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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 operations 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.
Today’s POS technology is doing more than just processing sales. According to a recent report, 99% of the retailers surveyed are using their POS to guide both tactical and strategic decisions, and 87% said their POS helps them run promotional campaigns, discounts and special offers.
Free POS software, such as Square POS, is designed 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’s free POS software
From local retailers and market stalls to service-based businesses and non-profits, millions of sellers use Square’s 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, with clear, flat-rate processing fees. And if you need extra tools as your business grows, like 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’s standard rates per transaction:
- 1.75% for in-person payments
- 2.5% for manually entered card payments
- 1.4% + 25p for online store payments (UK cards)
- 2.5% for invoice payments
- Custom rates available for businesses processing over £200,000 annually
If you have an iPhone, [Square is] very similar. You want to delete a line item, you swipe. It’s very easy. I’ve worked with systems that have been so convoluted for no reason. Square makes it simple. Most people on their trial shift have Square down.”
Rosie Bell → Creative Director of Kitten
Advanced features in the Square free POS system
Square’s 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 contactless, chip and PIN, 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.
“One of the main advantages of using Square is that it’s everything you need, all in one platform,” shared Matt Walsh, who owns Tender Cow. “Since starting with Square, we’ve definitely improved as a business, especially in terms of staff retention and morale.”
Robust point-of-sale software with no monthly fees
Square’s 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’s Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts all major credit cards |
Take payments from all major card brands – including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover – with one simple, flat rate. No hidden card network fees; everything’s included in Square’s standard processing rate. | 1.75% 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 2.5% 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 1.75% 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. | 2.5% per keyed-in transaction |
| Proactive fraud protection |
Transactions are automatically monitored by Square’s system, 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 Square’s support team by phone, email or through the Support Centre whenever you need help. | Free |
The great thing about Square is the easy access to reporting that allows us to make daily changes and ultimately carve out that path of how we want to grow. ”
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 process 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.
“Square helps us provide a better service through the night by tracking dishes and making sure all of our team is aware of what dishes sell out and when to keep guest expectations as high as possible,” says Daniel Craig Martin, co-owner of Higher Ground.
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. See which hardware 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 marketing and loyalty programmes to team management and payroll prep – 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.
“Our customers love the loyalty programme that we’ve got with Square,” said Darren Richards, owner of Montego Food Market. “We’ve got over 1,300 customers, and a lot of them are using and loving the loyalty points system.”
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 free point-of-sale (POS) software?
Free POS software lets businesses take payments, track sales and manage operations without paying monthly software fees. Square’s 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.
Is Square POS really free in the UK?
Yes, Square Point of Sale is free to download and use. There are no setup costs, no monthly fees, no hidden fees and no long-term contracts. You only pay a small processing fee when you take a payment. If you ever need hardware or more advanced tools, like marketing, loyalty or team management, add-ons are available – but you’ll only pay for them if and when you choose to use them.
What is the best free POS software?
The best free POS software should be reliable, user-friendly and built to grow with your business. Square POS 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 trusted by millions of businesses and backed by Square’s secure payments infrastructure.
What features are included in a free POS system?
A good free POS system offers 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. For example, Square POS includes all these essential features in its free plan, giving you everything to start and grow your business.
What types of businesses can use a free POS system?
Free POS systems are designed to be flexible enough for a wide range of businesses, from retail shops, cafes and salons to service providers, food trucks, event vendors and beyond. Whether you sell in person, online or on the move, a free POS system can streamline operations and help you manage sales and customers effectively. Square POS, for instance, 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, whether your customer taps or uses chip and PIN, the fee is just 1.75% per transaction. This same rate applies to all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) as well as 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 2.5%. Online store transactions are charged at 1.4% + 25p (for UK cards), while invoice payments incur a 2.5% fee.
If your business processes over £200,000 a year, you may qualify for lower, custom rates. Learn more about Square’s payment processing fees.
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 our Newsroom. You can also follow us on X and Instagram to stay in the loop with product news, tips and announcements.
*Offline payments are processed automatically when you reconnect your device to the internet and will be declined if you do not reconnect to the internet within 24 hours of taking your first offline payment. By enabling offline payments, you are responsible for any expired, declined or disputed payments accepted while offline. Square is unable to provide customer contact information for payments declined while offline. Offline payments are not supported on older versions of Square Reader for contactless and chip and PIN (1st generation – v1 and v2). Click here for help identifying your contactless reader. Learn more about how to enable and use offline payments here.
