Free restaurant POS software: what a free plan should actually include

Free restaurant POS software is worth using only if it handles a real service, not just a demo screen. A small restaurant needs to take an order, get it to the kitchen, keep it on the right table’s bill and record how the guest paid. If a free plan skips any of those steps, staff end up filling the gap with paper, and the software stops saving time.

The minimum a free POS should cover

• Staff can enter counter, table and takeaway orders from one menu.
• Guests can order from a table QR code into the same bill.
• Orders reach a kitchen screen without being typed twice.
• The bill adds up items with your configured tax and service settings.
• Staff can record a payment and close the table.

GiveMyMenu’s Free plan includes all five. It has no expiry date and does not ask for a card. At the time of writing it covers one location, up to 10 tables or rooms, and up to 2 staff accounts including the owner. It also includes kitchen and receipt print views, payment recording and staff roles. Check the pricing page for the current limits before you plan around them.

Where free plans usually draw the line

Most free POS plans limit size rather than the core order flow. Expect limits on locations, tables, staff accounts or features that matter more as you grow. On GiveMyMenu, table and room PIN protection, inventory, restaurant branding, detailed reports and guest reviews start on Starter. A free plan that hides the kitchen display or charges a commission on every order is a different kind of offer. Read the terms for both.

Test it with one real table before you switch

1. Add five or six real dishes with prices and one item you can mark sold out.
2. Create one table and print its QR code.
3. Place one order from the POS and one from a phone at that table.
4. Check both orders on the kitchen display and on the same bill.
5. Record a cash payment and close the table.

If the whole loop works, add the rest of the menu. If a step needs a workaround, find out before your busiest night, not during it.

What “free” does not cover

Software cost is only part of the setup. Budget for a tablet or computer at the counter, a screen in the kitchen, a printer if you want paper tickets, and a reliable connection. GiveMyMenu needs a working connection and does not sync orders taken offline. It records cash and external card-terminal payments. It does not process guest card payments or charge guests itself.

When to move off the free plan

Upgrade when a limit costs you more than the plan does. Common reasons are a second location, more than 10 tables, a larger team, or wanting PIN protection so a photographed QR code cannot place orders. New accounts also get a trial of Pro features when they add their first venue. At launch that trial is 90 days, which gives you time to see which paid features you actually use.