5 best pub and bar POS systems right now Is your current POS system not up to the task of running your pub or bar efficiently? It's time to find a better solution. Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 31 October 2024 Our Research When judging the best POS systems, our writers work with expert researchers to focus on key features that matter most to small businesses. These include value for money – setup, hardware and transaction fees – help and support, plus the till, stock, and business management tools available. Written and reviewed by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Keeping costs down, profits up, and customers happy can seem like a never ending struggle when you’re running a bar or pub. This is why you need a POS system that’ll help run your beverage business smoothly – but it can be a little more complicated than just looking for the overall best POS system for a small business. Don’t worry though, we’re here to help.We rigorously tested a range of top POS platforms and determined that Square was our top choice for pubs and bars. It emerged as our number one thanks to its great range of hardware, feature-filled software, and excellent help and support.Adaptability, efficiency, and ease-of-use should also be the watchwords when choosing your bar and pub POS system, as well all the features you’ll use daily, like bill splitting and inventory management. We’ll take you through our top choices, and the standout features they boast, below: Best pub & bar POS systems at a glance *Featured* Lightspeed: best for driving repeat businessSquare: best for scaling and growing your pub or barClover POS: best range of hardware optionsEpos Now: best for managing your bar’s inventorySumUp: best for speed and efficiency in a smaller environmentClick any of the links above to learn more about each brand and compare costs on a POS system for the needs and size of your own business How many POS terminals does your pub or bar need? Just 1 2-3 Over 3 Unsure Compare Costs Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward FEATURED BEST ALL ROUND Lightspeed Restaurant Square Clover Epos Now SumUp Best for Best for driving repeat business Best for Best for scaling and growing your pub or bar Best for Best for scaling and growing your pub or bar Best for Managing your bar’s inventory Best for Best for speed and efficiency in a smaller environment Pricing from £109 per month Pricing from Hardware: From £19 plus VATSoftware from: Free Pricing from Contact Clover for prices Pricing from Hardware: From £225Monthly subscriptions: From £25 per month Pricing from Hardware: From £39 plus VATSoftware from: Free Features Huge number of third party integrationsWork offline functionalityGreat customer service Features Powerful customer management softwareReal time in-depth reportsPay team members with team management Features Sales data reportingLoyalty programme managementBuilt-in fraud protection and multi-layered security Features In-depth sales reportingThird party app integrationsKitchen management functionality Features Great range of hardware and accessoriesInventory management tools with stock alerts and cost managementMobile and QR code ordering 1. Square: best for scaling and growing your pub or bar 2. Clover POS: best range of hardware options 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: best for driving repeat business 4. Epos Now: best for managing your bar’s inventory 5. SumUp: best for speed and efficiency in a smaller environment How we test pub and bar POS systems Buying guide: how to choose a POS system for your pub or bar Read on for our expert bar and pub POS guide to help you find the system that best suits your customers, staff, and budget. 1. Square: best for scaling and growing your pub or bar Square POS 4.8 Starting software price: Free plan Transaction fees from: From 1.75% Great range of hardware as well as an iOS app Excellent employee management system Lets you efficiently manage multiple store locations Summary Square is headed up by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Specifically designed for small to medium sized businesses, it leads the US market for POS systems, currently serving four million clients. Show moreless Suitable if: You want a low-cost option to start You want the option to upgrade to more advanced features Accessible help and support is a priority Not suitable if: You want a training mode for new staff You need detailed cost versus profit analysis You want to track ingredient usage Square provides a great range of hardware, including the handheld Square Terminal. