ons are currently listed: Unlimited Sales History ($5/mo per store) and Employee Management ($25/mo per store).
• Annual billing saves 2 months (e.g., $50/year versus $60/month).
• All add-ons include a 14-day free trial and 24/7 priority chat support.
• Loyverse POS, Dashboard, KDS, and CDS all remain free.

#3 KORONA POS – Best for Lower Processing Fees

KORONA POS specializes in retail, catering to various sectors including liquor, CBD, convenience, tobacco, books, and others. Additionally, the company offers solutions for wineries, amusement parks, QSRs, ticketed events, and multi-store franchises.

Key Features

KORONA POS is built around processor flexibility, niche industry support, and deep inventory tools. Below are five features that set it apart from generalist platforms.

Credit Card Processor Freedom

KORONA POS is processor-agnostic, so you can pick any merchant service provider. The software connects through PAX and Dejavoo terminals, and KORONA charges 0% transaction fees on top. High-volume sellers can shop for the lowest processing rates on the market and keep more margin.

Advanced Retail Inventory Management

The Retail and Plus plans ship with auto-reorder points, supplier integrations, barcode automation, and retail inventory management across stores. Low-stock alerts, ABC analysis, and sell-through reports give owners full control over stock. Multi-location operators sync prices and counts between outlets.

Cloud Access and Multi-Store Management

As a cloud POS system, KORONA POS lets owners log in from any browser. Franchise and multi-location operators can push pricing, promotions, and permissions across outlets from one dashboard. Staff roles, royalty splits, and tax settings stay fully customizable per store.

Built-In CRM and Loyalty Programs

The Retail plan includes customer relationship management tools that track purchase history, segment shoppers, and support targeted promotions. Owners can build in-store loyalty programs that reward repeat buyers with no third-party subscription required. Every plan includes native gift card support at no added cost.

Industry-Specific Modules

KORONA POS adds optional modules that turn the core software into vertical-specific solutions. KORONA Ticketing handles admission for museums, amusement parks, and water parks. KORONA Food adds table service, modifiers, and kitchen printers for cafés and bakeries. KORONA Franchise, Invoicing, and Integration cover the rest.

Where KORONA POS Shines

• Transparent, contract-free pricing: Every plan is month-to-month with a flat per-terminal rate. No setup fees, no cancellation penalties, and no surprise surcharges. Annual billing saves money over monthly billing.
• 24/7 U.S.-based in-house support on every plan: Every subscription includes free phone, chat, and email support from a team located in the United States. No tier gatekeeping and no per-incident charges.
• Deep specialty and high-risk industry coverage: From liquor, vape, and smoke shops to dispensaries, wineries, and ticketed venues, KORONA POS supports verticals that generalist platforms often avoid or underserve.

Where KORONA POS Falls Short

• A learning curve for the full feature set: The software is packed with configurable settings and custom fields. New users without prior POS experience may need a few training sessions with the support team before the workflow feels natural.
• Not built for full-service restaurants or apparel matrices: KORONA POS does not offer size-and-color matrix inventory for clothing retailers, and it is not designed for fine-dining or table-heavy full-service restaurants. Operators in those niches should look elsewhere.

Customer Reviews

KORONA POS holds a 4.7 out of 5 on G2, 4.7 on Capterra, 4.8 on SourceForge, and 4.8 on SoftwareSuggest, backed by hundreds of verified merchant reviews. A reviewer is satisfied with the software’s flexibility and support, with no real criticism, suggesting they see the product as moving in the right direction.

A retail owner on the KORONA reviews page praised the U.S.-based support team for fast response times and product-level knowledge. A multi-store operator highlighted how easy it was to track remote-location transactions in real time from a single back office.

Who KORONA POS Is Best For

• Liquor stores, vape shops, smoke shops, and dispensaries: Age-restricted and high-risk businesses benefit from processor freedom and flexible compliance controls.
• Multi-location and franchise retailers: Operators get centralized control over royalties, pricing, and inventory across all outlets from a single back office.
• Museums, amusement parks, and event venues: The Ticketing add-on handles admission, timed entry, and turnstile integration from the same POS.

