Why Your Restaurant Ordering System Can Make or Break Your Business
Let’s be honest – choosing the right online food ordering system for your restaurant in 2025 isn’t just an operational decision; it’s a make-or-break factor for your bottom line.
With dine-in habits permanently altered and digital ordering becoming the norm, the system you choose affects everything from your profit margins to customer loyalty. After working with thousands of restaurants, we’ve seen firsthand how the right ordering system can transform a struggling restaurant into a thriving business.
Not all online ordering systems are created equal, though. Some excel at specific restaurant types, others offer unique features, and pricing models vary significantly. We’ve cut through the noise to bring you the definitive ranking of the top 10 systems available in 2025.
10 Best Online Food Ordering Systems for Restaurants
1. Deonde
Best for: All-in-one restaurant management and online ordering with the lowest commission rates
Key Features:
- Complete branded online ordering websites and mobile apps
- Built-in loyalty program and marketing tools
- Comprehensive delivery management system
- Multi-location support with a centralized dashboard
- Advanced inventory management
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Seamless POS integration
- White-label solution with full brand customization
Pricing: Monthly subscription starting at $25/month with no commission fees on orders; 30-day free trial available.
Deonde takes the top spot because it offers the most comprehensive solution with the lowest commission structure. Unlike other platforms that charge per-order fees, Deonde’s transparent monthly subscription model ensures your profits don’t shrink as your online orders grow.
What truly sets Deonde apart is their delivery management system that helps restaurants run their own delivery fleet efficiently – a crucial advantage in 2025’s delivery-centric marketplace. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it accessible even for less tech-savvy restaurant owners, and their 24/7 support ensures help is always available.
We switched to Deonde after calculating that we were paying over $8,000 monthly in third-party commissions,” shares Maria, who owns a Mexican restaurant chain. “Now we pay a fraction of that amount while keeping complete control of our customer relationships and data.
2. Toast
Best for: Full-service restaurants needing integrated POS and online ordering
Key Features:
- Combined POS and online ordering system
- Kitchen display integration
- Comprehensive menu management
- Toast Takeout app for discovery
- Customizable digital receipts
- Customer feedback collection
- Multi-location management
- Extensive hardware options
Pricing: POS hardware costs plus monthly subscription $69/month
Toast earned the second spot by offering tight integration between their popular POS system and online ordering functionality. This seamless connection eliminates the double-entry problems that plague many restaurants using separate systems. Their robust kitchen display integration ensures orders flow smoothly from customers to the kitchen.
The main drawbacks are the higher initial hardware costs and the need to use Toast’s payment processing, which may have higher fees than some alternatives. That said, for restaurants already using Toast POS, their online ordering is a natural extension.
3. Square for Restaurants
Best for: Small to medium restaurants seeking simplicity and affordability
Key Features:
- Free basic POS system
- Integrated online ordering with no monthly fees
- Table Management
- QR code ordering option
- Kitchen display system integration
- Pickup and delivery management
- Real-time menu updates
- Extensive app marketplace for extensions
Pricing: Monthly subscription starting $29/month plus processing fees typically 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction
Square’s strength lies in its simplicity and value for smaller operations. The system is remarkably intuitive, and the free entry-level tier makes it accessible to restaurants just starting with online ordering. Their commission-free approach to online ordering means you keep more of each sale.
The platform lacks advanced features in higher-ranked systems, particularly in delivery management and marketing. However, Square delivers tremendous value for straightforward online ordering needs, especially for restaurants with tighter budgets.
4. UrbanPiper
Best for: Restaurants and food businesses seeking to streamline online order management across multiple delivery platforms and POS systems.
Key Features:
- Centralized management of multiple delivery platforms
- Single tablet solution for all online orders
- Automated menu syndication across platforms
- Direct integration with major POS systems
- Real-time order tracking
- Consolidated reporting and analytics
- Customer data unification across channels
- Automated inventory management
Pricing: Monthly subscription starting at $79/month per location plus reduced marketplace commissions (varies by integration partner)
UrbanPiper specializes in helping restaurants streamline operations across multiple delivery marketplaces through a unified management system. Their platform excels at reducing the complexity of handling orders from various sources, eliminating the need for multiple tablets and manual order entry.
