The best takeaway POS systems for SMEs in 2025 We breakdown the best takeaway POS systems out there for small businesses by comparing strengths, weaknesses and what they will cost you. Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 15 April 2025 Our Research When judging the best POS systems, our writers work with expert researchers to focus on key features that matter most to small businesses. These include value for money – setup, hardware and transaction fees – help and support, plus the till, stock, and business management tools available. Written and reviewed by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Running a successful takeaway business can be a high pressure endeavour: you need to keep orders moving swiftly out the door and your customers happy. You’ll need a POS system that has the specific tools necessary for this, which can be a bit more nuanced than just finding the overall best small business POS system.The results of our analysis, research and hands-on user testing reveal Clover to be the top dog when it comes to POS systems for takeaways. Clover emerged as our number one option thanks to its top-of-the-range hardware, feature-packed software, and excellent usability.However, another POS system could be a better fit for your takeaway business’s specific needs. So read on for full breakdowns of all the top options, including pros, cons, pricing, and who they’re best suited to. Best takeaway POS systems at a glance Clover — Best overall takeaway POS systemSquare POS — Best POS for scaling your takeaway businessLightspeed Restaurant — Best for loyalty tools to encourage repeat ordersSumUp — Best for speedy ordering at smaller takeawaysTouchBistro — The easiest takeaway POS to operateClick any of the links above to begin comparing costs on a POS system for your own business needs How many POS terminals does your takeaway business need? Just 1 2-3 Over 3 Unsure Compare Costs You can use the helpful table below to speedily compare cost and features between our top choices: Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward BEST OVERALL Clover for Restaurants Square POS Lightspeed Restaurant SumUp TouchBistro Best for Best overall takeaway POS system Best for Best POS for scaling your takeaway business Best for Best for loyalty tools to encourage repeat orders Best for Best for speedy ordering at smaller takeaways Best for The easiest takeaway POS to operate Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.8 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.8 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.6 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.2 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.2 Pricing from Quote-based Pricing from Free (1.75% transaction fees) Pricing from £109 per month (annual commitment) Pricing from Pay-as-you-go (1.69% transaction fees) Pricing from $69 per month Key benefits Top of the range POS terminals and accessoriesCustomisable customer display screenFingerprint scanner for speedy login on the Clover Terminal Key benefits Excellent mobile ordering featuresFree plan with reasonable transaction feesOptions to scale up to a range of terminals and paid plans Key benefits Automatic offline functionalityTablet based kitchen display systemGreat customer loyalty tools Key benefits Solid range of POS equipment, but you can also use just a tabletStrong features for mobile and QR code orderingCan start with the free plan Key benefits Seamlessly integrates with a kitchen display systemStrong cost management toolsExceptionally user-friendly interface 1. Clover — Best overall takeaway POS system 2. Square POS– Best POS for scaling your takeaway business 3. Lightspeed Restaurant— Best for loyalty tools to encourage repeat orders 4. SumUp – Best for speedy ordering at smaller takeaways 5. TouchBistro – The easiest takeaway POS to operate How to choose the right POS system for your takeaway business How we test takeaway POS systems Need a takeaway POS quote? 1. Clover — Best overall takeaway POS system Clover Starting software price: Quote-based Transaction fees from: Quote-based Highly customisable customer display Exceptional POS hardware and accessories Speedy fingerprint login on the Clover Terminal Summary Clover is based in California and, as of 2020, processes $133 billion in card transactions annually. It’s owned by Fiserv, the largest merchant acquirer in the world. Show moreless Suitable if: You want top of the range terminals and accessories You want a close look at your analytics You want a range of tools to boost your efficiency Not suitable if: You're looking to avoid large, upfront costs You're a smaller takeaway business You're looking for a free plan We’re highly impressed by Clover’s glossy, sleek range of POS terminals and accessories. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy makes Clover a top POS system for takeaways?If you’re looking for top of the range terminals and accessories to help manage speedy takeaway orders, Clover should be at the top of your list. In particular we found the highly responsive touchscreen on the Clover Station Solo was incredibly slick and it boasts a standout feature we really love: fingerprint login. This can really save your staff precious time when trying to get those orders out the door.The fingerprint login, which can be seen at the top right of the terminal, can really speed up operations. Source: Startups.co.ukIt’s not just the hardware that impressed us either, we found the software to be equally well designed both in the front-end and the back office. Tasks like creating new products or categories was seamless, and you get alerts for stock so you won’t be caught short when trying to get orders moving out the kitchen. Clover also provides customisable