Written by Dan Barraclough Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on 19 May 2022 On this page Top 6 EPOS systems for hospitality YumaPOS Zettle Go Worldpay Hub TouchBistro Hotel Perfect goodtill by SumUp iiko EPOS Now Next steps What to look for when choosing an EPOS system for hospitality How We Test EPOS Systems FAQs Expand Our top picks for hospitality POS systems cover a range of businesses including restaurants, pubs and takeaways.The best EPOS systems for your hospitality business don’t just let you take payments. They empower you to better manage your tables and reservations. They mobilise your staff, streamline your processes during service, and result in immaculate experiences for your guests. This means five star reviews and returning customers.Read on to find out what these can bring to the table for your business. Or pop some details into our short form to start comparing quotes today. Top 8 EPOS systems for hospitalityWe compared the top EPOS systems in the UK for hospitality businesses. We looked at value, features, and the unique benefits they can afford your bar, cafe, hotel, or restaurant.Best for restaurants – YumaPOSBest for pubs – Zettle by PayPalBest for pop ups and convenience stores – Worldpay HubBest for bars and nightclubs – TouchBistroBest for hotels – Hotel PerfectBest for takeaways – goodtill by SumUpBest for managing multiple locations – iikoBest for cafes – EPOS Now Save by Comparing EPOS Quotes for your Hospitality Business Do you already have an EPOS system? Yes No YumaPOS Best for restaurants YumaPOS offers much more than your average POS system, with marketing tools, loyalty programs, management tools and built-in reservations. Being able to deal with several aspects of your business at once makes it that much easier to stay organised and collaborative.We’re a fan of their customer mobile app, which gives you the ability to give your customers a branded app for them to check the menu, order, pay online, access a loyalty program and even provide feedback.There are several management solutions for various categories such as ordering, suppliers, customers, inventory and even your calendar. Pros Marketing tools Fast software Customer app Cons Not supported on mobile devices YumaPOS Pricing:Starts at £29.99+vat per month. ▶ Read more: Explore our top 7 restaurant EPOS systems Zettle Go Best for pubs The Zettle Go POS app is free and is usually paired with the Zettle Reader 2. With this combination, you can accept major credit and debit cards as well as the increasingly popular Apple, Android, and Google Pay.You can also use the app to edit stock and track both sales and staff performance. In addition to a Zettle reader, you can complete your setup with a till system that includes a cash drawer, tablet stand, and printer.You can send digital receipts and store them in the cloud, saving the environment and space at the same time. You can also get paid via links, giving your customers greater flexibility. Pros Multiple options for easy and quick payments Free 12-month warranty on Zettle Reader 2 Easy-to-navigate product library Cons Doesn't integrate well with CRM platforms Zettle Go pricing:Free Wordpay Hub Best for pop ups and convenience stores With over 300,000 small business clients and more than 30 years of experience, Worldpay knows what it’s doing. And its POS solution is handmade for the frenzied pace of the hospitality industry. Worldpay Hub’s sleek design and compact size make it perfect for pop-up bars or eateries operating in a small space. Bluetooth connection means you’re not reliant on wifi. And its tablet boasts up to eight hours of battery life, perfect for serving outside and on the go.Worldpay Hub’s EPOS package includes a tablet, a card machine, and a cash register with a built in receipt printer. Do you sell a range of food and drink with a big variation in prices? Add a barcode scanner to catalogue items and speed up service – perfect if you’re running a convenience store. This feature also lets you track sales and keep tabs on your inventory. Pros Modern design Thermal printer built into cash register for convenience Comprehensive online help centre Cons Transaction charges apply – read the small print! Worldpay Hub pricingPrices start from £50/month and include setup, although you also would be eligible for a £250 upfront fee. Alternatively, you can pay £65/month with no setup fee. The scanner is not included in the package, but is available for £99.50 plus VAT. Save by Comparing EPOS Quotes for your Hospitality Business Do you already have an EPOS system? Yes No TouchBistro Best for bars and nightclubs TouchBistro provides an award-winning EPOS solution designed by restaurant people, for restaurant people. Powering eateries in over 100 countries around the world, it’s loaded with smart features. TouchBistro equips your staff with the tools to upsell and take