Comparison Report · July 2026
A straightforward look at how HDS Cloud Apps stacks up against EPOS Now across the features that matter most to UK and European hospitality operators.
EPOS Now is a UK-founded cloud POS provider that has built a broad customer base across retail and hospitality. However, recurring themes in operator feedback — slow ticket-based support, hardware ecosystem lock-in, and the absence of AI-driven analytics — highlight the gap between what it offers and what a modern hospitality business actually needs day-to-day. HDS Cloud Apps is a fully browser-based platform with native Xero integration, hotel PMS connections, Apple/Google Wallet loyalty, and Google Gemini AI built in from a single subscription.
Head-to-head
| Feature / Criterion | HDS Cloud Apps | EPOS Now |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pricing (entry) | From £49/month per site | Plans from ~£25–£99/month; hardware costs add significantly |
| Software deployment | ✓ Fully browser-based progressive web app — no software to install, no updates to manage; works on any internet-connected device | Cloud-based app; device installation required; software updates pushed periodically |
| Support model | Direct phone line, answered by a person, 24/7/365 | Primarily ticket-based; premium support tiers cost extra |
| Response time | Immediate — no queuing or case numbers | Ticket response times reported as slow by many operators |
| Payment provider flexibility | 9 providers — Global Payments, Viva, Dojo, Musqet, Trust Payments, WorldPay, Take Payments, DNA Payments, Teya — freely switchable; no lock-in | Limited provider choice; own payment solution heavily promoted |
| Alternative payment types | Card, cash, QR, voucher, on-account / cost centre, gift card / RFID tag, Bitcoin & Lightning Network via Musqet | Card and cash; limited alternative payment type support |
| On-site installation | ✓ Included as standard | ✗ Self-install standard; engineer visits cost extra |
| AI / conversational reporting | ✓ Google Gemini AI assistant — real-time upsell coaching for staff at the till and conversational back-office business insights for managers | ✗ No AI reporting or automated business insights |
| Table service & course management | ✓ Full table service: open tables, multiple rounds, course tracking (starters/mains/desserts), kitchen routing per course, table splitting, spending limits | Table service available; depth of course management varies |
| Kitchen display system (KDS) | ✓ Native browser-based KDS — runs on any wall-mounted screen or tablet with internet; real-time order queue | Available; integration depth varies |
| Self-service kiosk | ✓ Hospitality and retail self-service kiosk — browse, order and pay without staff involvement | Kiosk solutions available via integrations |
| Loyalty programme | ✓ QR-code sign-up, points catalogue, tiered member discounts, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet digital cards, bulk CSV import | Loyalty via EPOS Now Loyalty add-on; additional cost |
| Accounting integration | ✓ Xero — automatic daily export with category-to-chart-of-accounts mapping; no manual steps required; Sage in development; custom integrations available for any system that supports CSV or API import | Xero integration available |
| Hotel PMS integration | ✓ StayNTouch and GuestLine — real-time room-charge posting, guest lookup by name from the till | Limited PMS integration options |
| VAT handling | Per-product VAT rates (0%, 5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 18%, 20%); multiple rates in a single transaction; VAT number on receipts; VAT breakdown on every Z-report | VAT configuration available; reporting depth varies |
| Hardware flexibility | ✓ Runs on any internet-connected device; Star Micronics cloud printing (no local network required); Cashmatic automated cash handling; Chillmate temperature monitoring | Ecosystem tied to EPOS Now hardware range |
| Biometric payments | ✓ Fingo fingerprint integration | ✗ Not available |
| Google Cloud hosting | ✓ Official Google Partner, 99.999% uptime SLA | Cloud-hosted; infrastructure not publicly detailed |
| Dedicated account management | ✓ Named account manager from day one | Account management varies by contract size |
EPOS Now has name recognition in the UK market, but operators regularly cite slow support response times as their biggest frustration — a critical issue when a system goes down mid-service. HDS Cloud Apps answers the phone directly, every time, at no extra cost. The platform is fully browser-based (nothing to install, no updates to manage), covers every service mode from kiosk to full table service, integrates natively with Xero and hotel PMS systems, and includes Google Gemini AI and Apple/Google Wallet loyalty in the same subscription. Combined with genuine payment freedom and on-site engineering, HDS delivers a materially better day-to-day operational experience for any venue that depends on its EPOS being reliable and supported.
Ready to see HDS Cloud Apps in action? Book a free, no-obligation demo today.
Request a Free Demo →