Epos Now alternatives.
For takeaway owners who want out of a 12-month contract or a big upfront bundle. Published prices, and how to switch without a bad Friday night.
In short
Epos Now's Countertop 2 bundle is from £299 upfront with a 12-month payments, care and support subscription at £58 a month. The main alternatives for UK takeaways are ServeMate (£49 a month per shop, no contract, no upfront software cost, kiosk and kitchen screen included), Square for Restaurants (a free plan, or £69 a month on Plus), SumUp POS Pro (from £49 a month excluding VAT, no long-term contract), Lightspeed Restaurant and Flipdish.
Why takeaway owners look for an alternative
Epos Now is one of the best-known tills in the UK, and for some shops the bundle suits them fine. These are the usual reasons takeaway owners look elsewhere:
- The contract. The advertised bundle comes with a 12-month payments, care and support subscription at £58 a month.
- The upfront cost. The Countertop 2 bundle is from £299, shown as down from £849.
- Extras on top. The kitchen screen is from £19 a month, and kiosk and online ordering prices aren't listed, so you need a quote.
The alternatives, side by side
| System | Upfront | Monthly and contract |
|---|---|---|
| ServeMate | None for the software. Your own Android tablet or Windows device and a thermal printer | £49 per shop. No contract |
| Square for Restaurants | Hardware sold separately | £0 (Free) or £69 (Plus) per location |
| SumUp POS Pro | £0 onboarding | From £49, shown excluding VAT. No long-term contract |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | Not stated on the page | From £79 for your first terminal |
| Flipdish | Hardware and setup costs may apply | From £99 billed annually, £129 monthly |
| Epos Now (for reference) | Bundle from £299 | £58 support subscription. 12 months |
Which one suits you
- You want everything in one price with no contract: ServeMate. Till, own ordering website at 0% commission, kitchen screen, self-order kiosk, TV menus, loyalty, stock, rotas and safety logs are all in the £49, and you can add Sophie, the AI that answers your phone, at 25p a minute.
- You only need a basic till: Square's Free plan is £0 a month, though the kitchen screen and kiosk cost extra.
- You want a simple till and to add modules one at a time: SumUp POS Pro, with most modules at £19 a month each.
- You run a bigger restaurant or several sites: Lightspeed or Flipdish.
For the full line-by-line breakdown, see ServeMate vs Epos Now.
Before you switch
A switch should never cost you a busy night. Here's the order I'd do it in:
- Check your contract end date and what leaving early costs. Don't cancel anything yet.
- Check your card machine. If it's tied to your EPOS supplier, sort your new card payments first.
- Write down your menu, with every size, extra and deal. That's the bit that takes longest to set up.
- Set the new system up alongside the old one. With ServeMate, the 30-day free trial gives you time to build your menu and take test orders without touching your current till.
- Switch on a quiet day, not a Friday. Keep the old till ready for the first shift, just in case.
With ServeMate, if you're not taking orders within 7 days of signing up, we'll get you set up on a call, free. See how it works.
Sources: Epos Now countertop POS, Square for Restaurants UK pricing, SumUp POS Pro pricing, Lightspeed Restaurant UK pricing, Flipdish UK pricing. Checked 10 November 2026.
Is there a contract?
No. Pay monthly and cancel any time.
How much does ServeMate cost?
£49 a month per shop. That includes the self-order kiosk, as many screens as you like. Sophie, the AI phone assistant, is the only paid add-on, at 25p per minute only when she's on a call.
What hardware do I need?
An Android tablet or a Windows device, plus a thermal receipt printer. Any Bluetooth thermal printer works, or a wired one on Windows.
How long does setup take?
Most shops can be ready in an afternoon. The menu is the longest part, and you can save and come back any time.
Will I be charged straight away?
No. You add a card to start your 30-day free trial, and you're not charged until day 30. Cancel any time before then and you pay nothing.
Run the whole shop from one counter.
30-day free trial. No contract. Cancel any time.
Start before 31 January and your £49 is locked for life.
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