We’ve hand selected the best EPOS suppliers in the country, but which one is right for your business?
We’ve carried out independent research into the best EPOS suppliers in the UK. Thanks to our findings and years of experience, we know that the best option is provided by Epos Now. It scored top marks across the board – it’s powerful, intuitive, and great value for money.
We’ve also included six alternative EPOS suppliers that might better suit your business specifically. In this article, we review each supplier’s features, pricing, and top benefits. Whatever your type of business, we’ve got you covered.
Short on time? No problem. You can get free quotes directly from the best EPOS suppliers in the UK through our free quote-finding tool. Simply answer a few questions about your business, and we’ll match you with the right companies.
1. Epos Now: Overall best EPOS supplier
Epos Now is an industry leader, and takes our top spot as the best EPOS supplier in the UK.
It offers packages for both the retail and hospitality sectors, including impressive CRM (customer relationship management) features to help you attract repeat purchases through marketing campaigns. Epos Now also supports Deliveroo integration to help you build your takeaway customer base.
Pros:
- UK’s largest EPOS supplier in terms of customers
- ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating
- Transparent pricing
Cons:
- Lots of add-ons can see your costs quickly rise
Key features
- Reporting and analytics
- Inventory management
- Restrict unauthorised access via staff pin codes
- CRM (customer relationship management)
- Staff clock-in-and-out
- Tableside ordering
- Floor plan and table management
- Barcoding
- Web and online integrations
- Inventory and stock level warnings
2. TouchBistro: Best for restaurants
TouchBistro is a dedicated iPad EPOS app for restaurants. It’s cloud-based, which means all the important information is stored securely online. Plus, you can access the back office reporting and analytics functions from anywhere, at any time.
With packages tailored to suit all types of eateries, from full-service restaurants to food trucks, TouchBistro is a flexible EPOS solution that will help keep your customers hungry for more.
Pros:
- Extreme tailoring to hospitality businesses
- Excellent customisation options
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- Online reviews mention slow response times to customer service calls
- Not suitable for retail businesses
Key features
- Tableside ordering
- Mobile payment and processing
- Floor plan and table management
- CRM
- Staff management and scheduling
- Reporting and analytics
- Menu and inventory management
- Track recipes against menu items to determine ingredient stock level
3. Nobly: Best for takeaways
Nobly is one of the UK’s best EPOS suppliers quite simply because it’s, well, simple to use.
We found the system really easy to use, meaning you can train your staff within a few minutes. Plus, you get automated sales and inventory reports to add an extra layer of convenience. This is perhaps why Nobly’s website claims it’s the ‘number one customer-rated iPad EPOS system’.
However, Nobly is tailored towards the hospitality industry, making it far from ideal for retail businesses. That said, it’s still one of the best EPOS systems for takeaways and restaurants.
Pros:
- Superb customer service
- Ideal for quick-service restaurants and takeaway shops
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Not suitable for retail businesses
Key features
- Reporting and analytics
- Table service
- Restaurant inventory management
- CRM
- Floor plan and table management
- Track recipes and drinks against menu items to determine ingredient stock level
4. Lightspeed: Best for bars
Lightspeed has long been at the forefront of tablet-based EPOS solutions.
Renowned for high speeds and intuitive layout, which is ideal for busy bars, the company’s fully customisable EPOS software is compatible with both iPads and Windows tablet devices.
While Lightspeed specialises in retail and restaurant EPOS solutions, it also offers an excellent ecommerce package to unify your in-store and online sales efforts.
Pros:
- Fully customisable software
- Intuitive and user-friendly system
- Scalable solution
Cons:
- No live chat support
Key features
- Tableside ordering
- Floor plan and table management
- Reporting and analytics
- Menu and inventory management
- Loyalty programmes and CRM
- Accounting help centre
- Workflow management
- Staff management
- Self-order menu
- Kitchen display system
5. Square: Best for small businesses
Square is the best free EPOS system in the UK, offering a generous software plan at no cost, asking that you pay 1.75% per transaction instead.
