Epos Now vs PHP POS

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Our analysts compared Epos Now vs PHP POS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Epos Now is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed for retail and hospitality businesses. It streamlines operations with features like inventory management, multi-channel sales, and customizable dashboards. Its strengths lie in flexibility and affordability, making it ideal for startups and growing businesses. Users praise its ease of use, wide range of integrations, and reliable customer support. Compared to similar products, Epos Now shines in its app store, offering numerous add-ons to tailor the system to specific needs. However, some users report limitations in advanced reporting and scalability for larger businesses. Pricing starts at a low monthly fee per device, with additional costs for advanced features and integrations.

    Pros:
  • Easy for staff
  • Inventory control
  • Sales insights
  • App integrations
  • Flexible plans
    Cons:
  • Limited trial
  • Add-on costs
  • Support inconsistency
  • Limited customization
  • Hardware concerns
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PHP POS is an open-source point-of-sale system designed for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. It offers essential POS features like product management, inventory tracking, sales recording, and basic reporting. Users praise its customizability and low cost, often opting for self-hosted installations to keep expenses minimal. However, setup and maintenance require technical expertise, making it less suitable for beginners or businesses needing extensive support. Compared to paid competitors, PHP POS lacks advanced features like multi-store management, employee permissions, and integrations with popular apps. While users appreciate its flexibility and cost-effectiveness, they also acknowledge the trade-off in terms of user-friendliness and functionality. Pricing varies depending on hosting and customization needs, but self-hosted installations start around $50, with additional fees for premium themes and plugins.

Pros
  • Free & open-source
  • Highly customizable
  • Low cost to self-host
  • Simple & intuitive interface
  • Basic features for most needs
Cons
  • Requires technical expertise
  • Limited advanced features
  • No multi-store support
  • Minimal customer support
  • Potential security risks
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$39 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$8/Month, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Simplified Operations: Streamline your workflow with intuitive sales processing, inventory management, and reporting tools, freeing up time and resources for what matters most.
  • Enhanced Insights: Gain valuable data-driven insights into your business performance. Track sales trends, identify top-selling items, and analyze customer behavior to make informed decisions.
  • Customer-Centric Focus: Delight your customers with faster service, flexible payment options, and loyalty programs. Build stronger relationships and keep them coming back for more.
  • Scalable Growth: Easily adapt your POS system to your evolving needs. Add new locations, integrate with online platforms, and manage multiple sales channels seamlessly.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Choose from flexible pricing plans that fit your budget and scale with your business. Enjoy a low monthly fee with no hidden costs or long-term contracts.
  • Empowered Team: Equip your staff with user-friendly tools that boost efficiency and productivity. Improve accuracy, reduce errors, and ensure everyone is on the same page.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Access your POS system and key business data from anywhere, anytime. Manage your business on the go and stay connected even when you're not on site.
  • Secure and Reliable: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is safe with cloud-based storage and industry-leading security measures. Count on reliable performance and minimal downtime.
  • Adaptable and Customizable: Tailor Epos Now to your specific needs with a wide range of add-on apps and integrations. Create a POS system that works for you, not the other way around.
  • Ongoing Support: Benefit from helpful and responsive customer support. Get your questions answered, access training resources, and ensure you're getting the most out of your POS system.
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  • Unleash Your Inner Tweak Master: PHP POS's open-source nature lets you customize it to your exact needs. Craft bespoke workflows, tailor reports, and even build custom plugins - the possibilities are endless.