mobile and QR code ordering.Clover has a wide library of apps, so you can connect your POS with an online ordering app like Deliverect. Source: Startups.co.ukWe think the intuitive, efficient nature of the front end interface combined with the responsive touchscreen makes Clover well suited to a fast-paced takeaway environment, as well as our choice for best POS for restaurants.Are there any limitations?Clover provides a first-class range of terminals and accessories, but they do come with an unsurprisingly large price tag. This is fine if you don’t make splashing out on some of the best equipment available, but it won’t be as suitable for smaller takeaway business who just need the basics. SumUp is a cheap and cheerful option that’s better suited to newer businesses.Clover can provide a kitchen display system, but only by connecting it via a third-party app. All the other platforms on this roundup have a built-in option for a KDS.How much does Clover cost?PricingSoftwareCurrently from £1 per monthHardwareClover Mini: £450Clover Station Solo: Contact Clover for pricesClover Station Duo: £1,300Transaction feesFrom 1.49%Free trial?NoneClover takes a quote-based approach to its prices, as opposed to flat rate, which could be beneficial as you may get rates that will be tailored to your specific businesses needs. Our own research indicates that Clover’s fees can cover a pretty broad range. We can help you find your perfect POS system Tell us what you're looking for and compare leading POS providers Get free quotes It only takes a minute What our Reviews Writer thought I was really impressed by how sleek and responsive the Clover terminal was when I was testing it. It felt really well designed, meaning I was able to effortlessly complete tasks like adding items and amending orders. The fingerprint scanner was the standout feature for me though, it makes logging into the system so fast and painless. Eddie Harris Reviews Writer 2. Square POS– Best POS for scaling your takeaway business Square for Restaurants Starting software price: Free plan Transaction fees from: From 1.75% Great range of POS hardware as well as an iOS app Excellent mobile ordering features Easy menu creation Summary Square is headed up by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Specifically designed for small to medium sized businesses, it leads the US market for POS systems, currently serving four million clients. Show moreless Suitable if: You're looking for a free plan You want to integrate an online store You want a range of plans and hardware that support scalability Not suitable if: You're looking for cost management tools You want to keep track of your ingredient usage You want a dedicated training mode to onboard staff Square for Restaurants has an intuitive interface . Source: Startups.co.ukWhat makes Square a top POS for takeaways?Square is a great fit for takeaways who are looking to scale and grow over time. You can get started with just the completely free app (which we ranked as the best free POS for SMEs), but it also has the Square for Restaurants POS paid plan. This tier will get you lower transaction fees, and it comes packed with takeaway friendly features to support both click-and-collect and delivery options.Our testing showed us that Square is simple and straightforward to use. Source: Startups.co.ukOur testing found that the Square POS was extremely user-friendly and intuitive, and you’ll be supported with takeaway focused tools like excellent mobile and QR code ordering, options for custom kitchen display systems for seamless orders, and you can integrate Square POS with Deliverect or Otter to manage your takeaway orders all under one roof.Are there any limitations?Currently Square offers no functionality for tracking ingredient usage in your meals. So for takeaways who want to keep a close eye on their stock usage we’d recommend Clover’s POS instead.We also found it slightly limiting that you can’t update a floor plan from the front end. If you run a takeaway business that also has a dine-in option where your frequently changing the floor plan this could be slightly time consuming.How much does Square POS cost?PricingSoftwareFree plan: FreeSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: £69/month, per locationPremium plan (for businesses that process more than £200,000 per year): custom pricingHardwareSquare Stand (to turn your iPad into a countertop terminal): £99 plus VATSquare Register: £599 plus VAT Transaction feesFree plan: 1.75% in person, 2.5% for virtual terminal and invoices, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: 1.75% in person, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsPremium plan: custom ratesFree trial?You can test the system using the free plan on a tabletSquare offers a completely free POS plan, which is subject to a 1.75% transaction fee. This is about average compared against its competitors, so you won’t be overpaying, and pretty impressive on a free plan. So you’re definitely getting value for money with Square.Unlike some of its competitors, Square publicly lists of all of its pricing, so you’ll also be benefiting from transparency. This is particularly useful for newer businesses with tight margins, who want to plan their spending ahead with as much accuracy as possible. What did our users think about Square? “…some things were so easy like adding stuff, round table, adding orders, super easy to use.”