Epos Now vs. Octopus POS

Looking for Point of Sale software? Here's how Epos Now and Octopus POS stack up.

Mark Hammersley

Mark Hammersley

Last updated 3o November 2020


Epos Now

3.9  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

$ 49.00 / month

Free Plan?

No


Best for

small and medium retailers and hospitality businesses that are looking for a robust, feature-rich point-of-sale system that’s easy to use.

Octopus POS

3.3  Stackupp rating


Pricing from

$ 49.00 / month

Free Plan?

Trial


Best for

smaller retailers because it has relatively well-priced subscription options. Partnerships with enterprises like Asus and JD.com also seem to indicate that custom plans are also a viable option for larger companies.

Epos Now or Octopus POS: Which is best?

Can't decide between Epos Now and Octopus POS?

Find the best platform for you with our side by side comparison of Epos Now and Octopus POS. See how each platform stacks up across ease of use, features, integrations, support and value for money.

Let the comparison begin. Don't worry, we'll guide you.

Is Epos Now right for you?

Epos Now is a UK-based point-of-sale (POS) company that caters to small and medium-sized businesses in both the hospitality (restaurant) and retail spaces.

It’s one of the UK’s fastest-growing POS companies and has built a loyal following over the last several years. Features include payment processing, inventory management, analytics, and customer management.

Epos Now also provides a number of integrations with third-party accounting and ecommerce tools (although these can incur extra charges) and a selection of affordable hardware packages. Users can also take advantage of 24/7 support, and assistance with onboarding.

The interfaces - for both the back and front offices - are also very intuitive and easy to use.

Overall, we were very impressed with Epos Now and would highly recommend it to businesses looking for their first point-of-sale system.

Advantages

  • Easy-to-use interface.
  • Well-priced hardware packages.
  • Extensive set of features.

Drawbacks

  • Lack of transparency on pricing, with reports of hidden costs.
  • Customer service can be hit and miss.
  • Online help documentation is sparse.

you run either a retail or hospitality business and you’re looking for a feature-rich and cost-effective point-of-sale solution.

Is Octopus POS right for you?

Octopus’ flagship product is a point of sale system of which there are two variations - one for retailers and one for restaurants. It’s strictly an iPad system and there aren’t any Android or in-house hardware options supported (if you’re not looking for an iPad system then you’ll need to go with an alternative provider). While the documentation still seems to show that the back-office is run on desktop software, at the time of writing, it looks like Octopus has shifted to a browser-based admin app.

Octopus has everything you would expect from a point-of-sale system, including inventory management tools, unlimited user accounts, an easy-to-use iPad app, limited CRM features, barcode scanning, analytics, and several promotional tools. Octopus also provides a number of “add-ons” (each for an additional cost) so that users can build an ecommerce store, take advantage of advanced analytics, or add more features to their CRM.

There are a few downsides, including limited online documentation, virtually no user community, few integrations, and the requirement to install multiple iOS apps to gain access to all functionality. It looks as though Octopus is still finding its feet as a POS, so it’s very likely that more features will be released as the company grows.

If you are thinking about opting for Octopus, make sure to take advantage of the free trial. Creating a new account is fast and easy.

Advantages

  • Well-priced monthly subscription options with unlimited users.
  • Fully iPad-based system.
  • Option to add additional features like an ecommerce store, advanced CRM and “OctoAnalytics”.

Drawbacks

  • Users are required to install multiple iPad apps to gain access to all functionality.
  • Limited quantity of online support documentation and no user community.
  • No integrations library.

you are looking for a straightforward, well-priced point-of-sale system that runs exclusively on an iPad (with the exception of the browser-based back office). Larger companies should also explore the custom enterprise plan.

Ease of Use

Our first comparison criteria, ease of use. Why? Because it’s the most important.

Think about it. You don’t want to invest a lot of your precious time setting up an online store and tweaking the design only to find out that it’s a pain in the butt to manage day to day.

We take a look at how simple the Epos Now and Octopus POS platforms are to run.

How easy is Epos Now to use?

Rated 4.5/5 for Ease of Use

The Epos Now interfaces for the terminal and back-office are both straightforward and easy to use.