What makes UrbanPiper particularly valuable is their ability to automatically sync menu changes across all connected platforms, ensuring consistency and reducing administrative work. Their system integrates with major POS providers to ensure smooth order flow directly to kitchen systems.
5. Olo
Best for: Multi-location chains and enterprise restaurant operations
Key Features:
- Enterprise-level ordering platform
- Robust multi-location management
- Direct delivery marketplace integration
- Extensive API capabilities
- Sophisticated data analytics
- Menu syndication across platforms
- Centralized menu management
- Dispatch delivery network
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing; typically includes platform fee plus per-transaction costs
Olo dominates the enterprise restaurant space with its robust platform designed specifically for chains with multiple locations. Their system excels at standardizing the digital ordering experience across numerous restaurants while allowing location-specific customizations.
The platform’s sophisticated dispatch network helps large chains manage delivery efficiently, though it doesn’t offer the same level of owned-delivery support as Deonde. The main drawback is that Olo is generally too complex and expensive for independent restaurants or small chains, limiting its broader appeal.
6. ChowNow
Best for: Restaurants wanting commission-free online ordering with minimal setup complexity
Key Features:
- Commission-free ordering
- Branded mobile apps
- Website ordering widgets
- Marketing tools and automated campaigns
- POS integration options
- Order throttling during peak times
- New customer acquisition tools
- Restaurant discovery marketplace
Pricing: Monthly subscription starting at $199/month
Additional Fees:
- $119-$499 setup fee
- 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction
- $99 annual developer fee paid directly to Apple for Branded Mobile Apps
- $250-$375 for printer
- $3.99/order for delivery orders with ChowNow’s Flex Delivery
ChowNow positioning as a commission-free alternative to the major delivery marketplaces has earned them a loyal following. Their straightforward approach focuses on helping restaurants capture direct orders without the hefty fees associated with third-party platforms.
Their marketing tools are particularly strong, helping restaurants drive customers to their direct ordering channels. However, they lack the comprehensive restaurant management features of higher-ranked systems, functioning primarily as an ordering layer rather than a complete solution.
7. Lunchbox
Best for: Trendy restaurants and chains focused on brand experience and marketing
Key Features:
- Highly customizable branding
- Integrated loyalty and rewards
- Marketing automation tools
- Customer relationship management
- Multi-channel ordering (web, app, kiosk)
- Third-party delivery integration
- Advanced promotional engine
- Customer data analytics
Lunchbox has made a name for itself by focusing on helping restaurants create distinctive digital brand experiences. Their platform excels at marketing and loyalty features, helping restaurants convert occasional customers into regulars.
The system is particularly popular with trendy fast-casual concepts and emerging chains. The main limitations are their higher price point and less robust operational features compared to more comprehensive systems like Deonde or Toast.
8. Flipdish
Best for: International restaurants and those needing multi-language support
Key Features:
- International payment support
- Multi-language capabilities
- White-label mobile apps
- QR code table ordering
- Kiosk ordering option
- Integrated loyalty program
- Marketing automation tools
- Customer engagement features
Pricing: Monthly subscription starting around $59/month plus transaction fee typically 1.4% + 10p
Flipdish stands out for its strong international capabilities, supporting multiple languages and payment methods that many U.S.-focused systems lack. This makes them particularly valuable for restaurants in diverse communities or those with international locations.
Their QR code ordering and kiosk options provide flexibility for different service models. The main drawback is their transaction fee model, which can become expensive as order volume grows compared to flat-fee systems like Deonde.
9. MenuDrive
Best for: Small to medium restaurants focused primarily on pickup orders
Key Features:
- Streamlined online ordering
- Integrated marketing tools
- Customer database building
- Email marketing automation
- Simple menu management
- POS integration options
- Promotional tools and coupons
- Basic analytics dashboard
Pricing: one-time setup fee starting at $149.00
MenuDrive offers a straightforward online ordering solution that’s particularly well-suited for restaurants focusing on pickup rather than delivery. Their platform is among the easiest to set up, making it accessible for restaurants with limited technical resources.
Their marketing tools are surprisingly robust for their price point, helping restaurants build a customer database and drive repeat orders. The main limitations are less sophisticated delivery management and fewer advanced features than higher-ranked systems.
