Epos Now vs Shopify POS
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Pos Systems fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
36/100
Free tier
UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
1 register, 1 user; includes basic reporting, inventory, and customer management; supports single location.
Starting at 897 Kč (hybrid)
Fee notes:
- EFTPOS/credit card processing: 1.6% per transaction (UK standard) or £0.016 per transaction for debit; varies by country and plan.
- Hardware bundles start at $599 (or £499) for starter kit including register, cash drawer, receipt printer, and scanner.
- Payment processing is optional; if you use Epos Now Payments, the terminal fee may be waived.
- Annual billing discount: 2 months free (i.e., pay for 10 months).
- Currency conversion: 0.5% above interbank rate.
⚠ Watch for:
- Early termination fee: 12 months contract required for hardware; cancellation fee equals remaining lease/loan balance.
- Hardware finance: if paying via installments, APR may be up to 19.9%.
- Integrated payments: if you use third-party processors, extra fees may apply.
- Overage fees for exceeding device/user limits on Essential/Standard plans.
🔧 Features
✓ Uk Origin✓ Hospitality Retail✓ 40k Customers✓ Hardware Bundles✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- All-in-One Bundles: Epos Now packages hardware and software together, including a touchscreen terminal, cash drawer, and receipt printer. This removes the headache of sourcing and integrating components separately. For a small business owner with limited technical expertise, this convenience is invaluable. You can be up and running in a day, and device compatibility is guaranteed because Epos Now selected the components.
- Integrated Payments and Fast Settlement: Using Epos Now's payment processing, transactions are automatically reconciled within the software, saving hours of manual admin. Funds can settle into your account quickly, sometimes within 24 hours, which improves cash flow. For businesses that rely on steady cash flow, this is a tangible benefit.
- Multi-Site Management: For growing chains, the ability to manage multiple locations from one dashboard is a differentiator. You can view real-time sales, track stock levels across sites, and compare performance. This centralisation is critical for operational efficiency and is not offered by all POS competitors at this price point.
- Industry-Specific Features: Epos Now tailors its software to hospitality and retail. For cafés, there's table management, split billing, and kitchen display integration. For retail, there's inventory management, purchase orders, and customer loyalty. This specialisation means the software aligns with your workflow better than a generic POS.
- Strong UK Presence and Local Support: With 40,000+ customers in the UK, the company has a robust local presence. Phone support is available, and for UK businesses, this local touch can be reassuring. Epos Now also offers industry-specific templates and integrations with popular UK services like Xero and QuickBooks.
⚠ Watch out for
- Pricing is Opaque: There is no public price list. You must request a quote, which varies based on hardware, contract length, and processing volume. This makes comparing costs between providers difficult and can lead to unexpected fees. Some users have reported significant price hikes upon renewal.
- Payment Processing Lock-in: To get the best software pricing, you are effectively required to use Epos Now's payment processing. If you opt for a third-party processor, your software fees increase, and you may lose features like integrated gift cards or loyalty. This lock-in can be a long-term cost liability.
- Inconsistent Customer Support: Reviews are polarised. While some users commend the support, many report slow response times and a lack of technical depth, especially on lower-tier plans. Over 24 hours for a response is not uncommon, and complex issues may take multiple contacts to resolve.
- Hardware Commitment and Cost: While the bundles are convenient, they can be pricey compared to sourcing your own components. Also, you're often locked into a contract, making it difficult to switch without penalties. For businesses that already own compatible hardware, this is a drawback.
- Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic operations are easy, mastering the more advanced features like reporting, stock transfer, and loyalty programme setup can take time. The system is not as intuitive as some competitors, and training resources are mostly webinars and a knowledge base, not personalised onboarding.
🎯 Best for
UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware, software, and payments bundled together.
🚫 Who should skip
Large enterprises with complex customisation needs, vendors that want to keep their existing payment processor, or businesses that prefer transparent pricing and the flexibility to source their own hardware.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — familiarising yourself with menu setup, inventory management, and tax configuration takes a few days, though basic till operation is relatively simple.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Epos Now is a solid choice for small to mid-sized retail and hospitality businesses that want a turnkey POS with integrated hardware and payments. The convenience of an all-in-one package and multi-site management are major pluses. However, the opaque pricing and payment lock-in mean you must read t
73/100
115 Kč starting
Existing Shopify merchants who operate a physical retail store or pop-up and want a POS system that fully unifies in-per
★ Best
💰 Pricing
Starting at 115 Kč (subscription)
Fee notes:
- Online transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic), 2.6% + 30¢ (Shopify), 2.4% + 30¢ (Advanced) when using Shopify Payments
- In-person transaction fees: 2.4% for Basic, 2.4% for Shopify, 2.2% for Advanced (with POS Lite)
- If not using Shopify Payments, additional fee: 2.0% (Basic), 1.0% (Shopify), 0.6% (Advanced)
- POS Pro add-on: $89/month per location
- Payment processing fees vary by country and are not included in subscription price
⚠ Watch for:
- If using a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments, you may incur additional fees (up to 2%)
- POS Pro is an extra $89/month per location unless you're on Shopify Plus
- Transaction fees for in-person payments may be higher if you use a third-party card reader
- Shopify charges a fee for using its payment gateway: 2.9% + 30¢ for online, 2.4% for in-person (Basic plan)
🔧 Features
✓ Shopify Ecosystem✓ Unified Inventory✓ Retail✓ Staff Management
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Deep native integration with Shopify e-commerce is the killer feature. Unlike third-party POS systems that require complex API workarounds, Shopify POS syncs inventory, customers, orders, and payments in real time between your online store and physical location. This eliminates the nightmare of overselling or inconsistent customer data. For example, if you sell a product in-store, it automatically deducts from your web inventory, so online customers never see out-of-stock items.
