Online ordering for restaurants (2026): costs, commission-free options and how to choose
An online ordering system lets customers order pickup or delivery from your own website and Google profile, so you pay card processing instead of a 15% to 30% delivery app commission. Systems cost from $0 a month (DoorDash Online Ordering Starter, Square Online Free) to about $500 a month (Owner.com), plus about 2.9% to 3.5% per order. Use the calculator below to compare them with what you pay the apps.
- Online ordering lets customers order from your own website or Google profile, without a 15% to 30% app commission.
- Costs run from $0 a month (DoorDash Online Ordering Starter, Square Online Free) to about $500 a month (Owner.com), plus card processing of about 2.9% to 3.5% per order.
- On $10,000 a month of online sales, direct ordering costs about $400 to $900 a month. The apps take about $2,500 at 25%.
- GloriaFood is closing on April 30, 2027. Restaurants still on it need to move.
- The system matters less than getting customers to use it. Your Google Business Profile is the biggest source of direct orders.
Direct ordering vs delivery apps: cost calculator
Enter the online sales you could take through your own website. We compare what you pay the apps with what each direct ordering system would cost, using published US prices.
Estimates from published prices as of November 2026, including card processing. Assumes pickup or delivery the customer pays for. Toast also needs a Toast POS. Owner.com also adds a 5% fee paid by your guests. Setup fees are not included.
Online ordering systems compared (US, November 2026)
| System | Monthly fee | Per-order cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash Online Ordering | $0 (Starter), $54 (Boost), $249 (Pro) | No commission; card processing 3.3% + $0.30 on Starter, 2.9% + $0.30 on paid plans | Restaurants already on DoorDash who want to start at no monthly cost |
| Square Online | $0 (Free), $49 (Plus), $149 (Premium) | Card processing 3.3% + $0.30 on Free, 2.9% + $0.30 on paid plans | Restaurants using Square POS, cafes, food trucks |
| Toast Online Ordering | About $75 add-on (about $149 with a website), plus a Toast POS plan | Card processing about 3.5% + $0.15 | Restaurants already on Toast POS |
| ChowNow | $229 to $449 depending on plan and billing, plus a setup fee | Card processing 2.95% + $0.29 | Independent restaurants that want a branded app and marketing help |
| Owner.com | $249 + 5% per order (Flexible) or $499 (Flat Rate) | Card processing about 2.9% + $0.30; guests also pay a 5% fee | Restaurants with $5,000+ a month online who want website, app and marketing in one |
Prices from each company’s published pricing as of November 2026: DoorDash, Square, Owner.com; Toast and ChowNow from their pricing pages as reported in 2026. Check the current price with the provider before you sign.
The four kinds of online ordering
- Free ordering from a delivery app. DoorDash Online Ordering gives you a branded ordering page with no commission. Dashers can deliver, and the customer pays the delivery fee. The catch: the customer data and the experience still sit with DoorDash.
- Ordering built into your POS. Square and Toast both include online ordering that sends orders straight to your kitchen. Simple if you already use them; Toast charges extra for it.
- Dedicated commission-free platforms. ChowNow, Owner.com and similar tools give you a branded website, ordering, a mobile app, email and text marketing and loyalty, for a monthly fee.
- A plugin on your own website. WordPress ordering plugins cost little but need someone to maintain them and connect payments and printing.
GloriaFood is shutting down: what to do
GloriaFood was the most popular free online ordering system, used by over 100,000 restaurants. Oracle, which bought it in 2021, stopped new sign-ups in early 2025 and is closing the platform on April 30, 2027. On that date, ordering pages and widgets stop working.
If you use it: export your menu and customer list now, choose a replacement from the table above, and update every place your order link appears, especially your Google Business Profile and website.
How to choose
- Start from your POS. If Square or Toast already runs your counter, try their ordering first, so orders print where your kitchen expects them. Choosing a POS? See Toast vs Square.
- Do the maths at your volume. Under about $5,000 a month online, a $0 or $49 plan usually wins. Above that, a flat monthly platform can be cheaper than per-order fees.
- Check who owns the customer. You want the customer’s name, email and phone so you can bring them back.
- Check delivery. Decide whether you deliver with your own staff, use on-demand drivers, or offer pickup only.
- Ask about setup fees and contracts. Some platforms charge setup fees or require annual billing for the advertised price.
Getting customers to order direct
An ordering page with no visitors saves nothing. Most direct orders come from people who already searched for you, so put the link where they look:
- Google Business Profile. Set your own ordering page as the preferred option for the Order online button. See our guide to ranking on Google Maps.
- Your website. An Order online button at the top of every page, not buried in a menu.
- Everything you hand out. Receipts, bags, table QR codes and Instagram bio.
- A reason to switch. A small first-order discount on your site still costs less than a 25% commission.
We set up restaurant websites with ordering links, Google Business Profiles that send orders to you, and local SEO that brings nearby diners. Restaurant website, $999 · Free audit
Common questions
Short, direct answers.
What is the best online ordering system for restaurants?
There is no single best one. If you already use Square or Toast for your POS, their online ordering is the simplest start. If you are on DoorDash, its Online Ordering Starter package costs nothing a month. Dedicated platforms like ChowNow and Owner.com cost more but add a branded app, marketing and loyalty.
Is there a free online ordering system for restaurants?
Yes, in the sense of no monthly fee. DoorDash Online Ordering Starter and Square Online Free charge no subscription; you pay card processing on each order, about 3.3% plus $0.30. GloriaFood, the best-known free option, stopped taking new restaurants in 2025 and shuts down on April 30, 2027.
How much does an online ordering system cost?
From $0 to about $500 a month, plus card processing of roughly 2.9% to 3.5% per order. On $10,000 a month of online sales that is about $400 to $900 a month in total, against about $2,500 at a 25% app commission.
Do I still need DoorDash or Uber Eats if I have my own ordering?
Usually yes, for now. The apps bring new customers who do not know you yet. Your own ordering is for the customers who already do: regulars, people who find you on Google, and anyone who sees your link on a receipt or bag.
Can customers order from my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Google shows an Order online button on your profile. You can choose which provider it sends people to, so set it to your own ordering page rather than an app that charges you commission.
How do I get customers to order direct?
Put the order link everywhere you control: your Google Business Profile, website header, Instagram bio, receipts, bags and table QR codes. Many restaurants also offer a small first-order discount on their own site, which still costs less than an app commission.
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