RetailPOS

RetailPOS is an open-source point-of-sale system for physical retailers that connects store activity with e-commerce platforms. It syncs inventory, orders, and customer information, with listed integrations including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Sylius, Wix, PrestaShop, Squarespace, and Commercefull. The system can keep operating offline using SQLite and queues orders to sync when connectivity returns. Checkout supports barcode scanning, receipt printing, cash drawers, and terminal payments, with hardware connections over USB, Bluetooth, camera, or network. Listed card payment options are Stripe Terminal, Stripe NFC tap-to-pay, Square, and Worldpay. Inventory tools cover product variants, low-stock alerts, manual adjustments, and an audit trail. Reports include daily, weekly, and monthly sales summaries, payment breakdowns, cashier rankings, and CSV export. Multiple registers can sync over a local network in server and client mode, with role-based access for Admin, Manager, and Cashier. The free plan is free, with no monthly fees. Security updates cover version 2.0.x; versions below 2.0 are not supported.

RetailPOS combines retail checkout, inventory, reporting, and e-commerce synchronization in a free, self-hosted open-source system. Its offline operation and local-network register syncing may be useful for stores with those needs.

RetailPOS may suit independent retailers and multi-register stores that need inventory and e-commerce synchronization or offline operation. It also has features relevant to developers and agencies.

RetailPOS is a free, self-hosted point-of-sale system for shops that need in-store checkout tied to online stock and orders. It is most compelling for independent retailers and multi-register stores comfortable managing deployment themselves or with help from N17. The combination of offline checkout and open-source licensing is attractive, but it comes with upkeep and compliance responsibilities.

Overview

RetailPOS connects physical sales with e-commerce operations, syncing inventory, orders, and customers across platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Sylius, Wix, PrestaShop, Squarespace, and Commercefull. That makes it a stronger fit for retailers already selling online than for shops that need only a standalone till.

When connectivity drops, the system continues working with data stored in SQLite and queues orders for automatic synchronization after service returns. That resilience can protect checkout continuity, though retailers still need to manage a self-hosted system and keep it on a supported release.

Key features

Checkout and payments

Barcode scanning, receipt printing, cash drawers, and terminal payments cover the essentials of a physical register. Payment options include Stripe Terminal, Stripe NFC tap-to-pay, Square, and Worldpay. Hardware can connect over USB, Bluetooth, camera, or network, but support is third-party, so stores should confirm their equipment fits their deployment.

Inventory and reporting

Inventory synchronization includes product variants, low-stock alerts, manual adjustments, and an audit trail. For stores balancing a sales floor with online listings, these controls can help keep stock changes visible across channels. Daily, weekly, and monthly sales summaries, payment breakdowns, cashier rankings, and CSV export give managers useful operational snapshots without implying a deeper analytics suite.

Staff and registers

Six login methods and role-based permissions for Admin, Manager, and Cashier provide a structure for separating staff responsibilities. Server and client mode lets registers on a local network sync orders, inventory, and settings, making it relevant to stores with multiple tills that need shared operating data.

Security and support

RetailPOS says payment terminals' SDKs handle card data and the software does not touch raw card details. Retailers still need to review PCI compliance for their region before launch. Bug reports, questions, and feature requests go through GitHub; N17 offers integration, deployment, and custom development support for businesses that need help beyond community channels.

Pricing

Free and open source: free, with no monthly fees, under Apache 2.0 for self-hosted use. There is no free trial because the plan is free. This removes subscription cost, but the self-hosted model means deployment and ongoing operation remain part of the retailer's workload. No seat or transaction quota is stated.

Platforms

RetailPOS supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web, alongside self-hosted deployment. The broad platform range suits mixed device environments, although hardware connections are third-party and should be checked against the chosen setup.

Who it's for

Independent retailers with an online store can benefit most from synchronized inventory and orders, while stores with unreliable internet have a clear reason to consider its offline mode. Multi-register shops can use local-network syncing, and developers or agencies may value an open-source, self-hosted system they can deploy or customize. It is a weaker fit for retailers that want a fully managed service or do not want to own deployment and version maintenance.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Offline operation queues orders for later synchronization, helping checkout continue during connectivity interruptions.
• Pros: E-commerce sync covers a broad set of named platforms, useful for retailers running both physical and online sales.
• Pros: Open-source self-hosting has no monthly fee, and local-network register syncing supports multi-till operations.
• Cons: Self-hosting requires the retailer or a partner to handle deployment and upkeep.
• Cons: Hardware support is third-party, which makes compatibility confirmation important before rollout.
• Cons: Only version 2.0.x receives security updates; versions below 2.0 are unsupported.
• Cons: Retailers must assess regional PCI compliance even though RetailPOS says it does not handle raw card data.

Alternatives

Loyverse is worth considering for retailers who prefer a freemium POS available on Android, iOS, and web; its free plan keeps 31 days of sales history, while unlimited history costs $5 a month.

NCR Counterpoint is a paid alternative for stores looking at an iOS- or Windows-based POS.

NCR Voyix POS may suit grocery, convenience, fuel, department, and specialty retailers seeking a paid retail POS; pricing requires contacting NCR Voyix.

uniCenta oPOS is another freemium option with broad platform support, including self-hosted deployment; its BASE subscription costs £72 a year.

Heartland Retail is a freemium alternative with a listed starting price of $89 a month.

NewStore is a paid alternative.

Cegid Retail is a paid option with no free plan and pricing available by demo request.

Erply is a paid alternative whose Growth Plan costs $1,000 a month.

Browse more options in Retail POS Software and Point-of-Sale Software.

Verdict

RetailPOS is a strong candidate for independent shops and multi-register retailers that want free, open-source checkout linked to e-commerce and need the resilience of offline operation. Its main reason to choose is that combination without monthly fees; its main reason to look elsewhere is the responsibility of self-hosting, maintaining supported versions, and validating hardware and compliance before launch.