Club Bar

Overview

Club Bar is an open-source point-of-sale system for sports clubs, community centers, and member organizations that run a bar or canteen. It is best suited to clubs that want member tabs and can take responsibility for hosting and equipment. The software has no subscription fee, but deployment and backup configuration are part of the job.

Key features

Members can tap an RFID or NFC card to identify themselves and view their personal tab at checkout. The terminal stores data locally, so sales can continue during an internet outage and synchronize when connectivity returns. That resilience is useful in venues with unreliable internet, although it does not remove the need to provide and maintain the terminal.

Product age limits are enforced at checkout, and the terminal can reject offline purchases based on a member’s birth date. Administrators can manage members and products, settlements, reports, a transaction journal, and audit history. Settlement exports in XML or CSV and generated SEPA direct-debit pain.008.001.08 XML support club billing workflows; queued, retried email notifications cover pre-notifications, cancellations, tab statements, and security alerts.

Security measures include mandatory TOTP two-factor authentication for administrators, role-based authorization, encrypted IBANs, audit logging, and terminal anomaly detection. Member administration includes GDPR data export and anonymization workflows. An optional ESP8266 controller can operate an Azkoyen Hopper token dispenser over local WiFi through HTTP REST, without a cloud dependency. These are substantial controls for a volunteer-run bar, but the club still needs someone able to configure and maintain the system.

Pricing

The Self-hosted plan costs nothing, with no subscriptions. The club supplies the hosting and hardware, so the zero price does not mean zero operational responsibility. This is the clear fit for organizations with suitable infrastructure and people to manage it; clubs seeking a vendor-run service should look elsewhere.

Platforms

Club Bar supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted deployment, and web access. Its checkout terminal is a Flutter desktop application aimed at embedded Linux, with installation guidance for Raspberry Pi OS on Raspberry Pi 4 or 5. Self-hosting requires PHP 8.3 or later, MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.5+, and Apache mod_rewrite. The Apache-2.0 license makes the project open source, but clubs should be prepared to meet those deployment requirements.

Backup setup deserves particular attention: backups are encrypted in a sealed-box format, and a recipient key must be configured. Without that key, the system writes no backup. That is a consequential setup condition for any club relying on the system to retain transaction and member data.

Who it's for

Club Bar is aimed at member organizations operating their own bar or canteen, especially those that need card-based member tabs, offline checkout, age checks, and settlement exports. It is less suitable for a club that wants hosting, hardware, and backup administration handled for it.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Offline checkout with later synchronization helps keep sales moving through internet interruptions.
• Pros: Member tabs, age checks, SEPA generation, and settlement exports address practical needs of club-run bars.
• Pros: TOTP, role controls, encrypted IBANs, audit logging, and privacy workflows provide meaningful administrative safeguards.
• Cons: The club must provide hosting and hardware, and deployment depends on specific PHP, database, and Apache requirements.
• Cons: Backups do not run unless a recipient key is configured, making backup configuration an essential implementation step.

Alternatives

GymPoint is a better fit for organizations seeking a broader club platform: its free plan includes members, billing, scheduling, POS, kiosk, and portal, with unlimited members, and it supports Android and iOS as well as web and API.

OpenEOS is worth considering for event-oriented organizations: its free self-hosted plan includes all features and unlimited events, while its SaaS plan is €25, paid once.

Bepoz Club POS is another club POS option for organizations considering a paid product across Android, iOS, and Windows.

clubcloud may suit clubs seeking a paid system with core modules and pricing tailored to club volume, programming mix, and growth plans.

Echino.Access is a paid web-based alternative for clubs that want a demo-led offer and premium support terms.

EPOS Solutions Gym POS is a paid web option with pricing that varies by business size and goals.

Owners Inventory Gym POS is a web-based alternative with a free plan and paid tiers, including a Basic plan at $25 a month for one store and one POS terminal.

Clubspeed is a paid option for organizations seeking a broader POS and booking package, with its Core annual plan at $319 a year including ClubDirector, ClubBooking, e-gift cards, integrated payments, and business-hours support.

Browse more options in Gym POS Software.

Verdict

Choose Club Bar if your organization runs its own bar or canteen, needs member tabs and offline checkout, and has the technical capacity to host and maintain the system. Its strongest case is the combination of club-specific checkout and settlement workflows with a free, open-source deployment. Look elsewhere if you want a managed service or do not have someone who can meet the hosting and backup requirements.