Best Free EPOS Software for UK Businesses

Most EPOS system providers charge monthly fees for their software, and sometimes their hardware too. These ongoing fees can be expensive, especially for if you’re a new business, or on a tight budget.

Luckily, there are free EPOS software solutions out there. Free software tends to have more limited functions than a paid version, but it’s a good stepping-stone for small businesses.

Based on our research, Square offers the best free EPOS software for UK businesses. Its free plan doesn’t skimp on functionality, and you can integrate your system with a free Square online store. Square is also a scalable option since it has paid EPOS software plans for growing businesses, making it one of the best EPOS systems on the market.

But, it’s not the only free system out there. We’ve included three other great free EPOS software systems in our list, and some providers that offer free trials or demos:

The Best Free EPOS Software: Overview

For a quick overview of each free EPOS software, check out the table below:

The Best Free EPOS Software

The best free EPOS software providers with a completely free plan are Square, Clover, SumUp, and Zettle. While the software may be free, you’ll still have to pay transaction fees, and for any hardware, such as card machines or countertop devices.

1. Square: Best for Free Ecommerce Integration

Coupled with its free EPOS software, Square also has a free online store builder, making it an affordable solution for multi-channel selling.

Why we like it

Square is the best free EPOS system on the market, with the added bonus that it integrates seamlessly with Square’s free online store builder. This makes it a great option for small businesses looking to sell both in-person and online.

You also don’t technically need to invest in hardware with a Square account, since its EPOS software can be accessed via desktop or a free iOS app. You can also take contactless payments via your smartphone, with Square Tap to Pay, saving you from buying a card machine. Although, if you do want one, Square’s card reader costs just £19 + VAT, making it the cheapest option we’ve found.

What we like most about Square’s free EPOS software is that it doesn’t skimp on functionality. Free EPOS systems are available for retail, restaurants, and appointments based businesses, each with dedicated features for these different business types.

Retail stores will get access to premium features for free, like low-stock alerts and multi-location stock management, while restaurants get advanced discount management, allowing businesses to schedule discounts for specific items, days, and times.

Limitations of Square’s free POS software

While you get a lot with a Square free EPOS software plan, as is the case with most free EPOS software, the best features are reserved for paid memberships. For example, cost management tools, on both the retail and restaurant version, are only available on the paid version.

The free EPOS system for restaurants also doesn’t let you fully customise your floorplan, which isn’t great if you change it frequently or have a complex setup like at-the-counter service as well as table service.

Square also has hefty transaction fees, at 1.75% for in-person sales. You can get slightly cheaper fees of 1.69% with SumUp, or with Clover, which offers negotiable transaction fees.

2. Clover: Best Starter Options for Businesses Looking to Scale Up

Clover’s free EPOS software is quite basic, but it’s an affordable starter solution for businesses looking to eventually upgrade to Clover’s paid EPOS software.

Why we like it

Although you might not see it advertised on the Clover website, Clover actually does have a free EPOS software plan that’s suitable for small retail businesses. Clover’s free EPOS platform is called “Payments”, and it allows businesses to take payments and access a basic version of Clover’s EPOS app. With Clover’s free EPOS software, you’ll be able to take payments, and manage employees.

However, unlike with Square, you need to invest in Clover’s EPOS hardware to access the software. You’ll need to purchase either the Clover Flex, Clover’s card machine/handheld EPOS device, or the Clover Mini, Clover’s small customer-facing screen.

Given that Clover has some of the best EPOS hardware on the market, you should think of this as a long-term investment for your business. The same goes for Clover’s free EPOS software. We don’t recommend it for extended use. It’s more of a stepping-stone system for businesses that want to upgrade to Clover’s excellent paid software.

While you’re on the free plan, you’ll benefit from low transaction fees. Clover offers negotiable and competitive rates, which means you’re likely to pay less per transaction than you would with Square or Zettle, who have fixed transaction fees.

Limitations of Clover’s free POS software

Clover’s free EPOS software is quite limited, and doesn’t come with basic reporting on orders, or inventory management features. It’s first and foremost a payment taking platform with some sales and employee tracking thrown in.

For this reason, we don’t recommend it to businesses with a complex inventory or operational structure.

Clover’s hardware, although top-tier, is also on the expensive side. Clover doesn’t advertise its pricing for the UK region (another thing it has going against it), but it does do so in the US. Based on those prices, you’re looking at paying over £300 for basic equipment.

3. SumUp: Best for Busy Cafes

SumUp app-based free EPOS software is easy to use, and can be downloaded to a phone or tablet. This discreet, portable solution is great for small cafes.

