The Best Open-Source POS System Software of 2021

Chromis POS started from humble beginnings as an offshoot of the uniCenta POS and has morphed into another software entirely. One awesome upcoming feature is the ability to issue gift cards as well as a full-fledged customer loyalty system. Chromis POS is incredibly flexible, working on Windows-based systems from XP to 10. It also works on Linux, but there currently doesn't seem to be a plan to support Mac development. Another great feature is a kitchen screen, allowing front-of-house restaurant sales to show orders in the kitchen for timely food prep and cooking. Most common USB printers, including thermal receipt printers from companies such as Epson, should be basically compatible. Chromis POS also contains a powerful scripting language baked directly in the software that allows for further feature additions and custom user development to cater to almost any situation imaginable.

Floreant POS is an open-source restaurant POS system that's won many awards for its extensive capabilities. Used by thousands of restaurants including Rebel Barn and Denny's, this POS software works on any platform including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Prominent features include bar tab management, table service, and even mobile support on certain tablets. Floreant POS is free, but a paid upgrade to a PRO account will net users many extra features, although the base version should suffice for most start-ups and small businesses. Most printers should also be compatible with Floreant POS, allowing preexisting hardware configurations to be sufficient when switching POS systems. One of the best features of the software is the ability to add or remove functionality whenever needed. For example, there's a "pizza builder" module for pizza restaurants, but it can be removed if not needed.

Loyverse POS is a general-purpose, open-source POS system designed specifically for mobile usage. The software should work flawlessly on both Android and iOS phones and tablets. Whether a business is in food services or retail, Loyverse POS offers a comprehensive and robust system that's cloud-based with tons of great features. The system can handle a multitude of tasks, from cash management and barcode generation to employee management and multi-location capabilities. The POS system also contains many customer retention features such as loyalty cards, customer purchase history, and a points reward program. Loyverse POS also integrates directly with many credit card gateways in over 130 different countries, as well as major e-commerce platforms and accounting applications. Utilizing Zoho Flow, the software can also integrate with over 500 applications while simultaneously negating the need to know any coding whatsoever.

uniCenta oPOS is a commercial-grade POS system that's completely open source. While the company does offer a paid plan for support only, users attempting to go it alone will have a plethora of support and community features at their disposal. uniCenta is able to be tailored to a large variety of different types of businesses, including restaurants, tanning salons, and hotels. It's also got some really powerful features under the hood, such as remote display for sending visual information — like orders into a kitchen — included for free. To help with multi-unit managers and owners, reporting is available 24/7, with WordPress integration allowing users to access centralized reporting on any device. uniCenta also allows users to send their customers a fully digitized receipt the moment a sales transaction is completed.

Wallace POS advertises itself as "Your cash register in the cloud." Eliminating the need for clunky and complicated installation procedures, users can access Wallace POS from any internet-connected device via a special user-specific web address. It's also compatible with touchscreen devices, allowing for rapid data entry during peak business hours. Users can scan barcodes with any standard USB barcode scanner or via a special Android application for even faster checkout times. Wallace POS also contains powerful reporting and inventory functionality, ensuring users can maintain a healthy business at all times.