Running a retail shop in 2026 means you've got more choice than ever when it comes to POS systems. But here's the thing, choosing between SumUp, EPOS Now, and Shopify POS can feel like comparing apples to oranges (and maybe a mango thrown in for good measure).
Whether you're running a cosy boutique on the high street, a growing fashion retailer with dreams of online expansion, or a speciality grocery shop serving your local community, picking the right retail POS system can make or break your daily operations. Get it right, and you'll streamline checkouts, manage inventory like a pro, and keep customers happy. Get it wrong, and you're stuck with a clunky system that costs you time and money.
So let's cut through the noise and compare these three popular options head-to-head, looking at pricing, features, and which one actually makes sense for your UK retail business.
The Quick Overview: What Makes Each System Different?
Before we dive deep, here's the headline news on each contender.
SumUp is the budget-friendly card reader that's brilliant for market stalls, pop-ups, and mobile retailers. It's simple, affordable, and doesn't require monthly subscriptions. But it's not really built for permanent retail locations with complex needs.
EPOS Now is a proper, full-featured retail POS system designed specifically for independent UK retailers. It's got everything from advanced inventory management to multi-till support, and it's backed by solid customer service. If you're serious about running a brick-and-mortar shop, this is worth a proper look.
Shopify POS is the natural choice if you're already selling online or planning to. It seamlessly connects your in-store and online inventory, making it perfect for multi-channel retailers who want one unified system.
SumUp POS: The Budget Option for Mobile Retailers
Let's start with SumUp, which has become incredibly popular with small UK traders over the past few years. The appeal is obvious, there's no monthly fee, you just pay per transaction. You buy the card reader upfront (usually around £29-£99 depending on the model), and you're good to go.
The card processing fees are where SumUp makes its money, you'll pay around 1.69% per transaction, which is higher than what you'd get with a subscription-based system as your sales volume grows. For a market stall doing £500 a week, that's manageable. For a busy retail shop doing £5,000+ weekly? Those percentages add up fast.
SumUp's inventory management is pretty basic. You can create a simple item list with prices, but don't expect advanced features like automated reordering, variant tracking (sizes, colours), or detailed analytics. It's fine for tracking a dozen products, less so for managing a proper retail catalogue.
Best for: Market traders, food trucks, mobile beauticians, occasional sellers
Not ideal for: Permanent retail shops with complex inventory, multi-location retailers, anyone planning to scale
If you want more details on how SumUp stacks up, check out our full SumUp POS system review.
EPOS Now: The Serious Retail POS for Independent UK Shops
Now we're talking about a proper retail POS system. EPOS Now has been a favourite among UK independent retailers for years, and it's easy to see why.
This is a complete package designed specifically for brick-and-mortar retail. You get comprehensive inventory management with barcode scanning, product variants, supplier tracking, and automated low-stock alerts. The system supports multiple tills and staff accounts, which is essential if you're running a proper shop with employees.
The hardware is solid, too. EPOS Now offers complete packages including touchscreen tills, receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners. Everything integrates smoothly, and you don't have to worry about compatibility issues with different devices.
Customer service is a major plus here, most reviewers highlight the responsive UK-based support team who actually understand retail operations. When your till system goes down on a busy Saturday, that kind of support is worth its weight in gold.
Pricing for EPOS Now isn't publicly listed on their website, you need to contact their sales team for a quote. This can be a bit annoying if you're just doing initial research, but it does mean they can tailor packages to your specific needs. From what we've seen, expect to pay a monthly subscription plus upfront hardware costs.
The card processing fees through EPOS Now are competitive, typically lower than SumUp's pay-as-you-go rates once you hit reasonable sales volumes. They work with several payment processors, giving you flexibility to choose what works best.
Where EPOS Now falls short is eCommerce integration. If you've already got a thriving online shop, you can't easily migrate it to their system. Their web builder is fairly basic and lacks the advanced features you'd get with dedicated eCommerce platforms. This is fine if you're primarily focused on in-person sales, but it's a limitation if you're planning serious online expansion.
Best for: Independent retailers, grocers, bakers, gift shops, boutiques prioritising in-store sales
Not ideal for: Businesses needing strong eCommerce integration, online-first retailers
For a complete breakdown of features and pricing, take a look at our in-depth EPOS Now till system review.
Shopify POS: The Multi-Channel Retail Powerhouse
If you're already on Shopify or planning to sell both online and in-store, Shopify POS is a no-brainer. This is where the system truly shines, creating a completely unified experience across all your sales channels.
