Epos Now Review: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 11 April 2026

Most pub landlords assume the most expensive EPOS system is automatically the best—and waste hundreds of pounds annually on features they’ll never use. I’ve seen it happen countless times: a landlord buys Epos Now because their mate recommended it, only to realise six months in that they’re paying for table management, loyalty programs, and cloud integrations when all they really need is reliable till software and stock tracking.

If you’re running a busy pub, a slow or clunky EPOS is genuinely painful—it frustrates your staff, slows service, and makes it impossible to track what’s actually selling. That’s why EPOS choice matters. But “best” doesn’t always mean “most expensive.”

In this review, I’m breaking down Epos Now exactly as I’d analyse it for my own business: what it does genuinely well, where it falls short, what it actually costs, and most importantly, whether it makes financial sense for your pub. You’ll also see how it stacks up against realistic alternatives—because the right EPOS for you might not be Epos Now at all.

By the end of this, you’ll know if Epos Now is a solid investment or if you’d be better off spending that money elsewhere.

What Is Epos Now (And What Does It Actually Do)?

Epos Now is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed for hospitality and retail businesses. It’s fundamentally a till system that runs on tablets and terminals, syncs your sales data to the cloud, and integrates with stock management, accounting, and reporting tools. Think of it as the digital replacement for the old mechanical till—except it talks to your other systems automatically.

The platform is owned by Sage, which gives you some confidence in stability and ongoing development, though it also means you’re paying for the infrastructure and support of a large corporate system.

What makes Epos Now different from cheaper alternatives is that everything lives in the cloud. Your sales data, stock levels, staff clocking in and out—it’s all stored remotely and accessible from anywhere. You can check your takings from your phone at 2 AM if you want (though most landlords probably shouldn’t).

Key Features Breakdown: What You Get

Sales and Till Management

The core function works reliably. Multiple till terminals, fast checkout, split billing, discount handling—all standard and competent. The interface is designed for bar staff, so it’s not overcomplicated. Payment processing integrates with major card terminals (Sumup, Ingenico, etc.), so your transactions flow through smoothly.

One genuine strength: the reporting is granular enough that you can see not just daily totals, but what’s selling by time of day, which staff member rang it through, and which tables or areas are generating income. For a busy pub, that visibility is actually valuable—you can spot slow hours and adjust staffing accordingly.

Stock and Inventory Tracking

This is where Epos Now pushes itself as a premium solution. You can set par levels for stock, track wastage, and get low-stock alerts. If you integrate it with your alcohol supplier, theoretically it can help prevent running out of popular lines. Some pubs genuinely benefit from this; others find it overkill and time-consuming to maintain.

The reality: stock tracking only works if staff actually use it consistently. A lot of pubs buy inventory modules and then abandon them because they’re too fiddly. The cost of maintaining accurate stock often exceeds the cost savings from preventing waste.

Multi-Location Support

If you run two or more pubs, Epos Now shines here. You can manage all locations from one dashboard, compare performance, and move stock between sites. This is a legitimate advantage for multi-site operators—and a major reason the system is pricier than single-location alternatives.

For a single pub, this feature means nothing to you—you’re just paying for it anyway.

Integrations

EPOS integration with pub management systems matters because it saves you time and reduces data entry errors. Epos Now connects with:

• Accounting software (Sage 50, Xero, QuickBooks)
• Delivery platforms (Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats—useful if you do food or cocktails)
• Staff scheduling tools
• Customer loyalty and booking systems

The integrations genuinely work. Your daily takings can flow automatically into your accounting software, which saves hours of manual work every month and is worth something to most landlords.

Epos Now Pricing: The Real Monthly Cost

This is where Epos Now gets expensive, and where most landlords get surprised after month one. The headline pricing looks reasonable. The reality is more complicated.

Base Software Costs

Epos Now typically charges per terminal, not per location. A standard pub setup might be:

• 1–2 front-of-house terminals: £60–£75 per terminal, per month
• 1 back-of-house terminal (kitchen/bar displays): £50–£60
• Stock module add-on: £25–£40 per month
• Card processing fees: typically 1.3% to 1.8% of card turnover (in addition to hardware fees)

A single-terminal pub with basic stock tracking will realistically pay £100–£150 monthly in software and processing fees alone. That’s £1,200 to £1,800 per year before hardware.