Pricing

KORONA POS uses a flat-rate, month-to-month pricing model with no setup fees. All subscription tiers include 24/7 U.S.-based support, unlimited users and sales, and full processor freedom. Full details are on the official KORONA POS pricing page.

Hardware

KORONA POS is hardware agnostic and compatible with most standard POS equipment. Merchants can keep their existing devices or order a custom kit through KORONA’s hardware quote page. Terminals, tablets, receipt printers, scanners, and customer-facing displays are all supported.

Credit Card Processing Fees

KORONA POS charges 0% transaction fees. The software is processor-agnostic, so merchants bring their own provider and negotiate their own rates. That flexibility gives high-volume retailers a clear path to lower overall card processing costs.

Additional Fees

No setup fees, no signup fees, no hidden surcharges, and no cancellation penalties. Every subscription is month-to-month, and annual billing saves money over monthly. KORONA POS backs every plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee on hardware and a 60-day money-back guarantee on software.

Subscription Tiers

Add-Ons

#4 Toast – Best for Affordable Restaurant Software

Toast POS is a cloud-based point of sale built exclusively for the food service industry. The platform runs on its own proprietary Android hardware and comes with a $0/month Starter Kit for quick-service restaurants, food trucks, and single-location cafés.

In 2023, Toast acquired Delphi Display Systems to boost their fast food and quick service digital solutions. Catering to a wide range of establishments, from independent cafes to national chains, Toast has features that suit both fast-casual and fine-dining settings.

Key Features

Toast POS is designed around full restaurant workflows, from takeout to tableside dining.

Restaurant-Grade Android Hardware

Toast devices are purpose-built for kitchens. Terminals, handhelds, and kitchen displays are spill-resistant, grease-tolerant, and rated for temperatures up to 120°F. The hardware is proprietary, and Toast software only runs on approved devices.

Kitchen Display System

Toast’s KDS connects the front of house to the kitchen with digital tickets. Orders placed at the register or on an online channel appear on screen in the kitchen. Cooks can see modifiers, course timing, and special instructions without paper tickets.

Tableside Ordering on Toast Go

Servers can take orders at the table on handheld Toast Go tablets. Orders fire to the kitchen right away, and guests pay, tip, and receive receipts at the table. Fine-dining and bar operators can turn more tables per shift.

Commission-Free Online Ordering

Toast offers a branded online ordering page that takes pickup and delivery orders without marketplace commissions. Orders flow into the same POS, so menu changes, item availability, and pricing stay synced across every channel. Third-party orders from DoorDash and Uber Eats route through the same dashboard.

Multi-Location Menu Management

Restaurant groups can manage menus across every location from one back office. Pricing, modifiers, and item availability can be standardized or customized per outlet. Sales reporting rolls up at the group level or drills down to a single store.

Where Toast POS Shines

• Purpose-built for restaurants: Every feature was designed for food service. Menu modifiers, coursing, tip handling, and kitchen routing all work out of the box with no setup gymnastics.
• 24/7 support on every plan: Even the free Starter Kit includes round-the-clock phone and web messaging support from a team familiar with restaurant lingo.
• Built-in offline mode: The Toast Router keeps the POS online during internet outages through cellular backup. Orders continue to fire and payments continue to process.

Where Toast POS Falls Short

• Locked into Toast Payments and proprietary hardware: You cannot bring your own processor, and the hardware only runs Toast software. If you leave Toast, the devices are not transferable. Operators who want processor freedom often compare Toast with flexible restaurant POS options that support open hardware and open payments.
• Two-year contracts with early termination fees: Toast requires a multi-year commitment, and early cancellation carries a fee. Processing rates can change mid-contract with 30 days’ notice.

Customer Reviews

Toast POS holds a 4.2 out of 5 on G2 and a 4.2 out of 5 on Capterra, based on thousands of restaurant reviews.

