Choosing an EPOS system for your small business means weighing up monthly costs, transaction fees, hardware requirements, and contract terms across half a dozen credible providers. This guide gives you a structured framework for comparing EPOS systems so you can make a confident decision rather than relying on sales pitches.
We rank and review the best EPOS systems for takeaways in our dedicated guide.
We’ve compared seven of the leading EPOS providers available in the UK in 2026 – covering everything from free pay-as-you-go options to premium systems with advanced inventory management. Every price and feature has been verified against provider websites in February 2026.
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- Square (free plan, 1.75% fees) is the best all-round EPOS for UK small businesses under £10K/month - includes inventory, reporting, online store, and invoicing at zero monthly cost with a £19 card reader
- Epos Now (from £25/month) suits growing businesses needing 100+ integrations and dedicated support - hardware bundles from £199 with Kitchen Display and multi-location management included
- Lightspeed (from £69/month) is best for complex retail with 500+ SKUs and multi-channel selling - advanced inventory with matrix variants, purchase orders, and integrated e-commerce
- Calculate your total cost over 12 months including hardware, software, and transaction fees - a “free” system at 1.75% costs £2,100/year on £120K turnover versus a paid system at 1.4% costing £1,980
- Never sign a contract longer than 12 months without a free trial of at least 14 days - test the software with your actual products and workflow before committing to hardware and monthly fees
EPOS System Comparison: The Complete UK Table
The UK’s seven leading EPOS providers range from £0/month (Square, SumUp, Zettle) to £189/month (Lightspeed Plus), with transaction fees between 0.99% and 1.75% per in-person card payment.
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee | Hardware From | Contract | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | £0 (free plan) | 1.75% | £19 (Reader) | None | Small businesses, sole traders |
| SumUp | £0 (PAYG) | 1.69% | £19 (Solo Lite) | None | Market traders, small hospitality |
| Zettle | £0 | 1.75% | £29 (Reader) | None | PayPal users, mobile sellers |
| Epos Now | From £25 | 1.7% | £225 (bundle) | 24-36 months | SME retail and hospitality |
| Shopify POS | From £19 | 1.7% | £59 (WisePad 3) | Monthly | Omnichannel online + in-store |
| Lightspeed | From £75 | Custom quote | Quote only | Annual | Large inventory, multi-location |
| Clover | Quote only | From 1.49% | ~£449 (Flex) | 12-48 months | Multi-site, deep integrations |
Prices verified February 2026. All hardware prices exclude VAT unless stated. For full individual reviews, see our 7 best EPOS systems guide.
What to Compare When Choosing an EPOS System
When comparing EPOS systems, prioritise five factors: total cost of ownership, transaction fee structure, contract flexibility, industry-specific features, and integration with your existing accounting or eCommerce tools.
Not all EPOS comparisons are equal. Sales pages highlight headline prices but hide the costs that matter most to your bottom line. Here are the five factors that separate a good EPOS decision from a costly mistake.
1. Total Cost of Ownership (Not Just Monthly Price)
A £0/month system with a 1.75% transaction fee costs a business processing £10,000/month in cards £175 in fees alone. Meanwhile, SumUp’s Payments Plus plan costs £19/month but drops the rate to 0.99% – saving £57/month at that volume. Always calculate your total annual cost: monthly fee + (transaction rate × monthly card turnover) + hardware amortisation.
2. Transaction Fee Structure
UK EPOS providers use two pricing models. Flat-rate pricing (Square at 1.75%, SumUp at 1.69%, Epos Now at 1.7%) charges the same percentage regardless of card type. It’s simple and predictable. Interchange-plus pricing (Lightspeed, Clover) passes through the card network’s base rate plus a fixed margin – typically cheaper for high-volume businesses but harder to predict month-to-month.
See our Epos Now vs Lightspeed comparison for a side-by-side breakdown of pricing and features.
Watch out for different rates on non-UK cards, Amex, and online payments. Epos Now charges 2.5% on Amex and JCB payments, for example, while Square charges 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards online.
3. Contract Flexibility
This is where providers diverge sharply. Square, SumUp, and Zettle have no contracts whatsoever – you can cancel any time. Shopify POS runs month-to-month. But Epos Now typically locks you into 24-36 months, and Clover’s reseller contracts can run up to 48 months. For a new business, a multi-year commitment to a system you’ve never used is a significant risk.
4. Industry-Specific Features
General-purpose EPOS systems work for basic retail, but if you run a restaurant, salon, or gym, you need industry-specific tools. Table management, kitchen display integration, and split billing matter for hospitality. Appointment booking and staff scheduling matter for services. Check our niche guides for hospitality EPOS, spas and salons, and gyms.
5. Integration Ecosystem
Your EPOS system needs to talk to your accounting software, eCommerce platform, and delivery apps. Clover leads with 200+ integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, and Deliveroo. Square and Lightspeed both have strong ecosystems. SumUp and Zettle have more limited integration options, which could become a problem as your business grows.
