Most stores’ money is transferred through a POS system. Paying a monthly charge for each terminal can be painful. Below are six open-source POS systems that allow you to handle transactions, manage inventory, and create sales reports without having to pay a recurring monthly fee. You host these solutions yourself and retain ownership of the information.
A brief note about open source and “free to use forever”: they are not the same. There are different types of licenses including MIT (you can do just about anything), GPL/LGPL (if you modify the software and then sell or distribute it, you must make the modifications available under the same license as used by the original software), and a custom version. I have indicated which type of license applies to each solution. Please review the license against your business model to ensure compliance, particularly if you plan to resell it or build a closed product on top.
What to look for in an open-source POS
Some aspects of the applications may be impressive to watch during demos. However, there are many important items that matter much more than how cool they appear. Prioritize:
- Stack and hosting. Many open-source POS systems are designed using PHP and MySQL. These technologies work perfectly well with inexpensive shared hosting. Desktop Java applications can run locally on a counter PC. Some ERP platforms require a dedicated server to function properly. Ensure the application you choose matches your ability to support it.
- Retail vs restaurant. Restaurant POS systems include features such as table mapping, floor layouts, and kitchen ticket printing. Retail POS systems provide features related to barcodes, inventory tracking, suppliers, etc. Not all POS systems are equal in providing excellent retail or restaurant functionality.
- License. Each entry below notes which license applies.
- Activity. A repository with recent commits indicates regular maintenance of the project. An inactive repository likely has no active maintenance.
1. Open Source Point of Sale (OSPOS)
OSPOS is currently the most popular browser-based retail POS available on GitHub. It takes first place due to its popularity. OSPOS uses PHP on the CodeIgniter framework and connects to either a MySQL or MariaDB database. This allows it to be hosted on affordable hosting providers, many of whom offer plans suitable for small retailers. OSPOS offers a variety of functionalities including:
- Sales interface
- Barcode scanner
- Item management
- Customer management
- Gift card management
- Tax configurations
- Employee account management with permission levels
- Standard reports required for every small retailer
Additionally, OSPOS is being continuously updated and improved. The community surrounding it is very large, making it easy to obtain assistance when troubleshooting issues.
- Stack: PHP (CodeIgniter), MySQL/MariaDB, web-based
- License: MIT — about as permissive as it gets
- Repo: github.com/opensourcepos/opensourcepos
Recommended for: small retail businesses seeking a self-hosted web-based cash register application with limited or no restaurant-related capabilities.
2. NexoPOS
NexoPOS is the modern choice for those familiar with Laravel. Developed using Laravel along with Tailwind CSS and Vue.js, NexoPOS appears modern compared to other older POS projects. Development activity is high, with new commits appearing regularly. The core includes:
- Registers
- Inventory with stock adjustment capabilities
- Customers
- Reporting
Optional additional modules exist for purchase from the developer, but the standard POS system itself is offered freely under GPL.
The GPL-3.0 license is noteworthy: if you release any customized versions of the POS system, you must also provide access to your changes under the same terms. For most shops running it in-house, that never comes up.
- Stack: PHP (Laravel), Vue.js, Tailwind, web-based
- License: GPL-3.0
- Repo: github.com/Blair2004/NexoPOS
Recommended for: developers already familiar with Laravel looking for a clean and actively developed codebase to expand upon.
3. Odoo POS
Odoo is not only a POS system but a complete enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. All components of Odoo are interconnected, including:
- Accounting
- CRM
- E-commerce
- Stock management
- Point of sale
The primary advantage is the automatic synchronization of sales data across all integrated areas (inventory, accounts, and so on). Additionally, the POS continues operating even when disconnected from the network and will resume syncing once reconnected. It handles both retail and restaurant setups.
The Community edition of Odoo is available under the LGPLv3 license. Paid features and hosting reside in the Enterprise tier. Odoo is built in Python and represents a larger installation footprint compared to a single-purpose PHP cash register application. Plan accordingly for a dedicated server.
- Stack: Python, PostgreSQL, web-based (Community edition)
- License: LGPLv3 (Community)
- Repo: github.com/odoo/odoo
Recommended for: growing businesses seeking integration of their cash register with inventory and accounting functions from inception.