A reviewer is impressed by Toast’s restaurant-focused feature set, though flags its reliance on connectivity as a practical limitation in certain environments. A separate operator flagged that add-on costs stacked up fast once online ordering, loyalty, and marketing modules were switched on.

Who Toast POS Is Best For

• Full-service restaurants: Fine dining, casual dining, and bars benefit from coursing, tableside ordering, and kitchen display routing.
• Multi-location restaurant groups: Centralized menu management, unified reporting, and commission-free online ordering simplify chain restaurant operations.
• Food trucks and small cafés on the Starter Kit: The free plan lets low-volume operators launch on Toast hardware without a monthly software fee.

Pricing

All Toast plans run on Toast’s own Android hardware. Every plan includes 24/7 support, offline mode, and flexible payment options. Upfront hardware and implementation fees apply and vary by setup. Toast also offers 0% interest financing through a third-party partner, subject to approval.

Processing Fees

Toast processing fees scale with the plan chosen. The Pay-as-You-Go Starter Kit charges the highest rates, ranging from 3.09% to 3.69% + $0.15 per transaction (the rate increases as each add-on module is enabled). The $69/month Point of Sale plan drops in-person card processing to roughly 2.49% + $0.15. Custom Build-Your-Own plans negotiate volume-based rates.

Termination Fees and Contracts

Toast requires a two-year agreement on standard plans. Early termination fees apply, and processing rates can change mid-contract with 30 days’ notice.

Subscriptions

#5 Shopify – Best for Cost-Efficient eCommerce

Shopify POS is the in-person sales arm of Shopify’s eCommerce platform. It runs on iOS and Android tablets and phones, and every paid Shopify plan comes with casual in-person selling features at no extra cost. For omnichannel brands that already sell online, Shopify POS extends the same catalog, customers, and orders to brick-and-mortar retail under one back office.

Key Features

Shopify POS is built to unify online and in-store retail in one workflow.

Unified Online and In-Store Catalog

Inventory, products, and customer data sync automatically between your Shopify online store and every physical location. When a sale happens in-store, the online stock count updates instantly. Shopify POS can scale to 1,000+ locations from one central back office.

Omnichannel Selling with BOPIS

Shopify POS supports buy online and pick up in-store, ship-from-store, local delivery, and cross-channel exchanges. Customers who buy online can return or swap in-store, and vice versa. Shoppers see endless aisle options directly from the register.

Shopify Payments and Tap to Pay

Shopify Payments is the built-in processor. Card rates start as low as 2.4% + 10¢ for in-person transactions on the Advanced plan. Tap to Pay works on iPhone and Android with no extra reader hardware required for mobile setups.

Native Integration with the Shopify App Store

Thousands of apps plug into Shopify POS for loyalty, accounting, advanced reporting, shipping, and marketing. Merchants can add social selling on Instagram and TikTok, along with marketplace channels like Amazon and eBay, through the same admin.

POS Pro Add-On for Advanced Retail

For a permanent retail location, POS Pro ($89/month per location) adds unlimited staff logins, role-based permissions, rich customer profiles, clienteling tools, inventory management, professional retail reports, and cross-location returns.

Where Shopify POS Shines

• Best omnichannel experience on the market: No competing platform ties online, in-store, social, and marketplace sales together as tightly as Shopify. One catalog, one customer list, one reporting dashboard.
• Massive app ecosystem: Thousands of apps cover nearly every business need, from payroll to shipping to customer retention. Startups and enterprise retailers plug in the exact tools they want.
• No long-term contract on standard plans: Basic, Grow, and Advanced bill month-to-month, with annual billing saving 25%. Only Shopify Plus requires a 1- or 3-year term.