Cost Comparison by Business Size
A sole trader processing £2,000/month in cards pays as little as £34/month total with SumUp PAYG, while an established retailer on Lightspeed Plus processing £15,000/month may pay £400+/month in fees and subscriptions.
The right EPOS system depends heavily on your card payment volume and processing costs. Here’s what the total cost looks like at different business sizes.
| Monthly Card Turnover | Square (Free) | SumUp (PAYG) | SumUp (Plus) | Epos Now | Lightspeed Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000/mo | £17.50 | £16.90 | £28.90 | ~£42 | £75+ |
| £3,000/mo | £52.50 | £50.70 | £48.70 | ~£76 | £75+ |
| £5,000/mo | £87.50 | £84.50 | £68.50 | ~£110 | £75+ |
| £10,000/mo | £175 | £169 | £118 | ~£195 | £75+ |
| £20,000/mo | £350 | £338 | £217 | ~£365 | £75+ |
Figures include monthly subscription + transaction fees. Hardware costs excluded. Lightspeed’s transaction fees are custom-quoted so only the subscription is shown. Epos Now assumes £25/month subscription + 1.7% rate. For a complete cost analysis, see our EPOS system costs guide.
The crossover point is clear: below £3,000/month, free PAYG plans from Square or SumUp win on total cost. Above £3,000/month, SumUp’s Payments Plus plan at 0.99% starts saving real money. At very high volumes, Lightspeed or Clover’s interchange-plus models may offer the best rates, but you’ll need a custom quote to confirm.
Feature Comparison: What Each Provider Does Best
Square leads on free features and ecosystem breadth, SumUp on low-cost PAYG payments, Lightspeed on inventory management, Epos Now on all-in-one bundles, Clover on app integrations, and Shopify POS on omnichannel retail.
| Feature | Square | SumUp | Lightspeed | Epos Now | Clover | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Offline mode | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built-in eCommerce | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | Via apps | Via apps | ✓ |
| Table management | Paid plan | POS Plus | Core+ | Add-on | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi-location | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff management | Add-on | POS Plus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | POS Pro |
| Loyalty programme | Add-on | POS Plus | ✓ | Add-on | ✓ | ✗ |
| App integrations | 100+ | Limited | Strong | 100+ | 200+ | 100+ |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Paid tier | Varies | ✓ |
How to Compare EPOS Systems: Step-by-Step
Compare EPOS systems in five steps: list your must-have features, calculate total cost at your card volume, check contract terms, test with a free trial, and verify integration with your accounting software before committing.
Follow this checklist before signing up with any EPOS provider:
Step 1: List your non-negotiable features. Do you need table management? Inventory with barcodes? Online selling? Staff scheduling? Write these down before you look at any provider – it stops you being swayed by features you don’t need.
Step 2: Calculate your total monthly cost. Take your average monthly card turnover, multiply by the transaction rate, and add the monthly subscription. Compare at least three providers. The cheapest headline price is rarely the cheapest total cost.
Step 3: Check the contract. Can you leave without penalty? Is there an early termination fee? Square, SumUp, and Zettle have zero commitment. Epos Now and Clover typically require multi-year contracts.
Step 4: Test before you commit. Square and SumUp let you start for free. Epos Now offers a 30-day trial. Lightspeed provides demos on request. Never sign a multi-year contract without testing the software first.
Step 5: Verify integrations. Check that the system connects to your accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent), your eCommerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce), and any delivery apps you use (Deliveroo, Uber Eats). A system that doesn’t integrate creates manual data entry – which costs time and creates errors.
- The best EPOS system is the – one that fits your actual business needs and card volume
- not the one with – the most features or the lowest headline price
- Calculate your total cost – test the software, and never sign a long contract without a trial period
Our Recommendation
For most UK small businesses comparing EPOS systems in 2026, start with Square’s free plan – you can upgrade or switch later with zero penalty since there’s no contract.
If you’re still unsure which system to choose, start with Square. Its free plan gives you a fully functional EPOS system with no monthly fees and no contracts. If you outgrow it, upgrading to a paid plan or switching to Lightspeed or Epos Now is straightforward because you haven’t locked yourself into a multi-year agreement.
See our EPOS till rental vs buying guide for a side-by-side breakdown of pricing and features.
For businesses already processing significant card volume, SumUp’s Payments Plus at £19/month with a 0.99% rate delivers the lowest total cost for most small retailers and hospitality businesses.
For detailed reviews of each provider, see our 7 best EPOS systems guide. For cost-focused analysis, read our EPOS system costs breakdown. If you run a restaurant or cafe, our EPOS for hospitality guide covers the specific features you need.
Looking for free options? See our best free EPOS systems guide. Need a mobile solution? Check our best mobile EPOS systems comparison.
Use our free EPOS System Cost Calculator to get a personalised cost estimate based on your specific requirements.
