EPOS & till systems
An EPOS (electronic point of sale) system is your till: it rings up sales, tracks stock, manages staff and reports your takings. Here’s how the main UK options differ, and how to pick one that fits your business and your card machine.
Photo: Simon Kadula on Unsplash
Listed alphabetically within each group, not ranked. Pricing models change often: check each provider’s current plans.
Free app + reader
Free POS app with product library, stock and reports, paired with the PayPal/Zettle reader or terminal. Simple and contract-free.
Free + paid plans
Free POS software with versions for retail, restaurants and appointments, and paid plans for advanced features. Payments are built in.
POS subscription
SumUp’s till systems for retail and hospitality, including the hospitality EPOS formerly sold as Goodtill. Pairs with SumUp readers and terminals.
Payments + tools
Card machines with pay at table, bookings and integrations with many hospitality EPOS systems, rather than a full EPOS of its own for every venue.
Quoted / plans
UK-founded EPOS provider for retail and hospitality, with hardware bundles, an app marketplace and its own integrated payments.
Restaurant platform
US restaurant POS platform now selling in the UK and Ireland, with handheld ordering, kitchen display screens and online ordering.
Fiserv platform
Fiserv’s POS and payments hardware, sold in the UK through partners and acquirers. Countertop, mobile and kiosk devices with an app market.
Subscription
Cloud POS for retail and hospitality with strong inventory, multi-store and ecommerce features.
Omnichannel
Point of sale for Shopify online stores, keeping stock, customers and orders in one place across your shop and website.
If you sell a few items and mostly need to take card payments, a standalone card machine or a reader with a free POS app may be all you need. An EPOS system earns its keep when you need to:
An integrated terminal receives the amount directly from your till, so staff don’t key it in. That speeds up queues and avoids mistakes. A standalone terminal works on its own, and staff type the amount.
Some EPOS systems only work with their own payments (for example Square, SumUp and PayPal POS). Others let you choose from several payment providers, which means you can shop around for card rates without changing your till. Ask which acquirers and terminals an EPOS supports before you buy.
See card machine fees for the payments side.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
Countertop terminals, barcode tills and stock control.
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Pay at table, tips, tabs and kitchen-ready EPOS.
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Forecourt EPOS, pay at pump, fuel cards and Fuel Finder.
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SumUp, Square, Dojo, Teya, Worldpay and more, side by side.
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