There are many options to consider with a restaurant online ordering system: Will you accept online orders for pick-up only, or include delivery? Will you deliver orders with an in-house driver team or use third-party drivers?
The best online ordering system for restaurants is efficient, transparent, and user-friendly. There are excellent online ordering systems of every type, and many integrate with — or are built into — your point-of-sale (POS) system.
Review my evaluation of the nine best online ordering systems for restaurants.
Online ordering systems for restaurants compared
Option to pass the $1.75 convenience fee onto customers Central business listing site and app drives new business 24/7 customer service available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Can receive orders online via email and POS, or offline via phone, email, and fax
Delivery orders require a 12.5% fee Marketing packages can get pricey
Menufy is a browser-based online ordering website design and business listing service. Like DoorDash Storefront, Square Online, and CloudWaitress, baseline Menufy users only need to pay credit card processing fees. For this low price, users receive a custom web URL with design support from the Menufy team.
Beyond basic online ordering, Menufy offers a comprehensive digital marketing program, such as customer conversion cards and email marketing content delivery. With overall value for money and ease of use, Menufy is our best overall online ordering system.
Menufy earned a perfect score in three of five categories in our evaluation criteria (pricing, ease of use, and our expert score), achieving 4.53 out of 5. It offers customer support in Spanish and Mandarin to provide comprehensive support to all staff members. You can add third-party drivers on demand for a 12.5% fee per delivery. However, small restaurants that want to accept online orders mostly for takeout won’t feel pinched.
A lack of robust built-in delivery driver management tools kept Menufy from scoring higher. If built-in driver management tools are a must for your restaurant, Toast, Tock, or Revel might better serve you.
Integrations
POS: Square, Lightspeed, Clover, POSitouch, Harbortouch, Restaurant Manager, Future POSDelivery: DoorDash, UberMiddleware: None
Monthly software fee: $0Installation fee: $0Per-order fee: $1.75 (can be passed on to customers)Delivery fee: 12.5%Payment processing: $2.75 + 30 cents, except for Clover POS usersContract length: Month-to-month For a custom-quoted price, users can purchase a Menufy tablet and wireless receipt printer to accept online orders. Alternatively, they can download the Menufy Restaurant Console app on any Android tablet running Android 4.4 or later.
You can also attach an optional Bluetooth-enabled receipt printer to print order tickets. Menufy also integrates directly with popular cloud POS systems like Square, Lightspeed, and Clover to receive orders directly in your POS.
HungerRush 360 marketing: Menufy offers a marketing suite with graphic design support and customized email and SMS marketing campaigns. For $99 per month — and no long-term contract — users get custom-designed smartphone graphics to promote their brand to customers.
Menufy platform app: Like Toast, Tock, and DoorDash, Menufy hosts a listing site and affiliated smartphone app to help introduce your restaurant to new customers.Pay-as-you-go delivery: Menufy integrates directly with Uber and DoorDash to provide on-demand third-party delivery drivers. For each delivery, Menufy customers pay a 12.5% commission fee. This rate is higher than that of some competitors, but users will only pay for what they use.
DoorDash Storefront: Best third-party platform
No long-term contract You own customer data No delivery order commission fees for up to 30 days, depending on your plan Option to list your storefront on the DoorDash platform (for a fee)
Fees for using your own drivers are steep Locked into DoorDash payments Setup can take up to three weeks
DoorDash Storefront is a freestanding online ordering tool from DoorDash. It scored 4.53 out of 5 on my evaluation, earning massive points for price and the option to use a mix of in-house and third-party drivers, with a predictable delivery fee range. This flexibility allows you to set up your delivery service any way you want.
Don’t start having nightmares about high commission fees, though. DoorDash Storefront is free; users only pay credit card processing fees. For this low price, you get a templated online ordering site that you build yourself. Your DoorDash Storefront is not listed on the DoorDash app, but you will have access to some DoorDash promotional tools through your Merchant Portal. The system also integrates with many POS systems, including Square and Toast.
