ShopKeep vs Epos Now: Complete Comparison 2026

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

ShopKeep

7.2(5,600 reviews)

Simple iPad POS for small retail and quick-service restaurants, now part of Lightspeed. Free plan available with payment processing.

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.

Aspect	ShopKeep	Epos Now
Best For	Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required	Budget-conscious businesses that want to own their POS hardware outright with a one-time purchase
Pricing Model	Freemium	Subscription
Starting Price	Free	$39/mo
Deployment	cloud	cloud
Platforms	IOS	WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS
Rating	7.2/10	7.4/10

Simple and intuitive iPad POS that retail and food service staff can learn in under an hour
Free basic plan with payment processing means zero upfront software cost for small businesses
BackOffice mobile dashboard lets owners monitor sales and inventory remotely from their phone
Proven reliability — the core system has been stable for years without major outages
Part of the Lightspeed family provides a migration path to more advanced features when needed

Product is in maintenance mode with no significant new features since the Lightspeed acquisition
Migration to Lightspeed is inevitable — investing in ShopKeep as a new user makes little strategic sense
Integration ecosystem is stagnating with fewer new app partnerships being added
Limited to iPad — no Android, no web-based register option for flexibility
Pricing and future roadmap are unclear, creating uncertainty for long-term planning

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

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
ShopKeep	freemium	Free0
Epos Now	subscription	$39/mo

Choose ShopKeep if...

Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required

Choose Epos Now if...

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

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