Free Cash Register Online
One way that small businesses are upgrading to new technology is by pulling the plug on their old cash register hardware.
If you'd like to do the same, but the overwhelming amount of free online cash register solutions to choose from have got you overwhelmed, that's where we come in.
We're here to explain the ins and outs of the top 5 free cash register software brands on the market today, allowing you to select the perfect fit.
Payment Processor Fees | Top Features | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|
Passed along to customers | Reporting/analytics, employee management, inventory management | Best overall | |
2.75% flat rate processing fee | Spreadsheet reports, stock management, barcode and QR scanning capabilities | Best mobile solution | |
2.5% + $0.25 per in-person transaction | Multi-location tools, discount management, open API | Best Open-Source API | |
Not included in free version | Sales commissions, customer controls, product registration | Best for sales commissions | |
$0.30 flat rate per in-person transaction | WooCommerce Synch, Preparation management, marketing features | Best for hardware integrations |
eHopper is one of our absolute favorite completely free options for businesses that are in need of online cash register functionality.
Because this system works with several payment processors, you'll have the freedom to find the most economical payment processing company of your choice.
Note that payment processing is not included, so it's not a truly all-in-one system.
The eHopper app works on all devices, including iPad iOS, Android tablets, and Windows tablets.
However, if you want to use it on a computer as a computerized cash register, note that it only works on Windows PC.
It's an extremely intuitive system, making it a great choice for businesses that have a high employee turnover. If you visit the eHopper website, you'll also find a virtual assistant and a list of articles to help you with any troubleshooting.
The free version of eHopper software comes with all of the basic features you'll need in order to make transactions and run the back end of your business, including basic reporting, split payment, cash discounts, customer management, inventory management, and more.
There is some limitation when using the free plan. You will get a single POS license, allowing the input of up to 50 products and the ability to run up to 300 transactions per month. You can integrate with QuickBooks if you upgrade to one of the paid plans, helpful for businesses that need to keep closer track of their finances.
One aspect we love about eHopper is that businesses in qualifying states can sign up for their cash discount program. Essentially, your business can accept credit card sales without having to pay any additional processing fees, which can add up to quite a bit of savings in the long run.
You can either pass your processing fees along to your customers if they pay using a credit card or get a lower price if they pay with cash.
Features
Hardware:
Runs on personal hardware
Software:
$0 per month starting
Payment Processing:
Passed along to customers
Pros
Cons
Elementary POS is one of the best mobile phone solutions on the list, as you can turn any Android tablet or phone into an easy-to-use cash register.
You can use this cash register both online and offline as well, making it an excellent option for everything from small brick-and-mortar businesses to flea market weekend warriors.
There are plenty of high-quality features found with Elementary POS, including PDF invoices/receipts, Excel accountant uploads, spreadsheet reports, sales item import/export, automatic synchronization and backup, multiple cash register locations, and more.
You can accept credit card payments using the integrated SumUp Card readers or MyPOS software and get a simple overview of your sales using clean and clear Microsoft Excel reports.
The mobile app is super intuitive, and the functionality works for small, mid-sized, or enterprise-level businesses. If you need access to a bigger bundle of features, you can upgrade to the Premium version, which only costs $4 per month.
Features
Hardware:
Works on Android devices
Software:
$0 per month starting
Payment Processing:
2.75% flat rate SumUp Transaction Fee
Pros
Cons
If you're looking for a free online register that also has open-source POS system capabilities, UniCenta is an excellent choice.
In fact, the features available on UniCenta could easily rival any small business point-of-sale solution, as it comes with features like employee management, customer relationship management, reporting, and inventory management.
This point-of-sale system uses web-based software that can run on all types of hardware, including Mac, PC, Linux-powered machines, and mobile devices.
Even with the free system, you can still utilize ERP-custom features for labs, clinics, restaurants, retail shops, hospitals, and more.
Some additional UniCenta features include multi-location management, tracking store management, barcode/ticket scanning, discount management, and loyalty points.
Though the interface might feel a bit dated compared to other systems on this list, the robust feature set that works for just about any kind of business is hard to beat.
Features
Hardware:
Works on all desktop and mobile devices
Software:
$0 per month starting
Payment Processing:
2.5% + $0.25 per in-person transaction through Dejavoo
Pros
Cons
Nextar is our favorite option for businesses that offer sales commissions to their employees.