DoorDash Storefront lost points because some functions were limited. For example, in-house drivers cannot text with customers like DoorDash drivers can. Issuing refunds is also clunky. You can only refund pickup orders from your Merchant Portal. All other refund requests must go through DoorDash directly.
Integrations
POS: Adora, CAKE, Clover, Crisp, Focus POS, Givex, Heartland POS, PAR Menu, Square, Toast, Lavu, Shift4Middleware: ItsaCheckmate, Chowly, Cuboh, Deliverect, Mobi2Go, Ordermark, OLO, Omnivore, Otter, UEat, REEFWeb hosting: GoDaddy, WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, and BentoBox (these are some of the best website builders for restaurants )
Monthly software fee: $0Installation fee: $0Per-delivery order fee: $0 for up to 30 days, then 15%–30%Using Dashers : $6.99–$10.99Using self-delivery: 8%–12%Contract length: Cancel anytime with 30 days’ written noticeProcessing fees: 2.9% + 30 cents You can receive DoorDash Storefront orders via tablet, email, phone, or fax. Alternatively, you can connect it to your POS system to accept orders directly in your order stream.
If your POS is not currently a DoorDash partner, use a middleman or app to connect your systems. However, you’ll only be able to view DoorDash Dashers’ locations from the DoorDash dashboard. So, if you choose to use DoorDash drivers, you’ll still want to keep a tablet handy.
Customized branding: Unlike a traditional DoorDash online ordering profile, your DoorDash Storefront is white-labeled. This means that customers see your brand and logos, not DoorDash’s. All Storefront sites have a disclaimer in the footer: “Powered by DoorDash Storefront.”Delivery driver options: DoorDash is also one of the best food delivery software solutions, so you can route all deliveries to in-house drivers or Dashers. You deliver orders with your staff for a fee of 8% (DashPass deliveries) to 12% (standard deliveries).Power of the DoorDash Platform: You can list your restaurant on the DoorDash platform for a commission fee to draw new business. This is not required to use DoorDash Storefront, but it’s a nice option if your sales take a dip or you want to run a promotion.
Toast: Best native POS online ordering system for restaurants
Built into a top-ranking restaurant POS Includes QR code ordering tools Includes in-house and third-party delivery driver management option The Toast TakeOut app helps you find new customers
Only works on Toast POS Requires a two-year contract Requires hardware purchase
Toast is one of the best restaurant POS systems and includes built-in online ordering tools. Toast’s tools are so comprehensive and easy to use, however, that it outscored several online-ordering-only software tools on my ranking criteria.
Users can start with Toast for $0 upfront. The Starter POS kit has no monthly software fees, and you can pay for up to two POS terminals with higher processing fees. Adding online ordering costs $75 per month, or users can pay as they go with higher processing fees.
While Toast’s payment processing fees are a bit higher than others on this list, they include fraud protection, which can be a lifesaver when so many transactions are online. Toast Payments includes real-time enhanced fraud protection for all ecommerce transactions and has a dedicated fraud team to support you with any issues.
Toast scored 4.37 out of 5 on my online ordering system scoring criteria. It outscored every system on this list for its general features, which include Toast’s TakeOut online ordering smartphone app. The online ordering module also includes QR code ordering tools.
Toast also has a streamlined setup, with highly detailed online ordering menus that can handle any kind of modification your customers can imagine. Toast could have earned more points if it integrated with more POS systems, had more payment processing options, and didn’t require proprietary hardware and a long-term contract.
Integrations
POS: Only Toast POSDelivery: DoorDash, ShipdayMiddleware: Chowly, ItsaCheckmate
Monthly software fee
POS: $0–$69 (Growth plan includes online ordering)Online ordering: $75 or Pay-as-You-Go with an additional .40% in processing fees
Contract length: Two years
Payment processing: 2.49% + 15 cents–2.99% + 15 cents Toast online ordering requires a Toast POS system plan ($0 to $69 per month) and Toast hardware ($0 to $1,034 per terminal). Toast online orders appear directly in your POS order stream and print automatically in your kitchen or on your kitchen display system (KDS).
