Online food ordering systems in the UK serve different needs: direct customer orders, marketplace discovery and ordering connected to EPOS. For independent restaurants, start with OrderApps for branded direct ordering, then compare alternatives against your delivery needs, existing till and budget.
Headline prices tell only part of the story. In October 2026, OrderApps lists plans from Start with £0 upfront monthly. Square advertises a £0 online ordering plan, with payment and other applicable costs to check.
This guide compares 15 options for restaurant, takeaway and café owners. It explains where each fits, what to check and how to calculate your monthly cost.
Online food ordering systems UK: shortlist
The right system depends on whether you need branded direct ordering, connected restaurant operations or marketplace visibility. These 15 options serve different business needs.
- OrderApps: Branded direct ordering and EPOS for independent restaurants wanting their own website, apps and restaurant tools.
- Square Online: Online ordering connected to Square, particularly relevant for cafés and restaurants already using its POS.
- Flipdish: Branded ordering websites and apps with options for connected POS and wider restaurant technology.
- Slerp: Direct ordering with delivery connections, suitable for businesses offering delivery, collection and catering.
- Storekit: Online and in-venue ordering for operators managing several customer ordering channels.
- Foodhub: Direct ordering, marketplace access and EPOS for takeaways comparing a combined technology setup.
- ChefOnline: Ordering technology alongside business services, including marketing and print support.
- OrderYOYO: Direct ordering, POS and marketing services for takeaways seeking ongoing growth support.
- Hungrrr: Branded websites and apps for delivery, collection and hospitality ordering.
- Toast: A restaurant platform connecting EPOS with ordering, relevant for businesses considering the Toast ecosystem.
- Epos Now: EPOS-connected online ordering for existing users or businesses reviewing their till system.
- Vita Mojo: A multi-site quick-service restaurant platform for groups needing central operational control.
- Just Eat: A consumer marketplace for reaching diners searching for food within its platform.
- Uber Eats: Marketplace ordering with delivery and collection options for restaurants seeking additional customer reach.
- Deliveroo: A consumer marketplace with rider delivery for restaurants whose location and menu suit its service.
Use this shortlist to identify suitable providers, then compare their full costs, features and delivery arrangements.
Direct ordering platforms
Direct ordering platforms let customers buy through your branded website or app. You still need a plan to attract customers.
OrderApps
Start with £0 upfront—your first month is free, with no setup fee.
OrderApps helps UK restaurants and takeaways accept delivery and collection orders through their own branded website. Manage menus, prices and orders from one platform, with mobile apps and additional tools available on higher plans.
Special Features
- Branded online ordering website.
- Built-in POS and editable menus.
- Branded iOS and Android apps on Growth.
- QR/NFC ordering and automated marketing on Premium.
Price
Enjoy a one-month free trial. After the trial:
- Starter: £19/month + 3.9% per order.
- Growth: £29.99/month + 1.9% per order.
- Premium: £39.99/month + 1.49% per order.
Check the OrderApps pricing plans for details.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: No setup fee, a free first month and flexible monthly plans.
- Cons: Monthly fees apply after the trial, including months without sales. Apps require Growth or Premium.
“No sales, no cost” would conflict with the current monthly pricing.
2. Square Online
Square Online is a website ordering service connected to Square’s payments and POS products. Restaurants can manage online and in-person sales within the same ecosystem. It is particularly relevant for cafés and smaller venues already using Square and wanting to add collection or delivery.
Special Features
- Online ordering connected with Square POS.
- Collection, local delivery and item synchronisation.
- QR ordering and optional marketing or loyalty products.
Price
A £0 plan is advertised, with paid plans available. Payment processing, delivery and optional products may add costs.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Convenient fit for businesses already managing payments and POS through Square.
- Cons: Some features require upgrades or separate products. Confirm the required plan rather than judging the free tier alone.
3. Flipdish
Flipdish provides branded ordering websites and apps alongside a wider range of restaurant technology. Businesses can combine direct ordering with POS, kiosks and marketplace-management options. It suits operators comparing a connected restaurant setup rather than an ordering page alone.
