Best POS Systems for Takeaways in the UK
Takeaways juggle counter sales, phone orders and online delivery platforms. You want fast order entry, a kitchen ticket that's actually readable, and card payments that keep up at peak.
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Our top picks for takeaways
Square
4.5The strongest free POS software option. Tidy app, decent ecosystem, no monthly fee to start. Great for small retail, cafés and service businesses that want software without signing their life away.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- £0 (paid POS tiers available)
- Transaction fee
- 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)
- Genuinely good free POS app
- 1.75% flat rate isn't bespoke-cheap at high volume
Epos Now
3.6A full till-system specialist for retail and hospitality, with strong hardware bundles. Capable, but review contracts, payment terms and add-on costs carefully.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary)
- Transaction fee
- Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted)
- Contract
- Contract & payment terms vary — read carefully
- Payouts
- Depends on payments setup
- Complete till/POS hardware setups
- Contracts and add-on costs need scrutiny
Dojo
4.1Built for growing businesses that want faster payouts and hands-on, sales-led support. Strong in hospitality and higher-volume retail. Rates are quote-based — read the contract and monthly structure carefully.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- From ~£15/mo (quote-based)
- Transaction fee
- Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended)
- Contract
- Contract terms vary — check carefully
- Payouts
- Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts
- Fast payouts (as quick as same day)
- Quote-based pricing — less upfront transparency
SumUp
4.4The “just let me take payments” option. Cheap to start, portable, dead simple. Brilliant for low-volume and mobile sellers; you may outgrow it for a full restaurant setup.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- £0
- Transaction fee
- from 0.99% (Payments Plus) / 1.69% standard
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- 1–2 working days (next-day option)
- Cheap, low-commitment hardware
- Standard rate isn't the cheapest at higher volumes
What matters for takeaways
Fast order entry
Quick menu buttons and modifiers for a busy counter.
Kitchen tickets
Clear printed or on-screen tickets so orders don't get lost.
Phone & online orders
Handle call-ins and, ideally, link to delivery platforms.
Reliable card payments
Contactless that keeps up during the Friday-night rush.
Fees to watch
Recommended setup
Square handles counter + online ordering tidily for most independents. Epos Now suits a fuller till setup with kitchen printing. Add a Dojo card machine if you want fast payouts.
Compare these providers
Showing 4 of 4 providers
Prices last checked:| Provider | Best for | Monthly | Transaction | Reader from | Contract | Payouts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square4.5 | Cafés | £0 (paid POS tiers available) | 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard) | £19 + VAT | No contract (pay-as-you-go) | Next working day (instant transfer for a fee) | Visit |
SumUp4.4 | Market stalls | £0 | from 0.99% (Payments Plus) / 1.69% standard | £19 + VAT | No contract (pay-as-you-go) | 1–2 working days (next-day option) | Visit |
Dojo4.1 | Restaurants | From ~£15/mo (quote-based) | Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended) | Hardware/payment-plan pricing (quoted) | Contract terms vary — check carefully | Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts | Visit |
Epos Now3.6 | Full till systems | Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary) | Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted) | Till bundles (quoted, finance options) | Contract & payment terms vary — read carefully | Depends on payments setup | Visit |
- Monthly
- £0 (paid POS tiers available)
- Transaction
- 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
- Reader from
- £19 + VAT
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)
- Watch out for
- 1.75% flat rate isn't bespoke-cheap at high volume
- Monthly
- £0
- Transaction
- from 0.99% (Payments Plus) / 1.69% standard
- Reader from
- £19 + VAT
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- 1–2 working days (next-day option)
- Watch out for
- Standard rate isn't the cheapest at higher volumes
- Monthly
- From ~£15/mo (quote-based)
- Transaction
- Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended)
- Reader from
- Hardware/payment-plan pricing (quoted)
- Contract
- Contract terms vary — check carefully
- Payouts
- Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts
- Watch out for
- Quote-based pricing — less upfront transparency
- Monthly
- Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary)
- Transaction
- Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted)
- Reader from
- Till bundles (quoted, finance options)
- Contract
- Contract & payment terms vary — read carefully
- Payouts
- Depends on payments setup
- Watch out for
- Contracts and add-on costs need scrutiny
Find the right POS for your takeaway
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to providers that fit how you actually trade.
FAQs
What's the best POS for a takeaway?
Square is a strong, affordable all-rounder with online ordering. For a fuller till with kitchen printing, Epos Now is popular. Pair with a fast card machine like Dojo if cash flow matters.
How we compare
We compare providers using publicly available pricing, contract information, hardware costs, payout details, software features and suitability for different UK business types. Some links may earn us commission, but providers cannot pay to change our editorial verdicts. Read our full methodology.
The POS editorial team
Independent UK payments research. We test, read the small print and write it up in plain English.