Toast operates on Toast-designed touch-screen terminals. You can purchase these terminals outright or pay-as-you-go with higher payment processing fees. Toast also directly integrates with Google, allowing restaurants to accept online orders from Google Search results.
Toast TakeOut app: Toast subscribers are featured in the streamlined customer-facing Toast TakeOut smartphone app. This searchable app allows customers to find your restaurant based on location, cuisine, or mealtime preferences and is available from Google Play and the App Store.
Automated customer alerts: Your Toast system will alert customers — and your staff — when an order is marked as complete on your KDS screen. This stops short of comprehensive delivery status updates but is automated and incredibly user-friendly.
Customer arrival notification texts: Toast’s Arrival Notification text allows you to text a link to your customers when they place curbside pickup orders. When they arrive, customers open the link on their smartphones, and a check prints in your restaurant, containing their name and order information. Your team never has to guess which orders to bring out.
In-house and third-party delivery options: Toast’s built-in basic delivery functions operate a lot like Tock’s. Restaurants can assign orders to in-house drivers and use Google Maps to set custom delivery areas and fees.
Tock: Best for meal kits & family-style menus
No long-term contract Fee-based model lets you pay for only what you use Tock online ordering platform site helps new customers find you Popular with high-profile independent restaurants
Only integrates directly with Toast and Lightspeed POS Customization and branding features are limited Braintree and Stripe are the only options for payment processing
Tock is a reservations, event booking, and online ordering system for restaurants. Users can use only one Tock module or all three combined (the pricing for each varies). Since Tock wasn’t designed primarily as an online ordering tool, the online menu functions have design limitations that would make complex menus tricky to manage. Because of the slightly limited design features, Tock works best for family-style meal packages and kits.
Tock’s online ordering function is template-based so you can quickly build your online ordering site with no outside assistance. All Tock users pay for online orders is a 3% commission, plus processing fees.
This provider earned an overall score of 4.26 on my online ordering rating system. It scored well for niche online ordering features, earned high marks for ease of use, and is well-regarded by our experts. Tock also has robust marketing tools, including detailed customer profiles and filters for creating targeted and segmented marketing campaigns.
It also features controlled access order links, making your online ordering site visible to certain customers. This feature creates special offers for investors, regulars, friends, and family. It could also present a unique opportunity for tailored special events.
Tock could have scored higher if it integrated directly with more restaurant POS systems (currently, it only integrates with Toast and Lightspeed) and offered more options to customize the look of your online ordering site.
Integrations
POS: Toast, LightspeedDelivery: DoorDash Drive, UberMiddleware: None
Monthly software fee: $0 (for online ordering; reservations and events features have additional fees)Installation fee: $0Per-order fee: 3%Payment processing: Varies by processor (Braintree and Stripe)Contract length: No long-term contract You don’t need any specialty hardware to operate Tock, though most users operate the order dashboard on a dedicated tablet or computer. Tock recommends the iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch, and the eighth-generation iPad. It also recommends Chromebooks like the Google Pixelbook and the 10.5-inch Galaxy Tab S6. Using Toast or Lightspeed as your POS, you can integrate Tock directly into your POS order stream.
Controlled order flow: Tock’s online orders are organized by time slot, similar to a table reservation. This feature lets you decide how many orders you accept in a given time frame and bump additional orders to more convenient times. You can allow a la carte ordering or only sell pre-fixed meals or meal kits.
On-demand third-party drivers: Tock includes essential driver dispatch functions if you manage an in-house team. If you prefer to outsource your delivery operations, Tock integrates directly with DoorDash and Uber to hail third-party drivers on demand.
Two-way SMS messaging: In-app SMS messaging lets your team communicate directly with customers. You can send preset text messages for order status updates, or custom messages for order detail confirmation or alerts. If you expand into delivery, your drivers can also text your customers.
Platform Business Listing Site: You can share your Tock order link with customers on your restaurant’s social media and website. Tock also includes all Tock restaurants on its searchable website.
