You don’t want EPOS systems that cost you time, money, or headaches.

Here’s what actually matters:

• Get up and running in minutes.
  
  

• No surprise fees or hardware locks.
  
  

• Built to scale, not fall apart when you hire your second staff member.

Below are 5 UK restaurant POS systems that deserve your attention in 2025:

• UseTapp – mobile-first, no terminals required
  
  

• Square – free to start and adds features as you scale
  
  

• Clover – hardware-first, great for full-service restaurants
  
  

• Epos Now – all-in-one, UK-focused bundle
  
  

• Tevalis – enterprise-grade for serious chains

Let’s cut the fluff, here’s what matters and which one fits your plan.

What to Look For in a Restaurant EPOS

Running a restaurant is chaos. Your EPOS needs to simplify, not add stress. 

Here’s what really matters:

• Ease of use: Staff should learn it in minutes. Fast checkout, split bills, and table-side orders are must-haves.
  
  

• Payments & fees: Check the fine print. Most charge 1.5–1.75% per transaction. Watch out for higher online fees and payout charges.
  
  

• Table & order management: Table maps, tabs, and KDS integration so the kitchen sees orders instantly.
  
  

• Integrations: Online ordering, delivery apps, accounting tools, loyalty, and marketing, all in one system.
  
  

• Hardware costs: Readers (£20–£70), terminals (£150–£600+), printers/scanners (extra). Don’t just compare subscription fees, add everything.
  
  

• Scalability: Multi-location support, central reporting, and easy staff management when you grow.

👉 Bottom line: Pick the system that balances speed, cost, and growth potential not just the one with the flashiest features.

UseTapp – Hardware-Free POS + Text Marketing in One

Most POS systems make you buy terminals, stands, and extra add-ons before you can even take a payment. UseTapp flips that model. 

It’s designed for UK businesses that want to accept payments straight from a phone or tablet, no mandatory tills or bulky hardware.

But UseTapp doesn’t stop at payments.

The platform is built with SMS marketing and loyalty tools baked in. 

Every time a customer checks out, you can automatically capture their phone number (with consent) and send offers, reminders, or rewards later. 

Instead of relying on third-party integrations, the marketing engine is part of the POS itself.

Key Features

• Hardware-Free Setup: Works on your phone or tablet from day one. Optional hardware like stands, barcode scanners, and NFC readers are available if you want a more traditional counter setup.
  
  

• Cash Discount Program: Option to pass card processing fees to customers — meaning 0% transaction costs for you.
  
  

• Text Marketing: Automate follow-ups, send bulk offers, or segment your audience based on purchase history.
  
  

• Loyalty & Rewards: Let customers earn and redeem rewards without extra apps or subscriptions.
  
  

• Inventory & Sales Tracking: Manage products, track low stock, and see real-time sales insights.
  
  

• Omnichannel Ready: UseTapp can be deployed at the counter, in pop-ups, kiosks, or even city directories.

UseTapp Pricing 

• Software: No subscription fee for the POS app itself for now. You can join the waitlist here. 

Text messaging plans billed per SMS/MMS (approx. £0.03 per SMS, £0.06 per MMS).

• Transaction Fees:
  
  

  • 0% with Cash Discount Program.
    
    

  • Standard card processing rates apply if you disable cash discounting.
    
    

• Hardware: Optional add-ons (terminals, scanners, stands). Pricing varies but isn’t mandatory.

Pros and Cons

Best For

Independent retailers, salons, cafés, and restaurants that want a low-cost POS system with built-in customer retention tools. 

If you care more about engaging customers and keeping margins than running multi-location chains, UseTapp is a strong fit.

Square POS – Flexible but Add-On Heavy

Square has become one of the most popular POS systems in the UK, known for being free to start and highly flexible. 

It works on phones, tablets, and Square’s own hardware, making it attractive to restaurants and cafés that want a low barrier to entry.

Key Features

• Free POS app → Downloadable on iOS/Android, no monthly subscription needed.
  
  

• Tap to Pay → Accept contactless payments directly on iPhone/Android, no reader required.
  
