Let's be honest, when you're choosing a POS system, the price tag matters. A lot. You're not just picking software; you're committing to monthly fees, transaction charges, and potentially some hefty upfront hardware costs. Get it wrong, and you could be haemorrhaging cash every month. Get it right, and you'll save thousands over the next few years.
So which system actually saves you the most money: SumUp POS, Toast POS, or EPOS Now? The answer isn't as simple as "this one's cheapest", it depends entirely on your business type, transaction volume, and what features you actually need. Let's break down the real costs so you can make a properly informed decision.
The Monthly Subscription Showdown
Here's where things get interesting. Each of these systems takes a completely different approach to monthly pricing.
SumUp POS offers the most flexible setup if you're keeping costs lean:
- Free plan – Yes, actually free. You just pay transaction fees (more on those in a minute)
- Connect Plus – £99/month with enhanced features
- Connect Pro – £289/month for multi-location businesses
Toast POS is structured around restaurant-specific tiers:
- Starter Kit – Free hardware with processing fees
- Point of Sale – $69/month (roughly £55/month)
- Custom plans – Pricing varies based on your requirements
EPOS Now positions itself differently. Rather than a one-size-fits-all monthly fee, EPOS Now's pricing is typically customised based on your business needs, though it's generally competitive with mid-tier plans from competitors.
On paper, SumUp looks like the clear winner if you're just comparing monthly costs. But here's the thing: monthly fees are only half the story.
Transaction Fees: Where the Real Costs Hide
This is where many businesses get caught out. You might save £50/month on subscription fees, but if you're processing thousands in card payments, those transaction percentages add up fast.
SumUp POS charges:
- 2.6% + 10p for in-person card sales
- 3.5% + 15p for online or manually entered transactions
Toast POS charges:
- 2.49% + 15p (if you buy hardware upfront)
- 3.09-3.69% + 15p (pay-as-you-go plans)
- 3.50% + 15p for card-not-present transactions
EPOS Now typically processes payments through integrated payment providers, with rates usually sitting between 1.5-2.5% depending on your provider and negotiated terms.
Here's a quick reality check: if you're processing £10,000 in card sales per month on SumUp's standard rate (2.6%), you're paying £260 in transaction fees. On Toast's pay-as-you-go at 3.5%, that same £10,000 costs you £350. Over a year, that's a £1,080 difference, more than paying for a full year's subscription on a premium plan elsewhere.
Real-World Cost Comparison: What You'll Actually Pay
Let's get practical. Here's what total monthly costs look like when you factor in subscriptions AND typical transaction volumes:
For a small café processing £8,000/month in card payments:
- SumUp (Connect Plus plan): £99 subscription + £208 in fees = £307/month
- Toast (Point of Sale plan): £55 subscription + £280 in fees = £335/month
- EPOS Now: Custom pricing (typically £30-50/month) + £160-200 in fees = £190-250/month
For a busy restaurant processing £25,000/month:
- SumUp (Connect Plus): £99 subscription + £650 in fees = £749/month
- Toast (Point of Sale): £55 subscription + £622 in fees = £677/month
- EPOS Now: Custom pricing + £500-625 in fees = £530-675/month
Notice how the rankings flip depending on your volume? That's the crucial bit most comparison sites won't tell you.
Hidden Costs You Need to Know About
Beyond the obvious monthly and transaction fees, there are sneaky costs that can catch you off guard:
Hardware costs – SumUp's basic card reader is affordable (around £29-79), but if you need a full till setup with receipt printer, cash drawer, and tablet stand, you're looking at £300-500+. Toast often bundles hardware into contracts, which sounds great until you realise you're locked in. EPOS Now offers hardware packages that can be financed, spreading the cost.
Add-on features – Inventory management, staff scheduling, online ordering, and loyalty programmes often cost extra. Toast charges for most advanced features. SumUp's free plan is extremely limited. EPOS Now typically bundles more into base packages.
Integration costs – Need to connect your accounting software, booking system, or delivery platforms? Some systems charge monthly fees for each integration. Others (like EPOS Now) include more native integrations in their base pricing.
Contract terms – Toast often requires long-term contracts with early termination fees. SumUp is month-to-month. EPOS Now offers both options depending on your deal.
Which POS System Saves YOU the Most Money?
Right, here's the bottom line based on your actual business type:
Choose SumUp if:
- You're a small mobile business (food truck, market stall, pop-up)
- Your monthly card transactions are under £5,000
- You don't need sophisticated inventory or staff management
- You want zero commitment and can cancel anytime
SumUp's cheapest POS approach works brilliantly when you're keeping things simple and transaction volumes low.
Choose Toast if:
- You run a full-service restaurant with table management needs
- You process £15,000+ monthly and can negotiate better rates
- You need restaurant-specific features like kitchen display systems
- You're willing to commit to a contract for bundled hardware
Toast's restaurant-focused tools justify the slightly higher costs if you actually use them.
Choose EPOS Now if:
- You're a retail shop, café, or quick-service restaurant
- You want the best balance of features and affordability
- You process £10,000-30,000+ in monthly card sales
- You need reliable UK-based support and integrations
For most UK small businesses, EPOS Now offers the sweet spot between functionality and total cost of ownership. The lower transaction fees alone can save you hundreds monthly compared to SumUp or Toast, especially as you grow.
Don't Forget: Total Cost of Ownership
Here's what nobody talks about: the cheapest system on day one isn't always the cheapest over three years.
If you start with SumUp's free plan but eventually need better reporting, inventory management, and multi-location support, you'll either upgrade to their pricier tiers or face the hassle (and cost) of switching systems entirely. That migration: transferring product data, retraining staff, buying new hardware: can cost thousands.
Similarly, Toast might seem competitive monthly, but if those transaction fees are 1% higher than your alternatives, you're potentially losing £3,000+ annually on a business processing £300,000 in card sales.
EPOS Now's approach of offering scalable pricing with lower processing rates often proves more cost-effective long-term. You're not constantly outgrowing your system or paying for features you don't need yet.
Making Your Decision: Cost vs. Value
The absolute cheapest option isn't always the smartest move. You need to weigh:
- Current transaction volume – Low volume? SumUp wins. Medium to high? EPOS Now or Toast likely save you more.
- Growth plans – Will you outgrow a basic system in 12 months? Factor in switching costs.
- Feature requirements – Paying for a free system that can't do what you need costs you in lost efficiency.
- Support quality – Cheap systems with rubbish support cost you in downtime and stress.
If you're still weighing up your options, it's definitely worth checking out our full EPOS Now review. We break down exactly what you get, real-world pros and cons, and whether it's actually worth it for your specific business type.
The Bottom Line
For pure cheapest monthly cost: SumUp wins hands-down with their free plan.
For best value in restaurants: Toast edges ahead if you need their specialist features and can negotiate rates.
For best overall cost-effectiveness: EPOS Now typically saves you the most money over time thanks to lower transaction fees, included features, and better scalability: especially for retail and hospitality businesses processing £10,000+ monthly.
Your best move? Calculate your actual monthly card processing volume, list the features you genuinely need (not just nice-to-haves), and run the numbers for all three systems. The one that saves you the most money is the one that balances low total costs with the functionality that'll actually help you run your business efficiently.
And whatever you choose, make sure you're not locked into a multi-year contract until you've properly tested the system. Most offer trials or demo periods; use them. A few hours testing now could save you thousands in regret later.