Epos Now vs Vend by Lightspeed
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 36 € (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
49/100
91 € starting
Independent retailers and small-to-medium retail chains that need robust inventory management, offline reliability, and
★ Best
💰 Pricing
Starting at 91 € (subscription)
Fee notes:
- Annual billing discounts: Lite $79/mo, Pro $135/mo, Enterprise $215/mo (billed annually)
- Additional fees may apply for add-on features like e-commerce integration
⚠ Watch for:
- Setup fee may apply for enterprise plans
- Early termination fees if canceling before contract end
- Payment processing fees not included; separate agreement required
🔧 Features
✓ Nz Origin✓ Lightspeed Acquired✓ Retail✓ Inventory✓ 25k Stores
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Vend's inventory management is its standout feature. You can create product variants (e.g., size, color) and track stock levels individually, which is a godsend for clothing stores. Low-stock warnings and the ability to manage stock across multiple locations in real time prevent overselling and lost sales. The stocktake function is also efficient—you can do partial or full stocktakes using just an iPad or phone, saving hours compared to manual counts.
- The native loyalty program and store credit feature is a significant differentiator. Many competing POS systems, like Square, require a premium subscription for loyalty programs, but Vend includes it in its standard plans. You can set up points-based rewards, offer discounts, and manage store credit directly from the POS, which encourages repeat business without extra fees. This is a major value-add for small retailers who want a simple way to reward customers.
- The user interface is exceptionally clean and intuitive, especially for retail staff who may not be tech-savvy. The checkout screen is clutter-free, with big buttons and quick access to product search, customer profiles, and payment. The training curve is short—most staff can pick it up in a shift—which reduces onboarding time and minimizes errors at the register.
- Vend's omnichannel capabilities are robust, with seamless integration with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce. Inventory is synced in near real-time across your online store and physical locations, preventing overselling and giving you a unified view of stock. This is essential for any retailer that sells both online and offline, and it sets Vend apart from simpler POS systems that treat online and offline as separate worlds.
- Vend supports multiple payment providers, which gives you flexibility. You can choose from Stripe, Square, Adyen, and others, allowing you to negotiate better rates or use a provider you already have a relationship with. This is a plus for business owners who want control over their payment processing fees, even though it means an extra integration step.
⚠ Watch out for
- Pricing is a major concern. Vend's starting plan is $69/month, but that only supports one register. If you need more, you'll pay $99/month for the standard plan, and the plus plan (with advanced features like CRM) is $199/month. After Lightspeed acquired Vend, pricing has become less transparent—many features that were once included are now gated behind higher tiers. For a small store, this can quickly escalate to over $250/month with hardware and payment fees, which makes it significantly more expensive than Square's free or low-cost options.
- Vend does not include built-in payment processing. You must integrate a third-party provider, which means additional setup time, extra paperwork, and transaction fees on top of your monthly subscription. While the flexibility is nice, it's a hassle for small businesses that want an all-in-one solution. Competitors like Square offer integrated payments with no monthly fee, which is much simpler for micro-retailers.
- Hardware and setup costs are not included in the subscription price. You need to purchase an iPad or PC, a cash drawer, receipt printer, and barcode scanner (or a mobile POS system). This can add up to $1,000–$2,000 upfront, which is a significant investment for a new or small business. Vend does offer hardware bundles, but they're not cheap, and there's no option to finance them through the monthly subscription, unlike some competitors.
- Customer support has received mixed reviews, especially since the Lightspeed acquisition. While there is a knowledge base and email/chat support, response times can be slow, particularly on weekends. Some users have reported that support agents are not always familiar with the system, leading to frustration. The lack of phone support on lower tiers is also a downside for businesses that prefer to talk through issues.
🎯 Best for
Independent retailers and small-to-medium retail chains that need robust inventory management, offline reliability, and a simple loyalty program out of the box.
🚫 Who should skip
Restaurants, salons, or service businesses that need table management, booking, or appointment scheduling — Vend is built solely for retail.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — most staff pick up the basics quickly, but configuring inventory variants, tax settings, and integrations takes some planning.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Vend is an excellent choice for growing retailers that need robust inventory management, multi-location support, and omnichannel capabilities, and are willing to invest in a premium solution. It's not ideal for single-location microbusinesses on a tight budget, who would be better served by Square o
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseEpos NowVend by Lightsp
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
Boutique retail store management—92
Vend's intuitive POS, inventory tracking, and customer profiles are built specif
Multi-location inventory sync—88
It provides real-time inventory counts across multiple store locations with easy
Omnichannel retail (online + offline)—85
Native e-commerce integrations keep online and in-store inventory synchronized,
🧭 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 Vend by Lightspeed if...
- You are: Independent retailers and small-to-medium retail chains that need robust inventory management, offline reliability, and
- 👍 Strong inventory management with variants, low-stock warnings, and stock counts across multiple loca
- 👍 Native loyalty program and customer store credit, which many competing POS systems charge extra for.
- 👍 Clean, intuitive interface designed specifically for retail staff, reducing onboarding time for new
- 💰 From $99/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Pricing is opaque and tends to be higher than self-serve alternatives like Squar
❓ 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.
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