The top retail POS software in the UK includes Square, Shopify POS, Epos Now, Lightspeed Retail, and SumUp, offering different combinations of checkout, payment processing, inventory management, reporting, and online selling. The right option depends on store size, product volume, number of locations, and whether you also sell online.
Retail POS software helps UK shops manage sales, payments, stock, products, customers, and daily store operations from one system. Modern POS platforms can also connect physical stores with online shops, support barcode scanning, manage staff, and provide sales reports.
For UK retailers, important factors include monthly software costs, card-processing fees, inventory features, hardware compatibility, multi-location support, integrations, and ease of use. Pricing can vary significantly depending on the plan, hardware, payment method, and number of locations.
What Are the Best POS Software for Retail in UK?
Our Top Picks Are:
- Square — Best for Small Retail Shops & Simple Pricing
- Shopify POS — Best for Combining Retail & E-commerce
- Epos Now — Best for UK Retail Inventory Management
- Lightspeed Retail — Best for Advanced Inventory & Multi-Location Retail
- SumUp — Best for Mobile Retailers & Market Stalls
- PayPal Point of Sale — Best for Simple Mobile Payments
- Clover — Best for Flexible POS Hardware & Growing Retailers
- KORONA POS — Best for Advanced Retail Controls
- Erply — Best for Multi-Store Retail Management
- Loyverse — Best for Free POS Software for Small Shops
- Helcim — Best for Transparent Payment Processing
- eHopper — Best for Small Retail Businesses
- Revel Systems — Best for High-Volume Retail Operations
- TouchBistro — Best for Restaurant & hospitality businesses
- Odoo — Best for Integrated Retail & Business Management
What Is Retail POS Software?
Retail POS software is a system that helps businesses process customer purchases and manage important store operations from a central platform. Instead of using a cash register only for taking payments, modern POS systems can connect checkout, products, inventory, customer information, staff management, and sales reporting.
A retail POS system can also support barcode scanning, receipts, refunds, stock updates, loyalty programmes, payment processing, and online-to-store selling. More advanced platforms can connect multiple shops and provide centralised reporting, making them useful for retailers that are growing beyond a single location.
What Are the Types of Retail POS Software?
Retailers can choose different types of POS systems depending on how and where they sell.
1. Cloud-Based POS Systems
Cloud-based POS software stores business information online and lets retailers access their system through supported devices and applications. This approach is useful for businesses that need remote access, automatic updates, online reporting, or multiple store locations.
2. Mobile POS Systems
Mobile POS systems allow retailers to accept payments using smartphones, tablets, or portable payment devices. They are particularly useful for market traders, pop-up shops, events, mobile sellers, and businesses that need flexible checkout locations.
3. Omnichannel POS Systems
Omnichannel POS systems connect physical retail stores with online selling channels. They can synchronise products, orders, customer information, and inventory so retailers can manage in-store and e-commerce sales from a more unified system.
4. Multi-Location POS Systems
Multi-location POS platforms are designed for retailers operating several stores. They can centralise inventory, product information, employee management, reporting, and other operational controls across different locations.
Why Do UK Retailers Need POS Software?
A modern POS system can help retailers manage everyday sales and store operations more efficiently.
- Faster Checkout: Process card and contactless payments while keeping checkout workflows simple for staff.
- Inventory Management: Track products, stock levels, purchases, and sales from one system.
- Sales Reporting: Monitor revenue, transactions, products, and other business performance information.
- Customer Management: Store customer information and support loyalty or marketing activities where available.
- Online and In-Store Selling: Connect physical retail operations with e-commerce channels through supported integrations.
- Multi-Store Management: Manage several retail locations from a central platform when the software supports multi-location operations.
What Matters When Reviewing Retail POS Software?
When comparing POS software for a UK retail business, focus on the features that directly affect checkout, inventory, payments, and daily operations.
Pricing and Transaction Fees
Compare the monthly software subscription with card-processing fees. A platform with £0 monthly software costs may still charge transaction fees, while paid plans may provide more advanced retail features.
Inventory Management
Look for barcode support, stock tracking, purchase orders, product variants, low-stock alerts, and inventory synchronisation. Retailers with large catalogues should pay particular attention to how efficiently the system handles stock.
Payment and Hardware Support
Check whether the POS supports the payment methods your customers use, including contactless and chip-and-PIN payments. Also compare the cost and compatibility of card readers, terminals, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and other hardware.
