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When you’re choosing a point-of-sale system, you’re looking for something simple, reliable and flexible – software that helps you take payments anywhere and keeps your day-to-day running without surprise fees. But many POS providers charge monthly subscriptions, add hidden costs or lock key features behind premium plans. Finding a free POS system that still delivers real value can make a big difference for growing businesses.
POS technology goes beyond just ringing up sales. Modern POS systems act as a full business companion, helping sellers manage operations, sales and customer experiences. In a 2025 survey, 40% of Aussie retailers said they use mobile POS systems to lighten their teams’ manual workload.
Free POS software like Square POS is built to meet the needs of modern businesses. Whether you’re running a one-person operation, managing a team, selling on the go, booking appointments or working remotely, it gives you the tools to stay on top of it all. And because it’s a POS without monthly fees, you can access the features that matter most without being locked into a subscription.
Here’s the lowdown on what’s included, how it works and why so many business owners choose Square to power their checkout.
More than 4 million merchants use Square free POS software
From restaurants, retailers and market stalls to service-based businesses and not-for-profits, millions of sellers use Square free POS software to help them run and grow their operations.
The core software is free – no setup charges, monthly subscription, hidden fees or long-term commitment required. You only pay a small transaction fee when you take a payment. And if you need additional tools as your business grows, such as advanced features, hardware or add-ons, you can choose and pay for only what you need.
It’s easy to get started, and you don’t need a merchant account to accept payments. Here’s a snapshot of Square standard rates per transaction:
- 1.6% for in-person payments
- 2.2% for online, remote, invoice or manually entered card payments
- Custom rates available for businesses processing over $250,000 annually
We’ve used anything that was possibly available in our journey, and then Square came along and we were like, ‘Oh, this is awesome. It’s so simple, it doesn’t cost us a fortune.’”
Jessica Hol → Co-owner of Black Market Coffee
Advanced features in the Square free POS system
The Square free point of sale system does more than just process payments – it’s a powerful tool for managing sales, inventory and customer relationships in one place. Here are just some of the features included in the free plan:
- Sales reporting and analytics: Track top-selling items, monitor trends and view real-time performance.
- Inventory management: Stay on top of stock with alerts, modifiers and item-level details.
- Multi-location support: Manage sales and inventory across multiple sites from a single account.
- Flexible payment methods: Accept card, contactless and mobile payments like Apple Pay. Pair your POS with optional Square hardware to suit your needs.
- Virtual Terminal: Turn your computer into a web POS and take payments remotely.
- Receipts and tipping: Offer digital or printed receipts, and accept tips in-app or on paper.
- Offline payments: Keep making sales even when your internet connection drops.*
- Invoicing tools: Send one-time or recurring invoices straight from your phone or desktop.
- Card on File: Speed up checkout for your regular customers by securely storing their payment info.
- Split tender and open tickets: Easily manage group payments and running tabs.
“Square has a very user-friendly interface for front-end and back-end users,” said Yuri Angele, who owns Brunetti Oro. “Once we showed the staff how things are done in the POS, we never had to come back to it again.”
Robust point-of-sale software with no monthly fees
Square free POS software includes a wide range of built-in features to help you run your business, with no monthly subscription required. You only pay for what you use, like payment processing or optional add-ons. Here’s how the pricing breaks down by feature:
| POS software features | What you get | Square fees |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts all major credit cards |
Take payments from all major card brands – including Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS, JCB and American Express – with one simple, flat rate. No hidden card network fees; everything’s included in this standard processing rate. | 1.6% per in-person transaction |
| No monthly software fee | No subscription costs, no lock-in contracts, no setup fees. The free plan includes everything you need to start selling in person, online, over the phone or out in the field. | Free |
| Sales reporting and analytics | View real-time sales data, top-selling items, trends and more from your mobile device or desktop. Customisable, easy-to-read reports help you make more informed business decisions. Explore Square Analytics. | Free |
| Invoicing and recurring billing | Send professional digital invoices from your phone or computer, with options for one-time or recurring payments. Get paid fast and track invoice status in real time. Get started with invoicing. | Free to send – pay 2.2% per paid invoice |
| Offline payment processing | Keep selling even if your internet goes down. Payments process automatically once you’re back online.* Learn more about offline payments. | Free to enable – standard rate of 1.6% applies |
| Phone orders and remote payments (card-not-present transactions) | Take payments over the phone or manually enter card details by using either Virtual Terminal on your computer or the free POS software, Square Point of Sale. | 2.2% per keyed-in transaction |
| Proactive fraud protection |
Transactions are automatically monitored by Square, which adapts in real time to spot and stop suspicious activity. Discover how Square protects your payments. |
Free |
| PCI compliance | Square handles PCI compliance for you – no extra validation steps, third-party tools or added fees. Your customer data is encrypted and protected. What is PCI compliance? | Free |
| Customer support | Reach the Square support team by phone, email or through the Support Centre whenever you need help. | Free |
Affordable POS hardware to match
Free POS software gives you everything you need to start selling – and adding POS hardware can streamline checkout even further, helping you move faster, stay organised, cut down on queues and create a better experience for your customers. This is especially true in customer-facing or busy environments.
