Running a pub or bar in 2026 means juggling a lot: from managing inventory and staff schedules to keeping track of tabs and ensuring your customers have a great experience. The right POS system can make all the difference between smooth operations and nightly headaches.
We've spent time comparing three of the most popular pos systems for pubs and bars: Toast, EPOS Now, and SumUp. Each has its strengths, and the best choice for you depends on your specific needs, budget, and growth plans. Let's break down what makes each system tick.
What Should You Look for in a Pub or Bar POS System?
Before diving into the specifics, it's worth thinking about what actually matters when you're choosing an epos system for your venue.
First up, speed is crucial. During peak hours, you need to process orders and payments quickly without your staff getting bogged down in complicated menus. Tab management is another biggie: your system should make it easy to open, modify, and close tabs without confusion.
Inventory tracking is essential when you're dealing with kegs, bottles, and ingredients that need regular monitoring. You don't want to run out of your most popular lager on a Friday night. Integration with accounting software, payroll systems, and delivery platforms also saves hours of manual work each week.
Finally, reporting matters. You need clear insights into what's selling, when your busiest periods are, and how your staff are performing. The best pos system gives you this data in a format that's actually useful, not just overwhelming spreadsheets.
Toast POS: Built for High-Volume Operations
Toast has made a name for itself in the hospitality sector, particularly with restaurants and bars that handle serious volume. It's an Android-based system that's designed from the ground up for food and beverage businesses.
What We Like About Toast
Toast shines when it comes to customisation. You can set up complex menu modifiers, create happy hour pricing that automatically kicks in at specific times, and manage different service areas (bar, restaurant section, outdoor patio) from one system. The handheld devices are robust and designed to withstand the demands of a busy bar environment.
The Kitchen Display System integration is seamless, which matters if you're serving food alongside drinks. Staff can send orders directly to the kitchen without any paper tickets, reducing mistakes and speeding up service. The reporting is comprehensive too: you can track sales by hour, day, or week, see which drinks are your top performers, and monitor staff efficiency.
Toast also offers payroll and scheduling add-ons, which means fewer systems to manage overall. When everything's integrated, you're saving time on admin and reducing the chance of data entry errors.
The Downsides
Here's where it gets tricky: Toast requires proprietary hardware. You can't just use any tablet or card reader: you need to buy or lease their equipment. This can push up your initial costs significantly.
Pricing starts low (sometimes even free for basic packages), but as you add features and locations, costs can climb quickly. There are also early termination fees on some contracts, so you're committing for the long haul. For smaller, single-location pubs, the pricing structure might feel like overkill.
Best for: Multi-location bars, high-volume venues, and operators planning to scale quickly.
You can learn more about Toast in our detailed Toast EPOS for restaurants review.
EPOS Now: The Flexible All-Rounder
EPOS Now has become incredibly popular in the UK hospitality scene, and for good reason. It's a cloud-based epos now till system that's designed to be flexible enough for pubs, bars, restaurants, and even retail.
Why EPOS Now Works for Pubs
One of the biggest advantages of EPOS Now is its flexibility. You can use it on iPads or Android tablets, which means lower hardware costs if you've already got devices. The interface is intuitive: your staff can pick it up quickly without days of training.
Tab management is particularly well thought out. You can open tabs by name, table number, or even card details, and switching between tabs is smooth. The system handles split bills easily too, which anyone who's worked a busy Saturday night will appreciate.
The inventory management is solid, with low stock alerts and automatic reordering features. You can track wastage, monitor pour sizes (crucial for keeping costs down), and see exactly which products are most profitable. The reporting dashboard gives you real-time insights into sales, staff performance, and customer behaviour.
EPOS Now also integrates with major accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks, plus popular booking systems and delivery platforms. The ecosystem is extensive, which means you can build a setup that genuinely works for your specific operation.
What to Consider
EPOS Now operates on a subscription model, with pricing typically starting around £35-45 per month per terminal. Hardware costs are separate but generally reasonable. Customer support is based in the UK, which means no time zone issues when you need help.
Some users mention that advanced customisation can require support assistance rather than being entirely self-serve. However, the trade-off is that the system remains user-friendly for day-to-day operations.
Best for: Single or multi-location pubs and bars looking for flexibility, strong support, and a proven UK-based solution.
If you're seriously considering EPOS Now (and we think you should be), it's definitely worth checking out our comprehensive EPOS Now till system review for all the details on pricing, features, and how to get the best deal.
SumUp: The Budget-Friendly Option
SumUp has positioned itself as the affordable entry point into modern pos systems, and it's worth considering if you're running a smaller venue or just starting out.
The SumUp Advantage
The main draw here is cost. SumUp's pricing is transparent and lower than many competitors, with plans starting around £99 per month. There's minimal commitment, which gives you flexibility if your needs change or if you're not sure a full-scale system is right for you yet.
Setup is straightforward: you can literally be up and running in a day. The interface is clean and simple, which means training new staff is quick. For basic operations like taking payments, managing a few tabs, and running simple reports, SumUp does the job without overwhelming you with features you don't need.
The card readers are compact and reliable, and transaction fees are competitive. If you're primarily focused on taking payments and want to avoid the complexity of a full hospitality system, SumUp might fit the bill.
The Limitations
Here's where SumUp shows its budget roots: the functionality is more limited compared to Toast or EPOS Now. Inventory management is basic, reporting is less detailed, and the integration options are narrower. For a busy pub with complex needs, you might find yourself outgrowing SumUp quickly.
Tab management works, but it's not as sophisticated as what you'll find in purpose-built hospitality systems. If you're running food service alongside drinks, the menu management might feel restrictive. The system is also less customisable: what you see is largely what you get.
Best for: Small pubs, popup bars, or venues with straightforward operations and tight budgets.
Read our full SumUp POS system review for a deeper dive into what it can and can't do.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Let's put these three side by side on the factors that matter most:
Ease of Use: SumUp wins for simplicity, EPOS Now balances power with usability, Toast requires more training but offers more depth.
Features: Toast and EPOS Now are neck and neck, both offering comprehensive hospitality-specific features. SumUp trails significantly here.
Pricing: SumUp is cheapest upfront, EPOS Now offers the best value for most pub operations, Toast can become expensive as you scale.
Hardware Flexibility: EPOS Now leads with device choice, SumUp is fine with basic readers, Toast requires proprietary hardware.
Support: EPOS Now offers UK-based support, which matters when you need help during service. Toast and SumUp both provide support but with varying response times.
Scalability: Toast excels for multi-location growth, EPOS Now scales well for most operators, SumUp is best for staying small.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
If you're running a single pub or a small group and want a reliable, feature-rich system with UK-based support, EPOS Now is probably your best bet. It hits the sweet spot between functionality, cost, and ease of use. The EPOS Now till system review has more detail on getting started and what to expect from the setup process.
Toast makes sense if you're operating multiple locations or planning aggressive expansion. The investment in their ecosystem pays off when you're managing complexity at scale.
SumUp works if you're running a small operation, have a tight budget, and don't need advanced features. It's a solid entry point that you can upgrade from later.
The reality is that your pos system choice will shape your daily operations for years to come. It's worth taking time to demo each option, talk to other pub owners, and really think about where your business is heading. Most providers offer trial periods: use them to test systems during actual service before committing.
Whatever you choose, getting the right system in place now means less stress, better insights, and more time to focus on what actually matters: creating a great experience for your customers.