E-commerce Integration
If you sell online as well as in-store, choose a POS system that can connect your physical and online sales. Shopify POS, for example, is specifically designed to connect in-person selling with Shopify’s wider e-commerce platform.
Reporting and Analytics
Good reporting tools help retailers understand sales, products, inventory, and customer activity. More advanced systems may provide detailed reports for individual stores, product categories, employees, and sales channels.
Multi-Location Support
Businesses operating multiple shops should check whether the POS can manage locations centrally. Features such as shared product catalogues, stock transfers, central reporting, and location-level permissions can become important as the business expands.
Ease of Use
The POS should be simple enough for employees to learn and use during busy periods. A straightforward interface can reduce training time and help staff complete transactions with fewer errors.
15 Best POS Software for Retail in UK in 2026
Below is an in-depth breakdown of the 15 best POS software for retail in the UK, covering their core retail features, pricing, payment options, inventory capabilities, hardware support, and suitability for different types of UK retailers.
1. Square — Best for Small Retail Shops & Simple Pricing
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Software Type | Retail POS and payment processing software |
| Core Features | POS checkout, inventory management, online selling, purchase orders, barcode tools, reporting, customer and staff management |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + transaction fees |
| Free Plan | Available |
| Free Trial | 30-day trial of Square for Retail Plus |
| Supported Platforms | iOS, Android, Square hardware, and web dashboard |
Square is one of the best-known POS software options for retail businesses in the UK, particularly for small shops that need straightforward checkout, payment processing, inventory management, and sales reporting. Its retail platform brings these functions together while also supporting online selling, making it possible for smaller retailers to manage both physical and digital sales from one system.
As retail POS software, Square is designed to give UK retailers a simple starting point without requiring a monthly subscription for its basic POS software. Businesses can move to Square for Retail Plus when they need advanced inventory tools, automatic purchase orders, barcode label printing, item bundling, and more detailed retail reporting. This makes Square relevant to retailers that want to start small and add more functionality as their operations grow.
Key Features
- POS Checkout: Process in-store purchases and accept contactless, Chip and PIN, and other supported payment methods.
- Inventory Management: Track stock, receive inventory, make adjustments, and monitor products across retail operations.
- Online Selling: Connect a Square Online store with physical retail operations and keep products and orders synchronised.
- Purchase Orders: Create and manage purchase orders to organise stock replenishment and supplier purchasing.
- Barcode Tools: Print barcode labels and use barcode scanning to make product and inventory workflows easier.
- Sales Reporting: Review sales, inventory, product, and business performance information through Square Dashboard.
- Customer & Staff Management: Manage customer information, employee access, time tracking, and staff-related permissions.
Pricing
- Free: £0/month + 1.75% per in-person card transaction.
- Plus: £49/month per location + 1.6% per eligible in-person transaction.
- Premium: Custom pricing for established businesses.
- Online payments: From 1.4% + 25p for UK cards.
- Square Reader: From £19 + VAT.
- Square Terminal: From £149 + VAT.
2. Shopify POS — Best for Combining Retail & E-commerce
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Software Type | Retail POS and E-commerce Software |
| Core Features | In-store Checkout, Inventory Management, Customer Profiles, Omnichannel Selling, Payments, Staff Management, Reporting |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + payment processing |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Available |
| Supported Platforms | iOS, Android, Shopify POS hardware, and web |
Shopify POS is one of the best retail POS software options in the UK for businesses that sell both online and in physical stores. It connects in-person checkout with Shopify’s e-commerce platform, allowing retailers to manage products, customers, orders, and sales channels within the same broader Shopify environment.
As retail POS software, Shopify POS is particularly useful for retailers that want their physical shop and online store to work together. The system supports customer profiles, returns, staff access, and in-person payments, while POS Pro adds more advanced features for retailers with more demanding store operations.
Key Features
- In-Store Checkout: Process retail transactions through Shopify POS on supported devices.
- Omnichannel Selling: Connect physical stores with Shopify’s online selling infrastructure.
- Inventory Management: Manage products and inventory across supported sales locations and channels.
- Customer Profiles: Create customer profiles and connect purchasing activity with customer records.
- Returns Management: Handle eligible returns through supported Shopify POS workflows.
- Staff Management: Provide staff with controlled POS access and permissions.
- POS Pro: Add advanced retail capabilities to supported Shopify locations.
