Quick answer
The best open source point of sale software for most small businesses is Open Source POS, with NexoPOS and Lakasir as strong alternatives. Verified 16 October 2026.
A point of sale (POS) system handles sales at a counter or table: scanning items, taking payment and printing receipts. Open source POS options exist for retail and restaurants, and ERP systems include POS apps too. Hardware support is the key thing to test.
We write for small businesses, freelancers and growing teams, not large enterprises. Every tool below was checked on GitHub for license, archive status and recent activity, and prices are never quoted because they change. Our picks are based on each project's documentation and repository data, not on hands-on benchmarks, so always try a tool with sample data first. This is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice.
Top picks at a glance
- Open Source POS: Retail POS with inventory.
- NexoPOS: Laravel POS with inventory.
- Lakasir: Simple POS for small stores.
What to look for in point of sale software for a small business
- Hardware support. Check receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers and card terminals.
- Offline behavior. Know what happens when the internet drops during a sale.
- Tax receipts. Receipts must meet your local tax and fiscal rules.
- Stock sync. Sales should reduce stock automatically.
- Project health and license. Choose a project that is not archived, has recent releases and a real open source license. Check the LICENSE file, not just the website.
Comparison table: best open source point of sale software
| Tool | Best for | License | Stack | GitHub stars | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Source POS | Retail POS with inventory | MIT | PHP (CodeIgniter) | 4,443 | Oct 2026 |
| NexoPOS | Laravel POS with inventory | GPL-3.0 | PHP (Laravel), Vue | 1,278 | Oct 2026 |
| Lakasir | Simple POS for small stores | GPL-3.0 | PHP (Laravel) | 911 | Oct 2026 |
| ERPNext | POS built into ERPNext | GPL-3.0 | Python (Frappe), MariaDB | 40,232 | Oct 2026 |
| URY (restaurant POS for ERPNext) | Restaurant POS for ERPNext | AGPL-3.0 | TypeScript, Frappe | 388 | Oct 2026 |
| Odoo Community | POS app in Community | LGPL-3.0 (Community edition) | Python, PostgreSQL | 55,072 | Oct 2026 |
| Dolibarr ERP CRM | Basic POS inside Dolibarr | GPL-3.0 | PHP, MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL | 7,732 | Oct 2026 |
Stars and update dates are a snapshot from 16 October 2026 and change daily. They show activity, not quality.
The 7 best open source point of sale tools, reviewed
1. Open Source POS
Best for: Retail POS with inventory
License: MIT · Stack: PHP (CodeIgniter) · GitHub: 4,443 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
A web-based point of sale for small shops with sales, stock, receipts, quotes and reports. MIT licensed and actively maintained.
Source on GitHub · Official website
2. NexoPOS
Best for: Laravel POS with inventory
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP (Laravel), Vue · GitHub: 1,278 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
A web POS built with Laravel and Vue that includes inventory features.
Source on GitHub · Official website
3. Lakasir
Best for: Simple POS for small stores
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP (Laravel) · GitHub: 911 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
A straightforward open source POS aimed at simple needs, with stock and sales reports.
Source on GitHub · Official website
4. ERPNext
Best for: POS built into ERPNext
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: Python (Frappe), MariaDB · GitHub: 40,232 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
ERPNext includes a point of sale, so sales and stock update the accounts automatically.
Read our full guide to ERPNext · Source on GitHub · Official website
5. URY (restaurant POS for ERPNext)
Best for: Restaurant POS for ERPNext
License: AGPL-3.0 · Stack: TypeScript, Frappe · GitHub: 388 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
An open source restaurant management and POS system built on top of ERPNext.
Source on GitHub · Official website
6. Odoo Community
Best for: POS app in Community
License: LGPL-3.0 (Community edition) · Stack: Python, PostgreSQL · GitHub: 55,072 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
Odoo Community includes a Point of Sale app connected to its inventory and invoicing apps.
Read our full guide to Odoo Community · Source on GitHub · Official website
7. Dolibarr ERP CRM
Best for: Basic POS inside Dolibarr
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP, MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL · GitHub: 7,732 stars, repo updated Oct 2026
Dolibarr includes a point of sale option for simple counter sales.
Read our full guide to Dolibarr ERP CRM · Source on GitHub · Official website
Open source vs paid point of sale software
Paid cloud products usually win on polish, mobile apps, automatic bank connections and support. Open source wins on running cost as you grow, data ownership and the freedom to customize. The real cost of open source is hosting, backups, updates and your own time, so count those honestly. Several of these projects also sell hosting or support if you would rather not run a server yourself.
How to choose the best point of sale software
- You run a small shop: Open Source POS or Lakasir.
- You want POS inside accounting and stock: ERPNext or Odoo Community.
- You run a restaurant: URY on ERPNext.
- You want a Laravel base to extend: NexoPOS.
Mistakes to avoid
Many countries require fiscal printers or approved POS software for tax receipts. Check local rules before you use any open source POS in a live shop, and test with your actual hardware.
Where to host it
All of these tools can be self-hosted. A small VPS or a web hosting plan from a provider such as Hostinger is enough to get started with most of them. Check each project's requirements first, and read our security and backup checklist before you add real data.
Need a server to host it?
Self-hosting a CRM needs a server. PHP and MySQL apps can often run on ordinary web hosting, while Docker, Node, Python or Java apps usually need a VPS. Check each project's requirements first. Hostinger offers both shared web hosting and VPS plans.
Affiliate disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. CRMs are listed independently of any hosting partner. Learn more.
Related comparisons
- Best Open Source Inventory Management Software (2026)
- Best Open Source ERP Software for Small Business
- Best Open Source Invoicing Software for Small Business
- Best Open Source Accounts Receivable Software (2026)
All open source business software comparisons
- Accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Billing
- Invoicing
- Payroll
- Inventory Management
- Warehouse Management
- Expense Tracking
- Spend Management
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- Cash Flow Management
- Bank Reconciliation
- Purchase Order
- Vendor Management
- Point of Sale (POS)
- Time Tracking
- Quotation & Estimates
- Revenue Recognition
- Financial Reporting
- Asset Management
- Lead Management
- Sales Pipeline
- ERP
Also see our directory of 50 open source CRMs.