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy is Square our number one choice?During our testing, Square came up trumps thanks to its great selection of hardware, feature-rich software and comprehensive help and support options. Smaller pubs and pop-up bars can get going with Square’s free POS app and just a cheap, simple handheld card reader. If you’re running a larger bar or pub, Square has you covered with its more advanced Restaurants Plus plan and the Square Register, which is a full till system.The discounts feature, available on the free plan, is perfect for applying quick price changes to drinks during happy hour. However, the paid plan comes with detailed inventory management tools that make managing a complex stock of beer, wines and spirits a breeze. Square also gives you the option to add a customised kitchen display system, which can seamlessly send orders from the front of house to the kitchen, and speedily get drinks and pub grub out to happy customers. The main feature Square misses is a comprehensive cost versus profit management tool – if this is a must-have for you, you should take a look at Lightspeed instead.The discounts feature will make quick changes during happy hour a breeze. Source: Startups.co.ukWhen we tested it, we found Square’s system user-friendly and simple to use, but if you do run into any problems you can rely on Square’s excellent range of help and support. Square provides more categories of support than any other platform we looked at: from in-platform support to social media and even a user forum.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareFree plan: FreeSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: £69/month, per locationPremium plan (for businesses that process more than £200,000 per year): custom pricingHardwareSquare Reader: £19 plus VATSquare Stand (to turn your iPad into a countertop terminal): £99 plus VATSquare Terminal: £149 plus VATSquare Register: £599 plus VAT Transaction feesFree plan: 1.75% in person, 2.5% for virtual terminal and invoices, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: 1.6% in person, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsPremium plan: custom ratesFree trial?You can test the system using the free plan on a tabletSquare is a transparent and fairly-priced platform. Its transaction fees are average to high, and the prices of its higher-end hardware are in line with its competitors, making it about average. You do have a low-cost option with Square, with the cheap Square Reader and free software plan (which we also ranked as our top choice for a free POS platform!). Many other providers don’t share clear pricing information publicly, but with Square you can see exactly what you’ll be getting, which is reassuring for beginners. You can also opt for a 30-day free trial of Square for Restaurants Plus before committing.Read more: Square was also our number one pick for the best takeaway POS system. What our researchers think Square is a great choice for any bar or pub thanks to the super friendly user interface. I found it so easy to create a floor plan. Which is great for tracking where drinks are going and being able to access it easily on either an iPad or their own devices. That means you can easily serve people and take payments on the go (which means less queuing). Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 2. Clover POS: best range of hardware options Clover 4.7 Starting software price: Quote-based Transaction fees from: Quote-based Highly customisable customer display Exceptional POS hardware and accessories Speedy fingerprint login on the Clover Terminal Summary Clover is based in California and, as of 2020, processes $133 billion in card transactions annually. It’s owned by Fiserv, the largest merchant acquirer in the world. Show moreless Suitable if: You run a mid- to large-sized bar or pub chain You want to get an in-depth look at your analytics You don’t mind paying high upfront costs for excellent hardware Not suitable if: You run a pop-up bar or small pub You’re trying to avoid laying out big upfront costs You need automated tip sharing functionality Clover offers some of the sleekest hardware we tested. Source: Startups.co.ukWhat do I need to know about Clover?Clover doesn’t mess about when it comes to hardware – it was up there with the sleekest and most impressive we tested. Clover can provide your bar with everything from handheld card machines to dual-screen countertop terminals. The customisable customer display screen can really speed up payments and give your customers visibility of their order and prices, but the standout feature is the fingerprint login for staff, which means they can get into the system with lightning speed.Our users loved how easy to use both the hardware and the software was – back office tasks like creating new categories and products were a breeze. The front-end was just as intuitive, which we felt would be ideal for a fast-paced bar or pub environment.We found the Clover POS software to be reassuringly user-friendly. Source: Startups.co.ukBeing top of the range, the hardware does come with a hefty price tag, so it might prove too expensive for smaller pubs or bars that are just getting set up. You should take a look at Square for a more beginner friendly option, or Lightspeed Restaurant if you want to avoid laying out large upfront costs.