Running a food truck in the UK is exhilarating, fast-paced, and unforgiving. From office-lunchtime queues to weekend markets and festival circuits, every order matters — and the right POS (point of sale) system can make a huge difference to your speed, accuracy, and profit.
The best food truck POS systems do far more than total up orders. They streamline queues, keep payments flowing even with weak signal, track ingredients, and give you real-time insight into how your business is performing.
In this 2026 guide, you’ll discover:
- What makes a great food truck POS system
- Key features UK food trucks should prioritise
- The 5 best POS systems for UK food trucks this year
Featured systems:
- POSApt – Best all-round for UK food trucks
- Square – Best for simplicity and mobility
- SumUp POS – Best for low fees and portability
- Epos Now – Best for UK-based support and flexibility
- Syrve – Best for advanced order workflows
What Makes a Great Food Truck POS System?
Food trucks are not traditional restaurants. They are mobile, space is tight, power and connectivity can be unpredictable, and service is intense during rushes. A great food truck POS reflects that reality.
1. True Mobility
Your POS needs to live comfortably in a cramped vehicle. The ideal setup:
- Runs on tablets or smartphones
- Uses compact devices for taking payments
- Keeps cables and bulky equipment to an absolute minimum
2. Offline Functionality
Signal at festivals, parks, and roadside spots is often unreliable. A strong POS should:
- Keep taking orders without a connection
- Log sales locally
- Sync everything back to the cloud when the internet returns
3. Fast, Flexible Payments
Customers expect to tap and go. Your POS should support:
- Chip-and-PIN
- Contactless
- Mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay
All of this needs to happen quickly, with as few taps as possible.
4. Inventory & Ingredient Tracking
Food trucks don’t think in full pallets and pallets — they think in buns, sauces, and toppings. Look for:
- Ingredient-level tracking where possible
- Alerts when key items are about to run out
- Easy menu tweaks when stock changes mid-service
5. Reporting & Insights
You shouldn’t have to export spreadsheets just to see how you’re doing. A good POS will show:
- Best-selling items over time
- Busiest hours and days
- Turnover per event or location
6. Ease of Use
Peak service is not the time to click through ten screens. You want:
- Clear, simple menus
- Custom buttons for popular items and combos
- Training that takes minutes, not days
5 Best Food Truck POS Systems in the UK
1. POSApt – Best All‑Round for Food Trucks in the UK
Why It’s a Top Pick
POSApt is a cloud-based POS built specifically around UK hospitality and mobile food businesses. It combines quick service workflows with strong reporting and flexible pricing, making it a smart option whether you have a single truck or a growing fleet.
Key Features
- Tablet-first design: Runs smoothly on iPads and Android tablets, perfect for tight serving areas.
- Offline mode: Keeps taking orders and recording sales even when your data signal drops.
- Real-time reports: See top-selling items, daily revenue, and trends across events.
- Flexible payments: Accepts chip-and-PIN, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.
- Menu and modifier control: Easily manage options like sauces, toppings, sides, and meal deals.
POSApt for food trucks is built with speed in mind: large buttons, logical product layouts, and short workflows that keep lines moving during busy lunch periods.
Pros
- Designed specifically for UK hospitality and mobile operators
- Scales neatly from a single truck to multiple vehicles or pop-up sites
- Cloud access so you can check performance and update menus from anywhere
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations than some big global POS brands
Best For
UK food trucks that want a balanced, feature-rich system with strong service flows, low friction for staff, and room to grow.
2. Square – Best for Simplicity & Mobility
Overview
Square is widely known for its ease of use and quick setup, making it a favourite with mobile traders and food trucks across the UK. You get POS software, payment processing, and compact hardware all from the same provider.
Key Features
- Works on tablets and phones: Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.
- Integrated payments: Chip, contactless, and mobile wallets all handled in one system.
- Sales tracking: Clear overview of daily and weekly sales and best-selling menu items.
- Offline mode: Queue transactions even when the internet disappears, then sync automatically.
- Online ordering & QR codes: Option to let customers order ahead or from their phones.
The interface is clean and straightforward, which is ideal when you’re dealing with long queues and multiple staff members.
Pricing Snapshot
- Core POS software: typically free for the basic version
- Processing fee: commonly a flat percentage per transaction in the UK
- Hardware: optional — from small tap-to-pay devices to more complete counter kits
Pros
- No monthly software fee on the basic tier
- Very quick to set up and easy to teach to new staff
- Great for fast-moving queues and frequent location changes
Cons
- Some advanced features sit behind paid upgrades
- Transaction percentage is higher than some niche or volume-focused providers
Best For
Food trucks that want a simple, low-friction setup with minimal commitment and an interface that just makes sense from day one.
3. SumUp POS – Best for Low Fees & Portability
Overview
SumUp POS is built for small and mobile businesses that need to keep costs low and equipment highly portable. It focuses on essential tools rather than an overload of features, which suits many food truck setups perfectly.