For example, Square Handheld is a slim, lightweight POS device that fits in your pocket, ideal for taking orders and payments anywhere on the sales floor or tableside. Staff can ring up sales, apply discounts and complete checkouts on the spot. Plus, it comes with a built-in barcode scanner and camera to help with cart building and inventory management.
We started using Square because it was easier to set up, and low-cost as well. Over time, I’ve just adopted almost every piece of hardware and offering you’ve had, which I love. Every time you guys come up with new tech, I try to implement it.”
Joe La → Co-owner of Sloppy Joe’s
Whether you’re looking for something compact and mobile or a full countertop solution, Square offers user-friendly hardware designed to work seamlessly with your setup. Explore hardware that suits your business.
How Square builds the best point-of-sale system for small businesses
Square started with a simple idea: accepting payments should be simple and accessible for everyone. That’s why its POS software is designed to support businesses of all shapes and sizes with smart tools, reliable service and pricing that’s easy to understand.
As your business grows, Square grows with you – from team management to marketing and loyalty programs – all integrated into the same POS system. Every new product and feature is shaped by the challenges businesses face day to day, helping to support your needs better.
“When I was opening my first retail store, I was going in with no idea what I was doing with all of it,” shared FAYT owner Brittney Saunders. “But Square’s reporting has made it easy for us to open more and more locations because it gives you such great insights into what are your best sellers, what are your slowest sellers, what you need the most stock of and what you need the least.”
Ready to get started? It’s fast to sign up and start accepting payments with Square POS. Create your free Square account.
Free POS system FAQs
What is a free POS?
A free point-of-sale (POS) software lets businesses take payments, track sales and manage operations without paying monthly software fees. Square free POS includes a range of essential features such as inventory tracking, reporting and invoicing, all designed to help businesses run smoothly from day one.
What is the best free POS software in Australia?
While there are a few free POS options out there, Square is the one trusted by thousands of Australian businesses. Square offers a complete set of tools to get sellers started – from payments and reporting to inventory and customer insights – all without a monthly fee. It’s simple to set up, easy to use and packed with features to help businesses of all sizes sell in person, online or on the go. That’s why so many Aussie sellers choose Square as their go-to free POS.
What features are included in a free POS system?
A free POS system lets you accept multiple types of payments. A good free POS system goes even further, offering powerful features such as payment processing, inventory management, sales reporting, customer profiles, invoicing, offline payments and more. These tools help you start and grow your business without extra costs for basic functionality. Square POS includes all these essential features in its free plan, giving you everything you need to start and grow your business.
Do free POS systems work with local payment methods in Australia?
Yes. Free POS systems like Square work seamlessly with the ways Aussies pay every day. You can accept all major credit and debit cards, plus mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. That means your customers can tap, insert or pay online however they prefer, while you get fast, secure payments.
Is a free POS system compliant with Australian tax regulations?
Absolutely. The right free POS should make it easy to stay compliant in Australia. This means being able to add GST to sales, issue ATO-compliant receipts, and keep organised records that make BAS preparation more straightforward. Square free POS includes all of these features, helping Aussie sellers stay on top of their tax obligations without extra software or stress.
What types of Australian businesses can use a free POS system?
A free POS system is designed to be flexible enough for just about any Aussie business – retail shops, market stalls, salons, cafes, food trucks, tradies, service providers, professional services and beyond. Whether you sell face-to-face, online or both, free POS software can streamline operations and help you manage sales and customers effectively. Square POS is a versatile option used by many businesses across these sectors to support their day-to-day operations.
If I process payments with Square, what are my transaction fees?
Square keeps fees simple with flat, transparent pricing. For in-person payments, such as when your customer taps their device or card, the fee is just 1.6% per transaction. This same rate applies to all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS, JCB, Amex) and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
For manually entered (or card-not-present) transactions, such as over-the-phone orders, the rate is 2.2%. Online store transactions and invoice payments also carry a 2.2% fee.
How can I keep up to date with new product changes to your point-of-sale software?
Square regularly updates its point-of-sale software to introduce new features, improvements and tools that help your business run more smoothly. For all the latest updates, check out what’s new at Square. You can also follow us on X and Instagram to stay in the loop with product news, tips and announcements.
