The difference in plain words
- An EPOS (electronic point of sale) is a till system. It rings up walk-in sales, works with a card machine and cash drawer, and gives you sales reports. Many can take online orders too, sometimes for an extra fee.
- An order terminal is a small screen with a printer built in. Online orders ring, show on the screen and print as a ticket for the kitchen.
- An order printer just prints online orders. It has no screen.
If your counter is busy with walk-in customers, an EPOS can help. If you mainly want online orders, an order terminal does the job and you keep the till or card machine you already have.
What EPOS systems cost
These are published UK prices from each company’s own website. The first year adds the up-front fee to 12 months of monthly fees. Where we don’t say “plus VAT”, the company doesn’t say.
| System | Monthly fee | Up front | First year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightspeed ↗ | From £79 | Hardware extra; price not published | £948, plus hardware |
| SumUp POS Plus ↗ | £39 plus VAT | No set-up fee | £468 plus VAT |
| eMenuNow ePOS Pro ↗ | £39 | £0, with a till and printer | £468 |
| ChinesePOS online ordering ↗ | From £39 plus VAT | From £249 plus VAT, with a tablet | £717 plus VAT |
| MyFoodFast POS ↗ | From £40 plus VAT | A SUNMI terminal from about £403 plus VAT, if you need one | £480 plus VAT, plus any hardware |
| tastie. | £0 | £0. We lend you the terminal | £0 |
Card fees come on top with every system. SumUp lists 2.50% on Order & Pay orders ↗. MyFoodFast charges 1% plus Stripe’s 1.5% + 20p on online card orders. eMenuNow’s website says “from +0.1%” ↗. Lightspeed and ChinesePOS don’t publish theirs. With tastie., you pay card fees at a rate we agree in writing before you start, cash orders cost you nothing, and your customers pay just a £1 service fee per order.
Prices change, so check the latest price and get card fees in writing before you sign.
Costs that are easy to miss
- Long contracts. Epos Now’s general terms ↗ set a 12-month minimum software licence that renews for another 12 months unless you give 30 days’ notice.
- Kit you rent. Foodhub’s terms ↗ say its equipment is rented and stays its property, with a £500 fee if it is lost, damaged or not returned.
- Online ordering as an extra. Lightspeed ↗ prices its online ordering add-on on request.
- Card fees. Several companies don’t publish their rate. Ask for it in writing.
All checked on each company’s own website on 31 October 2026.
If you only need online orders
You can skip the EPOS. Keep your till or card machine for walk-in customers, and add an order terminal for online orders. The two work side by side.
That is how tastie. works. The terminal we lend you, which stays the property of ACORN RESERVE LTD, does one job:
- It does ring and print every order from your tastie. ordering website, with the items, extras and notes the customer chose.
- It doesn’t work as a till. It won’t ring up walk-in sales or run your card machine and cash drawer.
Read more about the tastie. order terminal.
Questions owners ask
Can I use an order terminal and my till together?
Yes. Online orders print on the terminal. Walk-in sales go through your till as they do now.
Do I need internet at the counter?
Yes. Any system that takes online orders needs an internet connection.
What about allergens?
Allergen information has to be right whichever system you use. With tastie., you check and approve your menu, including allergen information, before it goes live. The Food Standards Agency’s allergen guidance explains the rules.
See more ordering systems and EPOS add-ons side by side on our comparison page.
Lightspeed, SumUp, eMenuNow, ChinesePOS, MyFoodFast, Epos Now and Foodhub are trademarks of their owners. tastie. is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
