Choosing the best POS system for your small business can feel a bit overwhelming. There are so many options out there, and they all seem to promise the world. Three names that pop up constantly are SumUp, Toast, and Shopify POS: but which one is actually right for you?
The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Each of these systems has been built with a specific type of business in mind, and picking the wrong one could mean paying for features you don't need or missing out on tools that would genuinely help you grow.
In this post, we're going to break down the key differences between SumUp POS, Toast POS, and Shopify POS. We'll cover the pros and cons of each, who they're best suited for, and: spoiler alert: we'll also share an all-rounder alternative that might just tick all your boxes.
Let's dive in.
A Quick Overview of Each System
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here's a snapshot of what each POS system is designed for:
- SumUp POS – Built for small, mobile, and retail businesses that want something simple and affordable.
- Toast POS – Purpose-built for restaurants and hospitality venues with complex operations.
- Shopify POS – Designed for online-first businesses that want to expand into physical retail.
As you can see, they're quite different beasts. Let's look at each one in more detail.
SumUp POS: Best for Small and Mobile Businesses
If you're running a pop-up shop, market stall, small café, or mobile business, SumUp is probably on your radar. It's one of the most straightforward POS systems out there, and that simplicity is its biggest strength.
SumUp charges a monthly base fee of around $99 (roughly £80) with transaction fees of 2.6% + 10¢ per sale. The pricing is refreshingly transparent: no hidden charges or sneaky contracts to worry about.
Pros of SumUp POS
- Super easy to use – The interface is clean and intuitive, so you won't need hours of training to get started.
- Affordable and transparent pricing – What you see is what you get. No nasty surprises on your bill.
- Great for mobile businesses – Lightweight hardware and a simple setup make it perfect for businesses on the move.
- Marketing automation features – Handy tools for customer engagement, especially useful for salons and service-based businesses.
Cons of SumUp POS
- Limited advanced features – You won't find handheld terminals, customer displays, or deep inventory tracking here.
- Not built for restaurants – If you need table management, kitchen displays, or ingredient-level tracking, SumUp will leave you wanting more.
- Basic reporting – The analytics are fine for small operations but won't cut it if you need detailed insights.
Who Should Use SumUp?
SumUp is ideal for freelancers, market traders, small retail shops, salons, and anyone who values simplicity over bells and whistles. If your operations are straightforward and you just need to take payments reliably, it's a solid choice.
Toast POS: Best for Restaurants and Hospitality
Toast is a completely different animal. It's been designed from the ground up for the foodservice industry, and it shows. If you're running a restaurant, café, bar, or any kind of hospitality venue, Toast has some seriously impressive features.
Transaction fees sit at around 2.49% + 15¢, which is slightly higher than SumUp. But for that extra cost, you're getting a system that truly understands the chaos of a busy kitchen.
Pros of Toast POS
- Purpose-built for restaurants – Table management, tableside ordering, kitchen display systems: it's all here.
- Ingredient-level inventory tracking – Track stock down to individual ingredients, which is a game-changer for food cost management.
- Comprehensive reporting – Detailed analytics on sales, labour, and menu performance.
- Integrated online ordering – Built-in tools for delivery and takeaway, which is essential these days.
Cons of Toast POS
- Higher transaction fees – That 2.49% + 15¢ can add up, especially for high-volume businesses.
- No iOS compatibility – Toast runs on Android, so if you're an Apple household, this could be a dealbreaker.
- Overkill for simple businesses – If you're running a small retail shop, Toast's restaurant-focused features will just get in the way.
- Steeper learning curve – More features means more time spent learning the system.
Who Should Use Toast?
Toast is perfect for restaurants, cafés, bars, food trucks, and any hospitality business with complex operations. If you need tableside ordering, kitchen tickets, and detailed inventory management, Toast delivers.
Shopify POS: Best for Omnichannel Businesses
Now, if you're already selling online (or planning to), Shopify POS deserves your attention. It's designed to seamlessly bridge the gap between your e-commerce store and your physical retail locations.
Shopify POS Pro costs around $89/month (approximately £70) on top of your existing Shopify subscription. The real value here is in the integration: your online and in-store inventory, orders, and customer data all sync automatically.
Pros of Shopify POS
- Seamless omnichannel integration – Sync your online store with your physical shop effortlessly.
- Unified inventory management – See stock levels across all channels in one place.
- Strong e-commerce foundation – If you're already on Shopify, adding POS is a no-brainer.
- Customer profiles – Track purchase history across online and in-store transactions.
Cons of Shopify POS
- Best for existing Shopify users – If you're not already on Shopify, the setup and monthly costs can add up quickly.
- Not ideal for restaurants – Like SumUp, it lacks the foodservice-specific features that hospitality businesses need.
- Additional costs – You'll need a Shopify subscription plus the POS Pro add-on, which can get pricey.
Who Should Use Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is the obvious choice for online-first businesses expanding into physical retail. If you already have a Shopify store and want to open a pop-up or permanent shop, it makes your life so much easier.
Quick Comparison: Which POS Is Right for Your Business?
| Business Type | Best Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant/Hospitality | Toast POS | Purpose-built with kitchen management and tableside ordering |
| Mobile/Pop-up/Small Retail | SumUp POS | Affordable, simple, and lightweight |
| Online Store + Physical Shop | Shopify POS | Seamless sync between e-commerce and retail |
| Salon/Professional Services | SumUp POS | Easy to use with handy marketing tools |
But What If You Want an All-Rounder?
Here's the thing: each of these systems is great at what it does, but they're all quite specialised. What if you want something more flexible? Something that works brilliantly for both retail and hospitality without forcing you to choose?
That's where Epos Now comes in.
We've written extensively about Epos Now, and honestly, it's one of the most versatile POS systems on the UK market. Whether you're running a restaurant, a retail shop, or a bit of both, Epos Now adapts to your needs. It offers:
- Powerful inventory management for retail and hospitality
- Seamless integrations with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks
- Cloud-based access so you can check your business from anywhere
- Flexible hardware options to suit your setup
- UK-based support which is always a bonus
If you're not 100% sure which category your business falls into: or if you want room to grow: Epos Now is definitely worth a look. You can read our full Epos Now review here to see if it's the right fit.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between SumUp, Toast, and Shopify POS really comes down to understanding what your business needs right now: and where it's heading.
- Go with SumUp if you want something simple, affordable, and mobile-friendly.
- Choose Toast if you're in hospitality and need restaurant-specific features.
- Pick Shopify POS if you're already selling online and want to expand into physical retail.
- Consider Epos Now if you want an all-rounder that handles retail and hospitality with equal finesse.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is finding a system that fits your workflow. Don't pay for features you'll never use, but equally, don't skimp on the tools that'll genuinely make your life easier.
Got questions? Feel free to explore more of our POS system guides for detailed breakdowns and honest reviews. We're here to help you find the perfect fit.