Why we like it

SumUp’s free EPOS software is a great option for small hospitality businesses, such as cafes or modest restaurants.

There are two ways to get free EPOS software with SumUp: downloading the free app onto an existing tablet, or opting for the POS Lite plan. The main difference between the two is that the POS Lite plan requires you to purchase SumUp’s £299 + VAT countertop device, but has no monthly fees. Besides this, the free software is the same.

You also have the option of purchasing SumUp’s £39 + VAT card reader, or taking payments on your smartphone with SumUp Tap to Pay. This is a very similar offering to Square, although Square’s reader is cheaper.

Like Square, a SumUp also has a free online store builder, making it a great option for businesses that sell through multiple channels. However, based on our testing, Square’s online store builder is better.

SumUp’s EPOS system is more geared towards the hospitality than the retail industry, although it can technically be used for either. Unlike Square, however, it doesn’t have separate systems for each industry, which means the features you get are a little less tailored.

SumUp’s features are also a little less advanced than Square’s (there’s no multi-location management on the free plan for example), but you’ll still be able to access basic sales reports, inventory management, and benefit from core features such as accepting tips and issuing refunds.

Limitations of SumUp’s free POS software

As we’ve touched on, SumUp’s free EPOS software is quite light on the features, and won’t be suitable for larger establishments.

It’s missing, for example, reservation tools, an essential features for sit-down restaurants, and has zero promotional tools, which are only available on the paid version. Square’s free EPOS software, on the other hand, has a function for scheduling discounts, but for full-blown promotional tools, you’ll also have to pay.

Lastly, if you’re planning on buying hardware from SumUp, be aware that its range is a little limited. It doesn’t for example, have a handheld EPOS device, a handy tool for table service restaurants. Handheld EPOS device are, however, available with Square, Clover, and Zettle.

4. Zettle: Best for Food Trucks and On-the-go Businesses

Zettle only offers free EPOS software, and has no paid versions, unlike the other providers on this list. It’s super easy to use, and is a great option for on-the-go businesses.

Why we like it

Zettle is a great choice if you’re a business that’s just starting out and you want a quick and simple free EPOS system. It’s the easiest system to use out of all the ones we tested, making it a great option for those who’ve never used an EPOS system before.

Unlike the other providers on our list, Zettle only has a free EPOS app, and doesn’t sell paid versions of its EPOS software. Since it’s app-based, you can get started for nothing if you already own a tablet, and you can take contactless payments on your phone, as is the case with Square and SumUp.

If you do choose to buy hardware from Zettle, it has some of the cheapest options out there. For £496 + VAT, you can get an iPad stand (iPad included), and a card reader with charging dock. This is less than you’d pay if you purchased each of these items separately, making Zettle’s hardware great value, especially for new businesses starting from scratch.

Since Zettle is app-based, it has a range of compact hardware, it’s a great option for businesses on the go, such as food trucks, or pop up shops.

Zettle EPOS software also packs helpful reporting features that allow you to track sales performance and manage inventory. However, the since the provider doesn’t have a more advanced version of its software, it’s not scalable, and could feel limiting once your business starts to expand.

Limitations of Zettle’s free POS software

As we’ve touched on, like most free EPOS software, Zettle doesn’t have advanced features capable of handling the operations of large restaurants or multi-location stores.

And, since you can’t upgrade to a more advanced paid version of the software, Zettle is a provider that’s mostly suitable for small businesses that stay small.

On that same theme, Zettle doesn’t sell an extensive range of hardware. It doesn’t have any KDSs, a must for busy restaurants, or fully fledged countertop devices. There’s just the iPad stand, with optional iPad included. If you want a provider with a more extensive range of hardware, we’d recommend Square or Clover. Both are also very scalable options.

The Best EPOS Software with a Free Trial or Demo

The best EPOS software providers with a free trial or demo are Shopify and Lightspeed Restaurant. Shopify offers a free trial of three days, and your first month for just £1, while Lightspeed Restaurant offers a free demo.

While you will eventually have to pay to use these EPOS software systems, free trials and demos are a great way to test out EPOS software without making a financial commitment.

1. Shopify POS: Best for Managing In-store and Online Sales

Shopify is a one-stop-shop for omnichannel selling, and has a three-day free trial for both its EPOS software and online store builder.

Why we like it

Shopify is an ecommerce giant, which has branched out into retail EPOS systems, making it perfect for selling both online and in-store.