“I think this is suited to small businesses or like food trucks or just starting out with like a food store…”“I did find it a bit like clunky. You had to manually add everything one at a time.” 3. Lightspeed Restaurant— Best for loyalty tools to encourage repeat orders Lightspeed Restaurant Starting software price: £109 Transaction fees from: Available on request Offline functionality that syncs automatically when back online Brilliant customer engagement features Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Summary Based in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is a commerce platform that currently serves over 150,000 customer locations. Show moreless Suitable if: You're looking to inspire repeat business You're looking to sidestep upfront costs Your takeaway business has a complicated inventory Not suitable if: You want built-in mobile and QR code ordering You want a countertop POS terminal (Lightspeed is for tablets only) You're looking for a budget friendly option We found Lightspeed’s tablet-based POS software to have a user-friendly back office, but a slightly trickier to navigate front office. Source: Startups.co.ukWhat makes Lightspeed Restaurant a top POS for takeaways?If you want your takeaway customers to keep coming back for more, then Lightspeed Restaurant can provide a suite of tools to lock in that repeat business. We consider Lightspeed’s customer engagement tools to be the best out all the ones we’ve tested.We found adding items to an order was simple with Lightspeed Restaurant. Source: Startups.co.ukWith Lightspeed Loyalty you can create automated marketing campaigns and send out promotional SMS notifications. There’s also a drag-and-drop email builder so you can easily create promotional messages tailored to your preference. Just keep in mind that this is only compatible with Restaurant (L Series) only: if your app has a red logo on a white background, you’re using L Series.Lightspeed Restaurant also offers a built-in kitchen display system, and you can edit the layout to your liking. However, the mobile ordering feature could be a drawback when using Lightspeed as your takeaway POS, which we will cover in the section below.Are there any limitations?The key limitation to be aware of with Lightspeed: while it can support mobile and QR code ordering, you’ll need to do this by integrating your POS with Lightspeed Order Anywhere which is a paid add-on to your standard Lightspeed subscription. Lightspeed POS is designed specifically for iPads (it’s currently not compatible with Android) but it doesn’t have its own first-party POS terminals. So if you want the rugged durability of a dedicated terminal then you should be looking at Clover or Square instead.How much does Lightspeed Restaurant cost?Pricing SoftwareEssential: £109 per month Premium: £339 per monthEnterprise: Quote-based Lightspeed Restaurant isn’t a budget option for a takeaway POS: it starts from a pretty pricey £109 per month for the Essential tier. It’s also an annual commitment (that you’ll be billed monthly for) so it’s on the premium end of the pricing spectrum for small business POS systems. But you might consider the advanced features, like Lightspeed Loyalty, worth coughing up for.Also keep in mind that you’ll need to add-on Lightspeed Order Anywhere for mobile ordering (no price is publicly listed), which could increase the cost even further. If your takeaway is a more basic outfit, you’re probably safer going with a low-financial-risk option like Square’s free plan. What did our users think about Lightspeed Restaurant? “[The interface] is really very simple of the black background and just the bright colours. It’s really, really easy to add items to an order. It’s easy to add a course and things like that.”“Great that you have a table interface. Obviously, it’s really simple, to order bits.”“I found it was either really easy and really obvious or I literally could not figure out how to do a particular thing.” Save by comparing POS costs Does your business use a POS system already? Yes No 4. SumUp – Best for speedy ordering at smaller takeaways SumUp Starting software price: Free Transaction fees from: 1.69% Superb range of hardware and accessories Mobile and QR code ordering Inventory management tools with stock alerts and cost management Summary In 2020, London-based payment service provider SumUp acquired GoodTill, an iPad-based POS software provider. Show moreless Suitable if: You run a small takeaway that just needs the basics You want good built-in mobile ordering You want loyalty tools to encourage repeat orders Not suitable if: You need offline functionality You want more advanced tools and features You want a flawless front end While we did find the front office to be a tad dated, the back office proved to be very slick and user-friendly. Source: Startups.co.ukWhat makes SumUp a top POS for takeaways?SumUp is a simple and solid low-cost option for smaller takeaway businesses that just want a speedy system that doesn’t break the bank. The strength of SumUp is that you can get going on its pay-as-you-go plan: there are no monthly outgoings and you don’t have to sign any contracts.SumUp has a basic but colourful interface that we considered decent at managing basic tasks. Source: Startups.co.ukIn terms of SumUp’s usability it’s a tale of two POS systems: the back end we found to be incredibly responsive, easy to navigate around and all-around straightforward to use. However we did feel the front end could do with a little more work, as it felt slightly more out-of-date and we found there some synchronization issues between the front office and back office.We did find that SumUp offers a strong set of features for mobile and QR ordering though, and it has a native kitchen display system which can be run via an iPad. Just keep in mind that this KDS will come at an additional cost.What are the limitations?Aside from the slightly less intuitive front-end, the key limitation to be aware of with SumUp is the lack of a comprehensive offline mode, which could be an issue for takeaways that suffer from poor connection. If you want the safety