Oliver POS vs WC POS

Oliver POS vs WC POS (WCPOS)

Production-grade WooCommerce POS vs the open-source alternative.

See Oliver POSPricing

The short version

WC POS is an open-source WooCommerce POS plugin. It's free, which is the main pitch, and it covers basic register functionality. If you have one cashier, one outlet, and modest needs, it can work. Oliver POS is the alternative for merchants who need multi-outlet, integrated payments, hardware support, mobile apps, supervisor PINs, staff management, and a back office Hub — features WC POS doesn't have because it's a single-developer project.

Best for

Hobby shops, single-cashier setups, or developers who want to fork their own POS.

Worst for

Anyone running real volume, multiple outlets, or staffed retail.

Pricing

WC POS is free. Oliver starts at $49/year and includes everything most retailers need.

Side-by-side

FeatureOliver POSWC POS
WooCommerce-nativeYes.Yes — also built on WooCommerce.
Maintained team30+ engineers, customer success, 24/7 on-call.Open-source project; updates as the maintainer has time.
Mobile appsiOS, Android, browser.Browser; React Native app in development.
Multi-outletBuilt-in; included from Pro plan.Not natively supported.
Integrated paymentsOliver Pay, Stripe, Moneris, Vendara, Sensi Pay, Clover.Limited — depends on additional plugins.
Hardware supportReceipt printers, scanners, drawers, card readers — all tested.Limited; community-supported.
Self-checkout / kioskYes — $49 add-on.No.

Frequently asked questions

Should I just use WC POS since it's free?
If your needs are simple — one cashier, one outlet, browser-only, you accept payments through WooCommerce Checkout — WC POS might be enough. As soon as you need any of: mobile app, integrated payments at the register, multi-outlet, staff roles, supervisor approval, or self-checkout — Oliver is the move.
Can I migrate from WC POS to Oliver?
Yes. WC POS doesn't lock you into anything (it's a thin WooCommerce plugin), so migration is just: deactivate WC POS, install Oliver POS, configure your register. Your WooCommerce products, customers, and orders are untouched.

Other comparisons

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vs Shopify POS

WooCommerce ownership vs Shopify's subscription model.

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vs Lightspeed

WooCommerce + Oliver vs Lightspeed's all-in-one suite.

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Ready to try Oliver POS?

Book a 30-minute demo and we'll set up Oliver against your WooCommerce store so you can see it run on real data.

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