  • Cost-Conscious Champion: Ditch the hefty price tags of closed-source POS systems. PHP POS is free to download and use, with minimal hosting costs and optional add-ons for advanced needs. Save your resources for what truly matters - growing your business.
  • Data Detective: Gain valuable insights into your operations with built-in reporting tools. Track sales trends, analyze inventory levels, and identify customer buying patterns to make informed decisions and optimize your business strategy.
  • Tech-Savvy Simplicity: Don't be intimidated by complex interfaces. PHP POS boasts a user-friendly design that makes it easy for anyone, from seasoned cashiers to tech newbies, to navigate and master the system quickly.
  • Community Connection: You're not alone in your POS journey. PHP POS has a vibrant community of developers and users offering support, sharing tips, and contributing to the ongoing development of the platform.
  • Future-Proof Flexibility: As your business evolves, so can your POS. PHP POS's modular design allows you to add new features and integrations as your needs change, ensuring your system stays relevant and adaptable.
  • Security in Your Own Hands: Take control of your data security. Self-hosted installations give you complete ownership and oversight, allowing you to implement your preferred security measures and customize access permissions.
  • Investment in Openness: By choosing PHP POS, you're not just investing in a POS system, you're investing in an open-source philosophy. Contribute to the development community, share your knowledge, and help shape the future of POS technology.
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  • Contactless Dining: Facilitate a coherent ordering and dining experience with an online, ticket-based system. Access the menu, make customizations, add notes, place orders and make payments using QR codes or a URL. Use error-free business management tools to reduce wait times and boost operational efficiency. 
  • Inventory Management: Track business functions and optimize the supply chain using efficient inventory management tools. Centrally manage merchandise, fulfill orders, process payments, scan barcodes, set stock alerts and streamline operations for a time-saving, effortless experience. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Get full visibility into transactional data, analyze individual product performance, understand business operations, access sales reports, track profits, view data forecasts and monitor employee performance to make informed decisions. 
  • Customer Relationship Management: Boost website engagement and drive customer loyalty by staying in the loop with customer information. Build marketing campaigns based on purchase history, buying patterns, total spending and website visits. Offer promos and discounts, send gift cards, create rewards and improve communication. 
  • Integrations: Leverage robust integrations with major platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce to improve business efficiency. Sync in-store and online inventory, automate recurring functionalities, process faster checkouts, consolidate services and more. Integrate loyalty programs, store promotions and reward schemes to deliver consistent customer service. 
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  • Inventory Management: Count items, edit quantities, assign serial numbers, generate summaries, scan products, refill goods, view updates and more. Track inventory movement and avoid out of stocks with real-time updates. View reports and gain insightful access to sales data. 
  • Employee Management: Add new employees, grant permissions, create user-profiles and more with employee management tools. Record employee work hours using an integrated time clock. Access summarized information about recorded time in the form of reports. 
  • Offline: Skip internet connection hassles and work smoothly while offline. Log in and check the Offline Mode box to enable the functionality. Works only with a valid SSL certificate. Keep the browser open and log in to allow automatic sales screen sync. 
  • Reports: Use graphical, summary and detailed reports to provide insights into total sales, profit and loss, item totals, sum transactions, commissions, payments, customers and more. Generate custom reports to view stats for a specific category. 
  • Delivery: Accept orders, add customers, schedule delivery, manage shipping zones, process payments, send receipts, view status information, update details and control the complete delivery lifecycle using a flexible management system. 
  • Marketing: Create deals and promotions like "buy one get one free" and "flat 20% off" to strengthen customer loyalty and improve sales. Keep guests coming back for more using coupons, personalized rewards, gift cards and attractive offers. 
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Product Ranking