orders faster, without having to leave the floor. And its in-built CRM feature lets you drive repeat business through rewarding your most loyal customers.TouchBistro equips your waiters with ingredient lists and allergy info on the go, so they’re ready to deal with even the most testing customer questions. Meanwhile, you’ll have your finger on the pulse with TouchBistro’s intuitive analytics features, making effective management of your bistro’s staff and stock just a touch of a button away.And it’s not just in the restaurant business that TouchBistro’s dynamic EPOS solution is making waves: it’s developed EPOS systems for breweries, food trucks, pubs and nightclubs, too. Pros Flexible pricing plans Free trial available Cloud-based analytics give you remote access to data 24/7 phone and email support Cons Annual billing means you’ll take a cash hit initially TouchBistro pricingTouchBistro offers a range of plans with differing monthly fees. If you’re a smaller restaurant looking for one license, then their ‘Solo’ plan at £59/month will suit you well. For additional licenses, you’ll pay £40 – £50 each, depending on the amount of licences.If you want some more info, why not fill out our form? It’s the quickest way to start comparing quotes and find an EPOS tailor-made to your restaurant. Hotel Perfect Best for hotels Hotel Perfect is an aptly-named EPOS solution designed with the specific needs of hoteliers in mind. It goes a long way to closing the gap between your hotel’s bar and reception. And its waiter pads mobilise your team so they can serve with speed and style. Charge bills to rooms and automate discounts for promotions and happy hour. It won’t just be your guests who benefit – this EPOS system makes for happier waiters, receptionists and managers, too.Hotel Perfect’s people-focussed EPOS also lets you set up discounts for staff and regular customers. Plus it comes with a loyalty card system where frequent stayers can accrue and spend points. Put simply, if you’re in the hotel trade, this EPOS system is perfect for you. Pros Fingerprint scanner speeds up staff sign-in Can handle multiple different menus Cons Not suitable for hospitality businesses outside of hotels Hotel Perfect pricingPricing information for Hotel Perfect’s hospitality EPOS system is available on request. goodtill by SumUp Best for takeaways As an iPad EPOS system goodtill is a great option for small to medium sized takeaways. The interface is intuitive and fast making it suitable for takeaways that rely on efficient service.You can build up the platform to your business needs with add-on features such as self-checkout mode, multi-user access, stock management and a customer database.Other important features for your takeaway include solutions to reduce wastage, loyalty schemes, a customer facing display and comprehensive reporting capabilities.Users have reported that the software does crash occasionally, but is easily fixed. Pros Fast, intuitive interface iPad-based system Customer database Cons Software occasionally crashes ▶ Read more: Best EPOS systems for takeaways iiko Best for managing multiple locations Run a sit-down establishment? iiko can digitise your floor plan and suggest ways to utilise the available floor space. Need fast food delivering? The system lets you schedule and coordinate deliveries with your drivers in real time. Ingredients running low? iiko’s inventory tracking system is a step ahead, and it’ll warn you before problems arise.Multi-store management capabilities are one of iiko’s biggest selling points. For small businesses with grand expansion plans, iiko is a truly future-proof POS solution. Pros Simple browser-based software Convenient cloud storage Cons Relatively new to the UK iiko pricingiiko’s starting ‘Accelerate’ plan costs £39/mo, which includes 24/7 online support and initial setup advice from the team. If you’ve got more than one store to manage, you’ll want to go for their ‘Grow’ plan at £49/mo. And for sprawling multi-location operations, it’s best to request a bespoke quote for the chance to get an even better deal. EPOS Now Best for cafes The UK’s largest EPOS provider comes with a proven track record of success in the hospitality industry. Its portable tills mean your staff aren’t flitting back and forth between fixed terminals. Staff have instant access to the daily specials and always know if ingredients are missing, meaning instant answers to customer questions and more satisfied cafe-goers.EPOS Now offers a POS solution that thinks on its feet – just like your staff. Its software is adaptable and cuts through the hassle of table management. This frees up your team to connect with customers and keep creating exceptional experiences.And its strengths stretch way beyond the day’s service. EPOS Now lets you manage your cafe’s stock, and have all your business’ need-to-know info at your fingertips. And