Epos Now Review and Pricing

Why We Chose Epos Now for Integrations

When we researched and tested Epos Now, we found it to be one of the most comprehensive and integrative POS systems on the market. The software is feature-rich but can integrate with hundreds of third-party applications, which helps businesses streamline critical functions. In contrast, many other POS systems we analyzed offer integrations with only about 50 to 70 other applications. 

In regard to payment processing, we like that Epos Now integrates with third-party payment processors — many of its competitors require you to use their in-house payment processors. This robust payment processing integration is ideal for those who want the freedom to choose a payment processor that best suits their needs. We also appreciate Epos Now’s hardware flexibility. Unlike with some competitors, you can purchase hardware separately or as a bundle. 

While Epos Now works well for the retail and hospitality industries, many other industries will also find this POS solution a versatile, customizable and ideal option.

Epos Now’s award-winning retail POS system can be configured to suit your business’s needs. Image source: Epos Now

Ease of Use

We like that Epos Now offers POS systems geared toward retail (apparel stores, convenience stores, electronic stores, gift shops, vape stores, liquor stores) and hospitality (restaurants, bars, cafes, quick service, bakeries) businesses. Business owners can rest assured they’re getting features relevant to their industry, simplifying operations and making the systems easier to implement.

Regarding usability, we found Epos Now to be competitive with other POS systems. The company claims its POS software is so easy to use that you can train employees in only 15 minutes. Unlike competitors with more complicated interfaces, Epos Now is ideal for companies that want to get things up and running quickly or frequently hire new staff. We like that you can set permissions and add modifications to the software so your staff gets the best and most user-friendly experience possible.

It’s easy to train staff on the Epos Now platform. Image source: Epos Now

Features

Top POS providers go to great lengths to offer an array of valuable POS features at an affordable price. Epos Now delivers on both fronts. Here’s a look at the POS features that helped make Epos Now our best pick for integrations.

Software Integrations

Epos Now stands out among the competition when it comes to third-party software integrations. With over 100 app integrations, this system is compatible with more third-party platforms than many other POS systems we reviewed. Integration capabilities are essential for customizing your POS system to meet your business’s needs, allowing you to streamline multiple business processes efficiently.

Some popular integrations Epos Now supports include Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Mailchimp, NearSt, BigCommerce, SimpleERB and Workforce.com. It also offers in-house integrations like Epos Now Delivery and Epos Now Order and Pay. We especially like that APIs are also available to add custom integrations to the system.

Payment Processing Integrations

While many of the other POS systems we reviewed require you to use their internal payment processing systems, Epos Now gives you the flexibility to partner with a third-party provider. Epos Now integrates with major payment providers, including EVO Payments and International Bancard, so you can choose one that’s right for you and negotiate your rate. We like this aspect of Epos Now because customers benefit from increased convenience, flexible payment options and a streamlined transaction process.

Reporting

When we tested Epos Now, we liked that the dashboard gives you a sales overview in real time and lets you run essential POS reports on the spot. We appreciate that you can customize reports to display the information that matters most, such as top-performing products, employees who ring up the most sales, or the customers who spend the most. You can display transactions by day, hour, week or month and pinpoint the products and brands with the best profit margins. You can also export these reports into your accounting software for a clearer picture of your business’s health.

Customer Management and Loyalty Programs

Epos Now has a built-in customer management system comparable to other POS systems we reviewed. It lets you amass information about your customers and personalize customer loyalty programs. 

When testing the software, we noticed a nice customer management feature: Users can add a points element to customer profiles. For example, as customers earn points over time, those points are saved in the Epos Now system; customers can then use those points to pay for products or services. 

Epos Now’s additional customer loyalty integrations add versatility and help the software stand out from the competition. We also liked that the software sends customer invoices, which you manage on the system’s back end. 

Set up a loyalty program with Epos Now and award loyal customers with points they can use to pay for products and services. Image source: Epos Now

Inventory and Menu Management

Epos Now’s inventory management tools are on par with the industry standard. We liked that the software offers competitive restaurant inventory management features like real-time floor plan management, time-at-table tracking and integrations with major restaurant management system apps. 

The software also lets you track inventory, automate the ordering process, and receive control alerts when stock is getting low. That prevents you from running out of hot-selling items or needing to take a dish off the menu. We liked that you can manage everything from the same system even if you have multiple locations.

