EPOS Systems UK 2026: Prices, Types & How to Choose the Right EPOS
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Quick answer
EPOS systems in the UK typically cost:
- £0-£60+/month (software)
- £300-£2,000+ (hardware)
- 1.2%-2.5% (transaction fees)
👉 A typical small business pays £50-£120/month total (including software + payments)
Most Businesses Choose the Wrong EPOS System
Common mistakes include:
- Overpaying for features you don’t need
- Locking into expensive contracts
- Choosing the wrong system for your industry
👉 The right EPOS setup can cut costs and improve efficiency instantly
Key Takeaways
- EPOS software pricing matters more than hardware cost
- Retail and hospitality EPOS systems are very different
- Most modern EPOS systems are cloud-based
- Payment processing is often separate from EPOS software
- Choosing the wrong EPOS can lock you into high fees
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: April 2026
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Contents
How EPOS pricing works
EPOS costs are usually made up of three components.
1. EPOS software fees
Most providers charge a monthly software licence, typically:
- £0-£20/month for basic or mobile EPOS
- £20-£60+/month for retail or hospitality EPOS
Higher pricing for multi-site, enterprise or sector-specific systems
Software pricing increases with:
- Advanced reporting
- Stock & inventory tools
- Multi-location management
- Integrations (think Xero, accounting, delivery apps)
2. Hardware costs
EPOS hardware may include:
- Touchscreen terminals
- Tablets or iPads
- Receipt printers
- Cash drawers
- Barcode scanners
and your hardware is usually:
- Purchased outright (£300-£2,000+)
- Rented monthly
- Bundled into contracts
3. Payment processing (separate)
EPOS software is not the same as card payments as payment costs depend on:
- Card machine provider
- Transaction fees (typically 1.2%–2.5%)
- Contract vs pay-as-you-go pricing
Typical EPOS Pricing in the UK (2026)
| EPOS Type |
Typical Monthly Software Cost |
Hardware Cost (One-Off or Rental) |
Payment Fees (Typical) |
Best For |
| Mobile or App-Based EPOS |
£0 – £20 |
£0-£300 |
1.4% – 2.5% |
Sole traders, pop-ups, micro businesses
|
| Retail EPOS (Single Store) |
£20 – £50 |
£500 – £1,500 |
1.2% – 2.0% |
Independent shops & boutiques
|
| Hospitality EPOS |
£30 – £60+ |
£800 – £2,000+ |
1.2% – 2.2% |
|
| Multi-Site EPOS |
£50 – £100+ |
£1,000 – £3,000+ |
Bespoke |
Chains & growing businesses
|
| Sector-Specific EPOS |
£40 – £80+ |
£1,000 – £2,500+ |
Bespoke |
Pharmacies, charities, clubs
|
| EPOS Hardware Rental |
Included in software |
£20 – £60 / month |
Separate |
|
How Much Should an EPOS System Cost?
Updated January 2026
Please bear in mind this is a general ballpark and may be higher or lower depending on your location (or multiple locations) provider deals and updates, as well as your bespoke needs.
| Component |
Average Cost |
| Hardware |
£149–£1,200+ |
| Software |
£0–£100+/month per terminal |
| Installation |
£0–£200 (optional) |
| Transaction Fees |
1%–3.5% per sale |
Overall setup estimates:
-
Basic: £600-£900 setup + £0-£49/month
-
Standard: £800-£1,000 setup + £60-£100/month
-
Advanced: £1,500+ setup + £150+/month
What’s the Best EPOS System for Your Business?
Retail shops
- Lightspeed
- Epos Now
- Shopify POS
👉 Best for stock, barcode scanning & reporting
Restaurants & cafés
- TouchBistro
- Square for Restaurants
- Clover
👉 Table management, split bills, kitchen systems
Mobile or small businesses
👉 Low cost, portable, no contracts
Growing or multi-site businesses
- Lightspeed
- Epos Now
- Clover
👉 Scalable, multi-location, advanced reporting
👉 Compare EPOS systems based on your business
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- Free, no-obligation quotes
- UK providers compared
- Built for your business type
👉 Compare EPOS Deals Now
Types of EPOS systems (and who they’re for)
Retail EPOS systems
Designed for shops and stores that need:
- Stock & inventory management
- Barcode scanning
- VAT reporting
- Supplier management
Best for:
- Independent retailers
- Convenience stores
- Clothing and gift shops
Hospitality EPOS systems
Built for fast-paced environments with:
- Table management
- Split bills
- Modifiers & menus
- Kitchen display systems
so obviously best suited for:
- Restaurants
- Cafés
- Bars and pubs
Mobile & tablet EPOS
Lightweight, app-based EPOS:
- Runs on tablets or phones
- Often pay-as-you-go
- Limited stock tools
we think this is best for:
- Pop-ups
- Market traders
- Sole traders
Sector-specific EPOS
Tailored systems can be purchased (or created!) for:
- Pharmacies
- Charities
- Members’ clubs
- Takeaways
- Spas
we think this is best for businesses with specialist workflows.
