Like a lot of things in today’s restaurant industry, the process of ordering food has changed. Modern eaters crave the ability to place in-house, takeout, and delivery orders through mobile apps or restaurant websites – and restaurant owners that can’t serve their needs get left behind. A powerful online ordering experience is essential for customer satisfaction in 2024’s restaurant landscape, and acts as both a marketing tool and a means to strengthen revenue through delivery tools. With so many online ordering solutions available, though, how can you choose?
To get your restaurant’s online presence ready for digital food delivery, the Otter team has put together a list of the best online ordering platforms for restaurant owners here. These digital tools provide a user-friendly method of payment processing, mobile ordering, and online menu development for your team, enhancing your restaurant’s customer experience over the web. They also provide key functionality for upgrading your business’s existing ordering process through app-based delivery services, helping you reach new customers ASAP.
The platforms featured on this list, in addition to being valuable point of sale (POS) systems in their own right, integrate with top ordering apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, providing no-hassle support over the most profitable delivery zones in your area. You’ll also find first-party and add-on tools for inventory management, digital menu item editing, eater loyalty programs, and more, so you can streamline every part of your existing restaurant service. For large and small businesses alike, this countdown is essential for online ordering success!
How do we choose the best online ordering systems for restaurants?
Otter’s own POS system, Otter POS, is one of the restaurant industry’s top players in online ordering integration for business owners. As such, we don’t just service a diverse array of businesses across the globe – we work (and connect) with the restaurant world’s most innovative ordering tools. Through long-held relationships with digital order platforms like Square and Toast, we’ve gained a detailed understanding of how online pricing, checkouts, and payment options impact customer reviews – and revenue – for our clients.
Using this knowledge as a foundation, we’ve weighed each system shown in this countdown against rigorous evaluation criteria to give you the most informed judgment possible. In addition to considering each system’s ability to fulfill online orders in real time, we’ve also looked at how these platforms utilize customer data, integrate with social media, and allow for customizable branding. To ensure you’re earning the most profit, you’ll find information for every system’s commission fees, with commission-free solutions highlighted, as well.
Customer support availability has been a major element of our assessments, too – online ordering adds a new requirement for speed that restaurant staff have to keep up with, so a good set of help resources provided during and beyond service is necessary. By understanding which digital ordering system is ideal for your business’s needs, you can integrate direct links to them in your restaurant’s webpage, giving eaters easy access to your menu wherever they are. Combine these recommendations with great cooking to make online ordering work for you!
Ultimate 5 Online Ordering Systems
#5: MenuDrive
MenuDrive is a marketing-focused online ordering platform that touts a wide range of features for helping restaurant owners minimize promotional costs over delivery apps. The tool provides online ordering templates that users can customize with their own business’s branding, and offers various features for marketing emails, in-app loyalty programs, personalized QR codes, and more. The MenuDrive platform’s built-in analysis solutions also let restaurateurs understand the impact of their digital marketing, showing detailed breakdowns of eater engagement metrics.
Pros:
- Extremely extensive promotional features, helping users reach more customers
- Focus on customization and personalization, maintaining restaurants’ own branding
- Initial + monthly pricing includes all first-party solutions – no add-on fees necessary
- Full integration with iOS/Android devices – no additional hardware required (or offered)
- Simple onboarding procedure, and generally well-regarded user experience
Cons:
- Most features are based around marketing exclusively, limiting general order value
- High initial startup costs, especially for smaller/quick-service restaurants
- Limited integration with users’ existing POS technology, impacting efficiency
- No in-person ordering functionality – all solutions are based around online delivery
- Poor customer support capabilities – no 24/7 hotline, and documentation is low
Pricing: MenuDrive’s full platform, complete with unlimited access to all built-in features, has a $149 upfront cost and recurring fees of $149/month.
Recommendation: For restaurant owners who prioritize a heavily-personalized marketing presence over their digital ordering platform, MenuDrive is a good choice. The platform’s emphasis on user branding lets restaurateurs easily build and distribute promotional material that looks like it was made from scratch, simplifying many aspects of modern order marketing. Users seeking extensive functionality beyond marketing may find MenuDrive’s feature list lacking, though, and smaller or independent restaurants will face high recurring costs.
#4: Owner
Owner positions itself as an online-first suite of digital restaurant tools and distributes several multi-faceted solutions under a single monthly charge. The platform aims to speed up business owners’ growth by helping them reach more eaters in their area through a first-party delivery storefront (similar to Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.). Alongside a core selection of online ordering features, Owner also allows restaurateurs to build and deploy their website and mobile application through a host of AI-driven software tools.
Pros:
- 24/7, USA-based customer support hotline and documentation resources available
- No add-on or initial upfront costs required, with all first-party features included
- Platform does not require exclusivity, allowing for some software/hardware integration
- Additional digital restaurant services provided – website builder, loyalty programs, etc.
