Open Source POS

Self-Hosted

Open-source point-of-sale (POS) system for small businesses and retailers

Overview

A self-hosted POS solution for managing sales, inventory, customers, and transactions. Supports multiple payment methods, barcode scanning, receipt printing, and tax calculations. Deploy via Docker or LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Ideal for cafes, boutiques, and small shops. Offers customizable product catalogs, sales reporting, employee management, and integration with WooCommerce for omnichannel operations. Keeps data private by storing sales information on your own server instead of third-party clouds.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  open_source_pos:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: open-source-pos
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Inventory management with low-stock alerts
Multi-payment method support (cash, card, digital wallets)
Sales reporting and analytics
Barcode scanning and receipt printing
Customer loyalty program integration

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Open Source POS hard to install?

It’s straightforward with Docker (one-click deployment) or a LAMP stack. Detailed docs guide you through database setup and initial configuration. Non-technical users can opt for managed hosting via third-party providers for easier setup.

? Is it a good alternative to Square POS?

Yes, for businesses wanting full data control and no subscription fees. It lacks Square’s built-in payment processing (integrate with Stripe/PayPal instead) but offers core features like inventory tracking and sales reports at no cost.

? Is it completely free?

Yes! Licensed under MIT, it’s free to use, modify, and distribute. You only pay for server hosting, payment processor fees, or optional add-ons like hardware integration tools.

Top Alternatives

Square POS Search Google

Shopify POS Search Google

Toast POS Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category E-commerce

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ No recurring subscription fees
⊕ Full data ownership and privacy
⊕ Customizable to specific business needs
⊕ Supports offline operations for uninterrupted sales

Cons

⊖ Requires basic server administration skills for self-hosting
⊖ Limited 24/7 support compared to proprietary POS tools
⊖ Advanced integrations (like loyalty programs) may need extra setup