POS & Payment Provider Reviews
Plain-English reviews of the UK's main POS systems and card machine providers. Fees, hardware, contracts, payouts and who each one actually suits.
Scores are our own editorial ratings, based on fees, ease of use, features, support and contract flexibility - not paid placement. How we score.
Square
4.5The strongest free POS software option. Tidy app, decent ecosystem, no monthly fee to start. Great for small retail, cafés and service businesses that want software without signing their life away.
SumUp
4.4The “just let me take payments” option. Cheap to start, portable, dead simple. Brilliant for low-volume and mobile sellers; you may outgrow it for a full restaurant setup.
PayPal Zettle
4.2PayPal-friendly card payments with a simple reader and no monthly software fee for basic use. Good for small retailers and mobile sellers already in the PayPal world.
Dojo
4.1Built for growing businesses that want faster payouts and hands-on, sales-led support. Strong in hospitality and higher-volume retail. Rates are quote-based - read the contract and monthly structure carefully.
Lightspeed
4.1A serious retail/hospitality POS with strong inventory and multi-location features. More advanced and more expensive - overkill if you only need basic card payments.
myPOS
4.0Best when you want instant access to funds through a built-in business account. Handy for international/European payments. The fee structure is more complex, so watch card-type differences.
Shopify POS
4.0The obvious choice if you sell on Shopify and want in-person to match your online store. Strong for ecommerce-led retail; less compelling if you're not already on Shopify.
Tyl by NatWest
3.9NatWest's payments arm, pitched at small and medium UK businesses with clearer pricing than some legacy acquirers and a community/giving angle. Solid all-rounder.
Toast
3.9A restaurant-only POS platform - purpose-built terminals and handhelds, kitchen displays, online ordering and integrated payments in one system. Powerful for full-service venues; contract and payments lock-in mean it's a commitment, not a casual pick.
Worldpay
3.7A heavyweight acquirer aimed at established and higher-volume businesses. Can offer competitive bespoke rates, but pricing and contracts are quote-based and worth scrutinising.
Barclaycard Payments
3.7A bank-backed acquirer offering card machines and online payments. Reassuring brand and support, with quote-based rates that suit established UK businesses.
Epos Now
3.6A full till-system specialist for retail and hospitality, with strong hardware bundles. Capable, but review contracts, payment terms and add-on costs carefully.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us how your business takes payments and we'll point you towards providers that actually fit - not whoever's paying the biggest bounty this month.