Choosing the right POS system for your UK business can feel like a minefield. With so many options out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed by feature lists, pricing tiers, and conflicting reviews.
Three names keep popping up in conversation: Epos Now, SumUp, and Shopify POS. They're all solid options, but they're built for very different types of businesses. So which one's actually right for you?
We've done the legwork so you don't have to. In this guide, we're breaking down exactly what each system offers, where they shine, and where they fall short. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of which epos system makes sense for your specific situation.
Let's get stuck in.
The Quick Comparison
Before we dive into the details, here's a snapshot of how these three stack up against each other:
| Feature | Epos Now | SumUp | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | From £25/month | From £29/month | Free (with Shopify subscription) |
| Best For | Retail & hospitality | Small hospitality businesses | Online retailers with physical stores |
| Inventory Management | Comprehensive (included) | Basic (extras cost more) | Integrated with Shopify store |
| Offline Mode | Seamless sync | Available | Limited (cloud-based) |
| Operating Systems | Android, iOS, Windows | iOS-focused | Cloud and on-premise |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.8/5 |
Now let's break each one down properly.
Epos Now: The All-Rounder for UK Retail and Hospitality
If you're running a traditional retail shop, café, restaurant, or bar in the UK, Epos Now is probably the name you've heard most often. And there's good reason for that.
Epos Now has built its reputation on being a proper, full-featured till system that doesn't skimp on the important stuff. We're talking comprehensive inventory management, detailed sales reporting, and a back-office system that's genuinely intuitive to use.
What We Love About Epos Now
- Inventory management is included as standard – You get purchase orders, stock tracking, and low-stock alerts without paying extra. This is huge if you're managing lots of SKUs.
- Works across multiple devices – Android, iOS, and Windows are all supported, giving you flexibility with your hardware choices.
- Brilliant offline mode – If your Wi-Fi goes down (and let's be honest, it happens), Epos Now keeps working and syncs everything once you're back online. Seamless.
- Multi-site management – Planning to expand? Epos Now handles multiple locations from one dashboard, which is a massive time-saver.
- Strong UK support – As a British company, their support team understands UK business needs and VAT requirements.
Things to Consider
The main thing to be aware of is that costs can add up. While the base software is £25/month, you'll likely need hardware too, and Epos Now does push you towards longer-term equipment leases. It's worth doing the maths on total cost of ownership before committing.
That said, for the features you get, we think it represents solid value – especially compared to piecing together separate systems for inventory, reporting, and payments.
Want the full breakdown? Check out our comprehensive Epos Now review where we cover everything from setup to ongoing costs.
SumUp: The Budget-Friendly Option for Simple Operations
SumUp started life as a card reader company, but they've since expanded into full POS territory. If you've seen those little white card machines at market stalls and pop-ups, that's SumUp.
Their POS system is designed with simplicity in mind. It's not trying to be everything to everyone – and that's actually its strength if you're running a straightforward operation.
What We Love About SumUp
- Affordable entry point – The hardware is reasonably priced, and you can get started without massive upfront investment.
- Pay-as-you-go flexibility – You're not locked into lengthy contracts, which is great if you're testing the waters.
- Clean, simple interface – There's not much of a learning curve here. Staff can be trained in minutes.
- Decent offline capability – Like Epos Now, you can keep taking payments when the internet drops out.
Things to Consider
Here's where it gets a bit tricky. While the base system is affordable, SumUp charges extra for features that come standard with other systems. Want a customer-facing display? That's an extra £9/month. Need advanced inventory tools? You'll pay more for those too.
For small hospitality businesses – think coffee shops, food trucks, or small cafés – SumUp can work really well. But if you're running a busier operation with complex inventory needs, you might find yourself outgrowing it quickly.
It's also worth noting that SumUp is quite iOS-focused, so if you're an Android person, your hardware options are more limited.
Shopify POS: The E-commerce Integration Specialist
Shopify POS is a bit of a different beast. It's not really designed to be a standalone till system – it's built to work alongside a Shopify online store.
If you're already selling through Shopify (or planning to), their POS system creates a seamless bridge between your online and physical sales. Everything syncs automatically – inventory, customer data, orders, the lot.
What We Love About Shopify POS
- Seamless omnichannel selling – Sell online, in-store, at markets, wherever. It all connects beautifully.
- Unified inventory – Sell a product in your shop? It updates online instantly. No more overselling.
- Strong e-commerce DNA – Shopify knows online retail inside out, and that expertise shows.
- Free basic POS – If you're already paying for Shopify, the basic POS features are included.
Things to Consider
The elephant in the room is that you need a Shopify subscription to use Shopify POS. If you're not already on Shopify and don't plan to sell online, this system makes very little sense for you.
You're essentially paying for two things: your Shopify e-commerce plan PLUS any POS upgrades you need. For pure brick-and-mortar businesses, there are more cost-effective options out there.
Curious about Shopify POS specifically? We've got a detailed Shopify POS review that covers the ins and outs.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
Let's cut to the chase. Here's our honest take on who each system is best suited for:
Choose Epos Now If You…
- Run a retail shop, restaurant, café, bar, or hospitality venue
- Need proper inventory management without paying for add-ons
- Want detailed reporting and analytics to understand your business
- Are planning to open multiple locations down the line
- Value having solid UK-based support
For most traditional UK businesses, Epos Now is our top recommendation. It strikes the right balance between features, usability, and value. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot score backs this up – real UK businesses rate it highly.
Choose SumUp If You…
- Run a small, simple hospitality operation
- Want to avoid long-term contracts
- Have straightforward inventory needs
- Are just starting out and budget is tight
Choose Shopify POS If You…
- Already have a Shopify online store
- Want unified online and offline selling
- Primarily see your physical presence as an extension of your e-commerce business
The Pricing Reality Check
Here's a rough idea of what you're looking at monthly:
| System | Software | Hardware (typical) | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epos Now | £25/month | Varies (lease or purchase) | Most features included |
| SumUp | £29/month | Affordable upfront | Add-ons cost extra |
| Shopify POS | Free-£69/month | Varies | Requires Shopify subscription |
Remember, the cheapest option on paper isn't always the cheapest in practice. Factor in what features you'll actually need and what you'd have to pay extra for.
If you're specifically hunting for budget-friendly options, our guide to the cheapest POS systems for restaurants might help.
Our Final Verdict
Look, all three systems have their place. But if we had to recommend just one for the average UK retail or hospitality business, it would be Epos Now.
The combination of comprehensive features, solid offline capability, multi-site support, and genuine UK expertise makes it the most versatile choice. Yes, you'll want to watch the total cost with hardware, but for what you get, it's hard to beat.
According to Business News Daily, choosing the right POS system can significantly impact your operational efficiency and bottom line – so it's worth getting this decision right.
Ready to see if Epos Now is the right fit? Read our full Epos Now review and get all the details you need to make an informed decision. We'd also suggest booking a demo to see the system in action – there's no substitute for hands-on experience.
Got questions? Drop us a message through our contact page and we'll point you in the right direction.