  

• Omnichannel selling → Sell in-person, online, via QR codes, or even through social channels.
  
  

• Inventory tools → Stock tracking, low-stock alerts, and automatic purchase orders.
  
  

• Customer tools → Add-ons for loyalty programs, gift cards, email/SMS marketing.
  
  

• Team management → Staff scheduling, time tracking, and permissions.
  
  

• Hardware options → Reader (£19), Terminal (~£149), Stand (£119), Register (£599), plus barcode scanners, drawers, printers.

Square Pricing (UK, 2025)

• Software: Free POS app included, add-ons like Loyalty, Marketing, or Payroll charged separately.
  
  

• Transaction Fees:
  
  

  • In-person: 1.75% per transaction.
    
    

  • Online UK cards: 1.4% + 25p.
    
    

  • Online non-UK cards: 2.5% + 25p.
    
    

  • Invoices/Virtual Terminal: 2.5%.
    
    

• Hardware:
  
  

  • Square Reader: £19.
    
    

  • Square Terminal: ~£149.
    
    

  • Square Stand (iPad-based): £119.
    
    

  • Square Register (all-in-one): £599.

Pros and Cons (User Reviews)

Best For

Small-to-medium UK restaurants, cafés, or bars that want to start with no upfront cost, but are willing to pay extra for advanced tools as they grow.

Clover – Hardware-First EPOS

Clover is a flexible, all-in-one POS system designed around sleek hardware devices like Clover Flex, Mini, and Station Duo. 

Unlike mobile-first systems, Clover is hardware-first, meaning you get dedicated touchscreen terminals built to manage everything from payments to staff scheduling.

Key Features

• Multiple hardware options:
  
  

  • Clover Flex → handheld, mobile POS with printer (great for tableside and on-the-go).
    
    

  • Clover Mini → compact countertop system with built-in printer and 8” touchscreen.
    
    

  • Clover Station Duo → dual-screen setup for merchant + customer, best for busy restaurants and pubs.
    
    

• Payment processing: Accepts chip, swipe, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
  
  

• Business management: Staff scheduling, inventory tracking, real-time reporting, and customer engagement tools.
  
  

• Omnichannel support: Accept payments in-store, online, over the phone, or via social media links.
  
  

• Security: Multi-layered protection with fingerprint login, end-to-end encryption, and PCI compliance.
  
  

• Integrations: Works with eCommerce platforms, accounting software, and 20+ shopping carts.

Clover Pricing (UK, 2025)

• Monthly service fee: from £15/mo (includes hardware).
  
  

• Transaction fees: flat 1.49% across all cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.).
  
  

• Hardware costs:
  
  

  • Flex: handheld POS with printer.
    
    

  • Mini: ~£49–£59/mo depending on package.
    
    

  • Station Duo/Solo: higher-tier terminals, priced for mid-sized to large businesses.
    
    

• Other fees: No PCI fees, no minimum transaction requirements.
  
  

• Switching bonus: Clover covers up to £1,000 in cancellation fees when switching from another provider.

Pros and Cons (User Reviews)

Best For

Restaurants, pubs, and retailers that want robust, dedicated POS hardware with advanced features like dual screens, staff scheduling, and inventory control. 

Best suited for sit-down dining and mid-sized businesses that need speed and reliability at checkout.

Epos Now – Complete EPOS Bundle for Retail & Hospitality

Epos Now is one of the most widely adopted POS platforms in the UK, powering over 80,000 businesses worldwide. 

It positions itself as a “complete solution,” bundling hardware, software, payments, and integrations into one package. 

Unlike lightweight POS apps, Epos Now is designed for both retail and hospitality, with sector-specific features like kitchen display systems for restaurants or advanced stock control for shops.

Key Features

• All-in-one hardware + software → Includes a sleek touchscreen POS terminal, built-in printer, card reader, and cash drawer.
  
  

• Cloud-based management → Access sales, stock, and customer data in real time, from any device.
  
  

• Inventory control → Automates purchase orders, stock alerts, and multi-location visibility.
  
  

• Hospitality features → Kitchen Display System (KDS), delivery integrations, and table management tools.
  