Pricing
- Basic: £25/month.
- Grow: £65/month.
- Advanced: £344/month.
- POS Pro: £69/month per location in addition to the Shopify subscription.
- Free Trial: Available on Shopify plans.
- In-person card rates: Starting from 1.7% on the Basic plan, with lower rates available on higher plans.
3. Epos Now — Best for UK Retail Inventory Management
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Norwich, United Kingdom |
| Software Type | Retail POS and Business Management Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory Management, Customer Management, Reporting, Staff Management, Multi-Location Management, Integrations |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + hardware |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Trial availability varies by current offer |
| Supported Platforms | Windows, iOS, Android, and POS hardware |
Epos Now is one of the best POS software choices for UK retailers that need dedicated inventory and store-management tools. Its platform is built around retail checkout while providing additional tools for products, stock, customers, employees, reporting, and business operations.
As a retail POS system, Epos Now is particularly relevant to independent retailers and growing businesses that want a dedicated till system rather than a basic card-payment application. Its cloud-based approach also allows retailers to manage information across connected locations and supported devices.
Key Features
- Retail Checkout: Process sales through a dedicated POS interface.
- Inventory Management: Organise products and monitor stock levels.
- Barcode Management: Use barcode-based product workflows to speed up retail operations.
- Customer Management: Store and manage customer information through the POS.
- Reporting: Review sales and operational information through business reports.
- Staff Management: Manage employee access and staff-related POS functions.
- Multi-Location Management: Centralise supported retail operations across multiple locations.
Pricing
- Core POS software: Pricing varies according to the selected package and current hardware offer.
- Retail packages: Available through Epos Now’s current pricing and sales process.
- Hardware: POS hardware packages are priced separately depending on the selected equipment.
- Custom pricing: Available for businesses requiring tailored setups or multiple locations.
4. Lightspeed Retail — Best for Advanced Inventory & Multi-Location Retail
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Montréal, Quebec, Canada |
| Software Type | Cloud Retail POS and Commerce Software |
| Core Features | Inventory Management, POS Checkout, Purchase Orders, Multi-Location Management, Reporting, Customer Management, E-commerce |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + payment processing |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Trial availability varies |
| Supported Platforms | Web, iPad, and supported POS hardware |
Lightspeed Retail is one of the best retail POS software platforms for businesses with large product catalogues or multiple locations. It combines checkout with advanced inventory, purchasing, reporting, customer management, and multi-store capabilities, giving retailers more control over complex stock operations.
As retail POS software, Lightspeed is designed for businesses that need more than basic payment acceptance. Its inventory-focused approach can help retailers manage products, suppliers, purchase orders, and stock across locations while connecting their physical stores with other commerce channels.
Key Features
- Advanced Inventory: Manage large product catalogues, variants, and stock information.
- Multi-Location Management: Coordinate inventory and retail operations across multiple stores.
- Purchase Orders: Create and manage purchasing workflows with suppliers.
- Retail Checkout: Process sales through supported POS devices.
- Customer Management: Maintain customer profiles and purchasing information.
- Reporting: Analyse sales, inventory, and store performance.
- E-commerce Integration: Connect supported online and retail selling channels.
Pricing
- Lean: Starts at approximately $139/month when billed annually.
- Standard: Starts at approximately $189/month when billed annually.
- Advanced: Starts at approximately $319/month when billed annually.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
- Payment processing: Rates depend on the selected Lightspeed Payments arrangement and market.
5. SumUp — Best for Mobile Retailers & Market Stalls
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Software Type | POS and Payment Processing Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Card Payments, Inventory, Reporting, Cash Management, Staff Management, Multi-Location Tools |
| Deployment | Cloud-based / Mobile |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + transaction fees |
| Free Plan | Available |
| Free Trial | 7-day trial available for selected paid services |
| Supported Platforms | iOS, Android, SumUp POS hardware, and web dashboard |
SumUp is one of the best POS software options for UK retailers that need a portable and relatively simple checkout system. Its ecosystem combines payment acceptance with POS tools, making it relevant to independent shops, market traders, mobile businesses, and retailers that need to take payments away from a fixed counter.
As retail POS software, SumUp provides tools for checkout, products, discounts, refunds, receipts, analytics, cash management, and employee access. Its POS Pro package is aimed at businesses requiring more comprehensive store-management capabilities, including support for multiple locations.
