Epos Now and Lightspeed are two of the biggest names in UK EPOS, but they target different markets. Epos Now is a British-built all-in-one system designed for small to mid-sized retail and hospitality businesses. Lightspeed is a Canadian platform built for larger independents and multi-location businesses that need advanced inventory management and built-in eCommerce.
Epos Now starts from £225 + VAT for a complete hardware bundle with software from ~£25/month. Lightspeed starts at £75/month for software alone – hardware is quote-only on top. The cost models are fundamentally different: Epos Now sells you hardware upfront with a lower subscription, while Lightspeed charges a higher monthly fee but includes more software features as standard.
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We verified Epos Now pricing from eposnow.com/uk and Lightspeed pricing from lightspeedhq.co.uk in March 2026. Epos Now’s pricing requires a quote for exact figures – the prices below are from published bundles and verified UK review sources.
- Lightspeed wins for multi-location retailers - Advanced inventory synchronisation beats Epos Now for businesses with 3+ locations
- Epos Now costs £30 less monthly - £39/month versus Lightspeed’s £69/month for comparable retail management features
- Hardware price gap reaches £800 - Lightspeed terminals cost significantly more than Epos Now’s all-inclusive packages
- Lightspeed eCommerce integration superior - Native online store connectivity outperforms Epos Now’s third-party web solutions
- Support response times differ by 12 hours - Epos Now offers same-day UK support versus Lightspeed’s next-day international service
Quick Comparison
Epos Now bundles hardware and software from ~£250 upfront + £25/month. Lightspeed charges £75-189/month for retail software with hardware quoted separately. Both serve retail and hospitality, but at different scales and price points.
| Epos Now | Lightspeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware cost | From £225 + VAT (complete bundle) | Quote only (iPad-based) |
| Software (retail) | ~£25/month (standard) | £75/month (Basic) |
| Transaction fees | 1.7% flat rate | Custom quote |
| Contract length | 24-36 months (typical) | Annual or monthly |
| eCommerce | Via integration | Built-in (all plans) |
| Advanced inventory | Basic + app integrations | Multi-variant, matrices, suppliers |
| Multi-location | Yes | Yes (Plus plan, centralised) |
| App marketplace | 100+ integrations | Integrations available |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot | 4.5/5 (24,000+ reviews) | 4.2/5 (2,399 reviews) |
Total Cost of Ownership
The headline prices are misleading without context. Epos Now looks cheaper upfront but locks you into a multi-year contract. Lightspeed costs more monthly but gives you flexibility and includes features that Epos Now charges as add-ons.
| Cost over 2 years (1 till) | Epos Now | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | ~£250 (complete bundle) | ~£400-600 (estimated, iPad + peripherals) |
| Software (24 months) | £600 (£25/month) | £1,800 (£75/month, Basic) |
| Total (basic) | ~£850 | ~£2,200-2,400 |
| With 24/7 support | ~£1,186 (£39/month + hardware) | ~£2,200-2,400 (support included) |
Over two years, Epos Now is significantly cheaper for a single-till setup – roughly £850 vs £2,200+. That’s a genuine saving for a small shop or cafe. But Lightspeed includes eCommerce, advanced inventory, and reporting features that Epos Now either charges extra for or doesn’t offer.
The contract is the catch with Epos Now. Multiple review sites report 24-36 month lock-in periods, and users frequently mention difficulty cancelling. Lightspeed offers annual plans with monthly billing options – more flexible if your business circumstances change.
Epos Now is substantially cheaper for single-location businesses: ~£850 over 2 years vs ~£2,200+ for Lightspeed. But Epos Now typically locks you into a 24-36 month contract, while Lightspeed offers more flexibility. Factor in the contract risk when comparing the headline savings.
Inventory and eCommerce
Lightspeed’s inventory management is genuinely in a different league. Multi-variant tracking (size, colour, material), supplier management with purchase orders, stock transfers between locations, and automated reorder points – all built in. For retailers with complex product catalogues (fashion, electronics, homeware), Lightspeed’s inventory alone justifies its higher price.
Epos Now’s inventory is functional for basic stock tracking – product counts, low-stock alerts, and barcode scanning. For a coffee shop tracking 50 items or a small retailer with a few hundred SKUs, it’s sufficient. But once you’re managing thousands of products across variants and suppliers, Epos Now’s limitations become apparent.
eCommerce integration is where Lightspeed pulls further ahead. Every Lightspeed retail plan includes a built-in online store that syncs with your in-store inventory in real time. Sell a product online, and your shop floor stock updates instantly. Epos Now can connect to eCommerce platforms via integrations, but it’s not the same seamless experience.
For hospitality businesses, the inventory gap narrows. Both platforms handle menu management, table layouts, and kitchen display systems. Epos Now’s restaurant features are well-regarded, and its QR ordering system (Order & Pay) is a useful addition for pubs and casual dining.
Support and Reliability
Epos Now’s Trustpilot score (4.5/5 from 24,000+ reviews) is impressive by volume, but the reviews are polarised. Positive reviews praise the hardware quality and ease of setup. Negative reviews consistently mention aggressive sales tactics, difficulty cancelling contracts, and unexpected add-on charges.
Lightspeed’s Trustpilot score (4.2/5 from 2,399 reviews) reflects a smaller but generally more consistent user experience. Support is included on all plans with 24/7 availability. Lightspeed’s support team is generally rated well for technical competence, though response times vary.
Epos Now offers standard support on its base plan (~£25/month) and 24/7 premium support for ~£39/month. If you’re running a busy restaurant or shop that operates evenings and weekends, the premium support tier is effectively mandatory – adding £14/month to your running costs.
Epos Now vs Lightspeed: Strengths Compared
Epos Now wins on upfront cost and simplicity. Lightspeed wins on features, flexibility, and scalability.
Use our free EPOS System Cost Calculator to get a personalised cost estimate based on your specific requirements.
Our Verdict
Epos Now is the budget-friendly choice for small, single-location businesses. Lightspeed is the better investment for growing retailers that need advanced inventory, eCommerce, and multi-location management.
Choose Epos Now if you’re a small shop, cafe, or restaurant that needs an affordable, all-in-one system and doesn’t need advanced inventory or online selling. The complete hardware bundle from £225 + VAT with software from £25/month is hard to beat on price. Just read the contract carefully – the 24-36 month commitment and add-on costs are the trade-off for the low entry price.
Choose Lightspeed if you’re a growing retailer with complex inventory (multiple variants, suppliers, locations) or you need integrated eCommerce. The higher monthly cost (from £75) buys you genuinely superior stock management, built-in online selling, and the flexibility of shorter commitments. For multi-location businesses, Lightspeed’s centralised inventory and reporting make it the stronger platform.
For hospitality specifically, the gap narrows. Both handle restaurant operations well, and Epos Now’s lower cost makes it attractive for pubs, cafes, and casual dining venues where advanced inventory isn’t critical.
Looking at other options? Best EPOS systems compares 10+ UK providers. Square vs Clover covers the two most popular self-serve options, and our EPOS system costs guide breaks down typical pricing across the market.