4. InfoShop
Lighter and more recent, for those who appreciate the React side of things. InfoShop is built using Laravel with Inertia.js and React. This solution is focused on small shops looking for sales, inventory, and multi-store functionality without the complexity of a full ERP. It is less complicated than the other solutions mentioned above, yet still actively maintained, and its code is easy to view or edit if you wish.
- Stack: PHP (Laravel) + Inertia/React, web-based
- License: MIT
- Repo: github.com/NifrasUsanar/InfoShop
Recommended for: a single location or small group of locations looking for a modern, easily hackable codebase and an MIT-licensed solution with no strings attached.
5. uniCenta oPOS
uniCenta oPOS is the older Java desktop choice that was initially a fork of Openbravo POS. Instead of being a browser-based solution, it installs directly onto the counter computer (which many retailers prefer — no tab to lose, and it defaults to offline). uniCenta supports multiple locations within a centralized database. It has been around for years and is widely accepted in the retail and hospitality industries.
Keep in mind that uniCenta uses a more traditional codebase than the Laravel/React examples provided above, therefore evaluate your team’s familiarity with Java prior to committing.
- Stack: Java (desktop), supports MySQL and other databases
- License: GPLv3
- Site: unicenta.com
Recommended for: retail or hospitality locations requiring a desktop-installed point of sale with multi-location capability.
6. Floreant POS
Floreant POS is geared towards restaurants. As such, it includes all the features food service requires — table management, floor plans, and kitchen printer capabilities. Additionally, Floreant POS supports installation on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Floreant POS began life as a custom-built application for Denny’s locations and has existed for well over a decade.
Something important to note: although Floreant POS is freely available source code under the MRPL 1.2 (a variation of the Mozilla Public License), it does differ from the typical MIT/GPL licenses. The source code is free and modifiable, as well as distributable; however, read the specific licensing terms prior to planning any commercial distribution. The same developers offer a commercially supported version called ORO POS.
- Stack: Java (desktop), cross-platform
- License: MRPL 1.2 (a modified MPL 1.1)
- Site: floreant.org
Recommended for: restaurants, cafes, and bars that require table service and kitchen-printed orders; not recommended for a retail barcode checkout flow.
Which one should you choose?
If you operate a retail business via shared hosting and desire the safest license possible, begin testing OSPOS. If you are a Laravel developer seeking to build upon a POS project, either NexoPOS or InfoShop would serve as ideal starting points — NexoPOS if you are seeking larger, better-tested options, and InfoShop if you seek leaner, MIT-licensed options. Select Odoo POS when your register operation is simply part of a larger enterprise operation utilizing one platform. For an offline desktop till option, uniCenta provides options for retail, and Floreant provides options for restaurants.
Regardless of what you select, run initial tests on a test machine, create some fictitious sales transactions, and examine the license agreement prior to applying the selected solution toward actual revenue generation. Since self-hosting equates to responsibility for uptime as well as backup of data — that represents the trade-off versus paying monthly fees for each terminal.
Need stock control to go with the till? Our open-source inventory management roundup covers tools that pair well with these systems, and if you are deciding what to build on, Laravel vs Django breaks down the two frameworks several of these projects are built with. More comparisons live in our best-of roundups.
Last updated: July 14, 2026
Frequently asked questions about open-source POS systems
Is there a decent POS system that’s open source?
Yes — several open-source POS systems are sufficiently stable and feature-rich to be used in production for daily retail operations. Both Open Source Point of Sale (OSPOS) and uniCenta oPOS have been in continuous development for years, whereas Odoo POS is backed by a commercial entity and has been implemented in thousands of stores worldwide. The best selection will depend upon your hardware configuration, store type, and desired level of implementation complexity.
What is the best free open-source POS software?
For small retail operations looking for web-based POS software, OSPOS appears to be the most widely adopted free option among those reviewed here. Restaurants appear to favor Floreant POS, whereas organizations with additional accounting and inventory requirements often elect to utilize Odoo POS. All six solutions listed here may be self-hosted at no cost for licensing purposes.
Can I find open-source POS system source code on GitHub?
Most projects within this list provide access to the complete source code on GitHub, allowing users to review the codebase, self-host the solution, or expand upon existing functionality. If you would rather start from a smaller PHP project for learning or a capstone, our POS and inventory system in PHP with source code is a good base.
Related: 6 best open-source inventory management systems · retail shop management software with source code