Key Features
- Mobile Checkout: Take payments and process sales using supported SumUp devices.
- Card & Contactless Payments: Accept cards and supported digital wallet payments.
- Product Management: Organise products and use retail checkout tools.
- Cash Management: Track cash movements and use the built-in cashbook functionality.
- Reporting & Analytics: Create reports and monitor sales information by product, seller, or store.
- Staff Management: Assign employee PINs and control access to supported functions.
- Multi-Location Support: Monitor and manage supported information across multiple retail locations.
Pricing
- Free POS: £0/month.
- POS Plus: £39/month on SumUp’s current UK POS comparison.
- POS Pro: £49/month.
- Pay-as-you-go payments: 1.69% per transaction.
- Payments Plus: £19/month when paid annually, with a 0.99% transaction fee.
- Custom: Custom transaction pricing for businesses processing £10,000+ per month.
6. PayPal Point of Sale — Best for Simple Mobile Payments
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, United States |
| Software Type | Mobile POS and Payment Processing Software |
| Core Features | Mobile Checkout, Card Payments, Inventory, Sales Tracking, Payment Links, Reporting, Customer Management |
| Deployment | Mobile / Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Transaction-based |
| Free Plan | Available |
| Free Trial | Not required for the basic app |
| Supported Platforms | iOS, Android, and supported PayPal POS hardware |
PayPal Point of Sale, formerly associated with Zettle, is one of the best simple POS options for UK retailers that mainly need mobile checkout and payment acceptance. The platform allows businesses to accept payments, manage products, streamline checkout, and monitor sales through a mobile-focused system.
As retail POS software, PayPal Point of Sale is particularly useful for small independent sellers that want a lightweight setup rather than a complex enterprise retail platform. It combines payment acceptance with inventory and sales-management tools, while businesses can use compatible PayPal POS equipment for different checkout requirements.
Key Features
- Mobile Checkout: Process sales through the PayPal POS application.
- Card Payments: Accept supported card and contactless payment methods.
- Inventory Management: Organise products and monitor inventory information.
- Sales Tracking: Review sales activity and transaction information.
- Payment Links: Use supported payment-link functionality for remote transactions.
- Reporting: Monitor sales and payment performance through available tools.
- Multi-Location Support: Manage supported POS information across multiple business locations.
Pricing
- POS software: £0/month.
- In-person card payments: 1.75% per transaction.
- Manual card entry: 3.4% + £0.20 per transaction.
- PayPal payment links: 2.9% + £0.30.
- Card/alternative payment links: 1.2% + £0.30.
7. Clover — Best for Flexible POS Hardware & Growing Retailers
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California, United States |
| Software Type | POS and Payment Processing Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Payment Processing, Inventory, Reporting, Staff Management, Customer Tools, Cloud Management |
| Deployment | Cloud-based / POS Hardware |
| Pricing Model | Subscription + payment processing |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Depends on the selected Clover offer |
| Supported Platforms | Clover POS devices and web-based management tools |
Clover is one of the best POS software and hardware ecosystems for UK retailers that want a choice of countertop, mobile, and portable checkout setups. Its POS devices combine payment acceptance with business tools such as sales tracking, inventory management, staff scheduling, and reporting.
As retail POS software, Clover is designed to give small and growing businesses flexibility in how they operate their checkout. Retailers can choose hardware according to their selling environment, from compact mobile devices to dedicated countertop systems, while cloud-based tools provide access to business information and updates.
Key Features
- Flexible POS Hardware: Choose from mobile, handheld, countertop, and dedicated POS devices.
- Payment Acceptance: Support major cards, contactless payments, and digital wallets.
- Sales Tracking: Monitor transactions and sales performance.
- Inventory Management: Track and manage retail products through supported tools.
- Staff Management: Organise employee access and staff-related workflows.
- Reporting: Access sales and customer-performance information.
- Cloud-Based Management: Receive software updates and manage supported business information through cloud tools.
Pricing
- Clover Flex Pocket: From £15 + VAT/month.
- Clover Flex: From £15 + VAT/month.
- Clover Mini: From £20 + VAT/month.
- Clover Station Duo: From £30 + VAT/month.
- Transaction fees: Vary according to the selected Clover package and payment arrangement.
