Best online ordering systems for takeaway and delivery

For a restaurant, cafe or even a ‘dark kitchen’ that only deals with takeaways, an online ordering system is a must. An all-in-one tool like this can take care of orders and inventory management, just like a POS system, while liaising with delivery drivers and customers and applying all necessary fees as payment is processed.

Online ordering systems allow businesses to take orders and accept payments from customers online, via a specific app or website. Even with the pandemic (arguably) behind us, these services now continue to provide a lifeline for businesses struggling through the recession.

The obvious next step for any hospitality business is to implement its own online ordering system, to capitalise on this exponential growth of online delivery users. But with so many products available, how can you be sure you’re choosing the right one for your business needs?

After analysing hundreds of relevant products, we’ve produced an in-depth review to inform you about the best online ordering systems currently available, focusing on key aspects such as pricing, compatibility, and integration.

To learn more about how tech can help your takeaway business, check out our rundown of the best takeaway POS systems.

Comparing the Best Online Ordering Systems

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FEATURED
Best for Integration	Best for Customer Service	Best for Reporting & Insight	Best for Affordability	Best for Features
Compatibility Apple iPad/iOS	Compatibility Windows, Android, Mac & iPad/iOS	Compatibility Windows, Android, Mac & iPad/iOS	Compatibility Apple iPad or Square Register	Compatibility Apple iPad
Pricing £708 Per Year + £19 Per Month for Online Ordering	Pricing £350 Per Year	Pricing £25 Per Month £379 Per Year	Pricing Standard Plan – Free Plus Plan – £69 Per Month	Pricing £38 Per Month

Compare online order-and-pay service quotes using our custom-built tool Compare now

Epos Now

Best for: Business reporting and insight. Great for small businesses using data to reduce costs.

Compatibility: Cloud based – Windows, Mac, Android, and iPad.

This cloud-based software provider specialises in electronic point of sale systems, but also encompasses reporting, CRM for small retail and hospitality businesses, and online ordering for takeaway and delivery.

Epos Now’s takeaway ordering system includes simple onboarding and staff training e-modules at no extra cost. The product also boasts a range of great features, including real-time reporting on staff, customers, and stock. The system can be used standalone, or it can be connected to hundreds of apps, including payment systems and accounting software.

Pricing: 

• £25 per month.
• £379 per year.

Pros: 

• No app needed – The software is web based, meaning customers can simply scan a QR code to browse the menu, make an order, and pay. The system is compatible with all web browsers.
• Flexible functionality with the digital menu – Upsell items through the ‘extras’ option and offer promotions with timed menus, offers, and bulk discounts. Menu can be fully customised with modifiers and preferences, making it easy to add dietary requirements and other additional information.
• Remote access – The Epos Now system can be accessed anywhere to view sales analytics and reports, and check the progress of online orders.
• In-depth reporting – The system comes with a filter to identify best sellers and non-sellers, for smarter promotions and item pricing.
• Hardware included in cost – Touch Screen EPOS terminal, cash drawer, and printer included – everything you need to manage your takeaway business.
• Intuitive inventory management software – The software can track inventory in real-time, right down to the ingredient level. It can also automate purchase orders and stock levels, so you’ll never run out of what you need.

Cons: 

• You have to pay for a support subscription for a higher level of customer service. Without this subscription, the support isn’t as efficient as with other competitors, with increased wait times for call backs according to Trustpilot reviews.

Good Till Company

Best for: Small businesses who want a streamlined, single platform approach. Also best for businesses who want the versatility that comes with adding and removing additional features in response to their business needs.

Compatibility: Cloud based – iPad

Acquired by tech giants SumUp in November 2020, the Good Till Co is a reputable POS systems company that uses a modular software model. This means that its online ordering system Goodeats functions as an add-on feature, designed to work with the basic Good Till Co POS system you must install before purchasing additional features. The Good Till POS software is only available on iPad, but comes at a very reasonable price of just £29 per month. The Goodeats add-on for online ordering is free, and fully integrates with the Good Till POS menu so customers can easily order online. You’ll want to purchase the ‘hospitality’ add-on, as you are running a small business – this includes table and tab management.

