Running a takeaway shop in 2026 means you're juggling online orders, phone orders, walk-ins, delivery drivers, and kitchen chaos, all at once. The right POS system doesn't just process payments; it keeps your entire operation running smoothly when things get hectic.
We've spent the past few weeks testing Toast, Epos Now, and SumUp specifically for takeaway environments. Here's what actually matters when you're choosing between them.
Quick Comparison: What You're Getting
Before we dive into the details, here's the snapshot:
Toast POS: £69/month – Best for takeaways focused on delivery and online orders. Robust kitchen management, built-in online ordering, and delivery integration. It's the most comprehensive but comes at a higher monthly cost.
Epos Now: From £99 upfront + monthly subscription (pricing varies) – Solid all-rounder for takeaways that want flexibility. Great reporting, works well for multiple locations, and you can customise it to fit your operation. Check out our full Epos Now review for detailed pricing and features.
SumUp: Affordable entry point – Best for smaller takeaways or those just starting out. Simple, straightforward, and gets the basics right without overwhelming you with features you won't use.
Toast POS: The Delivery Powerhouse
If your takeaway does serious volume through Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or your own delivery service, Toast deserves your attention.
What We Liked
The online ordering system is genuinely impressive. You get a branded ordering website and app included in your subscription, which means you're not paying commission to third-party platforms for every order. For a busy takeaway, this alone can save you hundreds of pounds monthly.
The kitchen display system (KDS) is where Toast really shines. We tested it during a Friday evening rush, and the way it manages ticket flow is brilliant. Your kitchen staff can see live order status, prep times, and even camera feeds if you want that level of oversight. It's designed for restaurants, and it shows.
Guest self-ordering kiosks are another strong feature if you've got counter space and want to reduce queue times. Customers can customise their orders, add extras, and pay, all without tying up your staff.
The Downsides
At £69 per month, it's not cheap. You're paying for a comprehensive system, which is great if you need all those features. But if you're running a smaller operation or primarily doing phone orders, you might feel like you're paying for tools you don't actually use.
The learning curve is steeper than the other two options. Your team will need proper training to get the most out of it, and that takes time.
Best For
Medium to large takeaways with high delivery volumes, multiple online ordering channels, and a kitchen that needs serious management tools. If you're processing 100+ orders daily, Toast makes sense.
Epos Now: The Flexible Middle Ground
Epos Now is what we'd call the "Goldilocks option" for many takeaway shops, not too basic, not overly complicated, and priced sensibly for what you get.
What We Liked
The reporting is excellent. You can track sales by item, by hour, by day, basically any metric you want to monitor. We particularly love how easy it is to identify your best-selling dishes and dead stock. This kind of data helps you make smarter menu decisions.
Integration options are extensive. Whether you need to connect to your accounting software, loyalty programmes, or third-party delivery platforms, Epos Now plays nicely with most services. For takeaways running multiple locations, the cloud-based management is genuinely useful, you can check on any site from your phone.
The upfront cost model (£99 for hardware and software to start) means you're not locked into eye-watering monthly fees if cash flow is tight. Yes, there's a monthly subscription, but you've got more control over your initial investment.
The Downsides
You'll need to contact them for an exact monthly quote, which can be a bit annoying if you're comparing costs quickly. Pricing varies based on what features and hardware you need, so budget an hour for a proper demo and quote discussion.
It's not quite as takeaway-specific as Toast. You can absolutely make it work perfectly for a takeaway (many do), but you might need to add some integrations or customise workflows to get it exactly right.
Best For
Established takeaways that want solid reporting, multi-site capabilities, and room to grow. If you value flexibility and don't want to be boxed into one specific ecosystem, Epos Now is definitely worth exploring.
SumUp: Simple and Affordable
Don't let the lower price point fool you: SumUp has carved out a proper niche by focusing on what small takeaways actually need without the bloat.
What We Liked
Setup is ridiculously straightforward. You can literally be taking orders within an hour of unboxing. For takeaway owners who aren't particularly tech-savvy or just want something that works without endless configuration, this is a genuine advantage.
The pricing is transparent and affordable, making it accessible for newer businesses or those watching every penny. There's no lengthy contract negotiations or hidden fees that suddenly appear on your invoice.
The hardware is compact and reliable. If you're working with limited counter space (as many takeaways are), you'll appreciate how little room the SumUp terminal requires.
The Downsides
Feature limitations become apparent quickly if you're doing any serious volume. The reporting isn't as detailed, kitchen management isn't as sophisticated, and integration options are more limited than Toast or Epos Now.
If you're planning to scale up or add multiple locations, you'll likely outgrow SumUp fairly quickly. It's designed for simplicity, which is perfect for some businesses but restrictive for others.
Best For
Small takeaways, newcomers to the food business, or operations that primarily handle walk-in counter orders without complex delivery management needs.
Head-to-Head: What Matters for Takeaways
Let's break down how these three systems handle the specific challenges you face running a takeaway.
Online and Phone Orders
Winner: Toast. The integrated online ordering and delivery management is built specifically for this. You're getting a complete solution that handles everything from order placement to kitchen communication to driver dispatch.
Epos Now can handle this too, but you'll likely need third-party integrations. SumUp is basic here: you'll be managing online orders separately.
Kitchen Efficiency
Winner: Toast, again. The kitchen display system with ticket management is genuinely best-in-class. During testing, we could see why busy restaurants choose it.
Epos Now offers kitchen display options through integrations, which work well but aren't quite as seamless. SumUp doesn't really focus on kitchen management.
Reporting and Business Intelligence
Winner: Epos Now. The depth and accessibility of reports impressed us. You can slice data dozens of ways, and it's actually useful for making menu decisions, staffing choices, and inventory management.
Toast has solid reporting too, particularly around delivery metrics. SumUp's reporting is functional but basic.
Value for Money
This depends entirely on your operation size:
- Small takeaway (under 50 orders daily): SumUp offers the best value
- Medium takeaway (50-150 orders daily): Epos Now provides the best balance of features and cost
- Large takeaway (150+ orders daily): Toast's higher price is justified by the efficiency gains
Multi-Location Management
Winner: Epos Now. The cloud-based approach and reporting across multiple sites is exactly what you need if you're running more than one location. We've spoken to operators managing a dozen sites who rely on it exclusively.
Toast can do this too, but you're paying premium pricing for each location. SumUp isn't really designed for multi-site operations.
Our Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
There's no universal "best" option here: it genuinely depends on your specific takeaway operation.
Choose Toast if: You're processing high volumes of delivery orders, need sophisticated kitchen management, and can justify the monthly investment with the efficiency gains and reduced third-party commission fees.
Choose Epos Now if: You want a solid, flexible pos system that can grow with your business, provides excellent reporting, and doesn't lock you into one specific way of working. It's the sensible choice for most established takeaways. Get a demo to see exact pricing for your setup.
Choose SumUp if: You're running a smaller operation, want something simple and affordable, and don't need advanced delivery management or multi-location features.
Making Your Decision
The honest truth? Your best bet is to actually demo these systems with your real menu, your real order flow, and your real team members. Most providers offer free trials or demonstrations: take them up on it.
Pay attention to how long it takes your staff to process a typical order, how easily you can modify dishes for customer preferences, and whether the reports actually tell you something useful about your business.
Your POS system will be at the centre of your operation for years. It's worth spending a few hours testing properly now rather than discovering limitations when you're in the middle of a Saturday dinner rush.
If you want more detailed breakdowns of pricing and features for each system, check out our individual reviews for Toast, Epos Now, and SumUp. We've got screenshots, real pricing examples, and honest assessments of what works and what doesn't.