Payments
/Best Digital Tipping Platforms for UK Restaurants (2026)
An independent comparison of digital tipping solutions for UK restaurants, cafés, pubs and hospitality operators — covering the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2024 and how to choose the right approach
Oliver Hartley · Published 20 October 2026
Compare the best digital tipping platforms for UK restaurants in 2026, including TiPJAR, Sunday, Dojo, Flipdish Pay, Square and SumUp. Tips Act compliant and built for cashless hospitality.
Cash tips are disappearing from UK restaurants. More than nine in ten hospitality payments are now made by card or contactless, which means the traditional envelope of notes left on the table is no longer a reliable income stream for staff — and operators who haven't moved to digital tipping are leaving their teams short-changed.
That shift carries legal weight in 2026. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which came into force on 1 October 2024, fundamentally changed how UK employers must handle tips and service charges. Employers must pass 100% of qualifying tips to workers fairly and transparently, maintain records of how tips are allocated, and respond when workers request a written statement of their allocation. The legislation is enforceable by employment tribunals, and the statutory Code of Practice sets clear expectations about what "fairly" means in practice.
For restaurant operators, this creates a clear operational requirement: you need a system that captures tips digitally, distributes them fairly, and produces an audit trail. A cash float in the manager's drawer no longer meets the standard.
This guide compares six digital tipping approaches available to UK and Ireland restaurant operators in 2026, from standalone dedicated tipping apps to payment platforms and POS-integrated tip prompts. We assessed each on hospitality fit, Tips Act compliance support, distribution tools, integration with existing systems, pricing, and practical ease of use in a real restaurant operation.
Independent comparison · Updated October 2026
The UK's tipping law: what operators need to know
Before choosing a platform, understand what the law now requires.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, enforced from 1 October 2024, introduced three core obligations for UK employers:
Pass all qualifying tips to workers. Employers must not retain any portion of tips or service charges for business purposes. This covers card tips, app-based tips, and discretionary service charges. Tips must reach workers no later than the end of the month following the month in which they were received.
Allocate tips fairly. The statutory Code of Practice sets out what fair allocation looks like. Operators using a tronc arrangement must ensure that scheme is independent and correctly administered. Operators allocating tips directly must have a documented, fair policy.
Maintain records. Employers must keep records of how tips are allocated for three years. Workers can request a written statement of their individual allocation, and a failure to comply can be referred to an employment tribunal.
The practical implication for operators: if you're collecting tips through card payments and cannot demonstrate how they were distributed, you are potentially non-compliant. A digital tipping platform with clear audit trails is no longer optional for any UK restaurant of meaningful scale.
The best digital tipping platforms for UK restaurants at a glance
- TiPJAR: best dedicated digital tipping platform built specifically for UK hospitality
- Sunday: best QR pay-at-table solution with seamless tipping integrated into the full payment flow
- Dojo: best card terminal tipping for busy UK restaurants wanting fast, reliable in-service prompts
- Flipdish: best for restaurants on Flipdish POS and payments who want tipping across dine-in, kiosk, and online channels in one connected platform
- Square for Restaurants: best simple tipping for independent operators already using Square POS
- SumUp: best low-cost entry point for smaller or seasonal venues wanting card tipping without a long-term commitment
Prices are as published by each provider for the UK market at the time of writing. Where pricing is not publicly listed, this is noted. This guide covers the digital tipping and payment flows relevant to tip collection; we strongly recommend documenting a written tip allocation policy regardless of which platform you use.
Comparison at a glance
/quick comparison
| Vendor | Best for | Pricing From | Key Strengths | Tips Act Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TiPJAR | Dedicated digital tipping and Tips Act compliance | Quote-based | Purpose-built for UK hospitality, QR tipping, distribution dashboard, audit trails, works with any POS | Yes — distribution and record-keeping built in |
| Sunday | QR pay-at-table with tipping in the payment flow | Quote-based | Tipping integrated into full table payment journey, reduces end-of-meal friction, higher tip-rate reported | Tip data recorded; distribution handled separately |
| Dojo | Card terminal tipping at busy UK venues | Quote-based | Popular UK terminal, 450+ EPOS integrations, 4G/Wi-Fi failover, Pay at Table flow | Tip totals recorded; distribution requires separate process |
| Flipdish | Multi-channel tipping for restaurants on Flipdish | From ~£49/site/month (Flipdish platform) | Tipping across POS, online ordering, and kiosk in one platform; single reporting layer | Tip reporting in platform; distribution policy held separately |
| Square for Restaurants | Simple tipping for Square POS operators | Free (POS); card from 1.75% | Built-in tip prompts on terminals and Square Online, configured in dashboard, no extra tool | Tip totals in reporting; no dedicated distribution tooling |
| SumUp | Entry-level tipping for small or seasonal venues | Hardware from £29; card from 1.69% | Low-cost hardware, no lock-in contracts, simple tip prompt, accessible for smaller operators | Basic tip recording; no distribution tools |
/top 6 platforms
01.