When testing the software, we also noticed an impressive kitchen management tool. The kitchen display software lets kitchen staff control orders digitally instead of using printed tickets. This is great for reducing paper costs and managing cook times.

Epos Now lets restaurants use real-time floor plan management to boost table turnover. Image source: Epos Now

Pricing

Epos Now offers retail- and hospitality-centric POS systems with varying plans and POS system costs. We like that Epos Now offers a demo and a 30-day free trial, which is more generous than some other POS vendors. It also offers plans ranging from one to three years. 

Here’s a look at Epos Now’s POS charges and fees:

• Complete system pricing. Epos Now POS systems start at a one-time cost of $999 or a monthly fee of $72, payable over three years. The Complete package includes a touchscreen POS system, secure cash drawer, and high-speed printer. You also get access to the company’s software, which integrates with over 100 apps. You can use any of the major payment providers to process payments. Check Epos Now’s website or contact customer support to inquire about discount plans.
• Handheld system pricing. Epos Now also offers a handheld system, the Epos Pocket, which allows you to take orders from anywhere. The company has two plans for the Epos Pocket: Plan One is $0 upfront plus $44 per month, and Plan Two is $189 upfront plus $24 per month.
• Tablet system pricing. Epos Now’s iPad POS system starts at $599 and includes an Apple iPad, iPad POS stand, cash drawer, receipt printer and your first month of access to the Epos Now software. The Android package costs the same and comes with a Samsung Galaxy tablet, tablet POS stand, cash drawer, receipt printer and your first month of access to the Epos Now software. We were surprised and pleased to see that the Epos Now tablet plans come with iPads and tablets — most competitors sell those separately. 

Epos Now plans also offer installation, configuration and training, which is ideal for those who need to get their POS system up and running quickly. 

Implementation and Onboarding

Once you determine which software and hardware combination works best, the implementation process is relatively quick. You’ll first need to set up the software to match your company’s needs. For example, if you own a restaurant, you’ll want to add your food items to the system and create a floor plan that mimics its physical layout.

Since the POS software includes role-based user management, the implementation process includes assigning employee permissions based on organizational roles. For example, you can restrict a cashier’s accessibility to only the till. Each employee is assigned a PIN code or a swipe card to sign in, and the software logs the employee and tracks their activity on the register. The software also has a built-in time clock and staff scheduling tools. Training employees on the software is straightforward and quick.

Visualize trends with Epos Now’s customized dashboards. Image source: Epos Now

Customer Support

Epos Now offers a monthly paid customer support plan with 24/7 phone and chat support. Although Epos Now is a U.K.-based company, we spoke with an Epos Now representative and were informed that the company offers international support. We were pleased that Epos Now offers customer support regardless of location.

Although Epos Now offers support resources on its primary website, there’s also a separate support website with extensive resources. Along with phone and chat support, Epos Now offers email support, support tickets, written support guides, YouTube videos and community support.

You can create a support ticket to get help from Epos Now. Image source: Epos Now

Limitations

If you sign up for a discounted POS system, Epos Now requires you to purchase a customer support plan for $59 per month. While this support plan includes helpful resources, including 24/7 phone and chat support, it’s an extra monthly fee you must consider. If you’re looking for one of the best restaurant POS systems that includes extensive customer support at no additional cost, check out our TouchBistro review.

We also noticed that Epos Now offers one-year to five-year contracts only. Annual and multiyear contracts are relatively standard among many of the POS systems we reviewed, but they’re not ideal for a business that needs a temporary POS system. If you’re looking for a POS system with shorter-term plans, read our review of Clover.

Methodology

We researched and analyzed dozens of POS systems to identify the top solutions on the market. We looked at pricing, contracts, hardware, platform compatibility, must-have POS features, reports, payment processing, integrations, usability and customer support to help businesses choose the right POS system for their needs. We watched product videos and got hands-on experience with demos when possible. When looking for the best POS system for integrations, we prioritized features like implementation, integration selection and usability.

Bottom Line

We recommend Epos Now for …

• Companies that want flexibility with integrations.
• Companies that want to use a third-party payment processor like EVO Payments or International Bancard.
• Restaurants that require kitchen display software.

We don’t recommend Epos Now for …

• Companies that want in-house payment processing.
• Companies that want a month-to-month POS system.

Quinn Springett contributed to this article.