Key Features
- Tablet and mobile compatibility: Run your POS from a tablet or smartphone.
- Straightforward fees: Typically a flat percentage per transaction, around the mid‑1% range.
- Inventory alerts: Basic stock tools and low-stock warnings.
- Sales reporting: Simple dashboards to track income and popular items.
If your menu is relatively focused — think burgers, tacos, loaded fries, or coffee — SumUp gives you the tools you actually need without extras that get in the way.
Pros
- Very low barrier to entry with no complex contract structures
- Compact hardware and lightweight software perfect for cramped trucks
- Ideal for straightforward menus and smaller operations
Cons
- Fewer advanced management and marketing tools than full-scale POS platforms
- Extra functionality can add cost as your needs grow
Best For
New food truck operators, seasonal traders, and smaller concepts that mainly care about tapping cards quickly and keeping fixed costs to a minimum.
4. Epos Now – Best for UK-Based Support & Flexibility
Overview
Epos Now is a flexible POS platform with a strong UK presence and support network. It offers dedicated packages for hospitality and mobile catering, including food trucks, with a broad choice of add-ons.
Key Features
- Cloud plus offline capability: The system is cloud-based but can keep processing sales when the internet drops.
- Payment flexibility: Works with multiple payment options, including contactless and mobile wallets.
- Detailed inventory control: Track items down to ingredient level if you need detailed food costing.
- Integrations: Connects with accounting platforms, loyalty programs, and marketing tools.
Epos Now caters to different hardware setups, from simple tablet-based installations to more substantial service stations, which is useful if you anticipate expansion.
Pros
- UK-based support, helpful when you need fast assistance
- Strong reporting and integration options
- Good fit for operators who expect to grow from one truck into multiple units or fixed sites
Cons
- Can be more expensive than ultra-budget or entry-level systems
Best For
UK food truck owners who want local support, a flexible platform, and the ability to customise their setup as the business evolves.
5. Syrve – Best for Advanced Order Workflows
Overview
Syrve is designed for high-throughput food service environments, including food trucks, kiosks, and quick-service venues. It shines when you need more than basic order-taking and want tighter operational control.
Key Features
- Compact hardware support: Suits handheld devices and tablets, ideal for narrow service areas.
- Mobile sales dashboard: Monitor performance across days, events, or even multiple units.
- Advanced order and menu management: Make menu changes on the fly, manage combos, and handle complex options easily.
- Scalability: Add extra terminals or locations as you grow without changing system.
If your truck runs a busy, high-value operation — for example, a popular festival brand or multi-location concept — Syrve’s more advanced tools can help maintain speed and consistency.
Pros
- Built with busy, high-traffic operations in mind
- Strong menu and order management capabilities
- Scales effectively as you add more vehicles or sites
Cons
- Price point typically higher than very basic POS solutions
Best For
Established food trucks with heavy footfall and more complex workflows, or operators planning to grow into multi-unit brands.
Quick Food Truck POS Comparison (UK, 2026)
| POS system | Standout strengths | Best for |
| POSApt | Food-truck-friendly workflows, UK focus, scalable | Most UK food trucks, from first truck to small fleets |
| Square | Free core app, extremely easy to use, very mobile | Vendors who want quick setup and straightforward pricing |
| SumUp POS | Low fixed costs, simple setup, portable equipment | New and seasonal operators, smaller menus |
| Epos Now | UK support, flexible setups, strong integrations | Trucks wanting local support and room to customise |
| Syrve | Advanced workflows, high-throughput focus, scalable | Busy, established food trucks planning to expand |
How to Choose Your Food Truck POS (UK Focus)
To make the decision easier, think in terms of your current stage and priorities:
- Want something simple and highly mobile?
Choose Square or SumUp POS — both keep things easy, portable, and relatively low-cost. - Need UK-based support and a configurable system?
Epos Now is a strong candidate, especially if you see yourself adding more units or moving into permanent premises. - Planning to scale and manage complex operations?
POSApt and Syrve both offer more advanced tools, better suited to multi-truck setups, detailed reporting, and busier service. - Very budget-conscious or testing a new concept?
Square and SumUp POS are excellent first steps, letting you prove demand before committing to heavier subscriptions.
Final Thoughts
Your food truck is a restaurant on wheels, and your POS system should match that energy: mobile, tough, and ready to perform under pressure. The right setup will speed up queues, reduce errors, keep you selling even when the signal drops, and give you the data you need to decide where to park next and what to serve.
POSApt, Square, SumUp POS, Epos Now, and Syrve all bring something different to the table. Choose the one that best matches your menu complexity, budget, and growth plans — and, if possible, trial a couple of systems during real service. The best POS for your food truck is the one that feels invisible when you’re in the weeds and quietly helps you sell more, faster, with fewer headaches.
