Free Restaurant Website vs Paid: Honest Comparison for Restaurant Owners
If you own a restaurant, you have probably wondered whether a free restaurant website is enough to get online orders, or if you should invest in a paid plan. The answer depends on your order volume, growth goals, and the features that matter most to your business. In this honest comparison, we break down exactly what you get with a free restaurant website versus a paid plan so you can make the right decision for your restaurant.
What a Free Restaurant Website Includes
At MenuWebsites.com, a free restaurant website means exactly that — zero dollars per month. No setup fees. No hidden charges. You get a professionally designed, mobile-friendly restaurant website with complete online ordering capabilities. Your customers can browse your full menu with photos and descriptions, place pickup or delivery orders, and pay securely through Stripe processing.
The free plan includes free domain registration, free web hosting with SSL security, and unlimited customer data and reporting. You receive instant order notifications through email, SMS, tablet, and printer. We also include basic SEO optimization so your restaurant appears in local search results, plus social media management for Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Yelp.
The tradeoff with the free plan is a 10% commission on every order you process through the platform. For delivery orders, there is a flat $8 fee — the restaurant pays $3.99 and the customer pays $3.99 — using DoorDash drivers for fulfillment. Credit card processing through Stripe is 2.99% plus 30 cents per transaction with daily payouts to your bank account.
What a Paid Restaurant Website Adds
Our Premium plan at $199 per month with a one-time $499 setup fee upgrades your restaurant in several important ways. The biggest difference is 0% commission — you keep 100% of every single order. If your restaurant processes $10,000 in monthly online orders, the free plan would cost $1,000 in commissions while Premium costs just $199. That saves you $801 every month or $9,612 per year.
Premium also includes dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android so customers can order from your own branded app. You get a professional email address at your restaurant domain, automated email and SMS marketing campaigns, enhanced SEO optimization, and priority support. The convenience fee option lets you pass along a $1.99 fee to customers to offset processing costs.
How We Build Your Restaurant Website
A clear process helps your restaurant move from offline menu to online ordering without confusing technical work. First, send your restaurant details — share your logo, menu, food photos, business hours, location, delivery zones, and ordering preferences. Second, we design your website around your restaurant brand, menu categories, calls to action, and mobile ordering experience.
Third, approve edits and ordering — review menu items, pricing, pickup and delivery settings, and marketing sections before launch. Finally, launch and grow — go live with SEO basics, analytics, direct ordering tools, and support for Google Ads or social media marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free restaurant website really free?
Yes. Our Free plan costs $0 per month with no setup fees. The only cost is a 10% commission on orders you process. There is no contract and you can cancel anytime.
Can I upgrade from Free to Premium later?
Yes, you can upgrade at any time. The $499 setup fee applies when you upgrade, but you keep your existing website, menu, and customer data.
How does the DoorDash delivery integration work?
When a customer places a delivery order on your website, a DoorDash driver is dispatched to pick up and deliver the food. You pay a flat $3.99 per delivery and the customer pays $3.99.
Which plan is right for my restaurant?
Choose Free if your monthly online order volume is under $2,000. Choose Premium if your order volume is over $2,000 — the fixed $199 monthly fee saves you money compared to paying 10% commission. See our pricing plans or learn how it works. Start your free restaurant website today.