Pricing:

• £38 per month for the Good Till POS system and Hospitality add-on (Hospitality module costs £9 per month)
• Goodeats online ordering feature – free

Pros:

• Additional feature rich modules that can be tailored to your business needs – You can modify the Good Till system to include some brilliant extra features. The hospitality module comes with table and tab management, whilst the Advanced Promotions module helps you upsell online and with ease by adding offers such as ‘buy one, get one free’, coupons, and gift cards.
• No cost for online ordering solution ‘Goodeats’ – you only have to pay for the standard price plan of the POS system.
• Operates even without Wi-Fi – the Good Till hospitality software program will continue to function even if Wi-Fi is down, which is good to know in the event of any network problems during peak operating hours.
• Entirely web based – There’s no need for customers to download an app, since Goodeats comes with a free URL unique to your website. 
• Competitive ordering rates – the commission fee per delivery transaction is only 2.7% + 12p, which is very reasonable compared to other competitors. You also get the first £1,000 of transactions free of charge.

Cons:

• You must agree to a 12-month contract – meaning there’s little flexibility once you’ve signed up.
• Not compatible with Android, and you’ll have to pay additional costs for third party integration with platforms such as Xero (accounting) and Zettle (payment).
• Depending on your business needs, the module add-ons can become costly, which isn’t great if you’re trying to be more careful with your spending.

Lightspeed Restaurant

Best for: Small businesses who want to amalgamate their online ordering with other applications, including accounting software and POS systems like Zettle. Also brilliant for producing customer-focused online menus with lots of modifiers and multiple features.

Compatibility: Cloud based – iPad, iOS. 

Lightspeed prides itself on having created a POS and online ordering system specifically designed for restaurant and takeaway businesses. What it has done perfectly is provide an almost limitless number of item modifiers, which can be used on its Order Anywhere feature for delivery and takeaway service. Businesses can create profitable combo menus and highlight best sellers, whilst giving their customers the option to fully customise their meals.

The system also boasts a hefty 250 possible integrations, including platforms for accounting, delivery, and loyalty programmes. The user interface is slick and easy to use, and customizable user permissions give you full control over employees’ access to your system. There is also a free onboarding service for your business and its employees to take advantage of.

Pricing:

£708 per year and £19 per month for Order Anywhere.

Pros:

• Advanced, helpful features for online ordering and customer management – Users can create and update their menus with photos and descriptions of products, whilst also incorporating cooking options and toppings into the menu, which will automatically factor into the cost of the product.
• Large selection of third party integrations – Lightspeed can integrate its online ordering system with over 250 integration partners, and is another system that uses Deliverect to enhance order management by placing all takeaway orders into a single workflow from UberEats and Deliveroo.
• Fully-featured offline mode – Lightspeed guarantees a fully uninterrupted service, so if your network goes down during a busy shift, the system will continue to work.
• Interface is easy to use – The system is visually and practically simple. It looks great, and when using the back office ‘dashboard’ section, you can choose your preferred widgets (business insights) to improve efficiency of reporting.
• Training videos included – There are several in depth training demos included to help you understand and get the most out of the Lightspeed system.
• Excellent customer support – There’s 24/7 phone support, emails queries are responded to by the next working day, and live chat is offered 9am-6pm every day.

Cons:

• Lightspeed is definitely more expensive than the majority of its competitors, especially as you need to include the Order Anywhere software. Factor this in when considering your budget for introducing online ordering into your business.
• Lightspeed card processing fees are higher than other competitors’, at 2.6% + 20p per transaction.

How we test card processing products and merchant services for small businesses

We tested 11 merchant account products and services to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, price, compliance, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to small UK-based businesses.

Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 25 subcategories – in fact, we covered 36 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs of our Startups.co.uk readers.

Our main testing categories for merchant account products and services are:

Compliance: the adherence of the merchant account product to relevant regulations and standards, such as data security, anti-fraud measures, and legal requirements.

Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the merchant account provider to users in resolving issues, answering questions, and providing guidance.

Customer Score: external customer opinion; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular merchant account. Also, the market position and reputation a merchant account holds.

Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the merchant account product, including online payment processing and payment gateway integration.

Taking Payments: the process and options available for accepting payments through the merchant account product.

Price: the cost associated with using the merchant account product, such as transaction fees, setup fees, monthly fees, and any additional charges.

The Startups product testing process

Choosing the Best Online Ordering System for Your Business: Next Steps

After reading this article, you should be feeling confident about the different products available, and the key benefits each can provide for your business. Now, you need to consider which of these systems can play an integral role in your business’ success.

If you are new to the hospitality sector and Cloud-based POS systems, for example, you’ll want to look at providers who offer 24/7 support. If money is tight and your business needs to make financial gains, you may want to prioritise a service that will minimise costs, and so on.

We understand it isn’t easy to analyse all the information provided, but by using our online ordering system comparison tool, we can partner you up with some of the best suppliers in the industry. The form will only take a minute of your time, and will save you hours of additional research.