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareContact Clover for pricesHardwareClover Mini: £450Clover Station Solo: Contact Clover for pricesClover Station Duo: £1,300Transaction feesContact Clover for ratesFree trial?NonePublicly, Clover keeps its cards close to its chest when it comes to pricing, largely because it prefers to create custom quotes for potential users. However, during our research, we found prices can cover a broad range, with plans costing potentially under £10 per month up to more than £50 per month, and transaction fees covering a wide range. We also discovered that the hardware can be on the pricey side of things too. You’ll need to contact Clover for a full understanding of what you’ll be paying, but we’d recommend it to more established businesses over new starters.Read more: Clover was our number one choice for the best POS systems for restaurants. What our researchers think I’d highly recommend Clover for both pubs and bars thanks to the sleek and professional hardware, which will give your customers a great first impression when they walk in. The customer facing screen can also take payments directly which we found helped to speed up payments as there’s less querying of orders, especially in louder environments. The hardware also felt really robust and could withstand people bumping into it, as well as drinks being spilled on it! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: best for driving repeat business Lightspeed Restaurant 4.5 Starting software price: £109 Transaction fees from: Available on request Offline functionality that syncs automatically when back online Brilliant customer engagement features Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Summary Based in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is a commerce platform that currently serves over 150,000 customer locations. Show moreless Suitable if: You don’t want to pay any upfront costs You want to expand your business You have a complicated inventory Not suitable if: You’d prefer to use a dedicated countertop terminal rather than a tablet You want to automate tip management You have a table plan that you change often This is how your home page will look when using Lightspeed Restaurant as your POS system. Source: Startups.co.ukWhat makes Lightspeed Restaurant a top POS?Lightspeed’s excellent customer engagement tools were some of the very best that we tested. Repeat business is key to survival for a pub or bar, and Lightspeed’s automated marketing tools, loyalty reward programs, and promotional email and SMS notifications will help you make sure punters keep coming back to the bar.We found Lightspeed’s back end interface both easy to use and very reliable. We really appreciated how detailed and comprehensive the cost versus profit analysis tool was, and creating custom colour-coded floor plans was reassuringly effortless (but just be aware you can only do this from the back end, so there might a lot of back and forth if you need to frequently change your table plan). You can even change the colours, so you can get a nice, clear visual representation of your bar layout.Lightspeed’s floor planning tool is easy to use. Source: Startups.co.ukLightspeed’s POS software is entirely app-based and designed to be used on a tablet (you can kit it out with tablet stands and accessories), which has its pros and cons. Staff can easily carry it around, but some might prefer having a more rugged terminal (we all know how easy it can be to crack a tablet screen, especially if you’re rushing about!). If you’d prefer a more traditional dedicated countertop terminal, you should look at the range of hardware provided by Clover instead.How much does it cost?Pricing SoftwareEssential: £109 per month Premium: £339 per monthEnterprise: Quote-based Unfortunately, Lightspeed doesn’t publicly provide prices for its hardware or transaction fees, but we can tell you the software is reasonably expensive. It charges a triple-figure monthly starting price, and you’ll be locked into a 12-month minimum contract. It is a comprehensive system though, so if you’re a more established pub or bar, or you have multiple locations, Lightspeed Restaurant could be well worth the investment. What our researchers think Lightspeed would be my number one choice if you’re looking to build a bigger community and customer base with your pub or bar. They have a great range of tools like automated marketing, customer segmenting and rewards programmes. As well as this the iPad based platform means you can serve customers without going back to the till constantly, and their QR code system means your staff can focus on getting food and drinks out rather than serving! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 4. Epos Now: best for managing your bar’s inventory Epos Now 4.1 Starting software price: £25 You can pay upfront for the software and hardware In-depth inventory management tools High quality terminal with a large 15.6" HD display screen Summary Based out of Norwich, Epos Now is a payment service provider and SaaS company, specifically focusing on providing POS systems to small and medium sized businesses. Show moreless Suitable if: You need to manage a complex inventory You want to avoid monthly outgoings Your pub or bar is growing in size Not suitable if: You need to automatically share tips You want to avoid upfront costs You need a beginner-friendly POS system The rugged, dual-screen terminal provided by Epos Now is excellent for streamlining orders. Source: Startups.co.uk What did we like about Epos Now?When testing Epos Now, we were impressed by how well-constructed both the software and hardware was. The back office management stood out as the strength of the system, especially its stock update tools, which are ideal if your bar keeps a complicated inventory of drinks and snacks. The floor panning feature was satisfyingly simple, making planning out the layout of your bar or pub a doddle.During a cost of living crisis it’s essential to keep an eagle eye on your profitability. Reassuringly, we found accessing reports, including valuable cost versus profit analysis, incredibly simple. We did get mixed reports from our users on the software, with some finding it easy to use while others reported some usability issues and concerns around slow responsiveness. We found Square was a more beginner friendly option, especially if you’re new to POS systems.We appreciated how easy it was to access our reports with Epos Now. Source: Startups.co.ukEpos Now provides some excellent hardware though, and the terminal’s 15.6-inch HD screen and its customer display is an ace tool for streamlining orders, which is especially useful when those stressful queues start to pile up at the bar. The sturdy, well-built terminal is capable of standing up to the chaos of a Friday night at the local.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareFrom £25 per monthHardwareFrom £225Transaction feesFrom 1.3%Free trial?NoneEpos Now’s pricing isn’t the lowest, but the package it provides isn’t a bad deal considering you’re getting the impressive terminal and customised software together. Just be aware that with Epos Now you’ll be locked into a year long subscription, as well as an upfront cost. What our researchers think Epos Now is an excellent choice for both pubs and bars thanks to their impressive business centric approach. Not only do they offer great hardware but their software is reliable, meaning you can have a large inventory and never worry about it crashing. They also offer integrated payment solutions to keep everything under one roof and the portable payment device means your staff can take payments on the go. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 5. SumUp: best for speed and efficiency in a smaller environment SumUp 4.1 Starting software price: £19 Transaction fees from: 1.69% Superb range of hardware and accessories Mobile and QR code ordering Inventory management tools with stock alerts and cost management Summary In 2020, London-based payment service provider SumUp acquired GoodTill, an iPad-based POS software provider. Show moreless Suitable if: You run a small pub or bar You want customers to place mobile orders You want a bespoke loyalty programme for your customers Not suitable if: You run a larger chain of pubs or bars Your bar relies on an extensive reservation system You need seamless synchronisation between the front end and back end We really liked the slick and friendly looking SumUp POS order screen. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy are we recommending SumUp?SumUp’s back office software stood out for how easy and user-friendly we found it to navigate around, even more so than Square’s back end. The front end, while slightly less intuitive, still has a slick order screen, which could make all the difference for bar staff having to race through a large number of drinks orders.SumUp’s customer engagement tools, including features like personalised promotions, will help you keep loyal regulars propping up the bar. You can even get started on SumUp’s free POS plan for iPad, which is great if you’re a newer business with a limited budget.The simplicity of SumUp’s POS platform makes it a good fit for smaller setups. Source: Startups.co.ukWe did run into issues with changes we made in the back end not syncing properly with the front end, and trying to split a bill also caused some confusion for our testers. We felt that, while SumUp’s tools and free plan are a good fit for small bars and pubs, if you’re running a larger chain you might be better off with Lightspeed Restaurant’s more advanced suite of features.How much does it cost?Pricing SoftwarePay-as-you-go: FreeSumUp One: £19/monthPoint of Sale Pro: £49/monthHardwarePOS Lite: One-time cost of £349POS Pro: Starting at £754.80Transaction feesPay-as-you-go: 1.69%SumUp One: 0.99% per transaction, 1.99% for premium cards Free trial?7-day trial for SumUp OneSumUp has some pretty reasonable transaction rates considering it’s available on a free plan. You can also opt to pay for the SumUp One plan, which will get you rock bottom