Cheapest POS system for Filipino small businesses

Small business owners in the Philippines have more POS options today than ever before. The hard part is figuring out what each one actually costs once you get past the signup page. This article breaks down the most popular POS systems for small businesses, what they include, and what they charge.

What is a POS system and why does it matter for small businesses?

A POS system, or point-of-sale system, is the software businesses use to process sales and collect payments. Some systems also include hardware like receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers. Beyond payments, many POS systems can track inventory, generate sales reports, and support digital payments like GCash, Maya, and QR Ph.

For small businesses in the Philippines, digital payment support matters more now than it did a few years ago. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reports that digital payments account for more than 57.4% of retail transactions by volume¹. A POS system that cannot support GCash or QR Ph may limit how some customers pay.

A POS system also helps business owners keep track of stock movement and daily sales in one place. Instead of checking notebooks or separate spreadsheets, inventory and transaction records stay updated inside the same system. Some platforms also show which products sell the most and which hours bring the highest sales volume.

Types of POS systems available in the Philippines

Different types of POS systems serve different business needs. Here are three main categories:

Mobile POS (mPOS): Runs on a smartphone or tablet. Low setup cost, easy to carry, and well-suited for sari-sari stores, food stalls, and sellers who also operate online. Peddlr and UTAK fall here.

Cloud-based POS: Stores data online so you can check your numbers from anywhere. Usually comes with a monthly subscription. StoreHub is a widely used example in the Philippines.

Traditional/legacy POS: Standalone systems that store data locally on a machine. Higher upfront cost, more maintenance. Most small businesses in the Philippines have moved away from these.

Key features to look for in a POS system for small businesses

These are the features worth checking before you sign up for any POS system for your small business.

QR Ph and e-wallet support

Many customers in the Philippines now pay through GCash, Maya, and QR Ph. POS systems that support these payment methods can handle both cash and digital transactions in one place.

Offline mode

Some POS systems continue recording transactions even without internet access and sync the data once the connection returns.

Inventory tracking

Real-time inventory tracking helps businesses monitor stock levels and reduce manual counting.

Sales reports

Daily and weekly sales reports help businesses track revenue patterns, busy hours, and product performance.

Hardware compatibility

Some POS systems support third-party receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers, while others require provider-specific hardware.

BIR compliance

Some businesses in the Philippines may need a BIR-accredited POS system. Registration and compliance costs may vary between providers.

Customer support

Support channels differ across providers and may include phone, live chat, email, or in-app support.

Comparing the best pos system for small business in the Philippines

Peddlr

Peddlr is a mobile POS app made in the Philippines and available on Android and iOS devices². It is free to download and free to use.

Key features include:

• Sales tracking and real-time inventory management³
• Peddlr works offline, without requiring internet³
• QR Ph payment support and offline transaction processing⁴
• Credit ledger for tracking customer debts with free SMS reminders³
• Load selling and bills payment services⁴
• Compatibility with receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers³

Pricing: Free. Peddlr does not charge monthly subscription fees either². The app includes load selling and bills payment services as additional features.

Best suited for: Sari-sari stores, food stalls, Shopee and Lazada sellers, and other micro-businesses that want a mobile-based POS system without upfront software costs. Its offline mode also makes it usable in areas with unstable internet connectivity.

Worth noting: Peddlr is registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as an Operator of Payment Systems³. Businesses that need BIR-compliant receipts should check accreditation details directly with Peddlr.

Maya POS

Maya is a well-known payment brand in the Philippines. The Maya Terminal is a physical POS device that accepts cards, QR Ph payments, e-wallets, and other online payment methods.

Key features include⁵:

• Maya Terminal accepts EMV chip cards, NFC cards, bank transfers, QR payments, e-wallets, etc.
• Portable terminal for in-store and table-side payments
• Digital and printed receipt support
• Wi-Fi and mobile data connectivity
• Support for invoice payments and payment links

Since the terminal is portable, it serves as a practical option for table-side payments in restaurants and mobile retail setups.

Pricing: PHP 949 per month for Maya Business account holders⁵.

Best suited for: Small retail shops, restaurants, and cafés that already use or plan to use Maya's payment ecosystem and want a compact card terminal without a large upfront hardware cost.

Worth noting: The PHP 949 fee covers the terminal subscription only. Transaction fees apply separately and vary depending on the payment method. Total monthly costs depend on transaction volume and payment mix.

UTAK POS

UTAK is a cloud-based POS system built for small and medium businesses in the Philippines⁶. It runs on tablets and includes staff and expense management tools alongside standard sales and inventory functions.

Key features include⁶:

• Real-time sales reports and analytics
• Multi-store management under one system
• Inventory tracking with low-stock alerts
• Staff attendance logging with selfie check-ins
• Offline mode with automatic syncing once reconnected
• Support for POS hardware like printers, cash drawers, scanners, and tablets

Pricing: Free trial available. Paid plans start at PHP 1,500 per month⁶.

Best suited for: Small retail and food businesses with a few staff members that need inventory tracking, attendance logging, and remote access to sales data.

Worth noting: Hardware and software are priced separately. If you already have a compatible tablet, you do not need to purchase the hardware bundle. Confirm current hardware costs with UTAK before budgeting your total setup.