net of a reliable offline mode you should check out Square or Clover instead.SumUp is a good cheap-and-cheerful option, but its lacking a few of the more sophisticated features a more advanced POS like Lightspeed boasts.How much does SumUp cost?Pricing SoftwarePay-as-you-go: FreePayments Plus: £19/monthPoint of Sale Pro: £49/monthHardwarePOS Lite: One-time cost of £249POS Pro: Starting at £754.80Transaction feesPay-as-you-go: 1.69%Payments Plus: 0.99% per transaction, 1.99% for premium cards Free trial?7-day trial for Payments PlusSumUp represents a really solid low-cost option thanks to its free plan, lack of contracts and very reasonable 1.69% transaction fee on in-person card payments. You do also have the option of upgrading to SumUp One, which will unlock very competitive 0.99% transaction fees for both in-person payments and digital payments.SumUp POS Pro, which is the version we tested, comes with a slightly pricier £49 per month fee. You’ll also get the option for adding on extra like a kitchen display screen and advanced loyalty tools (like points and rewards for customers) for additional fees. These both cost an extra £19 per month. What did our users think about SumUp? “I thought it was really responsive, it’s very easy to navigate, so found it quite easy just to add everything in the back-end, like your floor plan, your categories for your products and then stock levels and variants…”“I had a really good admin experience. I found it all very straightforward to use, really slick, but the front end just seems to need some more work from the development side.”“Yeah, it was easy to use but I think that it lacked some quite basic tools as well.” 5. TouchBistro – The easiest takeaway POS to operate TouchBistro Starting software price: $69 Transaction fees from: Available on request Solid cost management tools Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Floor plans that are easy to edit Summary TouchBistro is based in Toronto, Canada, and in 2013 it partnered with PayPal. It now focuses on its POS software developed specifically for iPad. Show moreless Suitable if: You want an easy POS to operate You want to offer your customers targeted promotions You want to seamlessly connect a kitchen display system Not suitable if: You want extensive mobile and QR code ordering options You prefer to have a physical POS terminal You want automatic tip sharing We found TouchBistro’s front-end exceptionally well designed and easy to use. Source: Startups.co.ukWhen we tested out TouchBistro for ourselves, we found that both the front and back offices were equally easy to use. The POS system stood out amongst its competitors as exceptionally user-friendly, but the front office in particular stood for how well-designed and smooth to operate it was.TouchBistro can also give you detailed insights into your cash flow. Source: Startups.co.ukIf you’re running a fast-paced takeaway business with no margin for admin errors, then TouchBistro’s unparalleled usability will be a strong contender for your consideration. In addition to the slick interface, we were also impressed with the built-in marketing and loyalty tools, which can keep happy customers coming back to pick up more grub.What are the limitations?A considerable issue for using TouchBistro as your takeaway POS is the limited options for mobile and QR ordering. We found that there were no options for customising the mobile menu, and crucially (unlike all the other competitors on this roundup) there seemed to be no option for sending out SMS or email alerts to let customers know their food was ready to collect.TouchBistro is solely tablet-based, which could be beneficial for keeping costs down if you already have an iPad you’re willing to use for your business, but some might prefer the reliability of a purpose-built POS terminal, like the range offered by Clover.How much does TouchBistro cost?PricingSoftwareFrom $69/month (TouchBistro’s pricing is only available in US dollars)HardwareQuote-basedTransaction feesQuote-basedFree trial?No, but you can get a free demoWith the base package quoted at $69 per month, this is about average for a POS monthly cost. There are a number of items you need to pay extra for though, including customer facing displays, inventory management, profit management and online ordering.This “build-a-POS” pricing system is something of a double edged sword. While it can get very costly if you need a full suite of features, it also means you have some control over what you pay for, so you can avoid paying for certain features you won’t end up using. How to choose the right POS system for your takeaway businessThese are the key points you need to consider while choosing a POS system for your takeaway business:Suitability for your specific operationTakeaway businesses come in a wide variety: from small collection only outfits to larger dine-in restaurants that also provide a takeaway option. So you won’t just need a POS that will cover your takeaway aspects, you’ll need one to support your entire restaurant.With that in mind, if you run a medium or larger sized restaurant, you’ll need a more advanced POS to support your needs like Lightspeed Restaurant or TouchBistro.If you’re a smaller collection, or delivery-only, eatery then you might not need to splash out on all the bells and whistles. There’s a good chance that you can get by with a more basic, budget-friendly POS like SumUp or Square.Must-have featuresThe cost of your takeaway POS system will depend on exactly what features you’ll need. There are a couple of must-haves that almost all takeaway businesses will require. You’ll need mobile ordering, and you’ll also want a kitchen display system so your front of house staff can seamlessly communicate orders to the kitchen staff.Some