Blog / October 18, 2026
Free restaurant POSIs a free restaurant POS really free? What you'll actually pay
Short answer: no restaurant POS is free to run. "Free" almost always means the software has no monthly fee. You still pay for card processing on every sale, plus hardware, and sometimes add-ons or contract terms. The honest way to compare is your total monthly cost at your own sales volume.
Square rates from Square's restaurant pricing page, read October 18, 2026. Ser.vi rates from our pricing page.
That includes us
Ser.vi's POS and online ordering software are free, with no subscription. On POS orders the restaurant pays 3.0% + 20¢ per transaction by default, and you can pass that to customers with a cash discount program. On online orders the guest pays 5% at checkout and you pay no commission. Hardware is separate.
Where "free" POS companies make their money
Every POS company has a business model. With free software, it's usually one or more of these:
- Card processing. The biggest line for almost every restaurant. A small difference in rate adds up fast, because it applies to every card sale.
- Hardware. Terminals, handhelds, printers, and cash drawers, bought up front or paid over time.
- Paid add-ons. Features like kitchen display or kiosk software that cost extra per device or need a paid plan.
- Online ordering fees. A processing rate you pay on online orders, a commission, or a fee charged to the guest.
- Contract terms. Some "free" plans tie you to a term or to the vendor's own hardware.
The checklist: what to ask about any "free" restaurant POS
- What's the processing rate on in-person card sales, and who pays it?
- Can I pass the processing cost to customers with a cash discount program?
- What does online ordering cost, and who pays it, me or the guest?
- What hardware do I need, what does it cost, and can I pay over time?
- Which features I need are not on the free plan?
- Is there a contract, a term, or a cancellation fee?
- How long does setup take, and is there a setup fee?
Worked example: one month at a sample restaurant
Example numbers for illustration, not a quote. A restaurant with $20,000 a month in in-person card sales at a $30 average check runs about 667 card transactions.
| Ser.vi POS | Square Free (in-person) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software fee | $0 | $0 |
| Processing rate | 3.0% + 20¢ | 2.6% + 15¢ |
| Processing on $20,000 | about $733 | about $620 |
| Who pays it | Restaurant by default, or pass it to customers with a cash discount program | Restaurant |
| Kitchen display / kiosk software | Ask on a demo | Not available on Square Free |
Square: squareup.com restaurant POS pricing, read October 18, 2026. Ser.vi: get.ser.vi/pricing/. Prices change, so check each vendor before you decide.
What the example tells you
If you keep the default, our POS rate on this example is higher than Square Free's in-person rate. The difference is what happens next: most of our POS restaurants use a cash discount program, which moves that cost off the restaurant.
Online ordering is where the gap flips. Take $6,000 a month in online orders at $30 each (200 orders):
- On Square Free, online card payments are 3.3% + 30¢, about $258 a month paid by the restaurant.
- On Ser.vi, online ordering costs the restaurant $0. The guest pays 5% at checkout ($1.50 on a $30 order), and you keep the order total.
Volume discounts are available on our POS; ask on a demo what applies at your volume.
What's included with Ser.vi's free software
- POS for counter, table tabs, and bar tabs, with split payments up to 8 ways, comps and voids, and staff PIN logins (Integrated POS)
- Tableside payments and gift cards
- Online ordering at 0% commission on one shared menu with the POS
- QR self-service ordering at the table
- Card processing on Ser.vi's merchant account
- No setup fee, no contract on POS and ordering software, and a 1-week setup guarantee once we have everything we need
What's not free: hardware (on terms, ask about payment options) and optional marketing plans from $249/mo.
When a free POS is the right call
Likely a good fit
Ask first
Questions restaurants ask
- Is Ser.vi's POS free?
- The software is free, with no subscription. On POS orders the restaurant pays 3.0% + 20¢ per transaction by default, and can pass it to customers with a cash discount program. Hardware is separate.
- Is the hardware free?
- No. Hardware is charged separately, on terms. We'll go over options on a demo.
- Who pays the online ordering fee?
- The guest pays 5% at checkout. The restaurant pays no commission and keeps the order total.
- Are volume discounts available?
- Our pricing page lists volume discounts on POS. Ask on a demo what applies at your sales volume.
- Is there a contract?
- Not on online ordering or POS software. Hardware is separate.
- Can I use my own card processor?
- Yes. Our rates include processing on our merchant account. If you prefer your own processor, we quote your platform rate separately.
- How fast can I start?
- We guarantee a 1-week setup from the time we receive all required information.
See your real monthly cost
Bring your monthly card sales and average check to a free 20-minute demo and we'll show you what you'd pay, line by line.
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