Your inventory syncs in real-time between your website and physical tills. Sell a jumper online? It's immediately removed from your in-store stock count. This eliminates the overselling nightmares that plague retailers trying to manage separate systems.
Shopify POS pricing starts at £5 per month for the Starter plan (though this is quite limited), with the Retail plan at £79/month and Advanced at £259/month. The catch is you'll probably want Shopify POS Pro at an additional £69/month to unlock features like unlimited staff accounts, advanced analytics, and international selling capabilities.
Card processing through Shopify Payments is competitive at around 1.7% + 0p per transaction on most plans. If you use a third-party payment processor, you'll pay the processing fees plus an additional transaction fee to Shopify.
The inventory management is excellent, comprehensive tracking, variants, suppliers, collections, and detailed analytics. The built-in reporting gives you insights into your best-selling products, peak trading times, and staff performance. It's proper business intelligence, not just basic sales data.
Customer management is another strength. Shopify builds detailed customer profiles tracking purchase history, preferences, and contact information across all channels. Perfect for creating personalised marketing campaigns and building loyalty programmes.
The hardware flexibility is brilliant, you can use Shopify's own card readers and POS hardware, or integrate with compatible third-party devices. This gives you options to suit different budgets and requirements.
Best for: Multi-channel retailers, online shops adding physical locations, growing retailers planning expansion
Not ideal for: Purely offline retailers, very small businesses on tight budgets
You can read more specifics in our Shopify POS review.
The Head-to-Head: Pricing, Features, and What Actually Matters
Let's get practical and compare what you're actually getting with each system.
Upfront Costs:
- SumUp: £29-£99 for card reader
- EPOS Now: Contact for quote (expect £500-£1,500+ for hardware package)
- Shopify POS: £0-£300 depending on hardware choices
Monthly Fees:
- SumUp: £0 (pay-as-you-go)
- EPOS Now: Contact for quote (typically £30-£80+ per month)
- Shopify POS: £5-£344/month depending on plan and add-ons
Card Processing:
- SumUp: ~1.69% per transaction
- EPOS Now: Competitive rates (varies by processor)
- Shopify Payments: ~1.7% + 0p
Inventory Management:
- SumUp: Basic item list
- EPOS Now: Comprehensive retail-focused features
- Shopify POS: Comprehensive with strong eCommerce integration
Multi-Location Support:
- SumUp: Limited
- EPOS Now: Yes, robust support
- Shopify POS: Yes, unlimited logins across all locations
According to research from The Payments Association, UK retailers are increasingly prioritising omnichannel capabilities in their POS systems, with over 60% of consumers expecting to shop seamlessly across online and in-store channels.
So Which POS System Should You Actually Choose?
Here's our honest take based on different retail scenarios.
Choose SumUp if: You're running a market stall, doing occasional events, or operating a mobile business. The low entry cost and no monthly fees make it perfect for testing the waters or supplementing your main income. Just don't expect it to grow with you.
Choose EPOS Now if: You're running an established independent retail shop and your focus is primarily in-person sales. If you're a baker, grocer, gift shop owner, or boutique retailer who values strong hardware, comprehensive retail-specific features, and responsive UK customer support, EPOS Now is definitely worth a serious look. The investment pays off through better inventory control, smoother operations, and reduced transaction fees as your volume grows.
Choose Shopify POS if: You're already selling online, planning to launch an eCommerce site, or want the flexibility to grow across channels. Yes, it's more expensive, but the unified inventory management and seamless omnichannel capabilities are game-changers for modern retail. This is particularly strong if you're in fashion, homeware, or any category where customers expect to buy online and in-store interchangeably.
Ready to Upgrade Your Retail POS?
Getting your POS system right isn't just about processing payments: it's about creating efficient operations that let you focus on what actually matters: serving customers and growing your business.
For most established UK retail shops, we'd recommend starting with EPOS Now. The combination of retail-specific features, solid hardware, and responsive support makes it the sweet spot for independent retailers who are serious about their operations. Book a demo with their team to see how it works with your specific retail setup: they'll tailor a package to your needs and give you transparent pricing.
If you're planning multi-channel growth, Shopify POS is the stronger choice despite the higher costs. The time saved managing unified inventory and the sales boost from omnichannel capabilities typically justify the investment within months.
Whatever you choose, don't settle for a system that's "good enough." Your POS is the heart of your retail operations( get it right from the start.)