The terminal interface is designed in a fairly traditional way, with a left-hand pop-up sidebar for accessing analytics, customer management, and checkout. Users add products via a “block” menu. During checkout, it is possible to select customer profiles, process discounts, add customer credit, and so on.

The back-office dashboard, which is accessed via a browser (and can also be used to process sales), follows a similar layout. Users can select options from a navbar on the left of the screen which provides access to “Setup”, “Management”, “Reporting”, “Support”, “Integrations”, and so on.

If you’re looking for a system that is easy to use but doesn’t sacrifice functionality, then Epos Now is well worth giving a go.

What Epos Now customers are saying...

"Cloud-based solution that can work on any device and any operating system."
"I like that it is user friendly and the back office functions make my paperwork so much easier to navigate."
"What I like most about the product is the simplistic layout."

How easy is Octopus POS to use?

Rated 4/5 for Ease of Use

The Octopus iPad app follows a fairly typical “block” format. Once users have logged in, they can access dedicated areas for processing sales, editing products, managing inventory, adding or modifying customer details, and creating reports.

Users should keep in mind that they will need to download separate apps to access the customer-facing display, catalogue (for browsing by customers or corporate clients in-store), and certain barcode scanning features. Users can also download a dedicated app for mobile devices.

The “Food POS” has a similarly straightforward and visually-attractive layout, with sections for managing tables, amending menu items, processing orders, and so on.

What Octopus POS customers are saying...

"This looks like a visually promising app….”
“This looks like a visually promising app….” “We decided to work with Octopus because they offer international support.”
“No import feature means you waste time re-entering your existing products.”
Epos Now is our winner for ease of use

Epos Now Features

Rated 4/5 for Features

We were very impressed with the feature-set from Epos Now. It’s an excellent POS solution for small and medium-sized businesses, with comprehensive checkout, inventory management, and analytics functionality. Users also have access to a large integrations library, a number of well-priced hardware packages, and 24/7 customer support.

Epos Now is compatible with iPad and Android tablets. Alternatively, you can use a tailor-made branded terminal. The back-office is accessed via a desktop computer (through which it is also possible to process sales). It is a fully cloud-based solution.

Inventory management tools include automated stock notifications and purchase orders, barcode scanning, bundled products, and ecommerce integrations. The customizable analytics dashboard, which is updated in real-time, provides a full overview of sales activity.

Additional features include “click and collect” and delivery tools, integration with a number of different payment providers, omnichannel reporting, tableside ordering, menu management, and more.

On the negative side of things, larger enterprises should be aware that more advanced features, such as self-order kiosks, in-depth reporting, warehouse management, etc., are not available. If you are looking for something more “heavy-duty”, other providers should be considered, although it still may be worth getting in touch to ask about enterprise plans.

Octopus POS Features

Rated 3.5/5 for Features

Octopus has a robust package of core features, and both retailers and restaurant managers will find everything they need to run an efficient point-of-sale system. The mid-range “Advanced” package allows for an unlimited number of sales transactions, products, and users.

Subscribers have access to a suite of inventory management, customer relationship management, analytics, and promotional tools. Notable features include credit notes, the option to offer customer-facing terminals, features for consignment and corporate sales, email receipts, employee permissions, stock transfer between outlets, and support for loyalty programs.

Users can also pay extra for “add-on” modules. These optional extras include an advanced analytics engine, ecommerce site-builder, and full customer management platform (CRM).

Keep in mind that integrations are only available on the top-tier enterprise plan.

Epos Now is our winner for features

Epos Now Integrations

Rated 4/5 for Integrations

Epos Now has an extensive integrations library of over eighty apps, likely because it’s easy for developers to build integrations and add them to the “AppStore”. One point worth mentioning, however, is that users may have to pay extra for additional functionality.

Most bases are covered when it comes to accounting, ecommerce (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, etc.), loyalty programs, payments, and marketing. Notably, several niche apps for businesses in the hospitality space are provided, allowing for the use of kitchen screens, loyalty programs, menu planning, and more.

Finally, a Zapier integration means that users can integrate with third-party tools that aren’t natively supported.

Apps are accessible through the user interface once you’ve subscribed. Full information about all the integrations available isn’t published online. You should check directly if the apps you need are supported (and ask about additional costs) during the demo stage.