StoreHub

StoreHub is a cloud-based POS platform used by businesses across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

Key features include⁷:

• QR Order and Pay for table-side ordering and payments
• Support for GCash, Maya, GrabPay, and QR Ph payments
• Kitchen Display System for managing incoming orders
• Inventory alerts for ingredient and stock tracking
• Real-time inventory management with low-stock alerts
• Marketplace integration for Shopee and other e-commerce platforms⁷
• BIR-accredited reporting⁷
• Built-in customer loyalty programs⁷
• Online store integration with synced inventory⁷
• Payment processing with support for discounts, refunds, and exchanges⁷

Pricing: StoreHub plans start at around PHP 2,249 per month for the Starter plan and go up to PHP 8,999 per month for the Pro plan. Enterprise pricing is custom-based, and a free trial is available for selected plans⁸.

Best suited for: Small and medium-sized restaurants, cafés, retail stores, and salons that want POS, inventory management, loyalty features, and marketplace integrations within one platform.

Worth noting: StoreHub is priced higher than some other POS systems in this comparison. The pricing includes features like BIR accreditation support, loyalty tools, multi-location management, and local customer support.

5. Loyverse

Loyverse is a cloud-based POS system used by small retail and F&B businesses in many countries, including the Philippines. The core POS software is free, while additional features are available through paid add-ons.

Key features include¹⁰:

• Sales analytics with revenue, profit, and sales trend tracking
• Employee management with clock-in and work hour tracking
• Customer loyalty programs and purchase history tracking
• Multi-store management from a single account
• Inventory tracking with automatic low-stock alerts
• Integration with accounting, e-commerce, online ordering, and marketing apps

Pricing¹¹: Loyverse POS, Loyverse Dashboard, Kitchen Display, and Customer Display apps are available for free. Paid add-ons start at USD 5 per month for features like unlimited sales history and employee management, while Advanced Inventory starts at USD 25 per month per store. A 14-day free trial is available for paid add-ons.

Best suited for: Small cafés, restaurants, and retail stores that want a free POS system with the option to add more features over time.

Worth noting: Loyverse has not prominently advertised BIR accreditation on its platform. Businesses that need to issue official receipts should confirm compliance status directly with Loyverse before signing up.

Challenges and hidden costs of POS systems for small businesses

A low monthly price does not always reflect the total cost of running a POS system. Some costs only appear after setup or once the business starts processing more transactions.

Transaction fees

Many POS systems charge a percentage fee on card, QR, or e-wallet payments. Even small fees can add up over time. For example, a 1% fee on PHP 50,000 in monthly sales equals PHP 6,000 per year.

Hardware costs

Some providers require businesses to buy hardware directly from them, including receipt printers, tablets, barcode scanners, and cash drawers. Costs may increase further if third-party hardware is not supported.

Paid add-ons

Features like advanced inventory management, loyalty programs, employee tracking, and multi-store access are not always included in base plans. These are often charged separately.

Annual contracts

Some POS providers require yearly subscriptions instead of monthly billing. Cancellation fees or contract lock-ins may also apply.

Setup and onboarding fees

Additional costs may include:

• Installation
• Staff training
• Device setup
• BIR registration support

These fees are not always included in the advertised monthly price.

Before choosing a POS system, many businesses compare the total cost, including software fees, transaction charges, hardware costs, and paid add-ons.

Connectivity and support gaps

Cloud-based POS systems depend on internet access. Systems without offline mode may stop processing transactions during connectivity issues.

Support quality also varies between providers. Some mainly offer email support, while others include phone or live chat support during business hours.

Currency conversion and foreign payment markups

For businesses in the Philippines that pay overseas suppliers or receive international payments, exchange rate costs can add up over time.

Many banks and payment providers apply their own exchange rate margin instead of using the mid-market rate. These costs are often built into the conversion rate rather than shown as separate fees.

Wise Business: Manage international business finances with ease

Choosing the right POS system helps solve your local checkout and inventory challenges, but if your small business deals with international suppliers, overseas software subscriptions, or global clients, you might face another hidden cost: expensive foreign exchange rates.

If you're a business in the Philippines trying to go global, you've probably hit a wall of confusing foreign exchange fees when collecting payments from international customers. Wise Business helps you cut through all that complexity—be it a local bank transfer or a wire transfer. By simplifying how you receive payments, you're free to pursue what matters—growing a local brand with global sights.

• Obtain account details to receive payments in USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD and more for a one-time fee of 1,400 PHP.
• Simply share your account details with customers or add them to invoices.
• Zero fees when you get paid via ACH, FAST, InstaPay/PESONet, & other local transfers.
• Full fee transparency when clients pay you via Wire / SWIFT.
• Hold, send, and convert money at the mid-market rate in one account.
• Accept payments from customers and payment service providers (PSPs) like Stripe and Amazon.

➡️Get started with Wise Business today

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Wise Pilipinas Inc. is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. You may visit the BSP website for more information about its regulatory framework and consumer protection policies. To reach Wise, visit help center here.

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Sources:

1. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas report
2. Peddlr pricing
3. Peddlr features
4. Peddlr QR PH
5. MAYA Terminal
6. UTAK POS
7. Storehub features
8. Storehub retail
9. Storehub pricing
10. Loyverse features
11. Loyverse pricing