8. KORONA POS — Best for Advanced Retail Controls
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Software Type | Cloud-Based Retail POS Software |
| Core Features | Checkout, Inventory Management, Retail Automation, Reporting, Multi-Location Management, Employee Management, Customer Tools |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription per terminal |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Free trial available |
| Supported Platforms | Web and supported POS hardware |
KORONA POS is one of the best retail POS software options for businesses that need advanced controls without being tied to a particular payment processor. Its platform combines checkout with inventory, reporting, automation, and multi-location capabilities, making it suitable for retailers with more demanding operational requirements.
As retail POS software, KORONA focuses on giving businesses a structured platform for managing transactions and retail operations. Its pricing is charged per terminal, while the company states that its subscriptions are processing-agnostic and include onboarding, training, and in-house support.
Key Features
- Retail Checkout: Manage standard checkout and register operations.
- Inventory Management: Track products and stock through retail-focused tools.
- Retail Automation: Automate selected operational and inventory workflows.
- Reporting: Review sales and business information through reporting tools.
- Multi-Location Management: Coordinate retail operations across multiple locations.
- Employee Management: Manage employee access and supported staff workflows.
- Payment Processor Flexibility: Use a processing-agnostic POS setup rather than being locked to one processor.
Pricing
- Core: $59/terminal/month.
- Retail: $79/terminal/month.
- Plus: $99/terminal/month.
- Industry modules: Additional $10–$50/month depending on the module.
- Setup fee: $0.
- Contract: No long-term contract required.
9. Erply — Best for Multi-Store Retail Management
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, USA |
| Software Type | Cloud Retail POS and Inventory Management Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory Management, Multi-Store Management, Customer Management, Reporting, E-commerce, Warehouse Management |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription / Custom |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Demo available |
| Supported Platforms | Web, mobile, and supported POS hardware |
Erply is one of the best retail POS software platforms for businesses managing multiple stores, large product catalogues, and centralised inventory operations. Its system combines POS functionality with inventory, customer, warehouse, reporting, and e-commerce capabilities.
As retail POS software, Erply is designed for retailers that need more control than a basic checkout application provides. Its centralised approach can help businesses coordinate products, stock, sales, and customer information across different stores and sales channels.
Key Features
- Retail POS: Process transactions and manage everyday checkout operations.
- Inventory Management: Track products and stock across retail operations.
- Multi-Store Management: Coordinate multiple retail locations from a central platform.
- Warehouse Management: Manage supported warehouse and stock workflows.
- Customer Management: Maintain customer records and purchasing information.
- Reporting: Monitor sales, inventory, and business performance.
- E-commerce: Connect supported online and physical retail operations.
Pricing
- POS pricing: Custom pricing based on business requirements.
- Subscription: Cost varies according to selected modules, locations, users, and implementation.
- Hardware: Priced separately according to the selected setup.
- Demo: Available through Erply’s sales process.
10. Loyverse — Best for Free POS Software for Small Shops
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Software Type | Cloud-Based POS and Retail Management Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory, Customer Loyalty, Employee Management, Sales Analytics, Multi-Store Management, Receipts |
| Deployment | Cloud-based / Mobile |
| Pricing Model | Freemium + paid add-ons |
| Free Plan | Available |
| Free Trial | 14-day trials available for selected paid add-ons |
| Supported Platforms | Android, iOS, and web dashboard |
Loyverse is one of the best free POS software options for small retail businesses that want basic checkout and store-management functionality without a monthly POS subscription. Its platform provides tools for sales, products, inventory, customers, loyalty, employees, and reporting.
As retail POS software, Loyverse is particularly useful for smaller shops that need an accessible mobile-based system. Retailers can start with the free POS application and add paid features such as advanced employee management, inventory history, and integrations when their operational requirements increase.
Key Features
- POS Checkout: Process sales through supported mobile devices.
- Inventory Management: Track products, stock levels, and inventory movements.
- Customer Loyalty: Create loyalty programmes and manage customer relationships.
- Employee Management: Manage employee access and selected staff functions.
- Sales Analytics: Review sales information and business performance.
- Multi-Store Management: Manage supported information across multiple outlets.
- Digital Receipts: Provide customers with electronic receipts through supported workflows.
Pricing
- Loyverse POS: $0/month.
- Employee Management: From $25/month per store.
- Advanced Inventory: From $25/month per store.
- Loyverse Dashboard: $0/month.
- 14-day trial: Available for selected paid add-ons.
- Hardware: Purchased separately.