- Various solutions are AI-driven or otherwise automated, freeing up service time for staff
Cons:
- Very high recurring fees, heavily limiting the revenue of small/quick-service eateries
- Customers are charged 5% commission fees on every digital sale, paid directly to Order
- Platform is a competitor to other top delivery apps, and doesn’t integrate with them
- User support quality is often contested, with slow response times and vague answers
- Platform’s UI isn’t seamless and requires a significant learning curve during onboarding
Pricing: Owner charges $499/month for unlimited access to all first-party features.
Recommendation: Owner’s dedication to providing a vast array of solutions in one package, with no add-on or upfront costs, is admirable in today’s restaurant industry, and helps it stand out from many competitors. Restaurateurs seeking additional online branding opportunities will also find plenty of value in Owner’s AI-based website and app builders. This functionality comes at a significant cost, though – with monthly fees reaching nearly $500, Owner is a difficult proposition for restaurants that don’t have significant resources behind them.
#3: BentoBox
BentoBox offers one of the largest digital restaurant feature collections in the industry, with functionality for online marketing, ecommerce storefronts, in-house order management, and more. Geared exclusively towards a restaurant-based clientele, BentoBox’s service is offered through both proprietary hardware, connectivity with the Clover POS platform, and an array of additional order devices. The system is adaptable to various different forms and sizes of restaurant, supporting an extremely diverse user base.
Pros:
- Wide range of digital features for online ordering, promotions, management, and more
- Complete integration with Clover POS and other leading point-of-sale platforms
- Add-on hardware (kitchen display systems, touchscreen kiosks, etc.) available
- High adaptivity to many different restaurant types and business scales
- Tools provide value across digital ordering and in-house service with no additional fees
Cons:
- Pricing model is entirely quote-based, and has been criticized as being vague
- Feature set is not all-in-one – several pieces of hardware are necessary for full service
- Platform’s functionality can be overwhelming, especially for new team members
- Customer support is limited – hotline hours are not 24/7, potentially decreasing value
- Solution development is inconsistent – some tools are more thorough than others
Pricing: All BentoBox pricing is quote-based. Various feature packages, including customizable ones, are offered upon a restaurant evaluation.
Recommendation: As a major player in the digital restaurant space that services many different kinds of businesses, BentoBox is common throughout modern kitchens. The platform’s front- and back-of-house functionality is highly customizable, and allows users to engage with online ordering however they choose. A vague pricing model harms long-term planning, though, and for most restaurants, many BentoBox features are redundant. Lacking customer support capabilities also prevent users from consistently relying on the platform’s development team.
#2: PopMenu
PopMenu’s ordering platform focuses on a selection of innovative, AI-driven solutions made to increase restaurant revenue. Alongside a digital promotional suite, helping clients develop their business’s branding on the web and over delivery apps, PopMenu also includes tools for performance analysis and front-of-house activities. Through a modular range of advanced features and third-party integrations, users can customize the PopMenu ecosystem to their own needs, and gain unique value for menu photography, review responses, and more.
Pros:
- Entirely restaurant-focused business, with unique features for several eatery types
- High selection of third-party integrations (for top delivery apps, hardware, etc.) offered
- Various first-party add-ons available for specific functionality, as needed by clients
- Emphasis on automated, AI-based tools, streamlining restaurant service and orders
- Platform includes a complete digital marketplace that can be fully-customized by users
Cons:
- Issues with customer data security are common, leading to privacy conflicts
- Eaters are presented with an additional $1 charge upon ordering, paid to PopMenu
- Direct customer support channels are limited during peak restaurant service hours
- Onboarding isn’t seamless – regular demo sessions are needed for new team members
- Quote-based pricing prevents long-term business planning and growth opportunities
Pricing: Popmenu’s pricing is entirely quote-based – upfront and processing fees are provided following a business evaluation.
Recommendation: Of all the online ordering systems featured in this list, PopMenu places the greatest emphasis on automation and AI, significantly reducing the amount of time restaurant owners spend completing day-to-day processes. The platform’s thorough digital marketing tools are also beneficial to restaurateurs seeking a greater digital presence. PopMenu has been criticized often for a lack of transparency, though, presenting potential users with high recurring fees for its basic solution set. Privacy issues and additional order costs further limit value.
#1: Otter
The Otter suite’s all-in-one array of cloud-based ordering solutions simplifies and enhances digital restaurant sales throughout your entire business. An interconnected package of tools for ecommerce and in-house service keeps your team synchronized, providing critical benefits to efficiency and revenue. Otter’s extensive apps – such as AI Marketing and commission-free Online Ordering websites – let restaurateurs diversify their ordering channels and revenue streams, increasing profit on every order served.
