Top 5 Open Source POS Systems in 2025: Zero License Cost, High Performance
Sri Lankan retailers and restaurant owners no longer need to pay lakhs for proprietary POS software. Here are the best fully open-source, actively maintained, easy-to-use POS systems that cost LKR 0 in licensing fees and are backed by huge global communities.
1. Odoo POS (Community Edition)
- Features: Offline mode, loyalty, multi-store, inventory sync, accounting integration
- Community: 25,000+ GitHub stars
- Best for: Supermarkets, fashion stores, multi-branch setups
- Official site: https://www.odoo.com
2. uniCenta oPOS
- Features: Kitchen display, table management, employee clock-in, multi-currency
- Community: Used in 100+ countries since 2010
- Best for: Restaurants, cafés, bars
- Official site: https://unicenta.com
3. Open Source Point of Sale (OSPOS)
- Features: Gift cards, customer tracking, barcode label printing, works on Raspberry Pi
- Community: Active Discord & forum
- Best for: Small grocery, pharmacy, mobile shops
- Official site: https://www.opensourcepos.org
4. Floreant POS
- Features: Table layout, kitchen printer routing, offline-first design
- Community: 15+ years of continuous updates
- Best for: Pure restaurant & fast-food
- Official site: https://www.floreant.org
5. ERPNext POS
- Features: Full ERP backend, manufacturing links, multi-payment gateways
- Community: 15,000+ GitHub stars
- Best for: Businesses planning to scale
- Official site: https://erpnext.com
Realistic Hardware Cost in Sri Lanka (November 2025 prices)
| Item | Approx. Price (LKR) | Notes / Recommended Brands |
|---|---|---|
| POS Terminal (All-in-One Touch) | 95,000 – 145,000 | 15″ capacitive, Intel N100/J4125 |
| Refurbished PC / Mini PC | 45,000 – 75,000 | i5 8th-gen + 8GB RAM + SSD |
| Barcode Scanner | 8,500 – 18,000 | Honeywell 1470g / Zebra DS2208 |
| 80mm Thermal Receipt Printer | 28,000 – 45,000 | Epson TM-T82III / Xprinter XP-365B |
| Cash Drawer | 18,000 – 28,000 | Heavy-duty 5-note + 8-coin |
| Customer Display (VFD/LED) | 12,000 – 25,000 | 2-line VFD or 7″ secondary screen |
| Barcode Label Printer | 45,000 – 85,000 | Zebra GK420t / Godex G500 |
| UPS 650VA | 18,000 – 25,000 | Essential during power cuts |
| Keyboard + Mouse | 3,500 – 8,000 | Spill-proof for retail |
Total starter setup cost (new hardware): LKR 220,000 – 350,000
Total using quality refurbished PC + new peripherals: LKR 150,000 – 220,000
Why Open Source Wins in 2025
- Zero recurring license fees (save LKR 50,000–300,000/year)
- Full ownership of data and customizations
- Works 100% offline – critical in Sri Lanka
- Community fixes bugs faster than most paid vendors
Ready to install one of these powerful open-source POS systems?
Get Professional Installation, Setup, Staff Training & Ongoing Support
We handle everything – hardware supply, software setup, training, and 24/7 remote support across Sri Lanka.
Pick Odoo or ERPNext for future-proof growth. Choose OSPOS or uniCenta for instant plug-and-play.
Start testing today – every single one has a free live demo. Your next POS upgrade can cost less than one month of a paid cloud plan.
Read more ICT solutions at PCWORLD Online Magazine:
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