#59

among all
POS Software

#175

among all
POS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

76
71
50
33
67
78
80
100
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Integration and Extensibility
Items and Service Management
Inventory Management
Reporting and Insights
Employee Management
Integration and Extensibility
Inventory Management
Items and Service Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Epos Now
PHP POS
+ Add Product + Add Product
Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 50 67 80 93 100 63 78 88 68 63 74 33 78 100 98 90 78 46 75 60 56 54 0 25 50 75 100
50%
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50%
33%
0%
67%
40%
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60%
80%
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20%
80%
0%
20%
100%
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0%
89%
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11%
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100%
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86%
0%
14%
56%
11%
33%
78%
0%
22%
80%
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20%
10%
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90%
75%
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25%
75%
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25%
60%
0%
40%
50%
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50%
56%
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44%
44%
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56%
75%
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25%
50%
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50%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%

User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 596 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 304 reviews
74%
of users recommend this product

Epos Now has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 596 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

94%
of users recommend this product

PHP POS has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 304 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

3.9 (9)
n/a
3.57 (309)
n/a
3.8 (278)
4.7 (304)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Epos Now and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Items and Service Management.

Items and Service Management Award

PHP POS stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Easy for Staff: The intuitive interface and minimal training requirements are praised by users, including small businesses with staff of varying tech skills.
Inventory Control: Real-time stock tracking and low-stock alerts are cited as game-changers, preventing stockouts and improving order accuracy.
Sales Insights: Users highlight valuable reporting tools that provide actionable insights into sales trends, employee performance, and customer behavior.
App Integrations: Connecting seamlessly with popular accounting, loyalty, and delivery apps is appreciated for streamlining workflows and reducing manual data entry.
Flexible Plans: Users love the range of plan options with competitive pricing, allowing them to scale the software with their business needs.
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Simple and intuitive interface: Reduces training time and improves staff efficiency, especially for small businesses with limited tech experience. Many users praised the clean layout and logical workflow, allowing staff to focus on customer service rather than struggling with the POS system.
Streamlined inventory control: Real-time stock tracking, low-stock alerts, and barcode scanning minimize errors and prevent stockouts. Users reported significant reductions in inventory discrepancies and improved stock management, leading to fewer out-of-stocks and happier customers.
Adaptable to diverse needs: Wide range of features and integrations cater to specific industry requirements and business growth. From restaurant orders to appointment booking, many users highlighted the ability to customize the POS for their unique needs, eliminating the need for multiple software solutions.
Actionable sales reports: Gain valuable customer and performance insights to optimize marketing, staffing, and product offerings. Users appreciated the detailed reports and data analysis tools, enabling them to make data-driven decisions about promotions, staffing levels, and inventory.
Cost-effectiveness: Open-source option available: Free or affordable plans cater to various budgets and business sizes. Many users found PHP POS to be a budget-friendly alternative to proprietary POS systems, with options to scale as their business grows.
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Limited Free Trial: Some users find the 30-day trial period insufficient to fully explore the features and compatibility with their specific needs.
Add-on Costs: Essential features like advanced reporting or certain app integrations require additional monthly fees, potentially pushing up the overall cost beyond initial expectations.
Customer Support: While generally praised, occasional user reviews mention inconsistencies in the responsiveness and helpfulness of customer support, particularly through email inquiries.
Limited Customization: Some users, especially in niche industries, express a desire for deeper customization options for the interface and functionalities to perfectly fit their specific workflow.
Hardware Concerns: While offering hardware bundles, occasional reports mention issues with specific hardware options in terms of durability or compatibility, requiring replacements or alternative sourcing.
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Limited customization options: May require technical expertise for advanced configurations or integrations, potentially hindering user experience for non-technical users. Some reviews mentioned challenges customizing receipts or reports without coding knowledge.
Reliance on community support: Open-source nature may require users to seek help from online communities or forums for troubleshooting or feature requests, potentially leading to delays or dependence on external resources. Users reported waiting for solutions or workarounds from the community, impacting workflow.
Compatibility concerns: Integration with specific hardware or software might require additional effort or custom development, potentially increasing costs or implementation time. Some users encountered difficulties connecting older hardware or niche software, requiring extra workarounds.
Scalability limitations: Free or basic plans may have limitations on features, data storage, or user accounts, potentially restricting growth for larger businesses. Some reviews mentioned outgrowing the features or data storage capacity of free plans, requiring paid upgrades.
Security considerations: Open-source nature may require additional vigilance and proactive security measures compared to closed-source solutions, potentially increasing IT workload. Some users expressed concerns about managing server security or keeping the software updated, especially for businesses with limited IT resources.
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Recent user reviews of Epos Now reveal a spectrum of experiences. Praise centers around its user-friendly interface, robust inventory management, and actionable sales insights. These strengths, particularly the intuitive design, benefit smaller businesses with diverse staff skillsets, giving Epos Now an edge over tech-heavy competitors like Square or Shopify. Affordability adds to its appeal. However, limitations emerge for complex operations. Users call for more granular customization and highlight occasional gaps in customer support responsiveness, especially via email. Furthermore, optional fees for vital features like advanced reporting or select app integrations can inflate the initial cost, potentially swaying users towards competitors with more comprehensive plans. In conclusion, Epos Now excels in simplicity, affordability, and real-time data, making it a strong contender for businesses prioritizing ease of use and core POS functionalities. However, businesses with niche requirements or intricate workflows may find greater value in exploring competitors for enhanced feature fit and potentially lower long-term costs.

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The buzz around PHP POS is mixed, painting a picture of a POS system with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Users laud its intuitive interface, streamlined inventory management, and adaptability, often praising it as a time-saver compared to clunkier alternatives. This simplicity makes it a hit with small businesses and those new to POS systems, allowing staff to focus on customers rather than software struggles. However, PHP POS stumbles in its lack of extensive customization options. Power users and those with unique needs may find themselves hitting walls, yearning for the deep integrations and bespoke configurations offered by its pricier competitors. Additionally, the open-source nature presents a double-edged sword: while it keeps costs down, it also throws users into the arms of online communities for troubleshooting and feature requests, potentially leading to frustrating delays. Ultimately, PHP POS shines for its user-friendliness, affordability, and solid core features. But for businesses demanding extensive customization, robust integrations, and hand-holding support, its limitations might outweigh its charms. Remember, choosing the right POS is a balancing act – weigh PHP POS's strengths against your specific needs to see if it strikes the perfect chord for your business.

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