11. Helcim — Best for Transparent Payment Processing
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Software Type | Payment Processing and POS Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Payment Processing, Inventory, Customer Management, Invoicing, Reporting, Online Payments |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Transaction-based |
| Free Plan | Available |
| Free Trial | Not required for basic software |
| Supported Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, and Helcim hardware |
Helcim is one of the best payment-focused POS software options for retailers that want transparent processing and integrated business tools. Its platform combines payments with checkout, customer management, invoicing, inventory, and online payment capabilities.
As retail POS software, Helcim is more focused on payment processing and merchant management than some dedicated inventory-heavy retail platforms. It can therefore suit smaller retailers that want their payment system and business-management tools connected without adopting a large enterprise POS suite.
Key Features
- POS Checkout: Process retail transactions through supported Helcim POS tools.
- Payment Processing: Accept supported card and digital payment methods.
- Inventory Management: Manage products and inventory through the platform.
- Customer Management: Store customer information and transaction history.
- Invoicing: Create and manage invoices through supported workflows.
- Online Payments: Accept payments through supported online tools.
- Reporting: Review transaction and business performance information.
Pricing
- POS software: $0/month.
- In-person payments: Interchange-plus pricing, with rates based on transaction type and card.
- Online payments: Interchange-plus pricing.
- Hardware: Additional cost depending on the selected device.
- Monthly software fee: $0 for the core Helcim platform.
12. eHopper — Best for Small Retail Businesses
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
| Software Type | Cloud-Based POS and Retail Management Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory Management, Customer Management, Employee Management, Reporting, Payments, E-commerce |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription |
| Free Plan | Available on selected plans |
| Free Trial | Available |
| Supported Platforms | Android, Windows, Poynt, and supported POS hardware |
eHopper is one of the best POS software choices for small retail businesses that need straightforward checkout, inventory, customer, and payment-management tools. Its system is designed to bring common retail operations together in one POS environment without requiring the complexity of a large enterprise platform.
As retail POS software, eHopper can support businesses that want to manage products and transactions while also connecting payment and customer-management functions. Its range of supported devices gives smaller retailers flexibility when selecting their checkout hardware.
Key Features
- POS Checkout: Process customer transactions through supported devices.
- Inventory Management: Track products and available stock.
- Customer Management: Store customer information and purchase-related data.
- Employee Management: Manage staff accounts and permissions.
- Sales Reporting: Review sales and operational reports.
- Payment Processing: Support integrated payment processing through compatible providers.
- E-commerce: Connect supported online selling capabilities with retail operations.
Pricing
- Free plan: $0/month on the available free POS option.
- Essential: Pricing varies by current package and market.
- Advanced: Custom/current pricing based on selected requirements.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
- Hardware: Additional cost depending on the selected POS equipment.
13. Revel Systems — Best for High-Volume Retail Operations
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Software Type | Cloud-Based iPad POS Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory Management, Customer Management, Employee Management, Reporting, Multi-Location Management, Integrations |
| Deployment | Cloud-based / iPad |
| Pricing Model | Subscription / Custom |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial | Demo available |
| Supported Platforms | iPad and supported POS hardware |
Revel Systems is one of the best POS software platforms for high-volume retailers and businesses that need a more sophisticated operational system. Its iPad-based platform combines checkout with inventory, reporting, customer management, employee tools, and multi-location capabilities.
As retail POS software, Revel is aimed at businesses that require detailed controls across their retail operations. Its broader feature set can support retailers with complex workflows, multiple locations, and higher transaction volumes.
Key Features
- iPad POS Checkout: Process transactions through an iPad-based POS environment.
- Inventory Management: Manage products and monitor stock information.
- Multi-Location Management: Centralise supported operations across multiple locations.
- Customer Management: Maintain customer profiles and related purchasing data.
- Employee Management: Control employee access and staff workflows.
- Reporting: Analyse sales and operational performance.
- Integrations: Connect the POS with supported third-party business applications.
Pricing
- Revel POS: Custom pricing based on business requirements.
- Subscription: Pricing depends on locations, terminals, features, and contract terms.
- Implementation: Additional costs may apply depending on the deployment.
- Hardware: Priced separately according to the selected iPad and POS equipment.