fees. The SumUp POS Lite package is fairly priced considering you get a terminal and a reader (this comes pre-installed with the free version of the software). If you want access to a more serious selection of tools (including table management) you’ll need to opt for the POS Pro package. This comes with a monthly cost that’s pretty average, but an expensive upfront hardware fee. What our researchers think SumUp is a fantastic choice for pubs and bars thanks to their impressive range of tools that give you both a physical and online presence. You can easily create a website alongside integrating a POS system, which means you can take delivery orders as well as market yourselves to a wider audience. They offer both a physical terminal or an iPad app as well as smaller payment devices, and coupled with QR code ordering, this means your staff can focus on getting food and drinks out quicker! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive How we test pub and bar POS systemsWe surveyed over 500 respondents to gain insights into the needs of the food and beverage industry, and used this insight to determine the most important factors for our readers. We then broke these down into further subcategories to ensure our evaluations of each system would be as helpful as possible.We then rigorously tested 15 different POS systems against these categories to determine which were the most suitable for pubs and bars.Our six main scoring categories were:1. Hardware: How does the POS terminal perform in terms of display quality and portability, and what accessories are available? Does the provider offer a dedicated terminal or is the system iPad-based?2. Software: We looked into the features that are most important for a pub and bar POS system, including – but not restricted to – bill splitting, inventory management, and customer engagement tools.3. Help and support: Evaluating the avenues of customer support that are available, and testing the responsiveness and accuracy of the answers.4. Customer score: How likely our users were to recommend the platform after testing it.5. Pricing: Are you getting a good deal? We compared hardware costs, software costs, and transaction fees.6. Usability: We judged how easy the system is to use and navigate, and how frequently our testers made errors. Buying guide: how to choose a POS system for your pub or barPOS systems aren’t skeleton keys that can fit in any scenario. The best POS systems for a retail business will be different to the best POS systems for the hospitality industry.Each profession will need features and tools that best suit their needs. These are the most important factors to look out for when shopping for a POS system for your pub or bar.Essential featuresThere are certain tools and features that are absolute must-haves for a bar or restaurant environment. You’ll need a system that can include bill splitting, inventory management, sales reporting, and swift and easy order entry.AdaptabilityBeing able to adapt on the fly is crucial to operating in a pub or bar environment. Things can get hectic. You’ll be operating in a noisy, busy environment and need to process a lot of orders quickly. You’ll need software and hardware that can keep up with the demands.Easy-to-use interfaceWhen the queue at the bar is spilling out the door, your staff will thank you for getting a user-friendly system. The last thing you want is a system with poorly designed UX that slows down your service.Trials and demosMany platforms offer free trials, or demos, of their platforms. We always recommend a test drive of the software before rubber hits the road and you’re actually taking payments. This is particularly crucial for a bar or pub system, as you need to know you can quickly and easily operate it.Price pointsWhen it comes to the overall cost of your POS system, it’s a bit more complicated than just buying a terminal. There are ongoing costs for the software, and transaction fees too. When buying a pub or bar POS, you should also be mindful of platforms that charge extra for features like loyalty programmes.Hardware compatibilitySpills and splashes are bound to happen when dealing with tipsy customers. Think tough, rugged and durable. You should also think about hardware that will be easy to carry around a pub floor, in which case, you can take a look at our top choices for iPad based POS systems.Reliable help and supportEmergencies are inevitable. You need a POS provider that offers fast and accurate customer support. Whether it’s a glitch during happy hour or a problem at closing time, having reliable support is a must-have.ScalabilityAs your pub grows or you build a chain of bars, your POS system needs to match those demands. Look for platforms that can scale with your business.SecuritySecurity is non-negotiable. Make sure you have a system that includes EMV compliance, data encryption, and frequent security updates to safeguard your business and your customers’ sensitive payment information. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.