TiPJAR is the UK's leading standalone digital tipping platform, purpose-built for hospitality. While most other options in this guide add tipping as a feature on top of a payment terminal or POS, TiPJAR's entire product is built around enabling cashless tipping, distributing it fairly, and helping operators build a defensible compliance record under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act.
Starting software price: Quote-based; no public monthly rate card. Transaction fees from: Processing fees apply on tips received; confirm the structure on your quote.
The core mechanic is simple and requires no change to your existing till or payment setup. Staff members and venues receive QR codes — either personal QR codes per staff member or a team or venue code for shared pools. Customers scan the QR code with their smartphone camera, no app download required, and tip directly through a mobile payment page. Tips can go to a named individual or into a team pot for distribution according to your policy.
What separates TiPJAR from a payment terminal with a tip prompt is the distribution dashboard. Operators can configure how team tips are split, track what has been collected and allocated, and access the records needed to respond to a worker's request under the Tips Act. That audit trail is the compliance engine: it is the difference between a venue that can demonstrate fair allocation and one that cannot.
Because TiPJAR operates independently of your EPOS or payment provider, it works regardless of which POS you run. Whether you are using Flipdish, Square, Lightspeed, or anything else, TiPJAR plugs in alongside without requiring a change to your stack. That flexibility is a genuine strength for operators who want a dedicated tipping tool without switching any other system.
Pricing: Quote-based. No public monthly subscription rate. The right starting point is a demo call, where pricing is scoped to your venue count and team structure. Processing fees apply on tips received, so confirm the full cost model before launching.
- Purpose-built for UK hospitality tipping compliance, not a generic bolt-on
- No app required for customers — QR code works via smartphone camera
- Personal QR codes per staff member and team/venue pool codes
- Distribution dashboard with audit trails built for Tips Act compliance
- Works alongside any EPOS or payment system without switching
- UK team with direct understanding of the regulatory landscape
- Quote-based pricing with no public rate card; a demo is needed to get a figure
- Adds a separate tool to your stack if you prefer everything in one platform
- Distribution setup takes time and thought to configure correctly for every team structure
Best for: Any UK restaurant, pub, café, or hospitality group that wants a compliant, dedicated tipping platform that works alongside their existing systems.
View full profile →
02.
Sunday is a QR pay-at-table platform that lets diners scan a code on their table to view their bill, split it, pay, and tip — all from a smartphone in under a minute. Where TiPJAR focuses purely on tipping as a standalone act, Sunday integrates tipping into the full payment journey at the table.
Starting software price: Quote-based. Transaction fees from: Processing fees apply; confirm on your quote.
The mechanism is straightforward: QR codes on tables, menus, or receipts let guests access their bill directly on their phone, pulled automatically from your EPOS. Customers can split the bill, choose a tip amount, and pay in one uninterrupted flow. There is no card machine to queue for, no printer jamming at the end of service, and no awkward moment waiting for the bill.
The tipping argument for Sunday is contextual: because the tip prompt arrives naturally in the payment flow — after the customer has chosen how to settle — it feels integrated rather than pressuring. The platform reports that restaurants using QR pay-at-table see tip uptake at higher rates than traditional handheld-terminal prompted tipping, because the guest is in control and not being watched by a staff member while making the choice. All tip data is recorded through the platform and available in reporting.
Sunday is not, however, a standalone tipping tool or a dedicated compliance platform. It is primarily a table payment solution for which tipping is a component. EPOS integration is required for bill retrieval, and Sunday's primary fit is table-service restaurants rather than counter-service or QSR venues.
Pricing: Quote-based. Contact Sunday for a quote covering your site and EPOS setup.
- Tipping built naturally into a frictionless pay-at-table experience
- Removes end-of-service payment bottlenecks that slow table turns
- Customers tip at their own pace without a staff member watching the screen
- Tip data recorded alongside payment data in platform reporting
- Reduces need for handheld card terminals at the table
- Not a standalone tipping tool; designed as a full table payment solution
- EPOS integration required for bill retrieval — check compatibility with your system
- Quote-based pricing; limited public information on cost
- Better suited to table-service than counter-service or QSR
- Tip distribution for Tips Act compliance needs a separate process
Best for: Full-service restaurants, brasseries, and casual dining venues that want to speed up end-of-meal payments and capture more tips through the payment flow.
