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Restaurants · head to head

Epos Now vs Jolt

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
Jolt logo

Jolt

Restaurants

Operations execution platform

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Jolt pricing information not published; product redirects to quote request form at smartsense.co
  • They diverge on capability: Epos Now covers Cloud till software, Jolt covers Digital checklists.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Epos Now and Jolt differ
AttributeEpos NowJolt
Starting priceOn request$69/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Epos Now

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

Only in Jolt

  • Digital checklists
  • Temperature logging
  • Food labeling
  • Employee accountability
  • Time clock
  • Training
  • POS systems
  • HR software

What people use each for

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

Epos Now

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

Jolt

  • Digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift worknot Epos Now
  • Food safety labelling and temperature loggingnot Epos Now
  • Employee scheduling and shift accountability for hourly teamsnot Epos Now

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Jolt

  • Pricing information not published; product redirects to quote request form at smartsense.co
  • Customers must complete quote request form to obtain pricing information

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Jolt

$69/month
  • Basic$69/month
    • Checklists
    • Temperature logs
  • Standard$129/month
    • Food safety
    • Employee management
  • Premium$229/month
    • Full features
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Epos Now if

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

Choose Jolt if

  • You need digital checklists.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want temperature logging.
Jolt review

Questions people ask

Is Epos Now or Jolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Epos Now starts at On request and Jolt at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epos Now or Jolt?
Epos Now starts at On request and Jolt at $69/month.
Does Epos Now or Jolt run on more platforms?
Epos Now runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Jolt runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Epos Now best used for?
Epos Now is most often used for a single site cafe or bar wanting a low upfront cost till system installed quickly, an independent needing basic stock, staff and sales reporting without an implementation project, an operator running both a small retail line and a food offer on one system, a business replacing a mechanical till that has no reporting or remote access at all. Of those, a single site cafe or bar wanting a low upfront cost till system installed quickly and an independent needing basic stock, staff and sales reporting without an implementation project are not what Jolt is typically brought in for.
What can Epos Now do that Jolt cannot?
Epos Now covers Cloud till software, Hardware bundles, Integrated payments, AppStore add ons. Jolt covers Digital checklists, Temperature logging, Food labeling, Employee accountability.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Jolt: How much does Jolt cost?

Jolt does not publish pricing on its website. The jolt.com domain redirects to a quote request form at smartsense.co. Customers must submit their information through this form for a SmartSense expert to provide personalized pricing and solutions. Contact (866) 806-2653 for direct inquiry.

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.

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.

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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