With no monthly fees to worry about, plus hospitality and retail-specific packages and a range of features, including over 20 types of reports, Square is one of the UK’s best EPOS suppliers for small businesses or startups.
Its transaction fees are comparatively high, but the generosity of Square’s free plan makes up for it.
Pros:
- Very easy to set up and use
- Generous free software plan
- Suitable for both hospitality and retail businesses
Cons:
- Relatively high transaction fees
Key features
- Tableside ordering
- Floor plan and table management
- Reporting and analytics
- Menu and inventory management
- Payment protection
- Loyalty programmes and CRM
- Accounting help centre
- Workflow management
- Invoices
- Kitchen display system
6. Clover: Best for user-friendliness
Clover’s known for its stylish hardware and user-friendly software, but is it actually any good? Based on our research, we know the answer’s yes.
Its large app store makes it one of the best EPOS suppliers for customisation, ideal for fast-growing businesses in all sectors. You can also view your staff’s performance by number of transactions, amount collected, or refunds given, helping you manage your team more efficiently.
Unlike Shopify or Nobly, Clover doesn’t enable you to accept gift card payments, but its free software plan still makes it one of the top choices in the UK.
Pros:
- Stylish hardware to impress customers
- Large app store to give you more flexibility
- Easy to set up and user-friendly
Cons:
- Costs can quickly add up
- Online reviews say the ecommerce integration could be more seamless
Key features
- Staff management
- Customer reward programme
- Split partial payments
- Menu editing
- Website integration
- Sales reporting
- Loyalty programme and CRM
- Role-based permissions
- Real-time reporting
7. Shopify: Best for ecommerce integration
You probably know Shopify as the leading ecommerce platform, but it’s fast becoming one of the UK’s best EPOS suppliers, too.
If you already run a Shopify store, then this is the only POS system you should think about using because it will make the integration of your inventories much easier.
We also like how Shopify POS automatically records your customers’ data to help you build effective marketing campaigns and loyalty programmes.
You might find it tricky to integrate with ecommerce platforms aside from Shopify, but overall, it’s easy to use.
Pros:
- Zero set up fees
- Powerful platform ideal for any sized business
- Affordable hardware options
Cons:
- Works best when already selling through your own Shopify online store, not alternative ecommerce platforms
Key features
- Tableside ordering
- Floor plan and table management
- Reporting and analytics
- Menu and inventory management
- Payment protection
- Loyalty programmes and CRM
- Finance reports
- Demand forecasting
- Staff management
- Invoices
- Kitchen display system
Expert verdict
The best EPOS suppliers help you manage all areas of your business, from taking payments to creating marketing emails to attract repeat customers. According to our research, the best of the bunch is Epos Now. It offers everything you need to run your hospitality or retail business more efficiently.
You’ve read about the best EPOS suppliers – now’s the time to chat with the right one for your business. We can put you in touch with the nation’s leading EPOS companies, and all you need to do is answer a few questions on our free comparison tool.
We use your answers to match your business with the right suppliers. They’ll then contact you directly with more information and no-obligation quotes tailored to your needs. Our service is quick, easy, and totally free.
FAQs
Which EPOS supplier is the cheapest?
The cheapest EPOS supplier is Clover, offering price plans ranging from £0 per month to just £29.95 per month. But be careful – when looking at the cost of an EPOS system, it’s important you look at how many features you get on the cheapest plan, to ensure you’re getting value for money.
How do I choose the right EPOS supplier?
You need to look at the EPOS supplier’s pricing and features. This is to ensure the system will fit within your budget, and that it offers the most suitable features for your type of business. For instance, some EPOS companies offer industry-specific packages that might suit your needs better than those offered by other EPOS suppliers.
How does an EPOS system work?
EPOS systems combine hardware and software that are interlinked, helping you process transactions and manage your inventory. Information is passed from the hardware onto the system, which is then displayed on a touchscreen where you can generate reports and view your sales figures, plus much more.