with remote functions like sales, account and employee reporting, it’s one of the most complete EPOS solutions on the market. Pros Integration with your website’s booking system Drag and drop functionality lets you easily edit floor plan Scalable system Free trial available Cons Level of customer support not as broad as other suppliers EPOS Now pricingEPOS Now’s point of sale system for hospitality will set you back £1,199 (VAT exclusive). Or you can pay a monthly fee of £47. There are no hidden costs and everything’s included. Next stepsChoosing an EPOS system for your hospitality business doesn’t have to be a chore. Each system listed here is raising the ‘bar’ in its own way – whether it’s iZettle for simplicity or Worldpay Hub for style. TouchBistro is reinventing the way hospitality takes payments, with solutions for pubs, breweries and food trucks. And if you’re in the cafe business, EPOS Now is a quick-thinking solution that makes your life easier.So what next? For more detailed pricing info, you can click here for tailored EPOS quotes from Expert Market-approved suppliers. Or read on for our expert tips on choosing the supplier for you. 6 things to look for in an EPOS system for your hospitality businessThe best EPOS systems bring these big benefits to the tableWhen using our form to compare quotes and choose the EPOS supplier for you, there’s a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. Luckily, there’s a salty, delicious acronym to help you remember what your EPOS solution needs to provide.✔ CostAn effective EPOS system doesn’t have to break the bank. Higher prices don’t always mean higher quality. As well as being affordable, an EPOS solution should save you money in the long run through increasing productivity. EPOS Now’s system claims to offer savings of 10% just for reducing losses due to human error. When you start streamlining your processes, the savings follow naturally.✔ ReliabilityService doesn’t just stop randomly, and your EPOS system can’t afford to either! Don’t get floored by sudden loss of internet connectivity or battery, and make sure your EPOS is immune to crashes or freezes.✔ ImageYou’re a customer-facing business. So you’ll want a POS system that doesn’t look out of place and lends a pleasant aesthetic to your bar area. Worldpay Hub offers a POS system with clean lines and a striking, ‘less is more’ look.✔ SpeedThe old adage ‘time is money’ fits the hospitality industry like a glove. Wait time for food or drink is almost always the difference between a five star review and an angry customer. A good POS system lets your staff serve and turn over tables quicker, meaning bigger bills and more satisfied customers.✔ PortabilityA POS system equips your staff with portable technology, so there’s no flitting back and forth between tables and static terminals. Exude professionalism and never miss an order with a sleek, mobile EPOS solution.✔ SellThe best POS systems don’t just help you sell – they’ll make sure your staff are actively up-selling. Whether it’s a round of coffees with dessert or an extra side of fries, a good POS delivers value, even on the little things. 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. FAQsWhy do I need an EPOS system?Do you accept payments for goods and services on a daily basis? Well, you need an EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system. Not only can you accept credit card and contactless payments, you get accurate data relating to your staff and stock. The term refers to both the hardware components involved (like the card reader and cash drawer) and the software that runs on it.How much will an EPOS system cost my business?The price of EPOS systems varies, but will depend on the size of your business. Most EPOS systems are highly scalable, and let you purchase multiple licenses to operate across several restaurants. Some suppliers ask for a larger one-off payment, while others request a monthly fee. Certain ones charge transaction fees, too.Our form lets you compare quotes and takes the stress out of your choice. Try it here.What else do I need to take card payments?On top of your EPOS system, your hospitality business will need a merchant account to accept card payments. Sound exasperating? The good news is that having a merchant account also lets you accept payments online, which is great if you deliver. The even better news is that we can help you with merchant services comparison, to go with that brand new EPOS system.What is EPOS in the hospitality industry?EPOS systems help provide you with a seamless and easy way to deliver great customer experience and ensure you run your operations smoothly. With industry-specific EPOS systems, you can ensure your unique business needs are met from table plans, loyalty programs and marketing tools, there’s something for every business. 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.