WooCommerce POS is a little clunky when processing cards. It's obviously nicer to have a built-in terminal that knows the total (so you don't have to re-enter the amount) and logs all the relevant details into the order in your system (so it's easy to link credit card transactions to specific orders).

But the WooCommerce POS system is incredibly easy to set up, you don't need any extra accounts, and you can start by manually typing in credit cards immediately, meaning you don't have to get any hardware or pay for anything.

WooCommerce POS is the only 100% free option. If you like it, you'll probably want to get the credit card reader even though that is a one-off fee.

If you want a more comprehensive service, then you'll want to look into Square, which we're covering next.