POS Comparisons

POS Nation vs SumUp: Which POS Is Better? (2025)

By Mauricio Dec 6, 2025 3 min read

Choosing between POS Nation and SumUp for your business? Both are popular retail solutions, but they serve different needs. POS Nation starts at $99/month or one-time purchase and is POS for retail, liquor, and tobacco stores, while SumUp starts at $39 (reader) + 2.75% per transaction and is Mobile card reader with simple pricing. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.

Quick Comparison: POS Nation vs SumUp

FeaturePOS NationSumUp
CategoryRetailMulti-Industry
Starting Price$99/month or one-time purchase$39 (reader) + 2.75% per transaction
Rating4.4/54.3/5
Target BusinessSmall Business to Mid-MarketSmall Business
Pricing ModelQuote-basedTransaction-based
Free TrialYesNo
Free VersionNoNo
Best ForLiquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience storesSmall businesses and mobile sellers

POS Nation Overview

POS Nation provides point-of-sale systems for retail stores, liquor stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores. Features inventory management, age verification, and tobacco scan compliance.

POS Nation is offered by POS Nation (founded 2001) based in Charlotte, NC. The system focuses on Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.

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Key Features:

  • POS
  • Inventory Management
  • Age Verification
  • Tobacco Compliance
  • E-commerce
  • Reporting

SumUp Overview

SumUp provides mobile payment solutions and card readers for small businesses. Features simple pricing, no monthly fees, and easy setup for accepting card payments on the go.

SumUp is offered by SumUp (founded 2012) based in London, UK. The system focuses on Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.

Key Features:

  • Card Reader
  • Mobile Payments
  • Invoicing
  • Payment Links
  • Reporting
  • No Monthly Fees

Feature Comparison

POS Nation Features:

  • POS
  • Inventory Management
  • Age Verification
  • Tobacco Compliance
  • E-commerce

SumUp Features:

  • Card Reader
  • Mobile Payments
  • Invoicing
  • Payment Links
  • Reporting

When comparing features, POS Nation stands out with Age-restricted retail expertise, while SumUp differentiates itself with No monthly fees. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing AspectPOS NationSumUp
Starting Price$99/month or one-time purchase$39 (reader) + 2.75% per transaction
Pricing ModelQuote-basedTransaction-based
Price RangeMid-rangeBudget
Free TrialAvailableNot available
Free VersionNoNo

SumUp is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.

Pros and Cons

POS Nation

Pros:

  • Industry specialization
  • Compliance features
  • Flexible pricing
  • Good support

Cons:

  • Niche market focus
  • Add-on costs
  • Hardware required

SumUp

Pros:

  • No monthly fees
  • Simple flat-rate pricing
  • Easy setup
  • Portable

Cons:

  • Higher per-transaction rate
  • Limited POS features
  • Basic reporting

Who Should Choose POS Nation?

POS Nation is ideal for Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. The system is particularly well-suited for Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.

However, POS Nation may not be the best fit for Restaurants or apparel retail.

Who Should Choose SumUp?

SumUp is ideal for Small businesses and mobile sellers. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.

However, SumUp may not be the best fit for High-volume businesses where percentage fees add up.

Our Recommendation

Both POS Nation and SumUp are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose POS Nation if you’re Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. Choose SumUp if you’re Small businesses and mobile sellers. POS Nation has a higher user rating (4.4 vs 4.3). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.