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Restaurants · head to head

Backbar vs Epos Now

Backbar logo

Backbar

Restaurants

Bar inventory management with drink costing and purchasing tools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Epos Now logo

Epos Now

Restaurants

Cloud point of sale for hospitality and retail sold with hardware finance and attached payment processing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Backbar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Backbar invoice syncing with inventory requires the top Professional plan at $129 per month billed monthly, as of August 2026; Epos Now hardware is often placed on a finance agreement with a third party, so cancelling the software subscription leaves the equipment payments running for the remainder of the term.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Backbar and Epos Now actually diverge.

Attributes where Backbar and Epos Now differ
AttributeBackbarEpos Now
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, Windows

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Backbar

Nothing recorded that Epos Now does not also cover.

Only in Epos Now

  • Cloud till software
  • Hardware bundles
  • Integrated payments
  • AppStore add ons
  • Stock and product management
  • Multi site reporting

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Backbar

  • Bar inventory managementnot Epos Now
  • Liquor cost trackingnot Epos Now
  • Multi-location restaurant operationsnot Epos Now

Epos Now

  • A single site cafe or bar wanting a low upfront cost till system installed quicklynot Backbar
  • An independent needing basic stock, staff and sales reporting without an implementation projectnot Backbar
  • An operator running both a small retail line and a food offer on one systemnot Backbar
  • A business replacing a mechanical till that has no reporting or remote access at allnot Backbar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Backbar

  • Invoice syncing with inventory requires the top Professional plan at $129 per month billed monthly, as of August 2026
  • Pricing is charged per location, so multi-location bars pay the plan fee separately for each site, as of August 2026

Epos Now

  • Hardware is often placed on a finance agreement with a third party, so cancelling the software subscription leaves the equipment payments running for the remainder of the term.
  • Software, hardware finance and card processing are three separate agreements with different notice periods, which makes a clean exit difficult and is the source of most published complaints.
  • The vendor makes its margin on payment processing, so the low advertised software price is offset by a card rate that costs far more across a year of trading.
  • Sales is telesales led and buyers report pressure to sign quickly, which is a poor fit for a decision involving multi year finance commitments.
  • Useful capability is spread across paid add ons in the application store, so the functional system a restaurant actually needs costs considerably more than the entry subscription.

Pricing, plan by plan

Backbar

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Web and mobile inventory
    • Multiple inventory locations
    • Color-coded tracking
  • Essential$79/month
    • Drink costing and pricing
    • Unlimited recipe builder
    • Unlimited audit history
  • Professional$129/month
    • Automatic invoice entry
    • Cost variance alerts
    • Unlimited reporting features

Epos Now

On request
  • Epos Now$undefined/year
    • Software subscription quoted per till
    • Hardware frequently supplied under a separate finance or lease agreement
    • Card processing contracted separately and priced by negotiated rate

Which should you pick?

Choose Backbar if

  • You want to start without paying.
Backbar review

Choose Epos Now if

  • You need cloud till software.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want hardware bundles.
Epos Now review

Questions people ask

Is Backbar or Epos Now better?
Neither clearly leads. Backbar starts at Free and Epos Now at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Backbar or Epos Now?
Backbar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Backbar and On request for Epos Now.
Does Backbar or Epos Now run on more platforms?
Backbar runs on Web. Epos Now runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
Can I use Backbar for free?
Yes. Backbar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Epos Now starts at On request.
What is Backbar best used for?
Backbar is most often used for bar inventory management, liquor cost tracking, multi-location restaurant operations. Of those, bar inventory management and liquor cost tracking are not what Epos Now is typically brought in for.
What can Backbar do that Epos Now cannot?
Epos Now covers Cloud till software, Hardware bundles, Integrated payments, AppStore add ons.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Backbar: Does Backbar offer a free plan?

Yes, Backbar's Basic plan is free and includes web and mobile inventory tracking, multiple inventory locations, and color-coded tracking per location.

Source
Epos Now: Is the hardware bought or leased?

Frequently financed through a third party agreement rather than bought outright. Ask explicitly which it is and read the term before signing.

Backbar: How much does Backbar's Essential plan cost with annual billing?

Backbar's Essential plan costs $99 per month when billed annually, or $79 per month with month-to-month billing.

Source
Epos Now: Can I cancel the software and keep trading?

You can stop the subscription, but a separate hardware finance agreement continues to its own end date, and processing is contracted separately again.

Backbar: What is included in Backbar's Professional plan?

Professional includes automatic invoice entry, cost variance alerts, unlimited reporting, and full customer support at $129 per month monthly or annual billing available.

Source
Epos Now: Do I have to use their card processing?

It is the commercial basis of the pricing. Using another acquirer, where permitted, changes the software quote.

Backbar: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, new users can access a one-month free trial of either the Essential or Professional plan.

Source
Epos Now: Is it suitable for a busy full service restaurant?

It handles straightforward hospitality service. Complex coursing, large table management and high volume kitchens are better served by restaurant specific systems.

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