Special Features
- Branded ordering websites and apps.
- POS, kiosk and marketplace-management options.
- Central menu management and marketing tools.
Price
The advertised UK POS and online ordering bundle starts at £119/month per site, billed annually, excluding VAT. Monthly billing is advertised at £139. Confirm hardware and additional charges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Broad product range for restaurants wanting connected ordering and operations.
- Cons: The quoted bundle has billing commitments; hardware, add-ons and transaction terms need checking.
4. Slerp
Slerp is a direct ordering platform for restaurants, bakeries and other food brands. It combines branded web and app ordering with courier connections, catering and customer retention tools. It is worth considering when delivery logistics and repeat orders are central to the business.
Special Features
- Branded website and app ordering.
- Courier connections including Uber Direct and Deliveroo Express.
- Loyalty, CRM and catering tools.
Price
Request a written quotation for your chosen package. Confirm subscription, transaction, processing and courier charges separately.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Combines direct ordering with courier connections and retention tools.
- Cons: Courier coverage and costs vary. The full cost needs a supplier quotation rather than a single headline rate.
5. Storekit
Storekit brings several guest ordering channels into one platform, including collection, delivery and in-venue ordering. Businesses can select plans covering catering, till connections and additional channels. It suits operators who want to expand their ordering setup while checking which features each plan includes.
Special Features
- Collection, delivery and scheduled ordering.
- Catering and till connections on eligible plans.
- App, kiosk and in-venue options by plan.
Price
Starter has no monthly subscription. Grow is listed at £99/month per location, excluding VAT. Per-order charges, payment rates and add-ons also need checking.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Choice of plans covering online and in-venue ordering.
- Cons: Starter excludes catering and till connections. Apps and other features may require a higher plan or add-on.
6. Foodhub
Foodhub provides restaurant technology alongside a consumer food ordering marketplace. Its offering includes branded websites and apps, POS and other operational products. Takeaways can assess it for both direct customer orders and marketplace visibility, with the precise package agreed through a quotation.
Special Features
- Branded ordering websites and mobile apps.
- Foodhub consumer marketplace.
- POS, kiosk and marketing options.
Price
Request a full package quotation. Check software, hardware, payment fees, contract commitments and any customer-facing charges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Offers both branded ordering and a marketplace within its wider product range.
- Cons: Compare the exact package and fee terms; a general commission claim does not establish the total cost.
7. ChefOnline
ChefOnline supplies online ordering and related business services to UK restaurants and takeaways. Its offering includes restaurant websites, mobile apps, reservations and access to a national ordering platform. It is relevant for businesses also seeking marketing, EPOS or print services from the same supplier.
Special Features
- Ordering website, mobile app and national ordering platform.
- Table reservations and owner control panel.
- Separate EPOS, marketing and printing services.
Price
The ordering package is advertised from £3 per day, excluding VAT. Confirm the billing period and which additional services are included.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Ordering, marketing and print services can be sourced from one provider.
- Cons: The daily headline price needs converting into your actual billing cost. Confirm extras and package scope.
8. OrderYOYO
OrderYOYO provides branded digital ordering with POS, payments and marketing support for takeaways and restaurants. Its approach combines the customer ordering channel with tools intended to encourage repeat business. Operators should evaluate the service package alongside its turnover-linked fee structure.
Special Features
- Branded websites and apps.
- POS and payment tools.
- Email, SMS, loyalty and app-notification marketing.
Price
The provider describes turnover-linked commission. Request your applicable tiers, calculation basis and contract terms.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Combines ordering technology with ongoing marketing services.
- Cons: Fees can vary with turnover. Check the full fee calculation and which marketing services are included.
9. Hungrrr
Hungrrr builds branded ordering websites and apps for food and hospitality businesses. Its services cover restaurants, takeaways, hotels, pubs and bars, with options for collection, delivery and table ordering. It suits operators comparing several service formats within an own-brand ordering setup.
Special Features
- Own-brand ordering websites and apps.
- Collection, delivery, pre-orders and table ordering.