Square Online: Best free online ordering
Completely free ecommerce site Easy setup Includes delivery management tools Large user community and online knowledge base
Square is the only available payment processor Only integrates with Square POS systems Hardware can lack long-term durability
Square Online is a free ecommerce website that runs on the Square Payments platform. Any small business can create a free Square Online store or website by signing up for a Square account and attaching a bank account.
Square doesn’t charge additional fees for online orders; all you pay are the processing fees. This low barrier to entry makes Square Online an excellent fit for small restaurants, especially those with a focused menu like coffee shops, slice shops, and taquerias.
You can also expand Square’s restaurant functionality by adding the free version of the Square for Restaurants POS. Online orders feed directly into the Square for Restaurants POS and kitchen printers.
In my ranking system, Square Online earned an overall score of 4.2 out of 5 — pretty good for a solution that doesn’t specialize in restaurants. This tool outscored the competition on price, and our experts also rated it highly. The system lost some ground on support functions, though.
Setting up your site is a DIY affair, and Square Online only integrates with Square POS systems. The Square for Restaurants POS’s baseline subscription is also free, though, so this limitation may not be a deal-breaker for small restaurants.
Integrations
POS: Square for RestaurantsDelivery: DoorDash, Uber, Postmates, CaviarMiddleware: Square Online does not integrate with middleware; the Square for Restaurants POS integrates with Chowly, Cuboh, Deliverect, and Slice
Monthly software fee: $0Installation fee: $0Per-order fee: $0Per-delivery fee:
Using third-party drivers: $1.50 + $6.99 (DoorDash) or $4.50 + 95 cents/mi (Uber or Postmates)Using in-house drivers: 50 cents
Payment processing: 2.9% + 30 centsContract length: No contract required You don’t need any special equipment to run Square Online. You can access your order dashboard from any internet-enabled device, and Square also sends you an email for every new online order. So you can see new orders as they arrive, even from a smartphone.
No long-term contracts: Square Online does not charge annual or monthly fees; restaurants only pay processing fees on online purchases. Even seasonal restaurants and micro-operations like sugar shacks and beachside concession stands can easily expand into online ordering and pay-as-you-go.
Integrates with Square business tools: The Square platform hosts many intuitive software tools to handle everything from customer loyalty programs to gift cards, marketing solutions, payroll, and invoice management. Square expands its built-in functions with more than 100 integrated third-party apps, covering everything from employee scheduling to accounting and tax compliance.
Delivery options: You can add a delivery option to your Square Online ordering site and manually manage a driver team. You can also expand into Square for Restaurants POS, which integrates directly with third-party delivery apps. Postmates and DoorDash integrations allow you to hail third-party drivers for on-demand, flat-rate delivery. Alternatively, you can dispatch your drivers for 50 cents per order.
Restolabs: Best for payment flexibility
14-day free trial Supports over 30 payment processors Integrates with Tookan for in-house driver management Massive modifiers for order accuracy and customer cost accuracy
No platform site to drive new business POS integration is only available with Enterprise memberships DoorDash and Postmates integrations are only available with a Premium membership
Restolabs is an affordable, robust online ordering system for restaurants. Unlike Toast, DoorDash, and Square Online, Restolabs is compatible with over 30 payment processors, including popular options like Authorize.net, PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
Restolabs users can shop for the lowest payment processing rates, an excellent way to offset the costs of setting up an online ordering system. But you don’t have to accept online payments to use Restolabs. You can use the system and accept only cash payments upon pick-up or delivery.
Restolabs online menus also allow customers to add and delete ingredients quickly with checkboxes. You can add prices to modifiers to ensure every customized order is charged correctly. You’ll also get customizable combos and discounts that let you create individual combo screens, offer a flat discount for item bundles, add coupons specifically for online orders, or customize coupons to match dine-in offers.
Restolabs integrates with Tookan for delivery management. Like others on this list, Restolabs also integrates with DoorDash and Postmates to route deliveries to on-demand, third-party drivers (though, you’ll need to upgrade your subscription to unlock these integrations).
Restolabs earned an overall score of 4.08 out of 5 on my restaurant online ordering system ranking criteria. It earned high marks for affordability and general online ordering features. I also rated it a strong value for the money.