providers may include a KDS as part of your overall package, whereas others (like SumUp) will provide one as an additional per month cost. So just keep this in mind when budgeting for your POS system.Having an online presence will also be important for takeaway businesses, so also be on the lookout for providers that also offer the capacity to build a website, such as Square Online.Ultimately, you should be paying for your POS to make your life easier and your workflow smoother, so make sure it’s got the tools and tricks to do so.Transaction feesA key factor in determining which system will be the best value for your business will be the volume of transactions you process. If your monthly transactions are relatively low, you’re better off starting out with a free or low-cost plan with average transaction fees.If you’re taking in a high volume of monthly sales, then you’ll be better suited to paid-monthly plan that will unlock lower transaction fees. Just make sure that the money you’d save on your individual sales makes the monthly payments to your POS provider worthwhile.User-friendlinessNot all POS interfaces are created equal. You’ll find some can be clunky, unresponsive and confusing to navigate. Were as others are as smooth as silk. Takeaway businesses in particular will need an easy to use system to keep hot meals moving out the door at a brisk pace.Options to scale and growYou might be starting out as a simple collection-only takeaway with a skeleton staff, but this might not be the case forever. There’s every chance that eventually you’ll grow and expand, possibly even to multiple locations.Look out for POS systems that can support growth, and will have the tools you’ll need in the future, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of switching platforms and getting to grips with a whole new ecosystem.Free plansWhile no POS is ever truly free – you’ll still need to pay transaction fees – there are options out there for pay-as-you-go style POS options. Square was our number one choice for a free POS system.Some smaller businesses might be able to get by on a free plan, but many businesses will benefit from the advanced features and lower transaction fees often provided by paid tiers.For example, with SumUp, the free version doesn’t support online ordering, which could be critical for a lot of takeaway businesses. So in this instance you’ll need to stump up for the Pro plan.Free trialsYou should also keep your eyes peeled for POS systems that offer free trials, so you can test it out for yourself before making any financial commitments.Read next: How to start a takeaway business from home How we test takeaway POS systemsOur dedicated research team rigorously analysed 16 different POS systems in order to determine which were the most effective for takeaway business.We combined this hands-on user testing with industry lead research, surveying 500 respondents in order to determine the needs, wants and pain-points of businesses in the F&B sector.We then tested the POS systems against the six categories we determined were the most crucial to a successful takeaway business. These six criteria were then given individual weightings based on their importance, to ensure the results were as helpful to our readers as possible.In order of importance, these categories were:The software: the features the POS provides to support your takeaway enterprise including mobile and QR code ordering, kitchen display systems and tip management.Usability: takeaway businesses often have to move at a rapid pace, so you don’t want to be stuck with an obtuse system that’s going to slow down your staff. We conducted actual, hands-on user testing, to find out how user friendly the POS system is.Cost: we find out if you’re getting a good deal or not. Including monthly costs, transaction fees and hardware pricing.Help and support: we analyse what avenues of support are available, and how effective they are.Hardware: we look at the range of POS terminals and accessories are that are offered by the provider.Customer score: we also research competitor reviews, online comments and then combine this with the thoughts of our own participants to gauge how likely people are to recommend the POS system. Need a takeaway POS quote?Let’s be frank. It’s not much fun choosing a POS system, ringing around companies to get quotes can take hours that would be better spent running your business. Luckily, our free POS comparison tool has been designed by industry experts to help you get quotes fast. Just take a minute to answer a few questions and you’ll receive quotes from some of the UK’s top POS providers, tailored to the needs of your business. We can help you find your perfect POS system Tell us what you're looking for and compare leading POS providers Get free quotes It only takes a minute Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Eddie is resident Reviews Expert for Startups, focusing on merchant accounts, point of sales systems and business phone systems. He works closely with our in-house team of research experts, carrying out hours of hands-on user testing and market analysis to ensure that our recommendations and reviews are as helpful and accurate as possible. Eddie is also Startups video presenter. He helps create informative, helpful visual content alongside our written reviews, to better aid customers with their decision making. Eddie joined Startups from its sister site Expert Reviews, where he wrote in-depth informational articles and covered the biggest consumer deals events of the year. And, having previously worked as a freelancer providing screenplay and book coverage in the film and television industry, Eddie is no stranger to the demands of the sole trader. Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.