Epos Now Review: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons

Epos Now is one of the UK’s largest EPOS providers, with more than 80,000 locations worldwide using their systems. They sell a complete package – hardware, software, and payment processing – from a single vendor.

Our what is an EPOS system guide covers this in more detail.

That bundled approach appeals to businesses wanting simplicity. But it comes with trade-offs: contract lock-in, add-on costs that escalate, and a sales process that multiple review sites flag as aggressive.

Use our free EPOS System Cost Calculator to compare costs for your specific requirements.

We’ve examined Epos Now’s pricing, features, hardware, and user reviews to give you a balanced assessment. This review covers what works, what doesn’t, and whether Epos Now is the right EPOS system for your UK business in 2026.

Epos Now Pricing

Epos Now’s current hardware bundle, the Countertop 2, starts from £299. Software pricing isn’t published – you must request a quote for exact costs, and contract terms are set in that quote, so get the length in writing.

Epos Now’s pricing page leads with a hardware offer and a sales enquiry form rather than a price list, which means you won’t know the exact cost until a sales rep contacts you. This lack of transparency is a legitimate frustration shared by many prospective buyers.

Based on their product pages and verified third-party sources, here’s what UK businesses typically pay:

Contract length: Epos Now does not publish a contract length, so the term is set in your quote. Get the length, renewal terms and early termination fees in writing before you sign. Square and SumUp have no contracts at all.

Total first-year cost: The Countertop 2 bundle is £299, but software is quoted separately, so you cannot work out a first-year total until you have a written quote. Ask for software, payments and support as separate lines and add them to the £299 hardware figure.

For a detailed side-by-side cost comparison, see our EPOS system costs guide which breaks down pricing across all major UK providers.

Key Features

Epos Now’s core strength is its all-in-one approach – cloud POS, real-time analytics, staff management, kitchen display, and 100+ app integrations all from one vendor, with 24/7 support available on the Premium plan.

Epos Now covers both retail and hospitality from the same platform. The core features include:

Cloud-based POS. Sales data syncs in real time across devices and locations. You can check reports, adjust menu items, or manage inventory from any device with internet access. Offline mode keeps the system working if your connection drops.

Real-time analytics. Dashboard reports cover sales by product, time period, staff member, and location. You can see what’s selling, when your busiest hours are, and which staff generate the most revenue. Reports export to CSV for accounting.

Staff management. Clock-in/out tracking, role-based permissions, and individual sales performance. Managers can set access levels so till staff can’t access admin functions, void transactions without approval, or modify pricing.

Kitchen Display System (KDS). For hospitality businesses, orders sent from the POS appear on a kitchen screen with item details, modifications, and timing. This replaces paper tickets and reduces miscommunication between front-of-house and kitchen.

Order & Pay. QR code ordering lets customers browse your menu, order, and pay from their phone. Useful for table service restaurants, pubs, and cafés wanting to reduce staffing at peak times.

100+ integrations. Epos Now’s App Store connects with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Mailchimp, and more. Integration quality varies – some are first-party (smooth), others are third-party (occasionally unreliable).

Epos Now Capital. Business financing available through the platform – Epos Now offers cash advances repaid through a percentage of your card transactions. This is useful for businesses needing quick capital for stock or refurbishment, though the effective interest rates aren’t publicly disclosed.

Setup and Onboarding

Epos Now has offered personalised onboarding and product training with its hardware bundles, which sets it apart from self-service competitors like Square where you configure everything yourself.

The setup process works as follows:

Delivery and installation. Hardware is shipped pre-configured. The till, printer, and card terminal arrive ready to plug in. Many businesses are operational quickly after delivery, though more complex multi-location setups take longer.

Training. Epos Now provides training sessions (confirm in your quote what is included) covering till operation, back-office reporting, inventory setup, and staff permissions. Additional training sessions can be purchased if you add new features or staff later.

