Written by Dan Barraclough Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on 6 June 2022 On this page Our recommended retail EPOS systems Epos Now Clover Worldpay Vend Revel Takepayments Plus How Much Does a Retail EPOS System Cost? Comparing retail EPOS systems Cheap retail POS systems Next Steps How We Test EPOS Systems FAQs Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. In the market for an EPOS system but don't want to break the bank? We've got you covered.We break down our top 5 cheap retail EPOS systems. Our favourite is EPOS Now, closely followed by Clover.If you want to compare quotes from providers now, you can use our free quote tool to get no-obligation quotes from trusted suppliers. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward EPOS Now Clover Worldpay Vend Revel Systems takepayments Pricing Custom Pricing Custom Pricing From £19/month Pricing From £39/month Pricing Contact provider Pricing From £45/month Key Features In-built CRM system Key Features Loyalty programs Key Features Great reporting functionalities Key Features Intuitive interface Key Features Quick service Key Features All-in-one system EM star rating 4.0 EM star rating 4.0 EM star rating 3.5 EM star rating 3.0 EM star rating 3.0 EM star rating 3.0 EPOS Now Retail EPOS Package EPOS Now’s multi award-winning retail EPOS package features a robust till system that comes complete with a thermal receipt printer and cash drawer. Industry leading software makes inventory management a breeze, and easy integration with accounting programs such as Sage and Xero cuts admin time even further. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Price: £449The EPOS Solution includes:TerminalEPOS Now Retail Software licenseReceipt printerCash drawer12-month warrantyConfiguration and installation Pros 24/7 support Insightful reporting User-friendly Cons Can be glitchy No integration with third-party apps The Clover Station from Clover Does style matter to you? If it does, then look no further than the Clover Station. But this easy-to-use touch screen EPOS till is more than just a pretty face. It’s full of useful features and your system will arrive pre-loaded with inventory — so it’s ready to use straight out the box. Just plug it in and away you go. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Clover review Price: Bespoke.The Clover Station package includes:11.6” high definition touchscreen displayReceipt printerReceipt printerCash drawer Pros Easy to use Intuitive back office management portal Integrates with third-party payment processors Cons Limited reporting No cohesion between systems at different stores Worldpay My Business Hub Reliable and compact, My Business Hub from Worldpay is a complete retail EPOS package available to lease for as little as £50 per month. It features a cleverly designed central docking hub with a built in receipt printer to save on countertop space, and the tablet interface can be detached from the stand and used to process transactions on the go. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Price: £50 per monthMy Business Hub includes:Lenovo Android tabletCash drawerIntegrated thermal printerBarcode scanner (one off payment of £119.40) Pros Great reporting functionalities Good customer service Cons Crowded dashboard Vend Vend is a cloud-based EPOS system that is suitable for retailers of all sizes. It's intuitive interface makes it easy to use and it offers tons of helpful features.The accurate reporting gives you greater accuracy and information when making important decisions around your business. It's also flexible, making it work for your unique business needs.With a straightforward set up and its ability to operate with hardware such as receipt printers and cash drawers, you have yourself a fully-fledged EPOS system. Offline mode means your customers experience won't be disrupted if the internet goes down.There is a lack of integration with third-party apps which can be a drawback if you were looking to integrate them with your EPOS system. Price: Starts from:Lean – £39Standard £59Advanced £99 Pros Intuitive interface Great reporting functionalities Cons Lacks third-party app integration Revel Revel POS is a comprehensive and unique system as it includes customer channels and your businesses operations on the dashboard. You can manage inventory, social media and customers from one platform.Revel POS gives you lots of flexibility when it comes to payment methods. You can also open a bar tab without a held card, so your guests have complete flexibility as well. Revel Smartpay supports SMS text-to-pay and QR code scan-to-pay for in-store or phone transactions. This payment method is a quick, safe, and contactless way for your customers to pay.Revel POS also gives you the options to provide store credit and provide invoices. Price: Pros User-friendly Extensive functionality Offline mode Cons Can be buggy Slightly steep pricing Takepayments Plus Takepayments Plus is aimed at small, independent businesses. For some small businesses, the current EPOS systems on the market are too complex but traditional cash registers were too simple. This is where Takepayments comes in, giving you: the card machine that does more. Takepayments boasts features and benefits including, a rapid checkout process, real-time reporting, employee tracking and the ability to get your money the next working day!You save time by accessing insightful reporting, stay on top of stock levels and prevent mistakes caused by human error. The system is easy to use, with the ability to add products within seconds. Pros Affordable Designed for small businesses Get your money the next working day Cons Lacks a lot of the features found on EPOS systems Takepayments Plus pricing:£25 a month How Much Does a Retail EPOS System Cost?The suppliers mentioned on this page range anywhere from £0 – £449. Most are in the mid-range affordable zone of around £39 per month. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward EPOS Now Clover Worldpay Vend Revel Systems takepayments Pricing Custom Pricing Custom Pricing From £19/month Pricing From £39/month Pricing Contact provider Pricing From £45/month Comparing retail EPOS systemsSo, what should you look for in a retail EPOS system? There are two things for you to consider: software and hardware.Retail EPOS softwareEPOS software packages include both a front of house and back-office program. The front of house program is what’s loaded onto your till. It holds a full list of inventory organised into easy-to-access menus, making it easy for your staff to dial up a product.But it’s in the back office that the real magic happens. Accessed via your computer, back office software gives you access to a host of clever tools to help streamline the way you do business. Make sure that your software includes:Advanced inventory management: View stock levels with the click of a mouse, easily place new orders and set up alerts for when stock falls below a certain level.Easy price adjustment: Quickly and easily update prices on a central database. This is particularly useful if your business operates across multiple premises, and for rolling out special offers and promotions.Reporting and analytics: Deep-dive reporting helps you to make smart decisions informed by data. As a retailer, you can view a day-by-day breakdown of sales and see which products are selling well and which are underperforming, and adjust orders accordingly.Remote working with cloud based software: Cloud based software allows you to log on to your system from anywhere, at any time. You can view inventory, amend prices, or roll out a promotion, all while sitting at home in your pants. Compare Retail EPOS System Prices from Leading Suppliers Get free quotes Cheap retail EPOS systemsIf you’re alarmed by the prices above, don’t fret. Cheap retail EPOS systems are easy to come by… if you know where to look.Suppliers such as EPOS Now and Lightspeed offer tablet-based retail EPOS packages on a pay-per-month basis, which helps to keep your upfront cost down massively.A cheap Lightspeed retail epos system includes:1x iPad EPOS till terminalAccess for up to five employees24/7 supportSecure cloud backupBasic reportingAnd all this for just £69 per month. Bargain.Another option is to look for a second hand system. These can be bought on websites such as eBay and Gumtree, or from a specialist second hand dealer. If you do choose to go for a second hand system, we recommend buying from a reputable dealer offering a warranty. That way you’re covered if the machine breaks a few months down the line.EPOS rentalIf you only require an EPOS system for a short period of time, or if you’re looking to keep your monthly overheads to an absolute minimum, rental is the way forward.You can rent a ready-to-go retail EPOS till for as little as £27.99 on a rolling monthly contract. Next Steps: Getting retail EPOS quotesOur free quote finder service is designed to help you get the best deal on an EPOS system by making it easy to compare prices from leading suppliers.Simply fill in our short form so we can get a better idea of what you need and we’ll match you with the most suitable suppliers for your business.It only takes a minute to apply, and there’s no obligation to go with any of the suppliers you talk to.Click on the button below to start your quote… Compare and save on POS systems Get Free Quotes How We Test EPOS Systems for BusinessesWe tested 16 market-leading EPOS systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, price, features, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to UK businesses.Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in eight main categories of investigation and 45 subcategories – in fact, we covered 61 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!Our main testing categories for EPOS systems are:Till: the core functionality of the EPOS system which includes the processing of sales transactions. It involves features such as item scanning, item look-up, and price calculation.Business Management: the features and tools provided by the EPOS system to support various aspects of running a business, such as employee management, shift scheduling, and customer management.Stock Management: the EPOS system's capabilities to manage inventory and track stock levels, including inventory tracking, stock alerts and transfers, and purchase order management.Business Development: the features and tools provided by the EPOS system to help businesses grow and improve their operations, e.g. customer relationship management, marketing integrations, and sales forecasting.Usability: how easily and intuitively the EPOS system can be used by the staff, including the user interface design, navigation, ease of training, and overall user experience during setup.Price: the cost associated with acquiring and using the EPOS system, such as the initial purchase cost, licensing fees, subscription plans, and any additional charges or ongoing costs.Help and Support: the assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using the EPOS system, including documentation, tutorials, or knowledge bases.Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the EPOS product. This can include dedicated restaurant and retail functionality like KDS, loyalty management, and multi employee login. FAQs What is a retail EPOS system? A retail EPOS system is an electronic point of sale system catered towards retailers. EPOS systems are made up of software and hardware that make it easy and efficient to take payments, manage inventory, track employees and access insightful analytics to help you make better, more informed business decisions. What should I look for in a retail EPOS system? When looking for the right EPOS system for your business, you want to take into account the following:Your budgetSecurityFeaturesGood customer serviceGreat reporting functionalitiesEase of use How do they work? EPOS systems are made up of software and hardware such as a cash register or receipt printer. The software can provide you with various features such as keeping inventory of your stock, taking payments offline and managing customers.An EPOS system helps turn a traditional cash register into an efficient tool to manage your business, increase sales, and skyrocket productivity. Written by: Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics. Reviewed by: Ruairi Shirlow Business Services Researcher Ruairi uses his 3+ years of research experience to uncover insights which can help Expert Market provide the best business solutions for their users. He has done this by meeting with business owners to find out what is important to them and what challenges they face on a daily basis. Ruairi specialises in tools that can be used to grow your business and has done research for a wide range of categories on Expert Market, such as EPOS, Website Builders, and Merchant Accounts.