10. GloriaFood
Best for: Budget-conscious restaurants just starting with online ordering
Key Features:
- Free basic online ordering
- Website widget integration
- Facebook page ordering
- Simple menu management
- Basic promotional tools
- SMS order notifications
- Google ordering integration
- Mobile-responsive ordering pages
Pricing: Free basic plan; premium features starting at $29/month plus payment processing fees
GloriaFood rounds out our list by offering the most accessible entry point for restaurants just beginning their online ordering journey. Their free plan includes core ordering functionality, allowing restaurants to start accepting online orders with zero upfront investment.
While it lacks the advanced features and comprehensive support of premium systems, its platform is remarkably capable for the price. The system is best suited for small operations or restaurants testing online ordering before committing to a more robust solution.
How to Choose the Right Online Ordering System for Your Restaurant
After helping thousands of restaurants implement online ordering systems, we’ve developed a straightforward framework to guide your decision:
1. Analyze Your Current Operations
Start by understanding your specific needs:
- Order volume and typical peak times
- Delivery radius and geography
- Technical capabilities of your staff
- Existing POS and kitchen systems
- Marketing priorities and customer base
2. Calculate the True Cost of Each System
Look beyond the advertised monthly fee:
- Setup fees and hardware costs
- Per-transaction fees and payment processing rates
- Commission structures on orders
- Contract length and cancellation terms
- Integration costs with existing systems
3. Prioritize These Critical Features
Based on our experience, these factors most directly impact success:
- Commission structure (flat fee vs. percentage)
- Delivery management capabilities
- POS and kitchen integration
- Customer data ownership
- Marketing and loyalty tools
- Mobile app availability
- Customization options
We initially chose based on the lowest monthly fee, but that system cost us much more in the long run due to high per-order fees and poor integration with our kitchen, explains Robert, a Deonde client who owns several pizza restaurants. When we switched to a comprehensive system with predictable costs, our online ordering profitability improved dramatically.
Why Restaurants Are Migrating to Flat-Fee Models in 2025
The clearest trend we’re seeing in 2025 is the mass migration away from percentage-based commission models toward flat monthly fees. As online ordering has become the primary revenue channel for many restaurants, percentage-based fees have become increasingly unsustainable.
A restaurant that handles $20,000 in monthly online orders pays around $6,000 in commissions, with a typical 30% third-party marketplace fee. Even “lower” commission systems charging 10% would cost $2,000 monthly. In contrast, flat-fee systems like Deonde cost a fraction of that amount regardless of order volume.
This math explains why restaurant management systems with predictable pricing are seeing the fastest growth in 2025.
The Future: Where Restaurant Ordering Is Headed
As we look beyond 2025, several emerging trends will shape the next generation of restaurant ordering systems:
- AI-powered dynamic menu optimization will automatically adjust pricing and item availability based on ingredients, time of day, and demand patterns
- Voice ordering integration will become standard as smart speakers and voice assistants continue to penetrate homes
- Augmented reality presentations will allow customers to visualize dishes before ordering
- Advanced predictive analytics will forecast ordering patterns with remarkable precision, helping with inventory and staffing
- Hyper-personalization engines will create unique menu recommendations based on individual preferences and ordering history
The restaurant business trends clearly show that restaurants investing in technology now will be best positioned to capitalize on these innovations.
Final Verdict: Which System Is Right for Your Restaurant?
After thoroughly evaluating the top systems available in 2025, our recommendations are:
- For most independent restaurants and small chains: Deonde offers the most comprehensive solution with the best economics through its flat-fee model and owned-delivery support.
- For restaurants already using Toast POS: Toast Online Ordering provides the tightest integration and simplest workflow.
- For smallest operations with limited budgets: Square for Restaurants offers the most accessible entry point with their free tier.
- For large enterprise chains, Olo remains the gold standard despite its higher costs.
Remember that the right online ordering system isn’t just a technical tool – it’s now the primary way customers experience your restaurant. Choose a system that processes orders efficiently and strengthens your brand, builds customer loyalty, and contributes directly to your bottom line.
Want to explore how Deonde can transform your restaurant’s online ordering experience? Start your 30-day free trial today and see the difference a truly comprehensive system makes.