Octopus POS Integrations

Rated 2.5/5 for Integrations

Octopus doesn’t offer much in the way of integrations. If you want to build a fully-integrated tech stack, there are better solutions on the market (take a look at our reviews of Shopify POS, Clover and Vend). The enterprise package does include “custom integrations”, so it’s worth getting in touch to see if it’s possible to sync with your existing apps if you’re thinking about opting for this plan.

Octopus is best for retailers that are looking for a comprehensive “all in one” solution. It’s possible to supplement the point-of-sale system with an in-house ecommerce platform (for running your own online store), extensive analytics dashboard, and an advanced customer relationship management app (CRM). However, you will have to pay extra for these tools. If this set-up appeals to you, sign up for the free trial to give the software a test drive. If on the other hand, you would prefer to build a fully-connected suite of separate apps, then you should look for an alternative solution.

For larger retailers and restaurant chains, Octopus also offers its own-brand self-service kiosks and a queue management system.

Epos Now is our winner for integrations

How much do they cost?

Everyone’s favourite topic - pricing. Let's dive in to see if Epos Now or Octopus POS offers better value for money.

How much does Epos Now cost?

Rated 3.5/5 for Pricing

Epos Now doesn’t publish extensive pricing information on its site, so you will need to get in touch directly to discuss options. Plans start at $49/month, with discounts for annual subscriptions and additional fees for extra registers. Epos Now offers customizable enterprise plans for larger businesses.

There is also a lower-priced “Epos Pocket” plan, which costs $44/month and allows users to take payments from a small handheld device.

In terms of payment processing, Epos Now integrates with several services, so fees and charges may vary.

How much does Octopus POS cost?

Rated 3.5/5 for Pricing

Evaluating value for money is a little difficult for Octopus. The entry-level plan “Basic POS”, which allows for unlimited users, is relatively well-priced at $49/month (with discounts for annual subscribers). Many users, however, will require the mid-range “Advanced POS” package. This is because some features which may be essential, such as advanced promotion tools and analytics, are unavailable on the basic option.

What’s more, add-ons, such as the ecommerce store-builder and customer relationship management platform, will incur extra costs. Information about payment processing is not published online, so you should check fees before subscribing.

It's a draw!

Help and Support

If things go wrong (and they often do) you need to know someone’s there to help get you back on track. So, how does Epos Now's and Octopus POS's support measure up?

How good is Epos Now support?

Rated 3.5/5 for Help and Support

Epos Now provides 24/7 customer support via live chat. One-on-one onboarding training is included on all plans, making it an excellent choice for smaller businesses with limited technical experience. Users also have access to community forums and an interactive “product tour”.

On the downside, we did feel that the online help documentation could be more detailed. And there have been some negative reviews of customer service response times.

How good is Octopus POS support?

Rated 3/5 for Help and Support

Octopus falters a little when it comes to help and support, especially when compared to other brands in the POS space. The online documentation could be more extensive, there is no English-speaking community of users, and customer service is only through support tickets on small business plans.

Enterprise users, on the other hand, will be given a dedicated account manager, personalized support, and access to staff training.

Epos Now is our winner for support

The Bottom Line

The final say. Let's wrap up our thoughts on each platform.

Epos Now: Our Verdict

Overall, we were very impressed with Epos Now. It’s an excellent solution for small and medium companies in the retail and hospitality sectors. It provides all the functionality required to run an integrated, user-friendly, and inexpensive point-of-sale system. The hardware packages are also among the best-priced that we’ve seen, and all customers have access to 24/7 support along with onboarding training.

If you’re thinking about opting for Epos Now, be sure to take advantage of the free demo. You should also ensure that there won’t be any hidden costs for integrations.

Octopus POS: Our Verdict

Octopus isn’t the best solution on the market. But it’s not the worst, either. It offers a straightforward, robust package of features at a reasonable price-point. The ease of signing up for a free trial means that smaller retailers have no reason not to give it a test run. Keep in mind that, apart from the back-office, Octopus is run exclusively on iPads.

We recommend that larger retailers and restaurant chains book a demo to explore what’s on offer as part of the enterprise package. A number of features, such as corporate sales tools, advanced analytics, and assignment of a dedicated account manager, may make it an attractive proposition.

Overall, we found Epos Now to be the better Point of Sale platform.

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