The system would have scored higher if delivery features had been included in the baseline subscription and if it had supported a platform site to help introduce restaurants to new customers. The fact that POS integration is only available for additional fees, either through a Basic subscription or via a middleman app, also cost Restolabs some points.
Integrations
POS: No direct POS integrationsMiddleman apps: Deliverect, ItsaCheckmate (both enable POS integration)Delivery: Tookan (in-house delivery), Doordash, Postmates
Monthly software fee
Basic: $55 per month, paid annuallyPremium: $79 per month, paid annuallyEnterprise: $159 per month, paid annually
Per-order fee: $0Payment processing: Varies by processor; Restolabs integrates with over 30 providersContract length: Month-to-month or annual subscriptions available When a new order is placed, it will appear in your Restolabs dashboard and be sent to you via email. Customers will automatically be notified via SMS that their order has been sent.
You can integrate Restolabs with your POS via the middleman app ItsaCheckmate or Deliverect. However, Restolabs can build a custom POS integration for enterprise-level customers if your POS brand can be integrated.
Customizable menu templates: Restolabs strikes an excellent balance between templated and customizable tools. The Restolabs team will create your primary online menu. You can customize and update it from there in Restolabs’ easy-to-navigate site editor.
Delivery options: You can manage a team of in-house drivers via a Tookan integration, or route deliveries to third-party drivers on the DoorDash, Uber, or Postmates network.
Payment flexibility: Restolabs users can easily configure their online menu to accept online, cash, and mobile wallet payments, or request a card upon delivery (though, you’ll want to be sure you have a mobile card reader to process them).
Revel Systems (now Shift4): Best for multilocation driver management
Native online ordering tools Robust delivery management tools Supports multiple payment processors
Can be pricey for a small business Three-year contract Only works on Revel POS Systems
Revel Systems is a full-scale POS, like Toast. It operates on iPads and offers even more robust delivery management tools than Toast does. If you operate multiple restaurant locations and want to dispatch and track a team of in-house drivers from your POS system, Revel is the best fit for you.
With a free, built-in driver smartphone app, you can manage a team of in-house drivers with the efficiency of Uber itself. The underlying requirements of a Revel subscription — a three-year contract, mandatory installation fee, and two-terminal minimum subscription — make this system a better fit for multilocation restaurant groups than single-location, independent restaurants.
Revel earned a 4.01 out of 5 on our online ordering scoring criteria. It earned a perfect score for its niche online ordering tools, supporting multiple delivery options, customer text alerts, and allowing you to retain control of your customer data. It lost points on price, however.
Revel’s price score was the lowest on this list. Pricing information is harder to find since Revel Systems became Shift4. Beyond the relatively high upfront cost ($99 per terminal monthly with an installation fee of at least $674), Revel also ties users to a three-year contract, which can be challenging when others offer one-year or month-to-month options.
Integrations
POS: Only Revel POSPayments: Revel Advantage, First Data, Heartland, TSYS, Worldpay, Chase Paymentech, ElavonDelivery: Driver XT by DoorDash, GrubhubMiddleman apps: Cuboh, Chowly, ItsaCheckmate, Deliverect
Monthly software fee: $0-$29.99Installation fee: Starts at $674Per-order fee: $0Payment processing: Varies by processor; Revel Advantage is custom-quotedContract length: 3 years Revel Systems is a POS that operates on iPads (like competitor Square for Restaurants). Though unlike Square, which lets customers use hardware they already own, Revel users must purchase their hardware directly from Revel.
Revel sends the iPads to customers who are pre-configured with the POS software. The iPads themselves can be used as POS terminals, KDS screens, self-service kiosks, customer-facing displays, or tableside order and payment devices.
The Revel team offers guided support, creating your online ordering site from the menus loaded into your POS. This takes a bit more time than building your own website via a setup wizard, but it can be a lifesaver for a restaurant owner with limited administrative bandwidth.