EPOS Vs Card Machines -What’s the Difference?
| Feature |
EPOS System |
Card Machine |
| Payments |
Yes |
Yes |
| Stock tracking |
Yes |
No |
| Reporting |
Advanced |
Basic |
| Best for |
Growing businesses |
Simple payments |
👉 Many businesses need both together
Where EPOS Costs Add Up
Most businesses underestimate:
- Transaction fees (biggest cost)
- Add-ons & integrations
- Hardware financing
- Long-term contracts
👉 Even small changes can save £1,000+ per year
EPOS software vs EPOS hardware
| Component |
What it does |
Why it matters |
| EPOS software |
Runs sales, reporting & stock |
Ongoing cost |
| EPOS hardware |
Physical tills & devices |
One-off or rental |
| Card payments |
Processes transactions |
Separate fees |
| Integrations |
Connects systems |
Efficiency |
Most UK businesses now choose cloud-based EPOS software with flexible hardware options.
Which EPOS setup suits your business?
| Business type |
Recommended EPOS |
| Small retailer |
Cloud retail EPOS |
| Café or bar |
Hospitality EPOS |
| Restaurant |
Table-service EPOS |
| Market trader |
Mobile EPOS |
| Multi-site |
Enterprise EPOS |
| Charity |
Low-cost or a donated EPOS |
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- UK providers compared
- Built for your business type
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EPOS vs Traditional Tills
| Feature |
EPOS |
Cash register |
| Reporting |
Advanced |
Basic |
| Stock tracking |
Yes |
No |
| Integrations |
Yes |
No |
| Payments |
Integrated |
Limited |
| Scalability |
High |
Low |
EPOS Provider Snapshot
| Provider type |
Best for |
Pricing style |
| App-based EPOS |
Small traders |
|
| Retail EPOS |
Shops |
Monthly licence |
| Hospitality EPOS |
Venues |
|
| Enterprise EPOS |
Chains |
Bespoke pricing |
Security and Compliance
UK EPOS systems must comply with:
- PCI DSS standards
- Secure card encryption
- GDPR data handling
Modern EPOS systems also support:
- User permissions
- Audit logs
- Cloud backups
A Video About EPOS Systems
Epos Systems FAQS
1. What does EPOS stand for?
EPOS stands for “Electronic Point of Sale,” referring to a digital checkout and management system.
2. What’s the cheapest EPOS system in the UK?
Square offers a free plan, ideal for startups or pop-up shops.
3. What’s the best EPOS system for restaurants?
Dineflow and TouchBistro specialise in table management, kitchen display systems, and split billing.
4. What’s the best retail EPOS?
Lightspeed and Epos Now provide the most advanced retail features like barcode scanning and variant management.
5. Can I use my tablet as an EPOS?
Yes. Providers like SumUp, Zettle, and Square let you use iPads or Android tablets as portable tills.
6. Do EPOS systems work offline?
Many cloud-based systems have offline modes that sync once internet returns.
7. Are EPOS systems secure?
Yes, most are PCI DSS compliant and follow UK GDPR standards.
8. Can I integrate EPOS with accounting software?
Yes, most support Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage integrations.
9. How long does setup take?
Most providers can have you live within 1–3 days, depending on hardware delivery.
10. Do I have to sign a long contract?
Some (like Square) are contract-free, while others offer 12–36 month options.
11. What hardware do I need?
Typically a tablet, card reader, cash drawer, and receipt printer.
12. Can I add multiple locations?
Yes, most modern EPOS systems allow centralised multi-site management.
13. What industries benefit most from EPOS?
Retail, hospitality, beauty salons, cafés, and takeaways all gain efficiency from EPOS solutions.
14. Do EPOS systems support mobile payments?
Yes, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless cards.
15. Can EPOS systems track employee performance?
Yes, they record sales per staff member and generate performance reports.
16. How do EPOS systems help with tax?
They automate VAT calculations and export reports for your accountant.
17. What’s the difference between POS and EPOS?
EPOS is the digital version of a POS, offering advanced data, cloud access, and analytics.
18. Is cloud-based better than on-premise?
For most UK SMEs, cloud-based is more affordable, secure, and flexible.
19. Can I try before I buy?
Many providers (like Epos Now and Lightspeed) offer free demos or trial periods.
20. How do I compare EPOS providers easily?
Use a comparison tool to assess pricing, features, support, and user reviews side by side.
Conclusion
An EPOS system isn essential for efficiency, compliance, and growth. Whether you’re running a boutique café or a growing retail chain, the right EPOS helps you manage payments, stock, and customers with ease.
To compare the best UK EPOS providers, use our free comparison tool and get quotes tailored to your business in minutes.
Related EPOS Guides
If you’re researching EPOS systems, the guides below cover costs, business types, providers, hardware and future trends in more detail.
EPOS costs & pricing
Understand how EPOS pricing works in the UK, including rental, software fees and hidden charges:
EPOS by business type
Different industries need very different EPOS features. These guides focus on sector-specific requirements:
EPOS hardware & technology
Learn how EPOS hardware, devices and system architecture affect performance and cost:
EPOS providers & software (full reviews)
Detailed, provider-specific reviews are covered separately to keep comparisons unbiased:
Integrations, data & advanced use
For businesses needing deeper integrations and reporting:
EPOS comparisons & future trends
Understand how EPOS systems are evolving and how to compare options fairly:
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James Ward is the CEO & Founder of Compare Your Business Costs — a UK-verified comparison platform helping SMEs save money on business broadband, leased lines, phone systems, mobile telecoms, managed services and IT support. With over 10 years of experience in telecoms and technology procurement, James is a trusted UK business expert featured in national media and verified on Companies House.
Co Authors :
Hi, I’m Ally Cox, a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.
With over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems.
Before joining CompareYourBusinessCosts, I worked across various industries, gaining hands-on experience in HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology.
My goal is simple: to help UK businesses make informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
