Choosing the right retail POS system in 2026 feels a bit like dating, everyone looks great on paper, but you won't know if they're "the one" until you've spent some quality time together. The good news? We've done the legwork for you.
Today, we're putting three heavyweight contenders head-to-head: Shopify POS, EPOS Now, and SumUp. Whether you're running a boutique clothing shop in Manchester, a gift shop in Edinburgh, or a multi-location retail chain, one of these systems is probably your perfect match.
Let's cut through the marketing fluff and see what these retail POS systems actually deliver in 2026.
The Quick Comparison: Who Wins What?
Before we dive deep, here's the TL;DR version:
| Feature | Shopify POS | EPOS Now | SumUp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Ecommerce + retail hybrids | Multi-location retail & inventory control | Mobile sellers & pop-ups |
| User Rating | 89% satisfaction | 74% satisfaction (4.5/5 on Trustpilot) | Excellent (1,526+ reviews) |
| Starting Price | £5/month (Lite) | Custom pricing | £0/month (pay-per-transaction) |
| Transaction Fees | 1.6% + 25p (Shopify Payments) | Varies by processor | 2.75% in-person |
| Inventory Management | Good (online-first) | Excellent (retail-first) | Basic |
| Omnichannel Sync | Seamless | Strong | Limited |
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty.
Shopify POS: The Ecommerce Powerhouse That Does Retail Too
If you're already selling online through Shopify, this one's a no-brainer. Shopify POS is essentially the physical retail extension of the world's most popular ecommerce platform, and it shows.
What We Love About Shopify POS
The ecommerce integration is unmatched. Your online and offline inventory sync automatically in real-time. Sell a dress in-store? Your Shopify website immediately reflects that. Customer buys online? They can return it to your physical shop without any hassle. It's seamless in a way that makes other systems look clunky.
The mobile app is brilliant for pop-up shops, markets, or even just walking around your store with an iPad helping customers. Accept payments anywhere, check stock levels on the fly, and even process exchanges without running back to your main till.
Users give it an 89% satisfaction rating, which is pretty impressive considering how many features it packs in. The interface is clean, modern, and, crucially, your staff won't need a degree in computer science to use it.
Where Shopify POS Falls Short
Here's the thing: Shopify is built for online retailers who've added physical locations, not the other way around. If you're a traditional brick-and-mortar shop without an online presence, you're paying for features you'll never use.
The free Lite plan (£5/month) is quite limited, you'll need the Pro plan (£79/month per location) to unlock gift cards, unlimited staff accounts, and advanced reports. And if you're not using Shopify Payments, you'll pay transaction fees on top of your payment processor's charges. That stacks up quickly.
Want the full breakdown? Check out our complete Shopify POS review for all the details.
EPOS Now: The Retail Specialist With Serious Inventory Chops
This is where things get interesting for proper retail operations. EPOS Now is purpose-built for retail and hospitality businesses, and it absolutely shows in the feature set.
Why Retail Businesses Love EPOS Now
The inventory management is frankly fantastic. We're talking automated stock tracking, low-stock alerts, purchase order generation, supplier management, and even barcode creation. If you're managing hundreds or thousands of SKUs across multiple locations, EPOS Now handles it without breaking a sweat.
The system supports proper multi-site management, you can monitor sales, inventory, and staff performance across all your locations from a single dashboard. Perfect if you're running a small chain or planning to expand.
What really stands out is how intuitive it is. Despite packing in enterprise-level features, the interface remains straightforward. Staff can be trained up in under an hour, which saves you time and money. Users consistently mention this is easier to learn than "tech-heavy competitors like Square or Shopify."
EPOS Now also plays nicely with multichannel selling. Want to add self-service kiosks? Table ordering? Online sales? Delivery integration? It's all baked in and works together properly.
With a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot and thousands of UK retail businesses using it daily, there's a reason it's become one of the most popular choices for serious retailers.
The Potential Downsides
Nothing's perfect. EPOS Now doesn't offer the same level of deep customisation that some enterprise systems provide, though honestly, most retail businesses don't need that level of complexity anyway.
The pricing structure can feel a bit opaque since it's custom-quoted based on your needs. Optional add-ons for advanced reporting and certain app integrations can increase your monthly costs if you're not careful. And while customer support is generally solid, some users report email responses can be slower than phone support.