You'll find tons of great basic features in the free version of the software, including inventory management, supplier catalog, sales tax setup, and barcode scanning.
With the free plan, you can set default commission percentages for the products that your employees will be selling, as well as calculate sales commissions and track sales activity to provide employees with incentives.
You often won't find these reporting features in free software, which is why we were surprised to find it in Nextar.
Though payment processing is not included, you can integrate with a number of reputable payment processing companies, allowing you to find the best value for your business.
Unfortunately, Nextar does not allow for credit card payments through its free plan, meaning an upgrade will be necessary. However, for cash-based businesses, it has all of the functionality you could ask for.
Note that Nextar does not have an app like eHopper, and it works exclusively on Windows desktop computers.
The customer service chat support is reliable, and you can contact Nextar through chat support and email during business hours to get quick troubleshooting responses.
Features
Hardware:
Works on Windows desktops
Software:
$0 per month starting
Payment Processing:
Not included in free version
Pros
Cons
Free-cash-register.net offers one of the simplest online cash registers, suitable for multiple business types.
The best thing about this software is that you can integrate it with several hardware options, enabling you to print receipts, read barcodes, manage stock, and more.
All you need is a device that connects to the internet, whether that be a mobile device or a desktop computer. You can manage an unlimited number of products, print sales reports, and generate sales graphs.
Not only is it uncomplicated to set up, but it consistently backs up data, keeping the most important elements of your business safe.
We love the fact that this free online register supports so many types of hardware. For this reason, it is an excellent choice for restaurant businesses that require integrated display systems and receipt printers. Plus, with the large support community, you'll never feel that you lack the necessary support when using this online register.
Free-Cash-Register uses Lydia Payments for credit card transactions, passing along the $0.30 flat rate fee for each in-person transaction. While you cannot integrate with other payment processing solutions, the flat rate can be helpful for estimating monthly costs based on the volume of your transactions.
Features
Hardware:
Integrates with all Desktop and mobile devices
Software:
$0 per month starting
Payment Processing:
$0.30 flat rate payment processing through Lydia Payments
Pros
Cons
Factors To Consider
Compatibility
One of the most important aspects in finding the best online register for your business is compatibility. Select software brands in our top 5 list will only work on mobile, while other software brands will only work on desktop devices.
Depending on the versatility you need, you may need to only consider software that works on both. If you need the ease of desktop access while on location and the ability to keep an eye on your business while on the go, you'll require the portability of mobile access as well.
Internet Needs
Some register software will only deliver services if an internet connection is present. And as we all know, the internet connection cannot always be relied upon. If it unexpectedly goes out and you're unable to take transactions, that could mean losing out on sales.
We recommend prioritizing register software that has an offline mode for these instances.
POS Solutions
If you need software that can go beyond standard transaction needs, we recommend focusing on developers that also include POS features. These features and tools help businesses run more efficiently. From keeping tabs on your stock to managing your employees to setting up a website for online orders, the right POS features can do wonders for your operation, and some won't even cost you a dime.
Hardware Compatibility
Depending on the specific needs of your business, you might want to attach peripheral hardware to your register software.
Pieces of hardware worth considering include credit card readers, cash drawers, receipt printers, scales, kitchen display systems, handheld devices, and countertop terminals.
Not every software brand on our list can integrate with hardware, so if this is something you're interested in, we advise looking deeper into your preferred developer's capabilities to see what their hardware compatibility looks like.
The Bottom Line
There's no need to pay for a stationary cash register when you can get all the functionality of a hardware register online without paying a cent. While the features that come with a free online cash register are limited, most options on our top 5 list come with the ability to upgrade, providing flexibility to try any of them out before you making a final decision.
If you're interested in taking your business to the next level and paying for a POS solution with a more robust and industry-specific set of features, it's important to gather price quotes from various dealers to find the best value.
Because the process of reaching out to various dealers and distributors can be daunting, we offer a free service for consumers like you. Simply click on the button below and use the form to fill in your information. We'll take your preferences into account and supply you with price quotes from reputable POS dealers, leaving you more free time to focus on other aspects of your business. This service is completely free of charge.
Get started now!
Tyler Connaghan
Contributing Author