View full profile →
03.
Dojo is one of the UK's most widely used card payment providers in hospitality, and its terminals include configurable tip prompts as a standard part of the payment flow. For operators who want a familiar, fast card terminal at the counter or table and want tipping handled in the same moment as card payment — without adding a separate tool — Dojo is a practical choice.
Starting software price: Quote-based; bespoke rates depend on turnover, venue type, and EPOS setup. Transaction fees from: Confirmed on your quote.
The Dojo Pocket device is a portable terminal with 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, designed for tableside and counter payments. The payment screen prompts for a tip before the card tap or chip, so tipping and payment happen in a single, fast interaction. Dojo integrates with over 450 EPOS systems, making it viable alongside most existing POS setups in UK restaurants and pubs.
Where Dojo sits honestly in this comparison: it is a payment terminal provider with tipping as a standard feature, not a dedicated tipping platform. Tips collected through Dojo are recorded in the Dojo transaction dashboard, and that data can be exported. But Dojo does not provide staff-level distribution tools or dedicated compliance reporting for the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act in the way TiPJAR does. Operators using Dojo for tipping will need a separate process for fair allocation documentation.
That is not a reason to rule Dojo out. For many UK operators — especially smaller independents and pubs — Dojo handles payments and tipping through one proven terminal, which is an operationally simple setup. The compliance gap can be addressed with a clear written policy and separate record-keeping.
Pricing: Quote-based, scoped to turnover and EPOS setup. Confirm contract length, minimum volumes, and rate structure before signing.
- Widely trusted and used in UK hospitality
- Portable Pocket device for fast tableside and counter payments
- Tipping built into the card payment flow as a natural prompt
- 450+ EPOS integrations claimed
- 4G/Wi-Fi connectivity reduces terminal failures during busy service
- Not a dedicated tipping compliance platform; distribution tracking needs a separate process
- Quote-based pricing and bespoke contracts require a sales conversation
- Confirm contract length and minimum terms before committing
- Integration setup requires coordination with your EPOS provider
Best for: Busy UK restaurants, pubs, and cafés that want proven, fast card terminals with tipping prompts and broad EPOS compatibility, and who manage tip distribution separately.
View full profile →
04.
Flipdish is the UK and Ireland's leading all-in-one restaurant technology platform, combining POS, online ordering, self-service kiosks, delivery management, CRM, loyalty, and marketing in one stack. For operators already running Flipdish, tipping across every order channel — in-person at the terminal, online at checkout, and through the kiosk — flows through a single connected reporting layer alongside order and customer data.
Starting software price: Flipdish plans start from around £49/site/month. Full POS and platform bundles from approximately £119/site/month. Flipdish Pay is available for POS customers. Contact Flipdish for a quote covering your specific site and channel configuration.
Flipdish POS includes integrated payment handling through Flipdish Pay. Tip prompts can be configured at the point of payment for dine-in and counter orders. For online ordering — which for many Flipdish customers accounts for a significant share of total orders — operators can add a tip option to the Flipdish checkout, giving digital customers the same opportunity to tip as a dine-in guest. Kiosk ordering through Flipdish can similarly include a tipping step, ensuring that the fastest-growing service format in QSR is not left out of tip capture.
The operational advantage here is consolidated visibility. Restaurants running multiple ordering channels through Flipdish are not reconciling tip data from a separate tool against POS data or online ordering reports. It is all in the same dashboard, tagged to the same transactions and the same operational reporting. For multi-site operators and groups managing several locations, this consistency matters both for staff fairness and for management oversight.
For compliance with the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, Flipdish gives operators the tip transaction data they need. A documented allocation policy should accompany the platform data to complete the compliance picture.
Pricing: Flipdish pricing is modular and quote-based for specific configurations. Plans start from approximately £49/site/month for ordering-only setups. Full platform bundles including POS start from approximately £119/site/month. Check flipdish.com or speak to their team for current pricing on your setup.
- Tipping across dine-in POS, online ordering, and self-service kiosks from one platform
- All tip data in the same reporting layer as orders, payments, and customer data
- Strong for multi-site operators wanting consistent, centralised visibility
- QSR and fast-casual focused — consistent tip prompts across channels reduce missed opportunities
- UK and Ireland HQ with local support and ongoing UK product development
- Reduces the number of vendor relationships needed to manage tipping
- Flipdish Pay is only available to Flipdish POS customers, not a standalone payment or tipping tool
- Dedicated tipping distribution and allocation features are less advanced than a specialist platform like TiPJAR
- For operators not already on Flipdish, adopting the platform is a larger change than adding a tipping tool
Best for: Restaurants, QSR operators, and multi-site groups running Flipdish POS and payments who want tipping consistent across dine-in, online ordering, and kiosk channels in one reporting environment.
