Square is great, but it is not free. Here are 7 alternatives we tested — and which ones are actually worth switching to.

NexPOS Shift History on iPad — open and closed shifts with net differences and shortage tracking.
Shift history with cash close, net differences, and shortage flags — the kind of insight Square locks behind paid plans.

Why people leave Square

  • Transaction fees: 2.6% + 10¢ per swipe, 3.5% + 15¢ per manual entry
  • Account freezes: Square can freeze your funds without warning
  • Limited free features: advanced inventory, loyalty, team management — all paid
  • US-centric: limited international support

The 7 alternatives we tested

1. NexPOS — best overall

Free forever. No transaction fees. Works globally. NexPOS offers more free features than Square's paid plans. Multi-currency, CRM, inventory, reports — all included. The only thing Square has that NexPOS does not: proprietary hardware (which NexPOS does not need).

2. Loyverse

Solid free POS with good inventory management. But employee management and integrations are paid add-ons. No multi-currency. Limited reporting.

3. eHopper

Free plan limited to 1 register and 50 products. Paid plans start at $39.99/month. Not truly free.

4. Hike POS

14-day trial, then $59/month. Not free at all.

5. Imonggo

Free for 1 user, limited to basic features. Outdated interface. No mobile app.

6. Floreant POS

Open source, free to use. But requires installation, configuration, and technical knowledge. No cloud. No mobile.

7. SalesPOP

Cloud-based, free tier available. But limited to 100 transactions/month on free plan. Not viable for real businesses.

Side-by-side summary

AlternativeWinnerActually free?Transaction fees?Mobile?Rating
NexPOSYes, foreverNoneYes9.5/10
LoyverseMostlyNoneYes7.5/10
eHopperLimitedNoneYes6/10
FloreantYes (OSS)NoneNo5/10
Hike / othersNoVariesVaries4-6/10

Skip the 7-tool spreadsheet

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Our recommendation

If you are looking for a genuine free alternative to Square with no hidden fees and no transaction charges, NexPOS is the answer. It works globally, on any device, and gives you more free features than Square's $60/month plan.