That said, the core system is robust, reliable, and genuinely built with retail workflows in mind. If you're serious about retail and want a proper EPOS system that'll grow with your business, EPOS Now is definitely worth a demo.
SumUp: The Scrappy Underdog for Small Retailers
Don't let the lower price point fool you, SumUp punches well above its weight for small and mobile retail businesses.
What Makes SumUp Stand Out
There are no monthly fees. Read that again. You buy the card reader (starting at £19 for the Air model), and you're done. You only pay transaction fees when you actually make sales, 2.75% for in-person card payments, which is competitive and transparent.
For market traders, pop-up shops, small boutiques, or anyone who needs mobility, SumUp is brilliant. The Air card reader connects via Bluetooth to your phone or tablet, accepts tap, chip, PIN, and swipe payments, and fits in your pocket. Setup takes about 10 minutes.
The app is dead simple to use. If your needs are straightforward, take payments, track basic sales, maybe issue receipts, SumUp gets you up and running faster than any competitor.
With over 1,500 excellent reviews, customers clearly appreciate what SumUp delivers: no-fuss payment processing at a fair price.
Where SumUp Shows Its Limitations
Let's be honest: SumUp isn't built for complex retail operations. The inventory management is basic at best. There's no multi-location support. Advanced reporting is limited. If you're running anything beyond a single-location, simple product range, you'll outgrow it quickly.
You'll also need a separate virtual terminal application if you want to process online or phone orders, which feels clunky compared to all-in-one systems like EPOS Now.
SumUp is perfect for getting started, but you'll likely need to upgrade as you grow. Still want to know more? Our SumUp POS system review has the full story.
The Pricing Reality Check (What You'll Actually Pay)
Marketing materials love to show you "starting from" prices that bear zero resemblance to what you'll actually spend. Here's the real-world breakdown:
Shopify POS:
- Lite: £5/month + transaction fees (very limited features)
- Pro: £79/month per location + transaction fees (what most retailers actually need)
- Plus: £299/month (enterprise features, multiple locations)
- Transaction fees: 1.6% + 25p with Shopify Payments, or 2% extra without
EPOS Now:
- Custom pricing (typically £25-£60/month depending on features)
- Hardware packages from around £399-£999
- Payment processing fees separate (varies by provider)
- No per-transaction platform fees on many plans
SumUp:
- £0/month base cost
- Card reader hardware: £19-£99 one-off
- Transaction fees: 2.75% in-person, 2.95% online
- No hidden platform fees or contracts
According to Capterra's 2026 POS Software Report, the average UK retailer spends between £50-£150 monthly on their complete POS solution including software, payment processing, and hardware costs.
So… Which One Should You Actually Choose?
Here's how we'd make the decision:
Choose Shopify POS if:
- You already sell online through Shopify (or plan to)
- Seamless omnichannel retail is your priority
- You want beautiful, modern interfaces
- You're comfortable with a higher monthly cost for integration benefits
Choose EPOS Now if:
- You run a traditional retail operation (with or without online sales)
- Inventory management is crucial to your business
- You're managing (or planning) multiple locations
- You want a proper retail-first system that handles complexity
- You need robust reporting and staff management features
Choose SumUp if:
- You're just starting out or running a very small operation
- You sell at markets, pop-ups, or mobile locations
- Budget is tight and you want pay-as-you-go pricing
- Your product range and needs are straightforward
- You don't need advanced inventory or multi-location features
Our Honest Recommendation
For most UK retail businesses in 2026, EPOS Now strikes the best balance between features, usability, and value. It's built specifically for retail workflows, handles inventory brilliantly, scales with your business, and doesn't force you into an ecommerce ecosystem you might not need.
Shopify POS is fantastic: if you're already in the Shopify world. But for standalone retail operations, you're paying for online-first features that might not serve your core business needs.
SumUp is brilliant for getting started on the cheap, but most growing retailers outgrow it within 12-18 months. If you can see yourself expanding beyond a single location or simple product range, you'll save time and migration headaches by starting with something more robust.
The retail POS landscape in 2026 is more competitive than ever, which is great news for you. All three of these systems are solid choices: it just depends on what type of retail operation you're running.
Want more detailed comparisons? Check out our guide on the best EPOS system in the UK or explore our complete EPOS Now review to see if it's the right fit for your business.
The right till system can genuinely transform how you run your retail business: so it's worth taking the time to choose properly. Good luck! 🛍️