View full profile →
05.
Square for Restaurants includes built-in tipping across its card terminals, Point of Sale app, and Square Online ordering platform. For independent operators already running Square, adding tipping is a configuration step rather than a new vendor relationship or additional contract.
Starting software price: Square for Restaurants Free plan at £0; Plus at £69/location/month. Card processing from: 1.75% per contactless or chip transaction (UK, published rate; check current pricing).
Square terminals prompt customers for a tip at the point of sale. Operators can configure preset tip percentages — typically 10%, 15%, or 20% — and a custom amount option. The configuration is done in the Square Dashboard, takes a few minutes, and applies immediately to your terminals. Tipping on Square Online can be enabled in checkout settings, extending the same option to click-and-collect and delivery orders.
Tip totals are recorded alongside transaction data in Square reporting, which makes it straightforward to pull tip figures per period. The limitation is distribution: Square shows you how much was tipped, but it does not provide tools to allocate tips fairly across your team or generate the records required under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act. That work needs to happen outside the platform, whether through your payroll software or a separate documented process.
For a small independent café or restaurant that primarily wants to make it easy for card customers to tip and already uses Square for everything else, that limitation is manageable. For an operator with a larger or more complex team, or one that wants a platform specifically designed around Tips Act compliance, adding TiPJAR alongside Square is a practical option.
Pricing: Free plan covers Square POS and tipping. Plus plan is £69/location/month and adds more advanced reporting and features. Card processing from 1.75% per transaction (contactless/chip). Square Magstripe is 2.5%. Check squareup.com/gb for current published rates.
- Tipping already built in — no additional tool or contract required for Square customers
- Configurable tip prompts on terminals and in Square Online checkout
- Tip totals visible in Square analytics alongside all other transaction data
- Transparent, published pricing with a free starting plan
- Quick to set up and easy to adjust
- No dedicated distribution tools for Tips Act compliance — allocation needs a separate process
- Less feature-rich for tipping than a specialist platform
- Transaction fees may increase total cost relative to alternatives at higher volumes
Best for: Independent cafés, food businesses, and smaller restaurants already using Square POS who want configurable tip prompts without adding another tool.
View full profile →
06.
SumUp is a widely used payment provider for smaller and independent hospitality businesses across the UK. Its card readers and POS terminals include tipping options, and the low upfront hardware cost and no-contract flexibility make it an accessible entry point for venues that want digital tipping without a significant commitment.
Starting software price: SumUp POS Free plan at £0; Plus at £19/month; Pro at £49/month. Hardware from: SumUp Air card reader from £29; SumUp Solo from £39. Card processing from: 1.69% per transaction (advertised rate; confirm current pricing).
SumUp terminals support tipping in the payment flow. The customer can add a tip before confirming payment on the device screen. Tip amounts are recorded in the SumUp merchant account and visible in the transaction history.
The honest position: SumUp is an entry-level payment and POS tool, not a restaurant-grade tipping compliance platform. It gives you the ability to prompt for tips on card transactions, which is better than nothing for a small venue starting out, but it does not provide the staff-level distribution tools, audit records, or allocation policy framework that the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires for anything beyond the most basic operation. For a solo operator or very small café where tips go to one or two people and distribution is obvious, SumUp may be entirely sufficient. For a team of any meaningful size, distribution records need to be maintained separately.
Pricing: SumUp Air card reader from £29. SumUp Solo from £39. POS Free plan at £0; Plus at £19/month; Pro at £49/month. Card processing from 1.69% per transaction. Check sumup.co.uk for current hardware and software pricing.
- Very low upfront hardware cost — accessible for small and new operators
- No lock-in contracts on base plans — good for seasonal venues
- Simple tip prompts in the payment flow without setup complexity
- Straightforward for solo operators and very small teams
- Not designed as a restaurant tipping and compliance platform
- No staff-level distribution tools or Tips Act compliance records
- Transaction fees may be less competitive than alternatives at higher monthly volumes
- Limited restaurant-specific functionality beyond basic POS and payments
Best for: Small cafés, food trucks, market stalls, and seasonal operators who want simple card payments with tipping and no long-term commitment.
