Straight answers, no sales script
Free POS guides
These free POS guides answer what small business owners ask us before they sign up: what it really costs, when free is enough, how to switch without losing anything, and what hardware to buy.
Think of it as a POS buying guide without the sales script. If you're working out how to choose a POS system, start with costs and go in order. Each guide answers its question in the first couple of lines, then gets into the detail.
Topic 1
Costs
What you pay, what you don't, and where "free" stops being free.
Topic 2
Choosing
Which free POS fits, free plan or paid plan, and how to tell when you've outgrown free.
Topic 3
Switching
Moving items, customers and hardware, and reading your old contract first.
Topic 4
Hardware
Which reader or station fits which kind of business.
Free POS by type of business
Setup ideas and questions for your kind of shop.
Ready for the details?
Rates, hardware and how signup works.
On Square Free
The plan we set people up on
When a guide gets specific, it's talking about Square Free, the plan we recommend for most small businesses. POSUSA is an authorized Square reseller, so we know it inside out. Current rates are on the pricing page and hardware on Square rates and hardware.
Questions about these guides
Are these guides about one POS brand?
Mostly no. The guides explain how free POS systems work in general. Where a guide mentions our current pick, it's marked clearly and the prices come from our pricing page so they stay current.
Where do I start if I'm brand new to POS?
Start with what a free POS really costs, then the hardware guide. Those two cover most of what people get wrong on day one.
Common questions
The ones we hear most, with the same answers you'll find on our FAQ page.
Is a free POS system really free?
The software is. You pay nothing per month for the app itself. What you do pay is a processing fee each time a customer pays by card, plus whatever hardware you decide to buy. Cash sales cost you nothing.
How do free POS companies make money?
From card processing. Every time you take a card payment, the provider keeps a small percentage plus a few cents. That's the trade: free software in exchange for running your payments through them.
Do I need to buy special hardware?
Not always. Plenty of free POS apps run on a phone or tablet you already own, and some can take tap payments right on the phone. You can add a card reader, printer or cash drawer later if you want a full counter setup.
Will I get locked into a contract?
With the better free POS options, no. Read the sign-up terms anyway and look for early termination fees, equipment leases and monthly minimums. If you see any of those, it isn't really free.
Can I switch to a different POS later?
Yes. Export your item list and customer list before you leave, and keep the old system running for a week or so while you move over. Card processing history usually stays with the old provider, so download your reports.
Read enough? Get set up free
Square Free has no monthly software fee and no long-term contract. You pay a processing fee when a customer pays by card, and nothing on cash. Current numbers are on our pricing page.
No monthly fee on the free plan. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime. See current pricing.
Free POS System is operated by POSUSA, an authorized Square reseller. POSUSA may earn compensation when you sign up through our link. It doesn't cost you a cent more. Read our disclosure.