- Loyalty tools and supported EPOS or delivery connections.
Price
Advertises monthly plans with 0% order commission. Request subscription, processing, delivery and integration prices.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Supports several hospitality ordering models under the business’s own branding.
- Cons: Zero commission does not remove subscription or payment costs. Confirm compatibility with your existing systems.
EPOS and multi-site ordering
EPOS-connected platforms suit operators who want online orders tied closely to their existing restaurant systems. Check the exact UK product package and integration scope.
10. Toast
Toast is a restaurant technology platform with UK POS and connected online ordering products. It brings ordering into a wider operational environment covering menus, payments and kitchen workflows. It is most relevant when a restaurant already uses Toast or is reviewing its broader POS setup.
Special Features
- Restaurant POS and connected online ordering.
- Menu and kitchen-operation tools.
- Payments and additional restaurant-management products.
Price
Request a complete UK quotation for software, hardware, payments and online ordering.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Suitable for evaluating online orders within a wider restaurant POS setup.
- Cons: Moving into a POS ecosystem can involve hardware and workflow changes. Confirm UK package scope and contract terms.
11. Epos Now
Epos Now offers online ordering products within its wider EPOS ecosystem. Customers can browse menus and pay digitally, while businesses connect ordering with relevant operational tools. Existing Epos Now users should compare the exact ordering service proposed and confirm how it works with their current setup.
Special Features
- Online menu browsing and digital payments.
- Collection, delivery and pre-order options.
- Connections with the Epos Now operational environment.
Price
Request a product-specific quotation. Epos Now advertises several ordering services, so confirm software, payment and fulfilment charges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Relevant for businesses seeking ordering connected with Epos Now.
- Cons: Similar product names can cover different arrangements. Verify the exact service, fees and integrations in writing.
12. Vita Mojo
Vita Mojo is a platform focused on multi-site quick-service restaurant operations. It connects menus, ordering channels, kitchen processes and guest data to support central control across locations. It is relevant for groups whose main challenge is maintaining consistent operations as their estate grows.
Special Features
- Central menu and channel management.
- Connected kitchen and ordering operations.
- Guest data, loyalty and multi-site controls.
Price
Request a quotation based on locations, channels and implementation requirements.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Focuses on consistent operations across growing restaurant estates.
- Cons: May involve more implementation than a single venue needs. Check rollout effort and fit with existing technology.
Food delivery marketplaces
Marketplaces help diners discover and order from restaurants within a shared app. They serve a different purpose from your own branded ordering website.
13. Just Eat
Just Eat is a consumer marketplace where diners discover restaurants and place food orders. Restaurants join the marketplace rather than receiving only a standalone branded ordering website. It is relevant when the business wants access to diners already searching within Just Eat.
Special Features
- Restaurant discovery and marketplace ordering.
- Partner tools for menus, orders and promotions.
- Fulfilment options subject to local availability and agreement.
Price
Obtain terms for your restaurant’s collection and delivery model. Compare commission, promotions, equipment and other applicable charges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Access to an established consumer ordering marketplace.
- Cons: Marketplace fees and paid promotions affect contribution. Listings also sit alongside competing restaurants.
14. Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a food ordering marketplace with courier delivery, self-delivery and collection models. Restaurants can assess its consumer audience alongside the available fulfilment options. Uber Direct is a separate service for delivering orders received through a business’s own channels.
Special Features
- Consumer marketplace and merchant-management tools.
- Uber courier delivery, self-delivery and pickup options.
- Separate Uber Direct service for delivery from owned channels.
Price
The UK page lists 13% for self-delivery and pickup, 30% for Uber delivery, and 33% for Uber One member delivery orders, excluding VAT. Activation and other charges may apply.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Choice of marketplace fulfilment models, with a separate own-channel delivery service.
- Cons: Fees differ by model and membership orders. Check total charges and local courier suitability.
15. Deliveroo
Deliveroo connects restaurants with consumers through its food ordering marketplace and offers delivery through its rider network. Restaurants use its partner tools to manage marketplace activity. It is relevant where local customer demand, rider coverage and commercial terms match the business’s delivery plans.
