📋 Table of contents
Yes, you can run your counter on free restaurant POS software. FoodChow Basic POS is free for life for basic billing and works with any ESC/POS thermal printer (58mm or 80mm). Need KOT, QR ordering and table management? That's POS Lite. Detailed reports, split billing and coupons are in POS Premium, which you can try free for 14 days.
When we started FoodChow in Surat, I kept meeting restaurant owners with the same problem. They wanted clean printed bills, but every billing company asked for a big licence fee first, then a yearly AMC, then extra money for every new feature.
A small café doing 80 bills a day doesn't need a ₹40,000 system on day one. It needs software that prints a bill in two seconds, and a reliable printer. That's what this guide is about: free restaurant POS software plus a thermal printer, and when it's worth upgrading.
Special offerStart billing on FoodChow today
- Basic billing, free for life
- Print bills on any ESC/POS printer
- Upgrade to Lite or Premium anytime
- Try Premium free for 14 days
1What is free restaurant POS software?
A restaurant POS (point of sale) is the system you use at the counter to punch orders, create bills, collect payment and record each sale. Free restaurant POS software lets you do the core job, billing, without a monthly or yearly licence fee.
But "free" means different things on different products. Before you sign up anywhere, check three things:
- Is it free for life, or just a trial? Many "free" POS apps stop working after 14 or 30 days.
- Does it print? Some free apps only show bills on screen. You need thermal printer support.
- What exactly is locked? Know which features need a paid plan, so you're not surprised later.
I'll answer all three for FoodChow below, honestly.
2What's free in FoodChow POS (and what isn't)
Here's exactly how FoodChow's POS plans are split. The Basic plan is free for life. Lite and Premium are paid, and you can upgrade whenever your restaurant needs more.
Basic POS
- Basic billing at the counter
- Print bills on your thermal printer
- Add your menu items and prices
- KOT & table management
- Detailed reports
POS Lite
- Everything in Basic
- KOT printing for the kitchen
- QR ordering
- Table management
- Detailed reports
POS Premium
- Everything in Lite
- Detailed reports
- Split billing
- Auto-accept online orders
- Coupons
Lite and Premium prices are FoodChow Store bundles: a Shreyans 58mm thermal printer plus one full year of POS. With an 80mm printer: Lite ₹6,999, Premium ₹10,499 (see section 6). Premium has a 14-day free trial.
Founder's note: Reports are a Premium feature, not part of the free plan. I'd rather tell you that here than have you find out after setup. If daily sales reports matter to you, start the 14-day Premium trial on day one.
Shreyans 58mm + FoodChow POS Lite: ₹4,999
Auto-cutter printer, USB + Bluetooth, ESC/POS, with billing, QR ordering and table management for a full year.
3How a thermal printer works with restaurant POS
A thermal printer uses heat instead of ink. The paper roll has a heat-sensitive coating, and the print head darkens it where text should appear. For a restaurant that means:
- No ink or toner. Your only running cost is paper rolls.
- Fast. A bill prints in a second or two, even during the lunch rush.
- Compact and quiet. It fits on any counter or kitchen shelf.
The one spec that matters most is ESC/POS compatibility. ESC/POS is the printer command language created by Epson that almost all POS software uses (more on ESC/P and ESC/POS). If the printer supports it, it will work with FoodChow.
Which connection should you choose?
| Connection | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| USB | One billing counter with a PC or laptop | Most stable. Plug in and print. |
| Bluetooth | Billing from a tablet or phone, food trucks | No cables. Keep the device within a few metres. |
| LAN (Ethernet) | Kitchen KOT printer | Several billing devices can print to one kitchen printer. |
| Wi-Fi | Flexible layouts | Works well only with a stable router. |
For a full breakdown of kitchen setups, read our guide on KOT printers: Ethernet vs Wi-Fi vs Bluetooth.
458mm vs 80mm thermal printer: which one to buy?
| 58mm (2-inch) | 80mm (3-inch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Tea stalls, QSR counters, food trucks, sweet shops | Dine-in restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens |
| Bill readability | Fine for short bills | Clearer for long bills with a tax breakup |
| Kitchen KOT | Works for small kitchens | Better: bigger text, easier for the chef to read |
| Paper roll cost | Lower | Slightly higher |
My recommendation: if you run table service or print KOTs, buy an 80mm printer with an auto-cutter. If you run a small counter with short bills, a 58mm USB + Bluetooth printer is enough. Want model-by-model picks? See the best thermal printers for restaurants in India.
5Features checklist by plan
Use this when you compare any restaurant billing software. I've marked which FoodChow plan each feature is in.
Counter billing
Punch items and create the bill in seconds.
Free BasicThermal bill printing
58mm or 80mm, USB, Bluetooth or LAN.
Free BasicKOT printing
Send orders straight to the kitchen printer.
POS LiteQR ordering
Guests scan, order, and it lands on your POS.
POS LiteTable management
See running tables at a glance.
