Guide
Updated 12 November 2026
AI phone ordering for UK takeaways: what it costs and what to check
By Arslan Munir
Updated 12 November 2026. Every provider price below comes from that provider's own UK page, read on 12 November 2026.
In short: AI phone ordering means software picks up your takeaway's phone line, takes the order by voice and sends it to your kitchen. Three UK providers publish a price: ServeMate's "Sophie" at 25p a minute while on a call, MyFoodFast's Voice Agent at 3% of each voice order (in private beta), and Posso's AI phone ordering at £1 per order taken. All three sell it as part of their own till or ordering system. Chefzi also offers an AI phone agent as a service; we don't publish a price for it on this site, so ask us for details. Whichever you choose, your allergen duties on phone orders stay the same.
We make Chefzi, so we're not neutral. We list only what each provider publishes, with the date we read it.
What AI phone ordering is
A takeaway's phone rings hardest when the kitchen is busiest. An AI phone agent is software that picks up the call, talks the customer through the menu, takes the order and passes it to your kitchen screen or till, without a member of staff stopping what they're doing. It is different from an online ordering website: the customer still rings, but nobody in the shop has to pick up.
It does not replace your own ordering website. Regulars who are happy to order online should still have a direct link, because an online order costs you nothing per minute and nothing per call.
What UK providers publish on price
Providers are listed alphabetically. This is not a ranking. "Not stated" means we did not find it on the pages we read.
| Provider | Product name | Published price | What else the page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyFoodFast | Voice Agent | 3% "all-in" on voice orders, card or cash, including card processing; no monthly fee | In private beta. Customers pay a 50p service fee on voice orders. Runs on a MyFoodFast base plan (OrderHub from £20 a month per screen) |
| Posso | AI Phone Ordering | £1 per order taken | Works around the clock and places the order on the Posso till. Posso's till system is £499 + VAT, software from £25 + VAT a month |
| ServeMate | Sophie | 25p a minute, only while on a call; no monthly fee | ServeMate estimates about 2 minutes, so roughly 50p, per phone order. Sophie is the only paid extra on ServeMate's £49 a month plan |
| Chefzi | AI phone agent | Not published on our site; ask us | Offered as a service. Chefzi plans: Starter £12 a month (£9 billed annually), Plus £22 (£19), Pro £49 (£39), per location, ex VAT |
A worked example: 100 phone orders a month
Our arithmetic, using each provider's published figures and an assumed £20 average phone order. It covers the AI phone cost only, not each provider's plan or till.
| Provider | How it is charged | Cost for 100 phone orders |
|---|---|---|
| ServeMate (Sophie) | 25p a minute, at ServeMate's own 2-minute estimate | About £50 (more if calls run longer) |
| MyFoodFast (Voice Agent) | 3% of £20 = 60p per order | £60, plus 50p per order paid by your customer |
| Posso (AI Phone Ordering) | £1 per order | £100 |
The per-minute model is cheapest when calls are short; the per-order and percentage models are easier to predict. Check whether a call that doesn't end in an order is charged.
Your allergen duties still apply on AI phone orders
UK councils' food guidance treats a takeaway order taken by phone as "distance selling". Derbyshire County Council's Trading Standards guidance says that where orders are taken over the telephone or online, allergen information must be given at two stages: before the purchase is complete (in writing, or verbally over the phone) and when the food is delivered (for example a sticker on the packaging, or verbally by the driver). East Ayrshire Council's guidance says the same for takeaway orders by telephone.
So before you switch an AI agent on, ask the provider:
- How does the agent tell the caller where to find allergen information, and does it ask about allergies?
- What happens when a caller says they have an allergy: does the call pass to a person?
- Is the allergy note printed on the kitchen ticket so it reaches the packaging?
What to ask any AI phone ordering provider
- How am I charged? Per minute, per order or a percentage, and is a call that doesn't become an order still charged?
- Who pays the customer fee? MyFoodFast publishes a 50p fee paid by the customer on voice orders; ask every provider.
- Where does the order land? Your kitchen screen, your till or a printer, and does it ring until someone accepts?
- Can a caller reach a person? For allergies, complaints and big orders.
- Does it take payment on the call, or are phone orders cash on collection and delivery only?
- What happens to call recordings and customer details, and can you export them?
- Is there a trial? Run it on quiet nights before your Friday rush.
How Chefzi fits
- AI phone agent: Chefzi offers an AI phone agent as a service. Ask us for details before you decide; we won't quote a price we haven't published.
- Online orders don't get missed: the Chefzi Orders app rings until an order is accepted or rejected, and if the device is offline when an order arrives, Chefzi texts the restaurant and automatically calls your mobile or phone line.
- Plans: Starter £12 a month (£9 billed annually), Plus £22 (£19), Pro £49 (£39), per location, excluding VAT. 0% commission, no setup fee, first month free and no credit card to start. Month to month, no contract: cancel anytime.
Related: the most reliable online ordering system in the UK, Chefzi vs ServeMate, Chefzi vs MyFoodFast, Posso alternative and the Chefzi Orders app.
Sources
| Claim | Source | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie 25p a minute while on a call, no monthly fee; about 2 minutes, roughly 50p per order; only paid extra on the £49 plan | ServeMate pricing: https://servemate.co.uk/pricing | 12 Nov 2026 |
| Voice Agent 3% all-in on voice orders (card or cash), private beta, no monthly fee; 50p customer service fee on voice orders; OrderHub from £20 a month per screen | MyFoodFast pricing: https://www.myfoodfast.com/pricing | 12 Nov 2026 |
| AI Phone Ordering £1 per order, around the clock, order placed on the till; system £499 + VAT, software from £25 + VAT a month | Posso: https://posso.co.uk/ and https://posso.co.uk/online-ordering-system-no-commission | 12 Nov 2026 |
| Allergen information at two stages for telephone and online orders | Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards, Food allergen management for caterers: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/pdf/business/trading-standards/food-standards/safety/allergens/food-allergen-management-for-caterers.pdf | 12 Nov 2026 |
| Takeaway order by telephone is distance selling; allergen information before purchase and at delivery | East Ayrshire Council, Food sold online: https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/LawAndLicensing/FoodSafety/food-sold-online.aspx | 12 Nov 2026 |
| Chefzi plans, AI phone agent service, offline text and call | https://chefzi.co.uk/pricing ; owner confirmation 12 Nov 2026 | 12 Nov 2026 |
Questions
What is AI phone ordering for takeaways?
Software that picks up your takeaway's phone line, takes the customer's order by voice and sends it to your kitchen screen or till, so staff don't have to stop cooking to take it.
How much does AI phone ordering cost in the UK?
On 12 November 2026: ServeMate's Sophie is 25p a minute while on a call (about 50p per order on ServeMate's estimate), MyFoodFast's Voice Agent is 3% of each voice order and in private beta, and Posso's AI phone ordering is £1 per order taken. Each is sold with that provider's own system.
Does Chefzi offer an AI phone agent?
Yes. Chefzi offers an AI phone agent as a service. We don't publish a price for it on our site, so ask us for details.
Do allergen rules apply to AI phone orders?
Yes. Council food guidance says that for takeaway orders taken by phone or online, allergen information must be available before the purchase is complete and again at delivery. Check how any AI agent handles allergy questions.
Is AI phone ordering cheaper than online ordering?
Usually not per order. An order through your own ordering website costs nothing per call or per minute. AI phone ordering is for customers who still prefer to ring.
Is there a contract with Chefzi?
No. Chefzi plans are month to month with no contract, so you can cancel anytime. The first month is free and you don't need a credit card to start.