For pricing, you’ll need to contact Revel Systems directly. But whatever the price, the fact that using Revel’s online ordering tools requires a full Revel POS system to operate means that this solution has a higher upfront cost than any other solution on this list. But before you dismiss Revel on price alone, look at the online ordering features.
Integrated orders: Orders from your Revel online ordering site appear directly in your POS order stream. There are no middleware plug-ins and no custom-built API integrations.
Driver management: Revel includes Delivery XT Dispatch, a live, maps-based driver management app. If you manage a team of in-house delivery drivers, Revel shows you their live locations on a dispatch map. You can assign orders based on proximity directly from the map and manage driver reimbursements based on mileage.
Driver smartphone app: Revel includes a free driver app, Revel Delivery XT Agent, that syncs with your dispatch system. Drivers are notified in their app about new delivery assignments, updated delivery information, and real-time turn-by-turn directions. This driver app gives you Uber-like control over your delivery fleet. It’s an excellent fit for restaurants like pizzerias with a high volume of deliveries.
CloudWaitress: Most affordable smartphone ordering app
Starter subscription is free for up to 100 orders per month Supports multiple payment processors Optional custom-built smartphone ordering app Receive orders via dashboard, automated receipt printers, email, or phone
No aggregating platform to find new customers No POS integrations or middleware integrations
CloudWaitress is an affordable online ordering tool for restaurants. While CloudWaitress is browser-based, it also offers a low-fee customer-facing mobile ordering app; no other software on this list offers the same feature at a similarly affordable price point. The app is custom-branded and works on both iOS and Android.
It also features an open API (like Restolabs) so users can build integrations with POS systems or other software. CloudWaitress’ online ordering software is designed to help small, independent restaurants add online ordering.
It also has age verification tools: You can set age-verified menus or flag orders to require ID verification from your staff when selling alcohol, for example. The software includes a free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate on all its customer-built online ordering sites, offering an additional layer of security for your online ordering and payments.
Like Tock, however, CloudWaitress is missing some frills like marketing tools and POS integrations. It has an open API if you have the bandwidth to build a custom integration (and your POS supports this), but there are currently no prebuilt integrations with either POS systems or middleware apps.
Even with those limitations, CloudWaitress earned a 3.98 out of 5 on my online ordering software ranking. CloudWaitress earned massive points for its affordable price and lack of long-term contracts. If it hosted more third-party integrations and included more robust built-in marketing tools, CloudWaitress would have scored higher.
Integrations
POS: Multiple (via open API)Delivery: Tookan, ShipdayMiddleware: None
Monthly software subscription fee
Starter: $0Standard: $39 per storeEnterprise: $299 per store
Per-order commission fees: $0One-time Installation fees: $0Processing fees: Varies based on processor; choose from Stripe, PayPal, CardConnect, Gravity Payments, checkout.com CloudWaitress recommends using Windows tablets and PCs, but you can receive CloudWaitress orders on tablets or even print orders directly to a Wi-Fi-connected printer. You can set up your ordering site using a CloudWaitress menu template and start taking orders for pickup or delivery entirely free.
Like Square and Toast, CloudWaitress supports on-site QR code ordering via your online store. You’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription once you hit 100 monthly orders on the free plan. But you can pay your subscription fees monthly and cancel any time; there are no long-term contracts.
Customer-facing mobile app: Yes, Zuppler also offers a customer-branded mobile app, but no one offers a mobile ordering app at a price as low as CloudWaitress. For a one-time fee of $399, you can get a branded iOS and Android customer-facing mobile ordering app.
Delivery integrations: Like Restolabs and Square, CloudWaitress integrates with third-party apps to support in-house driver management. CloudWaitress integrates with Tookan and Shipday.
Open-door communication: CloudWaitress actively monitors user feedback and encourages member restaurants to request new features. If a feature request is popular, you can actively track its progress through the CloudWaitress workflow. This level of transparency helps CloudWaitress develop tools that restaurant owners want and helps CloudWaitress users feel heard.