View full profile →/verdict
How to choose a digital tipping platform for your restaurant
Choose a dedicated tipping platform if Tips Act compliance is your priority
If your main concern is the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2024 — specifically the requirements to allocate fairly, maintain records, and respond to worker requests — a dedicated platform like TiPJAR provides the distribution tooling and audit trail that a payment terminal alone cannot. This is the right answer for any operator with a team of meaningful size.
Choose a QR pay-at-table solution if table service friction is also a problem
If you run a table-service restaurant and end-of-meal payment is a bottleneck — guests waiting for the card machine, staff carrying handheld terminals — a solution like Sunday addresses tipping as part of a wider operational improvement. The tipping uplift is a benefit; the table-turn improvement is often the primary driver.
Use your existing POS platform's tipping if simplicity is the goal
If you're already on Flipdish, Square, or another POS, their built-in tip prompts are often the simplest starting point. For multi-channel operators on Flipdish, the benefit is consistent tipping across dine-in, online, and kiosk in one reporting environment. The trade-off is that distribution and compliance records need a process alongside the platform.
Consider a dedicated tipping app alongside your payment terminal
TiPJAR is designed to work alongside any EPOS or payment terminal, which means it is not an either/or choice. Many operators run Dojo or another terminal for card payments and TiPJAR for cashless QR tipping, giving customers both routes to tip and staff a transparent distribution record.
Whatever platform you choose, document a written tip allocation policy for your team. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires employers to have a fair, documented approach — the platform captures the data, but the policy governs how it is used.
For further context on card payment options for UK restaurants, including hardware, rates, and EPOS integration, see our guide to the best restaurant card payment machines in the UK. For POS systems with integrated payments, see our restaurant POS comparison. For workforce and scheduling software that connects to payroll, see our restaurant workforce management guide.
/frequently asked questions
What does the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 require UK restaurants to do?
The Act, which came into force on 1 October 2024, requires UK employers to pass 100% of qualifying tips to workers fairly and by the end of the month following the month in which the tips were received. Employers cannot retain any portion of tips for business purposes. They must have a fair, documented allocation policy, keep records for three years, and respond to worker requests for a written statement of their tip allocation. Failure to comply can be referred to an employment tribunal.
Do I need a digital tipping platform to comply with the Tips Act?
The law specifies fair distribution and record-keeping, not a specific technology. However, a digital platform that captures tips at the point of payment, attributes them to individuals or teams, and produces a distribution record significantly simplifies compliance. Manual cash-based tip management can be compliant, but it is harder to document and audit at any scale.
What is the difference between a tronc scheme and a tip pool?
A tronc is a formal pay arrangement run by an independent troncmaster for distributing tips and service charges. It has specific HMRC and National Insurance implications. A tip pool is an informal arrangement where tips are shared across the team according to an agreed policy. Both are permitted under the Tips Act, but both must be fair and documented. Many UK restaurants use an informal tip pool rather than a formal tronc.
Can customers still leave cash tips?
Yes. Cash tips handed directly to a staff member and not passing through the employer may be treated differently under the Tips Act than card tips that pass through the business. The Act's main provisions apply to tips received by the employer. For operational clarity, check the government's statutory Code of Practice and take appropriate advice if your venue takes significant cash tips.
Do digital tipping platforms take a percentage of tips?
This varies by platform. Some charge a monthly subscription with no percentage deduction from tips. Others apply a processing fee on each tip transaction. Confirm the full cost model — monthly fee, transaction fee, and any minimum charges — before launching a platform to your staff. You must also be transparent with your team about any deductions made from the tip pool.
Is TiPJAR the only dedicated tipping platform available in the UK?
TiPJAR is the UK's best-known dedicated digital tipping platform for hospitality. Other solutions integrate tipping as a feature within broader payment terminals or POS platforms. The dedicated-platform segment is relatively new and may see further entrants as the market matures post the Tips Act.
Does Flipdish support tipping across online ordering and the POS?
Yes. Flipdish supports tip prompts through Flipdish Pay on its POS terminals and within the online ordering checkout. For multi-channel operators on Flipdish, this means tipping is consistent across dine-in, takeaway online, and self-service kiosk channels, with all data in the same reporting environment.
Which digital tipping platform is best for a multi-site restaurant group?
Multi-site operators have two good options depending on their priorities. TiPJAR is the best choice if the priority is a dedicated, compliant tipping platform with distribution records across all sites. Flipdish is the best choice if the priority is tipping integrated within an existing Flipdish POS and ordering deployment, with group-level reporting across sites from one platform. Some larger groups use both approaches across different venue types.