14. TouchBistro — Best for Retailers With Food & Beverage Operations
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Software Type | Cloud-based POS and restaurant management software |
| Core Features | POS, Payments, Menu Management, Inventory, Customer Management, Reporting, Staff Management |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Pricing Model | Subscription |
| Free Plan | Not available |
| Free Trial / Demo | Demo available |
| Supported Platforms | iPad and web-based management tools |
TouchBistro is a cloud-based point-of-sale software platform designed primarily for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other food-service businesses. It combines POS functions with tools for payments, inventory, staff management, reporting, and customer engagement, making it useful for businesses that need more than basic checkout functionality.
For UK businesses with a retail operation connected to food and beverage sales, TouchBistro can provide a more specialized POS workflow. Its iPad-based system is designed to help staff manage orders and payments while giving business owners access to operational information and management tools.
Key Features
- POS & Order Management: Process customer orders and manage transactions through the iPad-based POS system.
- Payment Processing: Accept card and other supported payment methods through integrated payment solutions.
- Inventory Management: Track ingredients, products, and inventory-related information.
- Menu Management: Create and update menus, items, modifiers, and pricing from the management system.
- Staff Management: Manage employee access, roles, schedules, and staff-related information.
- Customer Management: Store customer information and support customer engagement workflows.
- Reporting & Analytics: Review sales and operational reports to understand business performance.
Pricing
- TouchBistro POS: Starts at $69/month for the base POS software.
- Additional Products: Payments, hardware, and optional add-ons can increase the total cost.
- Pricing: Final pricing depends on the selected products, hardware, and business requirements.
- Demo: Available for businesses that want to discuss their specific setup.
15. Odoo — Best for Integrated Retail & Business Management
Company Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium |
| Software Type | ERP and Integrated Retail POS Software |
| Core Features | POS Checkout, Inventory, CRM, E-commerce, Accounting, Purchasing, Customer Management |
| Deployment | Cloud-based / On-premise |
| Pricing Model | Subscription / App-based |
| Free Plan | One App Free |
| Free Trial | 1-month trial |
| Supported Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, and supported POS hardware |
Odoo is one of the best integrated POS software options for UK retailers that want their point-of-sale system connected to wider business-management tools. Instead of operating only as a checkout platform, Odoo combines POS with inventory, e-commerce, accounting, CRM, purchasing, and other business applications.
As retail POS software, Odoo is particularly relevant to retailers that want to build a broader business-management environment around their store operations. Its modular structure allows businesses to select additional applications as their requirements grow, although the overall cost depends on the applications and users included in the subscription.
Key Features
- Retail POS: Process in-store sales through Odoo’s point-of-sale application.
- Inventory Management: Connect POS transactions with inventory and stock operations.
- E-commerce: Link physical retail activity with supported online selling tools.
- Accounting: Connect retail transactions with Odoo accounting workflows.
- CRM: Manage customer information and relationships through the wider Odoo platform.
- Purchasing: Connect retail operations with purchasing and supplier workflows.
- Integrated Business Apps: Add other Odoo applications to create a broader business-management system.
Pricing
- One App Free: $0/user/month when using one application with unlimited users under Odoo’s current offer.
- Standard: $31.10/user/month when billed annually.
- Custom: $46.80/user/month when billed annually.
- Free Trial: 1 month.
- Implementation and additional services: Additional costs may apply depending on business requirements.
