"How much is a pharmacy POS?" is one of the first questions a chemist owner asks, and the answers vary wildly: from a few hundred shillings a month to well over a hundred thousand for a machine and licence. Here is how to compare prices properly.
Two ways to pay for a pharmacy POS
1. Buy a machine and a licence. You pay a large amount upfront for a POS terminal or computer with software installed. Updates, support and extra users often cost more later, and if the machine breaks, so does your system.
2. Pay monthly for software you use on your own devices. You pay a small monthly fee and use the phone, tablet or laptop you already have. Updates are included and your records are kept safe online, so a broken phone doesn't lose your sales.
For most chemists in Kenya, the monthly option is cheaper in the first two years and far easier to start with.
What drives the price
- Number of users: the owner alone, or the owner plus cashiers and a pharmacist.
- Number of branches: one counter, or several chemists under one owner.
- Extras: SMS receipts and reminders, customer follow-ups, detailed reports and AI insights.
Hidden costs to ask about before you pay
- Set-up fees: is there a one-off charge to start?
- Hardware: do you have to buy their terminal, or can you use your own phone?
- Per-user fees: does each extra cashier cost more?
- Support: is help by phone or WhatsApp included?
- Leaving: can you export your products, customers and sales if you move?
What you should get, whatever the price
A pharmacy POS that is cheap but doesn't track batches and expiry will cost you more in expired stock than you save on the subscription. At minimum, expect:
- batch numbers and expiry dates, earliest-expiry first,
- M-Pesa, cash, card and credit on one sale,
- prescription-only flags and generic names,
- stock takes, reorder suggestions and daily profit.
Afritelligence pricing for chemists
Afritelligence starts at KES 700 a month with the small enterprise package: the till, stock with batches and expiry, customers and who owes you, expenses and daily profit, for the owner. Busier chemists move up for SMS receipts and reminders, more staff, full reports and more branches. You pay with M-Pesa or card, monthly or yearly with a discount, and there is no machine to buy. see the prices, or read about our pharmacy POS system in Kenya.
Monthly versus one-off: a two-year comparison
Suppose a chemist compares a one-off system with a monthly subscription. The one-off system needs a terminal, a printer and a licence on day one, and often a yearly support fee after that. A monthly system on the owner's existing phone spreads the cost: after two years at KES 700 a month the total is KES 16,800, with updates and online backup included and nothing to replace if a device fails. Paying yearly brings the monthly cost down further.
What a cheap POS can cost you
The real price of a POS is its subscription plus what it fails to save you. A system without expiry tracking can cost a chemist thousands of shillings a month in expired stock. A system without proper cash-up lets shortages go unnoticed. Compare what each option protects, not just what it charges.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial?
Yes. You can sign up and try Afritelligence free before you pay.
Can I pay with M-Pesa?
Yes. Subscriptions are paid with M-Pesa or card.
Is there a discount for paying a year at once?
Yes. Paying for 3, 6 or 12 months at once gives a discount, up to 20% for a year.
Do I need to buy a printer or scanner?
No. They are optional. Receipts can be shared as a link, and you can add a Bluetooth printer or barcode scanner later.
What happens if I open a second branch?
Move up to a package with more branches; one payment covers all the branches the package includes.
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POS with M-Pesa, stock, suppliers, credit and intelligent Insights — on the phone or computer you already have.
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