Written by Zara Chechi Published on 21 March 2022 On this page EPOS Now TouchBistro YumaPOS Lightspeed Square for Restaurants Zettle Go Zonal How much does a pub EPOS system cost? Expert Verdict: the Best Pub & Bar EPOS Systems FAQs Expand We’ve chosen the best pub and bar EPOS systems around and done a deep dive into their features, benefits, pricing and more to help you decide which system is best for your business.EPOS systems make it easy and efficient for your business to manage and track inventory, stock, sales, and employees. Choosing the right one can play a huge part in your business' success…If you're short on time or keen to get going, you can use our free comparison tool to receive no-obligation quotes from trusted providers. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward EPOS Now TouchBistro YumaPOS Lightspeed Square for Restaurants Zettle Go Zonal Best For wide-range of hardware Best For loyalty schemes Best For Marketing Best For Bars Best For Speed Best For Startups Best For Financial management Price £449 Price £59 – custom Price From £29.99+vat Price £69 – £199 Price £0 – custom Price Free Price Bespoke Special features In-built CRM system Special features Self-service kiosk Special features Customer mobile app Special features Mac-based software Special features Free software Special features Payment links Special features Pricing module EM star rating 4.0 EM star rating 4.0 EM star rating 3.0 EM star rating 3.0 EM star rating 3.5 EM star rating 3.5 EM star rating 3.0 EPOS Now A customizable EPOS system with features such as simple inventory management, accounting software integrations, sales reporting, and an easy-to-use, touchscreen display.A unique feature of EPOS Now is that it has an in-built CRM system, so you can build a customer base and create loyalty programs and special offers.EPOS Now offers comprehensive sales reporting such as employee reports and end-of-day summaries, making it easy for you to keep an eye on operations across your business. Third-party integrations mean you can create a comprehensive system unique to your business' needs. Pros 24/7 support Insightful reporting User-friendly Cons Can be glitchy Epos Now’s pricing:Software costs £449. TouchBistro This cloud-based system is exclusively for iPads, and was created specifically for the food industry. It lets you opt for extra accessories such as a self-service kiosk and a customer-facing display, which can be customized to align with your branding. These accessories let you provide your customers with safer and more convenient options.You will have to commit to a minimum of 12 months with this system, which can be a drawback if you’re not sure about your business' future or you have budget constraints. TouchBistro works as an iPad app, and is easy to use – although some users have reported it can be unresponsive at times. This is not uncommon for touchscreens, though, so not a huge drawback. Pros Self-service kiosk Easy to use Made for restaurants Cons 12-month minimum commitment Customer service can be slow TouchBistro's pricing:Bespoke pricing provided. YumaPOS This EPOS system delivers an above average experience, with built-in reservations, marketing tools, management tools and loyalty programs. You'll be able to develop a complete system that caters to various aspects of your business.You can opt for a customer mobile app that's aligned to your branding, so your customers can carry out activities such as checking the menu, ordering, paying, accessing loyalty programs and even giving feedback. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.This system provides you with management solutions for communicating with customers and suppliers, tracking inventory and even organising your calendar. Pros Strong marketing tools Fast software Customer app Cons Not supported on mobile devices No training YumaPOS pricing:Starts at £29.99 + VAT per month. Compare and save on EPOS systems Get free quotes Lightspeed Lightspeed offers a highly customizable POS system for restaurants and retailers. If you don’t need an extensive level of customization, you can opt for one of its ready-made packages.You can easily stay on top of stock with Lightspeed's extensive inventory management tools, and you can access useful analytics related to employee performance, marketing, sales, and inventory levels. These insights will help you make more informed decisions for your business. Pros Customizable Easy to use Mac-based software Cons Can be buggy Lightspeed's pricing:PackagePrice/per monthBasic£69Standard£99Advanced£129Pro£199 Square for Restaurants This platform combines products to form a restaurant EPOS system that is speedy and efficient. You can optimise floor plans, manage menus and easily repeat orders (great for rounds of drinks, for example).You'll also get a free and customizable Square Online store – and when orders are placed online, they’ll be automatically synced with the POS system. Plus, you'll be able to stay on top of operations using everything from top level summaries to granular daily stats.The end of the day will be much a smoother process with this system, because it gives you the ability to close open bills, clock employees out and adjust service charges. You can also pull up shift reports for each employee for your peace of mind. Pros Cloud-based Free Easy item availability tracking Cons Limited customer relationship management Square's pricing:Basic packageSquare card reader – £19POS app – free, £69, or custom Compare and save on EPOS systems Get free quotes Zettle Go The Zettle Go POS app is free and is usually paired with the Zettle Reader 2. With this combination, you can accept major credit and debit cards as well as the increasingly popular Apple, Android, and Google Pay.You can also use the app to edit stock and track both sales and staff performance. In addition to a Zettle reader, you can complete your setup with a till system that includes a cash drawer, tablet stand, and printer.You can send digital receipts and store them in the cloud, saving the environment and space at the same time. You can also get paid via links, giving your customers greater flexibility. Pros Multiple options for easy and quick payments Free 12-month warranty on Zettle Reader 2 Easy-to-navigate product library Cons Doesn't integrate well with CRM platforms Zettle Go pricing:Free Zonal Zonal provides great financial management tools to help you keep track of cash flow. It also supports foreign currency, giving your business more flexibility. And the interface is intuitive and easy to use, so there’s no steep learning curve.Built and designed specifically for the UK hospitality industry, Zonal will provide your establishment with the tools it needs to run a successful operation. You can easily create comprehensive menus and record recipes, stock levels, and sales.Zonal's pricing module allows you to create your own standard tariffs, so you can give each location its own pricing band or set the same pricing across multiple locations. Pros Great financial management Intuitive interface Good customer service Cons No waitlist management Zonal's pricing:Bespoke pricing offered. Get free quotes Compare and save How much does a pub EPOS system cost?Prices vary with EPOS systems. Some suppliers just charge for the hardware and not the software, while others offer a monthly fee (£69 in the case of Lightspeed). Other providers charge a one-off figure for the software (EPOS Now charges £449).Free pub & bar EPOS softwareZettle Go offers free software, but you’ll need to purchase the hardware alongside it. This could include a card reader starting at £29, terminals at £149 or the complete hardware setup from £189. Verdict EPOS Now is our number one pick, thanks to its flexibility, customizability, and in-built CRM system – plus its ability to synchronise your front and back of house to help you run a smoother operation.If you’re still struggling to make the right decision, we’re here to make things a little easier for you. Just use our free comparison tool to get no-obligation quotes from trusted suppliers – all we'll need from you is a few brief details about your business. FAQs What is an EPOS system? EPOS stands for Electronic Point of Sale, and these systems are used by retailers to process customer transactions, keep track of inventory levels, access sales reporting and much more.EPOS covers both the software and hardware that make up a complete system, so this term includes the card readers and software used to take payments. What should I look for in an EPOS system? Alongside their primary function of taking and processing payments, many EPOS systems can help with a whole bunch of other processes. These include loyalty programs, marketing, employee management, stock management, and more.Your requirements will depend on your business, so get clear on what you need – for example, you may want to ramp up your marketing or create clear, flexible table plans. Whatever your requirements, there’s an EPOS system for you. Zara Chechi Zara is a law grad with a penchant for wordsmithing. As Expert Market’s CRM and payroll expert, she relishes researching and writing expert content.