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5 Best Bakery POS Systems in the UK (2026 Buyer’s Guide)

5 Best Bakery POS Systems in the UK

By Saurav Raj PantPublished 4 days ago 5 min read

Running a bakery in the UK in 2026 is about much more than perfecting your sourdough or icing the perfect cake. Between fast-paced mornings, ingredient-heavy stock, and growing online orders, today’s bakeries need more than just ovens—they need smart systems to keep everything running smoothly.

That’s where a Bakery POS (Point of Sale) system becomes indispensable.

A modern POS isn’t just a till anymore. It’s your bakery’s operating hub, connecting sales, inventory, recipes, staff, and customers in one place. The right system can save hours each week, cut waste, and boost profits. The wrong one? It can slow service, cause errors, and hurt margins.

In this 2026 guide, we’ve reviewed the five best bakery POS systems in the UK, carefully comparing features, prices, and use cases so you can find the perfect system for your bakery’s needs.

Why Bakeries Need a Specialised POS System

Unlike clothing shops or general retailers, bakeries have unique challenges. From managing perishable ingredients to handling morning rushes and online pre-orders, the right POS system can make a huge difference.

A bakery-specific POS should handle:

  • Ingredient-based inventory (flour, butter, yeast, chocolate)
  • Recipe costing and profit tracking
  • Fast counter service for busy mornings
  • Online orders and delivery integration
  • Production planning and waste tracking
  • Staff scheduling for early and rotating shifts
  • Generic retail POS systems often miss these details—that’s why a bakery-focused point of sale system is essential for both small artisan shops and large bakery chains.

How We Chose the Best UK Bakery POS Systems

We tested and compared several leading platforms using real-world bakery workflows. Each POS was evaluated based on:

  • Bread-and-butter bakery features (inventory, recipes, perishables)
  • Ease of use under pressure
  • Integration with online ordering and delivery
  • UK-based pricing and support
  • Scalability and customisation
  • Overall value for money

Here are the top five bakery POS systems for UK bakeries in 2026—ranked by who they’re best for.

1. Square POS – Best for Small & Startup Bakeries

Best for: Independent bakeries, home bakers, market stalls

Pricing: No monthly fee (transaction-based)

Square remains a top choice for small bakery businesses thanks to its simplicity and affordability. If you need a POS system you can set up in an afternoon, Square is hard to beat.

Why Square Works for Bakeries

Square’s clean, intuitive interface keeps things running smoothly even during peak hours. It’s ideal for bakeries with a short menu—think croissants, loaves, cakes, and coffee.

Key Features:

  • User-friendly iPad or mobile POS
  • Integrated payments (cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  • Basic stock and sales tracking
  • Simple online store and pickup options
  • No monthly subscription

Limitations:

Ingredient-level inventory and recipe costing are limited. As your bakery grows, you might need deeper features.

Bottom Line:

Perfect for new or small bakeries that want a low-cost, easy-to-use POS to get started fast.

2. POSApt – Best for Online Orders & Recipe Costing

Best for: Growing bakeries, café-bakeries, takeaway-focused shops

Pricing: From ~£29/month (UK-based plans)

POSApt shines for modern bakeries balancing in-store and online sales. It combines online ordering, recipe costing, and ingredient-level management—all in one system.

Why POSApt Stands Out

Online orders automatically sync to your POS, reducing manual input and errors. It’s tailor-made for bakeries that rely on click-and-collect or takeaway orders.

Key Features:

  • Online ordering for pickup or delivery
  • Recipe costing and real-time margin insights
  • Ingredient-level stock tracking
  • Performance analytics and waste reports
  • Alerts for ingredient shortages
  • Fast checkout for counter service

Ideal For Café-Bakeries:

If your menu includes coffee, sandwiches, or hot food, POSApt handles hybrid café-bakery setups with ease.

Bottom Line:

POSApt is the best POS system for growing bakeries that want control over costs and online order management—without the complexity of enterprise systems.

3. Epos Now – Best All-Round POS for Established Bakeries

Best for: Multi-location or growing bakeries

Pricing: Custom packages (hardware + software)

Epos Now is one of the UK’s most established POS providers. It’s flexible, feature-rich, and well-suited for established bakeries ready to scale.

Key Features:

  • Real-time inventory and reporting
  • Employee shift management
  • Customisable dashboard and analytics
  • Broad hardware compatibility
  • Multi-store support and integrations

Strengths:

Highly adaptable and scalable as your bakery expands.

Considerations:

Costs can rise with add-ons or integrations, and setup may take longer than simpler systems.

Bottom Line:

A powerful, all-round bakery POS perfect for growing businesses that need robust multi-site support.

4. Lightspeed – Best for High-Growth & Multi-Channel Bakeries

Best for: Large bakeries or brands with ecommerce

Pricing: Higher monthly subscription

Lightspeed is ideal for high-volume bakeries managing both retail shops and online stores. It combines in-depth inventory tools with excellent ecommerce and CRM features.

Key Features:

  • Advanced inventory and bundling
  • Customer management and loyalty tools
  • Detailed analytics and reports
  • Ecommerce shop integration
  • Multi-location management

Potential Downsides:

Setup is more complex and may be overkill for smaller bakeries.

Bottom Line:

Best for ambitious, multi-channel bakeries that want enterprise-grade insights and online growth.

5. Clover – Best for Customisable Bakery POS Setups

Best for: Bakeries wanting tailored workflows

Pricing: Hardware + monthly software plan

Clover stands out for its flexibility. Through its app marketplace, you can create a POS setup that evolves with your bakery.

Key Features:

  • Range of hardware options
  • Add apps for inventory, marketing, or loyalty
  • Staff management and time tracking
  • Integrated card payments

Trade-Offs:

Costs can increase as you add third-party apps, and not all bakery-specific features are built-in.

Bottom Line:

A versatile choice for bakeries wanting customisable POS features without being tied to a single setup.

How to Choose the Right POS for Your Bakery

Ask yourself these questions before deciding:

How complex is your inventory?

Simple menu → Square

Recipe-based setup → POSApt or Lightspeed

Do you rely on online orders?

Takeaway & pickup → POSApt

Ecommerce & delivery → Lightspeed

Planning to grow?

Single site → Square or POSApt

Multiple bakeries → Epos Now or Lightspeed

What’s your budget?

Lowest cost → Square

Best mid-range features → POSApt

Enterprise flexibility → Lightspeed

Final Verdict: Best Bakery POS Systems in the UK (2026)

Rank

POS System

Best For

#1

Square

Small & startup bakeries

#2

POSApt

Growing or online-focused bakeries

#3

Epos Now

Established bakeries

#4

Lightspeed

High-growth, multi-shop bakeries

#5

Clover

Customisable setups

Final Thoughts

In 2026, successful bakeries aren’t just about great pastries—they’re powered by smart systems that help every part of the business run smoothly.

The right bakery POS system can:

✅ Cut waste and costs

✅ Speed up customer service

✅ Simplify staff scheduling

✅ Boost profitability and online sales

When choosing a POS, focus on how it fits your daily workflow, not just its feature list. For many UK bakeries, POSApt strikes the perfect balance—affordable, bakery-smart, and built for modern hospitality.

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