F&BosThe open-source restaurant POS options worth considering in India are Odoo Community (mature, with Indian GST) and ERPNext with the URY restaurant app (India-built, still maturing). Floreant POS and uniCenta oPOS are free desktop POS systems without documented GST support. Open source makes sense if you have reliable technical help; otherwise hosting, setup, GST checks, updates and support usually cost more than a hosted restaurant POS.
"Open source" means the source code is published under a licence that lets you use, study and change it. It's different from a free plan or a free trial; see our guide to free restaurant POS software for those. For how a POS works in general, see our restaurant POS system guide.
Open-source restaurant POS options compared
| Project | Licence | Runs on | Restaurant features | Indian GST | Activity (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odoo Community | LGPL-3 | Web (browser on PC, tablet, Android) | Floors and tables, split bills, courses, kitchen printers, QR ordering; kitchen display and Swiggy/Zomato are Enterprise-only | Built in (India GST POS module) | Very active; about 55,000 GitHub stars |
| ERPNext + URY | GPL-3.0 (ERPNext), AGPL-3.0 (URY) | Web | URY adds tables, captain ordering, KOT and kitchen display, split bills, recipes | Via the separate India Compliance app; online GST features need a paid account | Active; URY's latest release is a beta |
| Floreant POS | Mozilla-based licence | Java desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) | Tables, split checks, kitchen printers and display, delivery; inventory and floor plan are paid plugins | Not documented | Updated May 2026 (2.0.1 beta) |
| uniCenta oPOS | GPL-3.0 | Java desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) | Restaurant sales screen, kitchen display, multiple printers | Not documented | Free release lags the paid version |
Odoo Community
The most mature option: a full open-source business suite with a capable restaurant POS (floor plans, split bills, courses, kitchen printers and QR ordering) and an Indian GST point-of-sale module. The kitchen display and the Swiggy/Zomato connector are only in the paid Enterprise edition. Read our full Odoo POS review for Indian restaurants.
ERPNext with URY
URY is an open-source restaurant system built in India on top of ERPNext. It adds tables, captain ordering, KOT printing, a kitchen display, split bills and recipes. It's actively developed, but its latest release is a beta, and its README warns that backward compatibility isn't guaranteed until a stable release. GST comes from ERPNext's separate India Compliance app, whose online features need a paid account.
Floreant POS and uniCenta oPOS
Both are Java desktop POS systems that run locally without internet. Floreant is built for restaurants, but sells inventory and floor plan features as paid plugins. uniCenta releases its free version two versions behind its paid one. Neither documents Indian GST billing, so you'd need to configure and test bills carefully.
What we left out
- Open Source Point of Sale is active but built mainly for retail, without kitchen tickets.
- SambaPOS was open source only in version 3; current versions aren't.
- Chromis POS hasn't had a release in years.
- Laravel, PHP and other small GitHub projects: most have few users and haven't been updated in years. Fine to learn from, risky to run a restaurant on.
The real cost of "free"
The licence costs nothing. Running a POS your restaurant depends on every service doesn't:
| Cost | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Hosting | A server or cloud machine, with HTTPS, kept running all day. |
| Setup | Installing, configuring menus, taxes, printers and users; usually a developer or partner. |
| GST compliance | Checking that bills, returns and e-invoices meet Indian rules, and fixing them if not. |
| Updates and security | Applying updates, managing passwords and access, and protecting an internet-facing system. |
| Backups | Regular off-server backups, and testing that they restore. |
| Support | Community forums, or paid support or partners when something breaks mid-service. |
| Paid add-ons | Enterprise editions, plugins or extra apps for features the free version lacks. |
Security alone is a real job. Odoo's own deployment guide asks self-hosters to run HTTPS behind a reverse proxy, protect the master password, guard against brute-force logins and keep off-server backups, and says "It is strongly recommended to disable the Database Manager for any internet-facing system." To compare totals properly, use our restaurant POS cost guide.
Licences in plain language
- GPL and AGPL: you can use the software in your restaurant freely. If you modify it and give it to others, or for AGPL offer a modified version over a network, you must share your changes under the same licence.
- LGPL: similar, but more flexible about combining it with other software.
- Mozilla-style licences: changes to the licensed files must be shared; other files can stay private.
This is a simplification; have a lawyer review the licence if you plan to sell or redistribute a modified version.
When open source makes sense, and when it doesn't
Consider it if
- You have a developer or a reliable implementation partner.
- You want deep customisation or one ERP across restaurants, retail and production.
- You must keep all data on your own servers.
Think twice if
- You run one or two outlets and want a POS working this week.
- No one on your team can manage servers, updates and backups.
- You need GST-compliant bills, kitchen tickets and support from day one.
Before you choose any open-source POS
- Check the repository's recent commits and releases, and whether the latest release is stable.
- Print a sample GST bill and check it against our GST restaurant bill format.
- Test offline billing, kitchen printing and split bills on your hardware.
- Decide who will host, update, back up and support it, and what that costs.
- Price any paid editions, plugins or add-ons you'll need.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an open-source restaurant POS for India?
Yes. The most mature are Odoo Community, which includes a restaurant POS and Indian GST support, and ERPNext with the India-built URY restaurant app. Floreant POS and uniCenta oPOS are free desktop POS systems, but they don't document Indian GST billing.
Is open-source POS really free?
The software licence is free, but running it isn't. You'll pay for hosting, setup, GST customisation, updates, security, backups and support, either in money or your own time. Some key features also sit in paid editions or add-ons.
Can I download a restaurant POS from GitHub and use it?
You can, but check how active the project is, its licence, whether it supports Indian GST bills, and who will support it. Many small restaurant POS projects on GitHub haven't been updated in years and aren't ready for daily use in a busy restaurant.
What does the AGPL or GPL licence mean for a restaurant?
Using GPL or AGPL software in your restaurant is free. The conditions mainly apply if you modify and distribute it, or, for AGPL, offer a modified version to others over a network; then you must share your changes under the same licence.
When does an open-source POS make sense?
When you have reliable technical help, want deep customisation or an ERP across several businesses, or need to keep all data on your own servers. For a single outlet that wants a POS working in a day, a hosted restaurant POS is usually simpler and cheaper overall.
Related POS guides
Odoo POS for restaurants
Honest review for Indian owners.
Read the guide → BUYINGFree restaurant POS software in India
What's genuinely free, and what it costs later.
Read the guide → COSTRestaurant POS cost in India
Software, hardware and hidden charges over 3 years.
Read the guide →