- Strong retail features in POS Pro, which is available for an additional fee, elevate the system beyond basic checkout. It includes advanced inventory management with purchase orders and stock transfers, granular staff permissions for controlling who can do what (like issuing refunds or viewing reports), and in-store analytics that give you insights into sales trends, employee performance, and product profitability. These tools are crucial for growing retail businesses that need more than just a cash register.
- User-friendly interface that doesn't require a lengthy training session. Cashiers can learn the basics in minutes, and the backend is equally intuitive. The system supports a variety of hardware, from iPad-based setups with card readers to full touchscreen terminals, so you can tailor it to your store's needs and budget. The quick setup on existing hardware is a plus for pop-up shops and seasonal stores.
- Flexible and scalable for multi-location operations. Shopify POS supports multiple registers per location, and with POS Pro you can manage inventory across several stores, transfer stock between them, and view consolidated or per-location reports. This makes it viable for regional chains that are expanding, though the per-location fee is a consideration.
⚠ Watch out for
- Requires a Shopify subscription, which means it's not a standalone POS solution. If you're not already using Shopify for e-commerce, you'll have to pay for the Shopify Basic plan ($39/month) just to use its POS, making it more costly than some standalone POS systems that offer similar features for a lower upfront price.
- Advanced features are gated behind monthly fees. The base POS plan is quite basic—staff management, advanced inventory, and purchase orders are only available in POS Pro, which costs an additional $89/month per location. If you have multiple stores, this can add up quickly, and you may find yourself paying significantly more than expected for a system you thought was affordable.
- Offline mode is limited. While you can process sales offline, many features like syncing inventory, accessing customer history, or processing returns won't work without an internet connection. This can be a major headache for retailers in areas with unstable Wi-Fi or for those who need to operate in offline settings like outdoor markets.
- Customer support hours may not align with round-the-clock retail operations. While support is generally responsive, it's not available 24/7 for all plans, and you might end up waiting for a callback or chat response during off-hours. This could be a setback if you run a late-night store.
🎯 Best for
Existing Shopify merchants who operate a physical retail store or pop-up and want a POS system that fully unifies in-person and online sales.
🚫 Who should skip
Restaurants, bars, or full-service hospitality businesses, as well as retailers who don't already use Shopify and want a simpler, lower-cost standalone POS.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal for basic sales; Moderate for setting up advanced inventory, staff permissions, and multi-location workflows.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Shopify POS is an excellent choice for existing Shopify merchants who want a seamless omnichannel retail solution. It's also a good fit for growing retail businesses that value deep integration. However, if you're not already using Shopify, or you're a small business on a tight budget, the required
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseEpos NowShopify POS
Café and Coffee Shop POS85—
Epos Now offers menu modifiers, table/bar tabs, tip management, and integrated p
Boutique Retail Store Inventory Management78—
It provides barcode scanning, stock level tracking, purchase orders, and supplie
Multi-location Restaurant Chain82—
The multi-site dashboard allows centralised reporting, menu updates, and stock t
Independent Bar and Nightclub75—
It supports split bills, quick product lookups, and integrated payment terminals
Mobile Food Truck or Pop-up Stand70—
Epos Now offers portable card readers and tablet-based software, but the hardwar
Omnichannel Retail Store—95
Shopify POS excels at syncing inventory, customers, and orders between physical
Pop-up Shops and Markets—88
The mobile-first POS app works on iOS and Android with portable card readers, ma
Multi-location Retail Chains—80
With POS Pro and a higher-tier Shopify plan, you can manage inventory transfers
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Epos Now if...
- You are: UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware
- 👍 All-in-one bundles include hardware (terminal, cash drawer, printer) and software, making setup easy
- 👍 Strong UK market presence with over 40,000 customers, local phone support, and industry-specific fea
- 👍 Integrated payments allow fast reconciliation, and funds can settle quickly into your business accou
- 💰 From $39/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Pricing is not transparent — there are no public price lists, and quotes vary ba
Choose Shopify POS if...
- You are: Existing Shopify merchants who operate a physical retail store or pop-up and want a POS system that fully unifies in-per
- 👍 Deep native integration with Shopify e-commerce: inventory, customers, orders, and payments sync aut
- 👍 Strong retail features in POS Pro, including advanced inventory management, staff permissions, purch
- 👍 Easy-to-use interface that is intuitive for cashiers and store managers, with fast setup on existing
- 💰 From $5/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Requires a Shopify subscription, so it's not a standalone POS for non-Shopify me
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Epos Now cost?
Epos Now does not publish public pricing; you must contact sales for a quote. Typical costs include a monthly software subscription (starting around £30–£50 per terminal) plus hardware purchase or rental, and payment processing fees are charged per transaction.
Is Epos Now better for hospitality or retail?
Epos Now supports both, but it has stronger hospitality-specific features like table management, menu modifiers, and kitchen display integration. Retail features such as barcode scanning, stock tracking, and multi-location inventory are solid but less specialized than tools like Lightspeed or Shopify POS.
🔗 More Pos Systems Comparisons
🔀 Explore Alternatives
📧 Save this comparison
We'll email you a link to this comparison. No spam.