Hardware Costs

You need tablets, card readers, or touchscreen terminals. Epos Now hardware typically costs:

• iPad or Android tablet: £300–£600 upfront (you can bring your own, which saves money)
• Card reader: £50–£150
• Receipt printer: £150–£300
• Kitchen display system (if you serve food): £1,000+

First-year outlay for a basic setup: £500–£1,200 in hardware, plus £1,200–£1,800 in software.

Hidden Costs

Epos Now charges extra for features that should arguably be included:

• Customer loyalty module: £15–£25 per month
• Table management: £20–£30 per month
• Advanced reporting: sometimes bundled, sometimes extra
• Customer support (if you want phone support rather than email): additional tier
• Setup and training: Epos Now charges for professional installation

A fully featured implementation with loyalty, table management, and support can easily run £2,000–£2,500 annually.

Compare this to your average pub takings and you’ll see whether that investment makes sense for your turnover.

Pros and Cons for Pub Landlords

What Epos Now Does Well

• Cloud-based stability: Your data is backed up and accessible remotely. If your till crashes, you can still open another terminal and keep trading.
• Multi-location management: Genuinely useful if you run more than one pub—you can compare performance and consolidate reporting easily.
• Integration quality: Works reliably with accounting, payment processors, and delivery platforms. This saves real time every week.
• Reporting depth: More granular than some cheaper systems; you can drill down into sales by staff member, time of day, or product category.
• Established and supported: Epos Now has been around for years and Sage backing means it’s unlikely to vanish overnight.

Where Epos Now Falls Short

• Expensive for single-location pubs: You’re paying for multi-site capability you don’t use. Smaller systems cost £30–£50 per month for comparable functionality.
• Stock tracking is clunky: More pubs abandon it than stick with it. It requires consistent staff discipline to maintain accurately.
• Loyalty features are basic: The built-in loyalty program is simple; if you want something sophisticated, you’ll integrate a third-party system anyway.
• Customer service can be slow: Support is email-first, and phone support costs extra. For a 2 AM till failure during a busy Friday, that’s frustrating.
• Interface is dated: It works, but the design feels like it’s from 2015. Some competitors have cleaner, more modern interfaces.
• Kitchen display system is expensive: If you serve food, the KDS module is a significant additional cost compared to alternatives.

Epos Now Alternatives Worth Considering

For Budget-Conscious Single Pubs: Toast POS or Square for Restaurants

For Multi-Location Pubs: TouchBistro or Lightspeed

TouchBistro and Lightspeed both handle multi-location management more elegantly than Epos Now and are often cheaper. If you run 3+ pubs, the comparison is worth making.

For Pubs Wanting to Keep Costs Down: Minimal EPOS + Separate Tools

Some landlords now use a basic till system (like SumUp EPOS, which is essentially free with card processing) combined with separate inventory tools and accounting software. You lose some integration convenience but save hundreds annually. This works if you’re willing to manage multiple systems.

The choice depends on your turnover and complexity. If your pub runs average takings for the UK (£1,500–£3,000 weekly for a typical local pub), you’re probably overpaying for Epos Now.

Is Epos Now Worth It? The Honest Verdict

Epos Now is worth it if:

• You run 2+ pubs and need to manage them from one dashboard
• You serve food and genuinely use the kitchen display system and order management features
• You have complex stock tracking needs (e.g., you run a high-turnover craft bar with expensive inventory)
• You already use Sage accounting software and want seamless integration
• You value established, stable infrastructure over cutting-edge design

Epos Now is NOT worth it if:

• You run a single pub with basic till and stock needs—you’re paying for features you won’t use
• You’re operating on tight margins and can’t justify £1,200–£2,500 annually in software costs
• You need phone support during trading hours—the extra tier is annoying and adds cost
• You want a modern, intuitive interface—this feels a bit dated compared to newer competitors

Here’s my honest take: Epos Now is a good system built for a specific segment of the market—multi-unit operators and complex venues. If that’s not you, you’re paying for enterprise features that translate into convenience for larger businesses, not necessity for independent pubs.

The integration with accounting software is genuinely valuable and saves time every month. That’s not nothing. But most single-location pubs would save £600–£1,200 annually by switching to a leaner EPOS and handling integrations manually or through a simpler connector.

If you’re already on Epos Now, is it worth keeping? That depends on how much time the integrations and multi-location features save you. If you’re not using them, switch. If you are, the convenience might justify the cost.

The real question you should ask yourself: What’s your pub actually need? A till that works reliably, or an entire ecosystem? Once you answer that honestly, the right EPOS choice becomes obvious.

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