Multiple options for user-friendly menus Option to add a custom-branded mobile ordering app Integrates with several popular POS systems and third-party middleware apps
Must call for pricing Built-in delivery tools and Google orders come with extra costs Requires a one-year contract
Zuppler is a browser-based online ordering software tool for restaurants. Unlike others on this list that focus on simple menu creation, Zuppler focuses on dynamic, customer-friendly online ordering menus designed to grow your business. Zuppler users can choose between Standard, Visual, and Immersive menus to suit their restaurant style.
The text-only Standard menu is ideal for coffee shops and restaurants that don’t want to waste web bandwidth with lots of images. The Visual menu features enlarged menu images to get customers craving your food. The Immersive menu takes this even farther, including images of menu modifiers. This is ideal for build-your-own pizzas, salads, grain bowls, or burritos.
You can also opt to add a custom-branded digital ordering app. If you want more dynamic menu formats than those on this list support, Zuppler is your best choice.
Zuppler earned a 3.79 out of 5 on my restaurant online ordering ranking system. This software earned points for its number of third-party integrations, including several options for payment processing.
Zuppler could have scored higher if it offered a free trial or a month-to-month subscription. It would also be nice if Zuppler listed its pricing publicly so you know if you’re getting the best deal.
Integrations
POS: Toast, Revel, Lightspeed, Clover, Brink, ParDelivery: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Shipday, Onfleet, First Delivery, Dragontail SystemsMiddleware: ItsaCheckmate, Otter, Chowly
Monthly software fee: Custom-quoted (previously listed at $129 to $149 per month)One-time installation fees: Custom-quoted based on menu typeProcessing fees: Varies based on processor; choose from Braintree, PayPal, Worldpay, First Atlantic Commerce, TaxJar, or Sabrix. Zuppler Payments rates are 2.75% + 25 centsContract length: One year Pro tip: Zuppler tends to offer promotional pricing via its software partners. For example, they ran a lower-price subscription to Gravity Payments customers during COVID-19. If Zuppler interests you, check with your vendors or other software providers; there’s a chance they could get you a deal on this software.
As the only custom-quoted system on this list, Zuppler may be a bit out of budget for very small independent restaurants.
Previously listed fees for this system ranged from $129 to $149 per month, which definitely puts Zuppler at the higher end of the systems on this list. But Zuppler’s main focus is on growing your online orders and increasing sales; it now declares itself to be in the “growth services” business.
Delivery options: For a custom-quoted fee, Zuppler includes some delivery management functions like the ability to create delivery zones, assign zone-based delivery fees, set delivery hours, and throttle delivery orders.
Branded mobile app: For a custom-quoted fee, Zuppler users can get a fully branded mobile ordering app. This is a great option for multilocation restaurants with a loyal base of regular customers.
Customer Connect order status updates: Via Zuppler’s Customer Connect tool, your customers can receive text updates as their orders move through your restaurant. Automated messages and a live track bar show customers when their order is received, prepared, ready for pickup, or out for delivery. This can save your team from answering numerous phone calls about an order.
How I evaluated restaurant online ordering software
I compared dozens of popular and emerging online ordering systems for restaurants based on what’s important to independent restaurant businesses. I considered price, general online ordering functions, niche functions (like delivery and customer-facing apps), and ease of use.
Pricing: 15% of overall score
First, I examined whether each software offers a free plan and a plan option under $75 monthly. I also considered per-order commission fees, credit card processing fees, and contract-length requirements.
General features: 25% of overall score
I looked for systems that support custom, branded websites and aggregating sites that help restaurants find new customers. We also awarded points to providers that accept cash and gift cards and include built-in marketing tools.
Expanded online ordering features: 25% of overall score
I looked at additional features that expand the online ordering software’s utility. First, I looked for delivery integrations that support in-house driver management or allow you to hail on-demand third-party drivers.
I also looked for systems that support in-house order pickup, curbside pickup, and in-person payments. I awarded high scores to systems that allow restaurants to retain customer data to support targeted marketing.
Ease of use: 20% of overall score
Any add-on restaurant software must be easy to use. I looked for tools that integrate with popular restaurant POS systems or offer an open API to build your own connection. I also looked for systems that allow you to throttle off incoming orders when your kitchen is busy. Systems with 24-hour customer support and guided installation earned high marks.