Menu and product setup. You can import product catalogues via CSV or enter items manually. For hospitality, menu items with modifiers (sizes, extras, dietary flags) need to be configured in the back office. This initial setup is the most time-consuming part – allow extra time for a full restaurant menu or a large retail inventory.

Integration configuration. Connecting accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks) or delivery platforms (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) requires linking accounts through the Epos Now App Store. First-party integrations are straightforward; third-party ones occasionally need support assistance.

Hardware

Epos Now’s current hardware offer is the Countertop 2 bundle, purpose-built for their software but proprietary, meaning you can’t use it with another EPOS provider if you switch.

Countertop 2 bundle (£299). Includes the Countertop 2 till, a printer and an Air card terminal. A customer display is £79 extra. Epos Now’s homepage shows the bundle as reduced from £849, so treat £299 as a promotional price and confirm it in your quote. It is designed for counter use in retail or hospitality.

Card Readers. The Air reader handles contactless, chip and PIN, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Processing goes through Epos Now Payments, which advertises rates from 0.8% with a rate match. You can use third-party processors, but the integration is smoother with their own.

Peripherals. Cash drawers, barcode scanners, scales, and kitchen printers are all available. Epos Now sells these directly, though you can source compatible third-party peripherals for less.

Epos Now for Retail vs Hospitality

Epos Now uses the same core platform for both retail and hospitality, with sector-specific features layered on top. This is different from providers like Lightspeed, which runs separate retail and restaurant products.

Retail features: Barcode scanning, product variants (size, colour), stock level alerts, purchase orders, supplier management, and multi-location inventory sync. The reporting dashboard shows margin analysis by product and category. Epos Now integrates with eCommerce platforms, though the integration depth is basic compared to Lightspeed’s built-in online store.

Hospitality features: Table management, menu modifiers, Kitchen Display System, course ordering, split bills, tab management, and QR code ordering. The KDS is the standout – kitchen staff see orders in real time with prep timing, which reduces errors and speeds up service.

Which sectors use Epos Now most? Based on their case studies and review data, Epos Now’s strongest presence is in independent cafés, pubs, takeaways, and small retail shops with 1-3 locations. Larger multi-site operations often outgrow the platform and move to dedicated hospitality systems or enterprise retail platforms.

Contracts and Cancellation

Epos Now’s contract terms are the most frequently criticised aspect of the service. Understanding exactly what you’re signing is essential before committing.

Contract length. Epos Now does not publish a standard contract length, so the term is set in your quote. Square and SumUp have no contract and Lightspeed bills annually, so ask Epos Now for the length, renewal terms and exit fees in writing before you commit.

Early termination. Leaving before your contract ends incurs fees. The exact amount varies by contract, but reviewers report being quoted the remaining months’ software fees as the penalty.

Auto-renewal. Several negative Trustpilot reviews mention contracts auto-renewing without clear notice. If you plan to leave, set a calendar reminder 90 days before your contract end date and send written notice to cancel.

Cancellation process. The most common complaint in negative reviews is difficulty cancelling. Some customers report being transferred between departments or given inconsistent information. Our advice: cancel in writing (email), keep a copy, and request written confirmation of your cancellation date and any final charges.

Pros and Cons

Epos Now’s main advantage is its complete, supported package for businesses wanting one vendor for everything. The main drawback is contract lock-in and escalating costs from add-ons and app subscriptions.

Who Is Epos Now Best For?

Epos Now suits established UK retail shops and restaurants with 1-5 locations that want a fully managed EPOS system and are comfortable with a contract commitment in exchange for dedicated support and training.