Comparison of the Best POS Software for Retail in UK
| POS Software | Best For | Starts At | Free Plan / Trial | Standout Feature | Primary Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | Small shops and flexible retail | £0/month | Free plan + 30-day Plus trial | Free POS with inventory, payments, and retail tools | Advanced retail features require £49/month Plus |
| Shopify POS | Omnichannel retail | £25/month + POS Pro | Free trial available | Connects online and physical stores in one system | POS Pro costs an additional £69/location/month |
| Epos Now | Inventory-focused UK retailers | From £69/month on listed Basic Monthly package | Contact sales | Retail inventory and EPOS management | Hardware and package costs vary |
| Lightspeed Retail | Multi-location retailers | Custom/current plan pricing | Demo available | Advanced inventory and multi-store management | More complex and expensive than basic POS tools |
| SumUp | Mobile sellers and small shops | Free software option | Free option | Simple card payments and portable hardware | Advanced retail management is more limited |
| PayPal Point of Sale | Small independent retailers | Free software | Free option | Simple mobile checkout and PayPal ecosystem | Less suitable for complex retail operations |
| Clover | Custom hardware setups | £15 + VAT/month | Varies by package | Flexible POS hardware and business tools | Pricing depends on hardware and package |
| KORONA POS | Inventory-heavy retail | $59/terminal/month | Demo | Retail plan with advanced inventory and automation | Pricing is displayed in USD |
| Erply | Multi-store retail operations | $1,000/month | Demo | Centralized POS, inventory, reporting, and retail management | Enterprise-oriented pricing can be high |
| Loyverse | Budget-conscious small retailers | $0/month | Free POS | Free POS with inventory and loyalty tools | Advanced inventory and employee tools are paid add-ons |
| Helcim | Payment-focused retailers | No monthly software fee listed | Free account | POS plus transparent payment processing | UK availability and pricing should be confirmed before purchase |
| eHopper | Small retail shops | Plan-dependent | Free/trial availability varies | Retail POS and inventory management | Plan availability varies by market |
| Revel Systems | High-volume retailers | Custom pricing | Demo | Enterprise-grade iPad POS and retail management | Custom pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult |
| TouchBistro | Restaurant & hospitality businesses | $69/month | Demo available | Restaurant-focused POS with tableside ordering, menu management, staff management, and reporting | Designed specifically for restaurants rather than general retail |
| Odoo | Modular retail businesses | Plan-dependent | Trial available | POS integrated with broader business applications | Full implementation can require additional apps and configuration |
How to Choose the Right POS Software for Retail in the UK
Choosing a retail POS system depends on your store size, product range, number of locations, payment volume, and need for inventory or ecommerce integration.
Consider Your Store Size
Small retailers can usually start with a free or low-cost POS such as Square or Loyverse. Larger retailers may need stronger inventory controls, staff management, reporting, and multi-location functionality.
Check Inventory Management
If your store carries hundreds or thousands of products, choose software with barcode scanning, stock alerts, purchase orders, stock transfers, and detailed inventory reporting. These tools help reduce stock errors and improve visibility.
Evaluate Online and In-Store Selling
Retailers selling through both a website and physical shop should look for omnichannel POS software. Shopify POS and Square can connect physical sales with online selling, helping businesses manage products and customer information across channels.
Compare Payment Costs
Do not compare POS subscriptions alone. Check card-processing rates, online payment fees, hardware costs, and any additional transaction charges. Square, for example, currently lists 1.75% for UK in-person card-present transactions and separate rates for online and manually entered payments.
Check Hardware Compatibility
Make sure the POS supports the equipment your shop needs, such as card readers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and customer displays. Hardware costs can significantly affect your total first-year investment.
Think About Future Growth
If you expect to open additional stores, choose a system that can manage multiple locations and centralize inventory, products, staff, and reporting. Changing POS platforms later can be disruptive, so scalability is worth considering from the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best POS software for retail in the UK?
There is no single POS system that fits every UK retailer. Square is suitable for businesses seeking a low-cost starting point, Shopify POS is designed for retailers combining online and physical sales, while systems such as Lightspeed, Epos Now, and Erply offer more advanced retail management capabilities.
What is the cheapest retail POS software in the UK?
Square and Loyverse both offer core POS software at £0/$0 monthly software cost, although payment processing, hardware, or optional features may still cost extra. Square’s UK Retail Free plan is £0/month, while Loyverse’s core POS is free.
Can I use Square POS for a UK retail shop?
Yes. Square offers a UK-specific retail POS solution with inventory tools, online selling, exchanges, reporting, and payment processing. Its Retail Free plan costs £0/month, while Retail Plus costs £49/month per location.
Can Shopify POS manage both online and physical stores?
Yes. Shopify POS is designed to connect in-store selling with Shopify’s ecommerce platform. Its UK plans include omnichannel features, while POS Pro can be added for £69/month per location.
Do retail POS systems include inventory management?
Many modern retail POS systems include inventory management, but the depth varies. Square’s Retail plans include inventory tools, while Loyverse provides basic inventory for free and offers Advanced Inventory as a $25/month per-store add-on.
Conclusion
The best POS software for retail in the UK depends on the way your store operates. Square provides a low-cost starting point, Shopify POS connects physical and online retail, while Epos Now, Lightspeed Retail, KORONA POS, and Erply provide more extensive tools for retailers with larger inventories or multiple locations.
Before choosing a system, compare the monthly subscription, transaction fees, hardware costs, inventory features, ecommerce integrations, staff management, reporting, and scalability. A POS system that fits your current store but can also support future locations and sales channels can help you avoid the cost and disruption of switching platforms later.