POS LiteDetailed reports
Sales, top items and trends for better decisions.
POS PremiumSplit billing
Split one table's bill between guests.
POS PremiumCoupons & online orders
Run coupons and auto-accept online orders.
POS PremiumIf you also want website, QR and WhatsApp orders to land in the same place as your bills, I’ve explained how to unify your POS, online ordering and reservations step by step.
6Real setup cost in India (2026)
With the free Basic plan, your only cost is the printer. If you want Lite or Premium too, a FoodChow Store bundle includes a full year of POS with the printer. Current prices:
| What you get | Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| FoodChow Basic POS (software only) | 0, free for life |
| FoodChow 3-inch billing printer (USB + Bluetooth) | 4,499 |
| FoodChow 80mm & 58mm printer (LAN + auto-cutter) | 4,999 |
| Shreyans 58mm printer + FoodChow POS Lite (1 year) | 4,999 |
| Shreyans 80mm printer + FoodChow POS Lite (1 year) | 6,999 |
| Shreyans 58mm printer + FoodChow POS Premium (1 year) | 8,999 |
| Shreyans 80mm printer + FoodChow POS Premium (1 year) | 10,499 |
Every FoodChow Store order comes with a GST invoice (HSN 84433290) so you can claim input tax credit, plus a 1-year printer warranty. You can verify GST rules on the official GST portal. Not sure whether to buy from FoodChow Store or a marketplace? Here's our honest FoodChow Store vs Amazon comparison.
FoodChow 80mm & 58mm Printer: ₹4,999
USB + LAN with auto-cutter. Use it for bills at the counter or KOTs in the kitchen.
Once billing is sorted, the next big saving for most restaurants is commission. Here’s how to capture direct orders without paying 30% commission.
7Outside India: UAE, UK, USA and more
FoodChow isn't India-only. Restaurants in the UAE, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Malaysia use the same platform.
- Same free start: begin on Basic POS and use any ESC/POS thermal printer you buy locally.
- Simple upgrade pricing: POS Lite is $9.99/month and Premium $29.99/month on the App Store.
- Proven abroad: Rahaf Cafeteria (UAE) has taken 17,836 orders with FoodChow online ordering and POS, and Cafe Jeliro Sengoti (Malaysia) has received 31,011 direct orders.
See more on the FoodChow case studies page.
Running a restaurant in the US? Our guide to a free online ordering system for US restaurants covers pricing in dollars and how direct ordering compares with DoorDash.
8How to set up free POS with a thermal printer
- Sign up free on FoodChow and pick the Basic POS plan.
- Add your menu: items, prices and categories.
- Connect your thermal printer by USB, Bluetooth or LAN. Install the driver if your device asks for one.
- Select the printer in POS settings and set the paper width (58mm or 80mm).
- Print a test bill and check your restaurant name, address and totals.
- Go live. Upgrade to Lite for KOT and QR ordering, or try Premium for reports, when you need them.
Bought a bundle from FoodChow Store? You also get a free onboarding call, staff training, WhatsApp support and video tutorials.
Why restaurants start with FoodChow
- ✓ Basic POS free for life, not a 14-day trap
- ✓ Works with any ESC/POS thermal printer
- ✓ Upgrade only when a feature earns its cost
- ✓ Zero commission on your orders
- ✓ GST invoice and 1-year warranty on printers
- ✓ Built in Surat, live in 15+ countries
When the counter is running smoothly, owners always ask me the same thing next: “How do I get more people through the door?” Start with these 15 free ways to get customers for your restaurant.
9Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a non-ESC/POS printer to save a few hundred rupees. It may not work with any POS.
- Cheap paper rolls. Prints fade fast and can wear out the print head.
- One printer for bills and KOT in a busy kitchen. It slows service. Add a second printer for the kitchen.
- Assuming "free" includes everything. Check which features are paid. On FoodChow, reports are Premium.
- Choosing a free trial by mistake. Make sure the plan is free for life.
Need a printer too?
- Printer + 1-year POS from ₹4,999
- GST invoice & 1-year warranty
- Free onboarding call
?Frequently asked questions
QIs there a free restaurant POS software in India?
QDoes the free FoodChow POS include sales reports?
QWhich thermal printer works with free restaurant POS software?
QHow much does a restaurant POS with thermal printer cost in India?
QCan restaurants outside India use FoodChow POS?
Final word
You don't need an expensive system to bill professionally. Start with free restaurant POS software and a reliable thermal printer. Move to Lite when your kitchen needs KOTs, and to Premium when you want reports. Pay only for what earns its keep.
🆓 Just need billing?
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Basic POS is free for life. Connect your thermal printer and you’re live in a day.
Article by
Jigar Doriwala
Founder & CEO, FoodChow
Founder of FoodChow, a commission-free restaurant technology platform live in 15+ countries. With 14+ years in SaaS and digital strategy, Jigar has bootstrapped FoodChow for 8+ years and helps restaurant owners grow direct orders, billing and marketing. Instagram