Where Shopify POS Falls Short

• No free POS tier: Every Shopify POS setup requires a paid Shopify subscription starting at $39/month, and advanced in-store features add another $89/month per location through POS Pro. Solo retailers with no online store may find cheaper entry points elsewhere.
• Third-party processor surcharges apply: If you skip Shopify Payments and use an outside processor, Shopify adds a platform fee (2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced). Merchants who want processor freedom often compare Shopify POS alternatives that do not surcharge outside payments.

Customer Reviews

Shopify POS holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating on G2 based on hundreds of retailer reviews.

A reviewer genuinely appreciates the intuitive interface and seamless omnichannel sync, but the cost structure and occasional performance issues are real pain points, particularly for small businesses on tighter budgets. Other reviewers flagged that hardware connections (card readers and scanners) can drop out over Bluetooth and require re-pairing during busy shifts.

Who Shopify POS Is Best For

• Online-first brands opening a physical store: If you already sell on Shopify, the POS extends your catalog, customer list, and inventory to in-person retail without a second system.
• Multi-channel retailers: Brands that sell across a website, social, marketplaces, and retail benefit from Shopify’s single back office for every channel.
• Pop-up shops and seasonal sellers: The lightweight POS app, portable card reader, and no-contract Basic plan suit short-term retail setups.

Pricing

Every Shopify POS setup requires a paid Shopify plan, and brick-and-mortar stores add POS Pro at each location. Pricing, card rates, and credits below come directly from the Shopify POS pricing page. Paying annually saves 25% on Basic, Grow, and Advanced. A 3-day free trial is standard, followed by three months at $1/month on those three plans.

No Cancellation Fees

Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans bill month-to-month with no cancellation penalties. You can downgrade, upgrade, or cancel at any time. Shopify Plus is sold on a 1-year or 3-year term with early termination provisions.

Hardware Options

Shopify sells its own POS hardware through the Shopify Hardware Store. A smartphone or tablet plus a Shopify card reader is the minimum requirement. Retailers can also add iPad stands, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and receipt printers. Compatible third-party hardware is also supported.

Subscription Tiers

Add-Ons

How To Choose the Best Cheap POS System

Assess Your Business Needs

Identify the specific requirements of your business. This may include inventory management, reporting, and customer relationship management(CRM). Remember to consider vertical-specific hardware and applications like loyalty. Your needs will be different if you are opening a liquor store versus starting a garden center.

Budget Considerations

Determine your budget constraints and find a cheap POS system that offers essential features without compromising quality. Consider subscription cost, hardware bundle pricing, and credit card processing fees.

Payment Processing Options

Look for a POS system that supports various payment methods and integrates with multiple payment processors. Processing flexibility allows retailers to lower credit card rates and fees.  

Hardware Compatibility

Ensure the POS system is compatible with your desired POS hardware. Depending on your vertical and shop, you may need mobile mPOS tablets, barcode scanners, customer-facing displays, and more. 

Reviews and Recommendations

Research online reviews and seek recommendations from other business owners. Gauge the reliability and performance of different cheap POS systems before deciding.

Scalability

Choose a POS system that can grow with your business. Pick a solution that facilitates easy expansion. 

Customer Support

Select a POS provider that offers reliable customer support, including assistance with setup, troubleshooting, and ongoing maintenance. Reach out to support directly and see what kind of response you get.

POS Frequently Asked Questions 

How much is a basic POS system?

Monthly subscription fees start at $0 for basic plans, while more advanced options may cost more than $100 monthly. Additionally, businesses should budget for hardware expenses. These components include terminals, tablets, and card readers, and their prices can vary depending on several factors.

What POS system is the cheapest?

Many POS system providers offer solutions with no real upfront costs. Many of these, such as Square and Toast, make up for these “free” subscriptions with higher pay-as-you-go processing fees. Some higher-volume retailers will find that the cheapest POS systems are those with lower processing fees.

Which POS machine has no monthly fee?

Square POS is a solution with no monthly subscription fees. Toast also offers restaurants a $0/month option. With these platforms, users pay higher transaction fees per sale, allowing flexibility and affordability, particularly for smaller enterprises.