While Shopify doesn’t have a free version of its EPOS software, or its online store (unlike Square or SumUp), it does offer a three day free trial, and you only pay £1 for your first month with both the EPOS software and the online store.

After that, you’ll pay £69 per month for its EPOS software, and the cheapest online store subscription costs £25 per month, bringing your minimum total up to £84 per month.

Although Shopify isn’t a cheap option, its £1 offer for your first month gives you plenty of time to decide whether it’s the right platform to invest in. If you do go ahead with it, you’ll be able to sell across multiple channels, including social media and online marketplaces, and you’ll get access to a comprehensive set of features, such as advanced inventory management tools and reporting features.

Shopify POS drawbacks

As we’ve seen, Shopify isn’t cheap when it comes to monthly fees, and its transaction fees aren’t much better, starting at 1.7% for in-person payments on its cheapest ecommerce plan, Basic. Transaction fees do go down if you upgrade to a more expensive plan.

And, since a Shopify EPOS system requires you to have a Shopify ecommerce store, that means its not a viable option for retailers that only do in-person sales.

2. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Driving Repeat Business

Lightspeed Restaurant is a well-known EPOS platform, which comes with some great marketing and loyalty add-ons.

Why we like it

Lightspeed Restaurant is a great EPOS system for restaurateurs looking to streamline their marketing and attract customers. Unlike Shopify, it doesn’t offer a free trial, but it does offer free demos of its EPOS platform to interested businesses.

Like a free trial, this can help you decide whether or not you want to use the EPOS system, without having to spend money on it first. And, since Lightspeed locks you into a year-long commitment, you’ll probably want to take advantage of this demo before you sign a contract.

Lightspeed Restaurant’s cheapest EPOS software plan costs £59 per month. Lightspeed’s pricing is on the expensive side, but it also offers one of the best restaurant EPOS systems out there.

Even on the cheapest plan, you’ll be able to integrate with a host of apps designed for restaurants, from loyalty program builders to reservation platforms like OpenTable. You’ll also get access to inventory management tools that offer cost vs profit breakdown for recipes, and track stock as you use it.

Lightspeed Restaurant drawbacks

Lightspeed is an app-based system, so if you’re looking for a physical terminal over just a tablet on a stand, we’d recommend going for Square’s restaurant EPOS system. There’s also no automated tip-sharing tool with Lightspeed, whereas Square has an add-on tool for this.

Lastly, table plans can’t be fully customised with Lightspeed Restaurant. For full customisation from both the front and back end of the software, we’d recommend TouchBistro.

Is Free EPOS Software Worth it?

Free EPOS software is a great way to start selling quickly. With no contract (and therefore no termination fees), and no monthly fees, it’s a solution that suits new and small businesses.

However, free EPOS software has its limitations. The free version or iteration of a provider’s EPOS software rarely gives you access to the whole range of its features. You’ll usually get access to inventory management and basic reports, but advanced features like bill-splitting or multi-location management are typically reserved for paid software, or are available as paid add-ons.

Transaction fees also tend to be higher with free EPOS software than with the paid version, since providers rely on these to generate a profit. For example, with free Zettle POS software, fees are 1.75% per in-person transaction, but with paid Clover POS software, fees are generally below 0.9%. As your business grows and deals with more sales, high transaction fees can snowball into a big expense.

That’s why it’s important to choose a free EPOS software that’s easily scalable. Most providers that offer free software also have paid versions of it, except Zettle. If you envision your sales increasing and your operations becoming more complex in the future, choosing a provider with tiered EPOS software plans will save you the hassle of having to change providers when you outgrow the free version.

How Much Does an EPOS System Cost on Average?

When it comes to software alone, EPOS systems cost around £30 to £50 per month for medium-sized businesses, and £100 to £400 per month for large establishments or multi-location chains.

Hardware is typically a one-time charge and costs £150 to £2,000+ depending on the extent of your setup, and the number of locations you’re buying equipment for. For example, Square’s card reader only costs $59, but a full register kit with cash drawer and receipt printer costs $1,269.

Some EPOS providers will rent hardware to you, and bundle the cost with your monthly software subscription fee. This can be handy if you’re running an operation with several locations, but if you only have one or two, buying hardware upfront will work out cheaper.

Paid providers usually offer price tiers that offer you different levels of features, and are designed for businesses of varying sizes. Lightspeed Restaurant has a pretty typical pricing structure. It has three paid plans, the £59 Starter plan, the £109 Essential plan, and the £339 Premium plan. By their names, it’s quite easy to guess what type of business each plan is designed for.