Expert score: 15% of overall score
Finally, I considered each system’s standout features and whether or not the software offers a good overall value for its price. I also judged each system’s popularity within the restaurant industry and awarded points based on my personal experience interacting with the software and its customer support.
Key features to look for in an online ordering system
Restaurants looking for a good online ordering system should keep some critical features in mind. Though these features resemble many POS systems, restaurants looking to branch out or focus on online orders need extra-robust systems and features to handle this specialty.
Automated marketing
The best systems include marketing tools such as custom branding for dedicated smartphone apps, graphics, and gift cards to increase brand awareness in your customers’ minds. It’s also great when online ordering systems offer options for automated marketing messages (SMS or email), custom ad campaigns, and loyalty programs with reward systems. All of these will help drive repeat business.
Customer alerts
Both customers and staff need to know when an order has been placed, is being prepped, or has been fulfilled. Many software systems offer a text message alert for customers, but the best ones make it a two-way system that allows for live communication between customers and staff. Taking things even further, this can be expanded to comprehensive delivery status updates that let hungry customers know how close their deliveries are.
An online ordering system needs some sort of delivery tools suite, whether these are native features or third-party integrations (though the former is slightly more convenient). Apart from delivery status updates, these tools should ideally include driver management such as location tracking, order assignments, and reimbursements.
POS integrations
An online ordering system is far more effective when integrated with a POS system. This integration helps keep your inventory synced in real time, manage customer lists and marketing, track invoices, and much more. Online ordering systems that integrate with many POS systems are better; look for three or more integrations with well-regarded POS systems.
Payment flexibility
You can’t predict how your customers intend to pay for their orders from the get-go, so you need to be ready to accept online payments, mobile payments, credit cards, and cash (ideally with in-person payments as an option). Accepting multiple payment types leaves a better impression on your customers and makes them more likely to remember the convenience of ordering again.
Back-of-house (BOH) controls
Some of the best features in the systems above include back-of-house monitoring and kitchen controls. For example, Tock allows you to set pars, manage inventory, and even have pop-up alerts to the kitchen for different phases of an order.
Doordash Storefront allows you to switch menus easily and also update your kitchen status. Any tools that help organize your kitchen will be beneficial to faster takeout times.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which ordering app is best for restaurants?
It really depends on that restaurant’s needs. The ideal online ordering system can easily fit into your business while giving your customers an easy ordering experience. In my evaluation, Menufy was the overall best fit for most restaurant types.
How does a restaurant online ordering system work?
A customer finds your restaurant online and places an order either via your website or a third-party platform. The online ordering system sends orders to your restaurant via POS integration, a dedicated online ordering app tablet, a dedicated ticket printer, an email alert, or a combination of these.
Your kitchen staff prepares the order, which is then picked up by the customer or delivered to the customer via in-house or third-party delivery drivers. Customers can pay for the orders when they are placed via your online ordering site, or you may opt to process payment, either cash or card, when the orders are picked up for delivery.
Why are online ordering systems necessary?
They offer customers a way to order food from a restaurant via a website or smartphone. These systems allow customers to place detailed orders with modifications, reducing miscommunication and server errors. An online ordering system may be the only contact a customer has with your restaurant, so it’s important to choose a system that reflects your brand.
Is online ordering still as popular in 2025?
In 2020, takeout orders switched to mostly online ordering. Nearly 90% of takeout orders were done online, and this trend has continued in the years since. Online ordering is convenient and easy to access. The number of people who use online meal delivery in the US reached more than 173 million in 2024, over double what it was in 2017.
The last bite
Clearly, more people want restaurants to continue offering takeout and delivery, so online ordering isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you are looking for an affordable way to offer simple online delivery to your restaurant, Menufy is a great place to start.
Low payment processing rates and no long-term contracts make it accessible for restaurants of any size. With customer support available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and multiple print and digital advertising options, Menufy can help you grow any type of restaurant business, whether you’ve been around for a while or are just getting started.