Pros:
- All-in-one system that consolidates everything your business needs into a single screen
- User-friendly POS functionality that makes training staff easy and accessible
- Seamless software updates, ensuring stability, accessibility, and continuous innovation
- The only true omnichannel POS made with direct, all-in-one integrations and apps
- Multi-location, multi-channel management for menus, orders, and more from one platform
- Multi-channel customer loyalty – gain customer insights to better understand their preferences and send promotions to encourage repeat purchases
- SEO-optimized online ordering website designed for your business, cutting out 3rd party commissions and allowing customers to order directly from you
- 24/7 customer support, live alerts, and defect management to solve issues in real-time
Cons:
- Platform focuses on digital services, with few tools for physical menus
- Basic functionality for staff management
Pricing: POS features range from $19/mo (with 3.19% + 15¢ per order) to $59/mo (with 2.99% + 30¢ per order). Various add-ons are available from $10/ to $99/month. Learn more here.
Recommendation: Alongside a complete suite of first-party online ordering solutions, the Otter ecosystem’s all-in-one platform heightens value for restaurants in both front- and back-of-house capacities. Otter doesn’t just help restaurateurs get started on leading online delivery apps – it supports them constantly during service and beyond, providing critical information for making informed business decisions and reducing wait times throughout the order process. The platform’s commission-free ordering tools are ideal for growing profit and customers.
As a restaurant owner, why choose Otter?
When considering which online ordering platform is best for your restaurant’s unique needs, be sure to choose a tool that’s both online-native and made specifically for restaurants. Otter fulfills both of those criteria – it’s a full-featured digital ecosystem for enhancing and simplifying orders across your restaurant’s entire workflow. The Otter POS platform is your all-in-one hub for creating, updating, and taking orders from digital menus, no matter where they’re placed, so your team is always prepared to serve excellent food.
Unlike many other online restaurant platforms, Otter’s entire digital system is interlinked, and data across each app flows throughout your POS seamlessly. That means you’re always serving up-to-date menus, cataloging and fulfilling orders ASAP, and gaining valuable insight on every sale. With this information, you gain critical knowledge on how to change and refine your restaurant’s processes, keeping your business in touch with customer tastes and preferences.
Don’t forget to take Otter’s additional functionality into account, too. Alongside a 24/7 support team, keeping you covered before, after, and during service, Otter’s pricing packages are also fully-transparent, letting you plan for your business’s long-term development. Our first-party online ordering platform is commission-free, so your customers can order directly from a website Otter will make for you and allow you to maximize the profit you earn whenever a digital sale is made. No matter what kind of restaurant you operate, the Otter system has the critical online and in-store ordering processes you need to grow.
Online Ordering for Restaurant Owner FAQs
Doesn’t every modern restaurant POS offer online ordering integration, these days?
Unfortunately not! Many of today’s top restaurant POS systems – even quite popular ones – are optimized for in-house service. Restaurants that use these platforms typically can only access online ordering functionality through additional pieces of third-party add-on hardware.
Is online ordering for restaurants limited to third-party delivery apps?
Absolutely not! Your restaurant can use online ordering for in-house orders, curbside pickup, traditional take-out, and much more. Though many online ordering systems are specialized for today’s top delivery apps, restaurateurs are never limited to third-party tools when using them.
Are eaters required to pay with any specific method when using online ordering?
Typically not – most online ordering systems built for restaurants allow a variety of different payment methods, like credit card, debit card, or cash payments. Third-party delivery apps usually are limited to digital payment methods exclusively, though.
How can I integrate online ordering into my restaurant’s website design?
When working with your website builder, provide them with the storefront link generated by your online ordering system. (Third-party delivery apps will use their own links.) Many popular website-building platforms, like Wordpress, contain buttons or templates for online ordering.
What are some questions that I can ask my online ordering system provider?
When inquiring about an online ordering platform for your restaurant, you’ll typically be speaking to the chosen provider’s Sales team, who will be more than happy to discuss their product in greater detail. Gain a deep understanding of your online ordering tool with questions like these:
- Does your system offer first-party online ordering, or is a third-party app required?
- What unique features does your online ordering system have over its competitors?
- Why should I use your system instead of partnering with a third-party app myself?
- Can your online ordering system be connected with my restaurant’s website?
- What payment methods does your online ordering system accept?
- How does your online ordering system collect and utilize customer data?
- How much hardware will my restaurant need to access your online ordering platform?
Boost profit across your entire restaurant with online ordering!
Online ordering might be a new frontier in the restaurant landscape, but, with the right solutions by your side, it can also be a critical new avenue for higher profits. Follow the recommendations above to find out the best online ordering system for your restaurant business, and, alongside your team’s insight, incorporate it into your daily activities for faster, easier sales. An excellent online ordering platform isn’t just an asset for restaurant success – it’s a key to unlocking revenue and customers throughout your digital community.
Ready to modernize the way you process orders and payments? Book a demo with Otter today.
