Epos Now vs Podia

What Epos Now is

Epos Now sells a proprietary cloud POS ecosystem rather than a single till application. It combines POS software, countertop or handheld hardware, Epos Now Payments, inventory and staff controls, onboarding, support and an app marketplace for retail and hospitality. Current UK marketing shows complete hardware from £199, but the disclosed offer requires a 12-month payments, care and support subscription starting at £54 per month; VAT and card-processing charges are separate. Contract structure, hardware title, software licenses, support, payment volume commitments, optional apps and extra terminals determine the real cost, so the headline device price is not a complete system price.

What Podia is

Podia is an all-in-one platform for creators looking to sell online courses, digital downloads, and memberships. It replaces the need for a separate website builder, email marketing tool, and checkout system. Designed with simplicity in mind, Podia allows you to set up your entire digital storefront in a matter of hours. Its clean, professional interface and friendly customer support make it a favorite for educators and influencers who want to focus on their content rather than technical headaches.

What Epos Now is built to do

POS operations

Processes sales and manages products, inventory, tenders, staff and location activity.

Retail and hospitality

Adds industry workflows such as variants, tables, ordering and kitchen displays through selected products.

Payments and hardware

Pairs terminals and peripherals with Epos Now or supported third-party payment arrangements.

Cloud and integrations

Provides remote reporting, an app marketplace and contract-governed APIs for connected workflows.

What Podia is built to do

Digital Downloads

Sell PDFs, cheat sheets, and videos easily with instant delivery.

Course Builder

Create beautiful, structured online courses with video and quiz support.

Email Marketing

Send broadcasts and automated sequences to your entire customer list.

Webinars

Host live events and sell tickets directly through your storefront.

Choose Epos Now if

• Physical retail or hospitality businesses wanting a packaged till and payment setup
• Operators needing inventory, staff and multi-location visibility from a cloud dashboard
• Buyers able to test peripherals, offline behavior, integrations and payment settlement before signing

Skip Epos Now if

• The decision is based only on the promotional hardware price
• The business cannot accept fixed terms, minimum processing conditions or hardware-return obligations
• Required apps, payment providers, tax rules, connectivity or local support are not confirmed in writing

Choose Podia if

• Solopreneurs and Online Course Creators.

Epos Now: pros & cons

• Integrated hardware, software and payments can reduce manual reconciliation at the till.
• Retail functions cover products, variants, stock, staff and multi-location operations.
• Hospitality options include table, order, kitchen-display and payment workflows.
• Cloud access, APIs and an app marketplace provide integration paths for supported accounting, ecommerce and delivery systems.
• Promotional hardware pricing can depend on a fixed-term software, support and payments commitment.
• Some UK packages require Epos Now Payments usage or a minimum transaction level; failure can trigger a plan change or different charges.
• Hardware ownership varies between upfront purchase and rental, and early termination can leave remaining fees or return obligations.
• Standard support hours, premium support, additional devices, apps, card rates, VAT and non-integrated payment choices can all add cost.

Podia: pros & cons

• Ultra Simple: One of the easiest platforms to set up and start selling.
• No Transaction Fees: You keep all your earnings on most paid plans.
• All-in-One: Includes email marketing and site building in one subscription.
• Great Support: Known for having some of the most helpful human support in the industry.
• Limited Customization: You cannot change every detail of your site's design.
• Basic Funnels: Marketing automation features are less advanced than Kajabi.
• No Community App: Lacks a dedicated mobile app for student engagement.