Special Features
- Restaurant listing within the Deliveroo marketplace.
- Core delivery using its rider network.
- Partner Hub and order-management tools.
Price
Request restaurant-specific pricing. Confirm commission, equipment, promotional spending and any other applicable charges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Combines consumer discovery with rider delivery and partner tools.
- Cons: Coverage and commercial terms need checking locally. Compare contribution after fees, discounts and fulfilment costs.
What will online ordering actually cost?
Calculate the monthly cost using your expected order count, sales value and delivery mix. A low subscription alone cannot show which option offers better value.
Use this formula:
Monthly cost = subscription + transaction charges + processing + delivery + hardware + paid extras.
Here is a worked example using £5,000 monthly order value:
OrderApps planSubscriptionPublished transaction calculationSubtotalStarter£19£5,000 × 3.9% = £195£214Growth£29.99£5,000 × 1.9% = £95£124.99Premium£39.99£5,000 × 1.49% = £74.50£114.49
These subtotals use published ongoing rates, excluding trial savings. They exclude any applicable VAT, separate processing, delivery, hardware and other extras.
The example shows why order volume matters. Higher subscriptions can be offset by lower percentage charges.
For each supplier, request the same scenario: 200 orders averaging £25, with the same collection and delivery split.
A marketplace quotation including riders needs a different cost comparison from software requiring you to arrange delivery.
Test your shortlist before switching
Test the complete order journey with your real menu before choosing a provider. Use the same tasks for every demonstration.
- Customise an order. Add paid extras and check the final price.
- Mark an item sold out. Confirm the customer sees the change.
- Place a collection order. Check confirmation and kitchen output.
- Test a delivery address. Verify zones, minimum spend and charges.
- Process a refund. Check customer communication and reconciliation.
- Check peak controls. Ask how you pause orders or adjust preparation times.
- Export a sample report. Confirm usable order and customer fields.
Ask who answers support requests during your busiest service. Confirm migration, contract length and what happens to your domain and data if you leave.
For food information, follow Food Standards Agency allergen guidance. Distance orders need allergen information before purchase and at delivery. Scottish operators should also consult Food Standards Scotland.
For marketing, follow the ICO’s electronic-mail guidance. An order’s contact details do not automatically authorise promotional messages.
Frequently asked questions
Which online ordering system suits small restaurants?
For an independent restaurant wanting branded ordering, put OrderApps on your shortlist and compare its plans against your order volume. Square may suit an existing Square setup. Your final choice should follow a menu demonstration, full cost quotation and checks on delivery, support and required integrations.
Are free ordering systems completely free?
A free ordering plan usually means no subscription for that particular tier. Payment processing, per-order fees, delivery, hardware or upgrades may still cost money. Calculate the total for your expected orders and check whether essential features sit behind a paid plan before making your decision.
Should restaurants use marketplaces or direct ordering?
Restaurants can use both when each channel contributes profitably. Marketplaces offer access to diners browsing their apps. Direct ordering gives you greater control over branding and the ordering experience. Compare acquisition, fulfilment and repeat-order costs rather than assuming either channel always produces the better margin.
Can online orders connect to my EPOS?
Many platforms offer EPOS connections, but compatibility depends on the exact products and versions involved. Ask the supplier to demonstrate your proposed setup. Check modifiers, sold-out items, kitchen routing, refunds and reporting. Confirm whether the connection costs extra and who resolves a failure during service.
Do restaurants need a branded ordering app?
A mobile-friendly ordering website can serve customers without requiring an app download. A branded app may suit businesses with frequent returning customers and a clear retention plan. Compare its ongoing cost with expected use, and check app-store ownership, updates and marketing features before committing.
Build an ordering channel that fits
The strongest choice supports your menu, service and order economics. Use this shortlist to select three providers, then compare identical costs and demonstration tasks.
Ready to grow your food business?
Online ordering system, a branded restaurant ordering app, table booking and EPOS on one platform, with plans from £19/month.
