If you're running a takeaway in the UK, you know that speed matters. Every second a customer waits at the counter or for their order to be processed is a second they're reconsidering whether they'll come back. That's why choosing the right POS system isn't just about fancy features, it's about finding something that actually keeps up with the chaos of a busy Friday night.
We've tested Epos Now, Shopify POS, and SumUp live in real takeaway environments to see which one actually delivers. No marketing fluff, no sponsored nonsense, just honest insights from real-world use.
What Makes a Good Takeaway POS System?
Before we dive into the comparison, let's be clear about what you actually need from a restaurant pos system in a takeaway setting:
- Speed – Orders need to be taken and sent to the kitchen in seconds, not minutes
- Delivery integration – You'll likely work with Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Just Eat
- Kitchen display systems – Your team needs to see orders clearly without shouting across the shop
- Simple menu management – You should be able to add items, change prices, and mark things as sold out quickly
- Reliable hardware – No freezing, no crashing during peak hours
- Decent reporting – You need to know what's selling and what's not
Right, let's see how our three contenders stack up.
Epos Now: The UK Hospitality Favourite
Epos Now has been around the UK market for years, and there's a reason it's become so popular with restaurants and takeaways. It's a proper restaurant epos system built specifically for hospitality, not retail trying to do restaurants on the side.
What We Liked
The interface is genuinely intuitive. We had staff members who'd never used an epos system before taking orders confidently within about 20 minutes. The buttons are large, clearly labelled, and you can customise them with colours and images, which is brilliant when you've got menu items with similar names.
The kitchen display system integration is solid. Orders go straight through to the kitchen screen, and chefs can mark items as they're completed. For a busy takeaway, this eliminates the old "is the chicken fried rice ready?" shouting matches.
Delivery platform integration is where Epos Now really shines. It connects with Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, pulling orders directly into the system. You're not manually keying in delivery orders, which means fewer mistakes and faster service.
On top of this, the reporting is comprehensive without being overwhelming. You can see your best sellers, quieter periods, and staff performance. It's the kind of data that actually helps you make decisions rather than just looking impressive on a screen.
The Downsides
Let's be honest, Epos Now isn't cheap. You're looking at monthly fees plus transaction charges, and the hardware costs can add up if you need multiple terminals. For a single-location takeaway just starting out, the price might feel steep.
Contract terms can be a bit inflexible too. Some packages lock you in for a period, which isn't ideal if you're testing the waters with a new business.
Customer support can be hit or miss. When it's good, it's excellent. When it's not, you might be waiting on hold longer than you'd like during a dinner rush.
If you want a detailed breakdown of pricing and features, check out our comprehensive Epos Now review where we've covered everything in depth.
Shopify POS: The Retail System Doing Takeaways
Shopify POS started as a retail solution, and it shows. It's excellent if you're running a shop that also does food, but for a dedicated takeaway? It's got some quirks.
What Works
If you're already using Shopify for an online shop or you want to sell products alongside food (think sauces, merchandise, meal kits), the integration is seamless. One system for everything, which is genuinely convenient.
The app works brilliantly on iPads and tablets. It's smooth, modern, and looks professional. For counter service where customers can see the screen, it makes a good impression.
Inventory management is detailed, perhaps overly so for most takeaways, but if you're serious about tracking ingredient costs and waste, it's there.
Where It Falls Short
Kitchen display integration isn't native. You'll need third-party apps, which adds cost and complexity. For a takeaway where speed matters, this is a significant limitation.
Delivery platform integration is patchy. It's not impossible, but it's not as smooth as with systems built specifically for hospitality. You might find yourself using workarounds or manual processes.
The pricing model can be confusing. There's the Shopify subscription, then POS Pro if you want advanced features, then transaction fees depending on your payment processor. It adds up quickly, and it's not always clear what you're actually paying for.
The system is really designed around retail workflows, product variants, SKUs, that sort of thing. It works for food, but it feels like you're forcing it slightly.
SumUp: The Budget-Friendly Contender
SumUp has made a name for itself as the affordable, no-nonsense option. It's dead simple, which is both its strength and its limitation.
The Good Bits
The pricing is transparent and low. You buy the hardware outright (and it's not expensive), then you're just paying transaction fees. No monthly subscriptions, no hidden costs. For a new takeaway watching every penny, this is appealing.
Setup is genuinely quick. You can be up and running in under an hour. The app is straightforward, and staff training is minimal because there's just not that much to learn.
The card reader is compact and reliable. It works, consistently, which sounds basic but is actually crucial.
You can check out our guide on SumUp transaction charges to understand the full cost breakdown.
The Limitations
This is where SumUp's simplicity becomes a problem for takeaways. There's no proper kitchen display system. No delivery platform integration. Limited menu customisation. Basic reporting.
For a tiny operation, maybe a food stall or pop-up, SumUp is fine. For an actual takeaway with delivery orders, multiple staff, and peak-time rushes? You'll quickly outgrow it.
It's a pos system, yes, but it's not really a restaurant pos system. It's more of a payment solution with some basic till functions bolted on.
Which One Should You Actually Choose?
Here's the straight answer: it depends on where you are and where you're going.
Choose Epos Now if: You're running a proper takeaway operation, you work with delivery platforms, you have multiple staff members, and you need the system to just work during busy periods. Yes, it costs more, but it's built for exactly what you're doing. The time you save and the mistakes you avoid will likely pay for the difference. We'd genuinely recommend getting a demo through our Epos Now review page where you can see current pricing and packages.
Choose Shopify POS if: You're already heavily invested in the Shopify ecosystem, you're selling products as well as food, and you have someone tech-savvy who can set up the necessary integrations and workarounds. It's not the natural choice for a pure takeaway, but it can work with effort.
Choose SumUp if: You're running a very small operation: think market stall, pop-up, or tiny counter service: where you're basically just taking payments and don't need advanced features. Or if you're in the very early stages and need to minimise upfront costs while you prove the concept.
The Bottom Line
After testing all three in live takeaway environments, Epos Now comes out ahead for most UK takeaways. It's the best pos system for hospitality specifically because it's actually built for hospitality. The delivery integrations, kitchen display options, and hospitality-focused features make the daily grind noticeably easier.
SumUp works for very basic needs, and Shopify POS works if you're already in that ecosystem, but neither feels purpose-built for the speed and complexity of a busy takeaway.
At the end of the day, your epos system should fade into the background and just work. You shouldn't be thinking about it during the dinner rush. Epos Now gets closest to that ideal for UK takeaways, which is why we keep coming back to it.
If you're serious about finding the right system, take a look at our detailed comparisons of the best EPOS systems where we break down pricing, features, and real-world performance across different business types.