Epos Now works best for businesses that value a managed, supported system over flexibility and low cost:

Good fit:

• Established retail shops or restaurants with predictable revenue
• Businesses wanting a single vendor for hardware, software, and payments
• Multi-location businesses needing centralised reporting
• Hospitality venues needing KDS, QR ordering, and table management
• Businesses that want phone support and training included
• Owners who prefer a managed setup over DIY configuration

Poor fit:

• Startups and new businesses (the contract commitment is risky before you know your revenue)
• Mobile or pop-up businesses (Epos Now’s hardware is countertop-focused)
• Budget-conscious businesses (free EPOS alternatives have no monthly fees or contracts)
• Businesses wanting flexibility to switch providers easily
• High-volume retailers needing deep eCommerce integration (consider Lightspeed instead)

Epos Now vs Alternatives

Compared to Square (£0/month, no contract) and Lightspeed (from £75/month, annual billing), Epos Now publishes neither its software price nor its contract length, so you need a written quote to compare like for like.

If contract commitment isn’t a concern, Epos Now delivers strong value – the Countertop 2 bundle starts from £299 with a till, printer and card terminal, the Trustpilot score is higher than Square (3.9/5) and Lightspeed (3.7/5), and the managed setup saves time compared to configuring a system yourself.

If flexibility matters, Square and SumUp offer no-contract alternatives with lower starting costs. For advanced retail with multi-location inventory and built-in eCommerce, Lightspeed has deeper analytics (at a higher price point). For a full comparison, see our Epos Now vs Lightspeed head-to-head.

Integrations

Epos Now’s App Store lists 100+ integrations, but the quality and depth vary significantly between first-party and third-party apps.

Accounting: Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage integrate directly – sales data syncs automatically, which saves hours of manual bookkeeping. These are first-party integrations and work reliably.

Delivery: Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat connect to push orders directly to your POS and kitchen display. This eliminates the need for separate tablets per delivery platform – a genuine time-saver for busy hospitality venues.

Payments: While Epos Now Payments (from 0.8%, with a rate match) is the default, you can connect third-party processors. However, the integration is smoother with their own system, and some users report that using a different processor creates minor friction in reporting.

Marketing: Mailchimp and loyalty app integrations are available for customer retention campaigns. These tend to be simpler than dedicated CRM tools but sufficient for small businesses running email promotions or loyalty points.

Watch out for add-on costs. Many integrations in the App Store carry additional monthly fees – from a few pounds a month for basic add-ons to considerably more for advanced features. These costs aren’t obvious upfront and are a common source of bill shock. Always total up the monthly cost of every app you need before committing.

User Reviews and Reputation

Epos Now has 4.3/5 on Trustpilot from 26,596 reviews, with praise for product quality and ease of use, but recurring complaints about contract terms, cancellation difficulty, and upselling.

Epos Now’s Trustpilot profile shows a polarised pattern common among contract-based EPOS providers:

Positive themes (4-5 star reviews): Easy-to-use interface, reliable hardware, responsive initial setup support, good analytics dashboard. Many reviewers praise the sales and onboarding experience specifically.

Negative themes (1-2 star reviews): Difficulty cancelling contracts, unexpected charges for add-ons, aggressive upselling after initial purchase, slow response times for technical issues. Several reviewers report being charged beyond their contract end date.

The positive reviews cluster around the product experience, while the negative reviews cluster around the commercial relationship. The EPOS system itself is generally well-regarded – the business practices generate the complaints.

Third-party ratings: TechRadar rates Epos Now 4/5, praising the feature set but flagging the sales process. MobileTransaction.org gives 3.7/5, noting strong hardware but poor pricing transparency.

Our advice: Read the contract terms carefully before signing. Confirm the total monthly cost including all add-ons you’ll need. Document the contract end date and cancellation process in writing. These steps address the most common sources of complaints.

Our Verdict

Emma Clarke

Technology & Payments Specialist

Emma covers the full range of business technology, including EPOS systems, merchant accounts, telecoms, and web tools. Her experience as a retail systems consultant helps businesses choose the right digital solutions to improve efficiency and sales.

Reviewed by

Sarah Mitchell

B2B Commerce & Finance Reviewer