  

• Omnichannel selling → Sell in-store, online, or via delivery apps with integrations to Shopify, Wix, Sage, and more.
  
  

• Staff & customer management → Set permissions, track performance, and run loyalty or rewards programs.
  
  

• Reporting & analytics → Real-time dashboards on sales, margins, and customer trends.
  
  

• Payments → Integrated Epos Now Payments with a flat transaction fee, supporting Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Epos Now Pricing (UK, 2025)

Epos Now uses a bundle-based model with upfront hardware + monthly subscription. 

Their current promotion makes it look very affordable upfront, but you still need to account for the ongoing software fee.

Notes:

• Discounted upfront pricing only applies with a 12-month subscription.
  
  

• Card processing is transparent — a single fixed rate across most payment types, which is simpler than providers that split fees by card brand.
  
  

• Next-day payouts are standard, with instant payouts available in some cases.

Pros and Cons (from Reviews)

We went through user reviews and pulled out the most common pros and cons.

Best For

Small to medium retailers, cafes, pubs, and restaurants that want a complete POS bundle with hardware included, sector-specific tools, and the ability to expand with integrations. 

Also suited for multi-site businesses needing centralized management.

Tevalis – Premium EPOS for Large Restaurants

Tevalis is an enterprise-grade EPOS platform built specifically for the hospitality industry. 

Unlike lightweight POS systems, it provides a full technology ecosystem, covering on-premise POS, cloud-based enterprise management, and 150+ integrations. 

With over 2,000 live sites and 20,000 devices supported worldwide, Tevalis is trusted by large restaurant groups, pubs, hotels, and entertainment venues. 

It’s not an off-the-shelf product, you get a tailored solution that adapts to your operations, whether that’s table management in fine dining or kiosk ordering in quick service.

Key Features

• On-Premise EPOS: Runs on touchscreens, handhelds, kiosks, and kitchen screens; built for speed of service.
  
  

• Enterprise Suite: Cloud-based management tools for stock, reporting, analytics, menu control, cash management, and customer loyalty.
  
  

• 150+ Integrations: Works with major providers for payments, reservations, delivery, accounting, loyalty, ticketing, and workforce management.
  
  

• Self-Service Kiosks: Branded kiosks for fast ordering, upselling, and reducing queues in high-volume environments.
  
  

• 24/7 Support: UK-based support team with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line specialists available 364 days a year.
  
  

• Custom Development: Bespoke features and workflows built to fit each venue’s needs.

Pricing

Tevalis doesn’t list standard plans.

Pricing is custom-quoted depending on business size, hardware, integrations, and modules required. 

From reviews and industry reports:

• Setup Costs: Generally higher than small business POS (often £3,000+ for a multi-device setup).
  
  

• Ongoing Costs: Monthly subscriptions for enterprise modules (stock, analytics, loyalty, etc.) can range from £70–£150+ per device.
  
  

• Custom Quotes: Multi-site chains or enterprise rollouts get bespoke pricing after consultation.

Pros and Cons (Based on User Feedback)

Best For

Medium-to-large hospitality businesses that need more than just payment processing, especially:

• Restaurant chains with multiple locations.
  
  

• Hotels, pubs, and entertainment venues.
  
  

• Operations needing advanced stock, reporting, and customer analytics.
  
  

• Businesses requiring deep integrations (delivery, reservations, property management, etc.).

Let’s look at all of them head to head. 

Comparison Table – Quick Look at All 5 EPOS Systems

Final Verdict

• If you’re a solo operator or micro-restaurant, Zettle or Square will get you started quickly — but expect to hit limits as you scale.
  
  

• If you need hardware variety and reliability, Clover is a solid bet.
  
  

• For a more traditional all-in-one bundle, Epos Now delivers value with hardware + support baked in.
  
  

• If you’re a chain, hotel, or large venue, Tevalis is the enterprise-grade solution you’ll be steered toward.

But if you want a system that’s simple, affordable, and built for growth without hardware lock-in or hidden add-on fees, the answer is UseTapp.

🔥 Get Started with UseTapp Today, and future-proof your restaurant POS.