Epos Now vs TouchBistro: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Epos Now

7.4(7,200 reviews)

Cloud POS for retail and hospitality with one-time hardware purchase option and 300+ integrations. From $39/mo or $349 upfront.

7.7(9,800 reviews)

iPad-based restaurant POS with local network architecture for reliable offline operation. Plans from $69/mo.

Aspect	Epos Now	TouchBistro
Best For	Budget-conscious businesses that want to own their POS hardware outright with a one-time purchase	Dine-in restaurants in areas with unreliable internet that need offline POS reliability
Pricing Model	Subscription	Subscription
Starting Price	$39/mo	$69/mo
Deployment	cloud	hybrid
Platforms	WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS	IOS
Rating	7.4/10	7.7/10

One-time hardware purchase at $349 for a complete system is the most affordable full countertop POS setup
Payment processor flexibility lets you choose and negotiate rates instead of being locked into one provider
300+ integrations through the AppStore connect to major accounting, e-commerce, and marketing tools
Software pricing at $39/month undercuts Lightspeed ($89/mo) and Vend ($69/mo) significantly
Strong presence in UK and Europe with local support, multi-currency, and VAT handling

User interface feels dated and less polished compared to Square, Shopify POS, or even Clover
US customer support gets mixed reviews, with UK-based customers generally reporting better experiences
Reporting and analytics lack the depth of Lightspeed for data-driven inventory decisions
The hardware, while affordable, uses generic touchscreens that feel cheap compared to Clover or Toast terminals
Brand recognition is lower in the US market, which can mean fewer local service partners and resellers

Local network architecture keeps the POS running during internet outages — critical for busy restaurants
iPad interface is one of the most intuitive in restaurant POS, with fast staff onboarding
Table management with color-coded floor plans gives instant visibility into service flow
No proprietary hardware requirement beyond iPads and a Mac mini — no vendor lock-in on devices
Check splitting and bill management are genuinely faster than most competitors

Online ordering is an expensive add-on ($50/month) and less integrated than Toast built-in ordering
Add-on pricing gets expensive quickly — loyalty ($99/mo), marketing ($99/mo), reservations ($229/mo)
Requires a Mac mini server ($500-800), which adds to initial cost and maintenance complexity
iPad-only compatibility excludes Android tablets and limits hardware flexibility
Cloud reporting and back-office management features lag behind Toast and Lightspeed Restaurant

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
Epos Now	subscription	$39/mo
TouchBistro	subscription	$69/mo

Choose Epos Now if...

Budget-conscious businesses that want to own their POS hardware outright with a one-time purchase

Choose TouchBistro if...

Dine-in restaurants in areas with unreliable internet that need offline POS reliability

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.