Delivery app · platform roundup

Best online ordering systems for restaurants.

The best online ordering system depends on what you value: commission-free direct ordering, POS integration, or enterprise scale. We compare the leading options honestly — Ordering.co, ChowNow, Toast, Square, Olo and more — and show where each one fits, so you can choose with confidence.

Honest comparison What to look for Best fit by need
SHORTLIST Top pick
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Quick answer

The best online ordering systems for restaurants include Ordering.co, ChowNow, Toast, Square Online, Olo and SpotOn. The right one depends on whether you want commission-free direct ordering, tight POS integration, or enterprise scale. For commission-free, fully white-label ordering with your own apps, delivery and room to grow into a marketplace, Ordering.co is our top pick.

First, the criteria

What separates a great ordering system from an expensive one

Before the shortlist, here's what actually matters when you compare platforms.

Commission model

The #1 factor. Per-order commission (like the apps), flat monthly, or zero. It compounds on every order.

Own your customer data

Non-negotiable. If the platform keeps your customers' emails and order history, walk away.

Branding & apps

Your colors and your own native apps — not a generic listing or a marketplace skin.

POS integration

Orders should flow into your POS without a tablet and manual re-entry — fewer errors, faster service.

Delivery options

Own drivers, third-party couriers, or both — so you control fulfilment and cost.

Marketing & loyalty

The features that turn a first order into a regular: loyalty, promotions, email/SMS and push.

Want a system that ticks all six? See Ordering.co live.

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The shortlist

Best online ordering systems, compared

A fair look at the leading platforms and where each one is the right call.

SystemBest forModel
Ordering.co Top pickCommission-free, white-label ordering with your own apps, delivery and room to scale into a marketplaceSubscription · 0% commission
ChowNowIndependents wanting commission-free direct ordering plus marketing, with wide POS integrationsSubscription · 0% commission
ToastRestaurants that want POS and ordering as one tightly-integrated systemPOS subscription (Toast-only)
Square OnlineSmall restaurants starting out who already use SquareFree + payment processing
OloLarge chains and enterprise brands needing scale and deep integrationsEnterprise pricing
SpotOnOperators wanting POS plus commission-free ordering in one packageSubscription
GloriaFoodWas a popular free option — now being discontinued, so users are migrating elsewhereFree (winding down)
Reading the list: there's no single "best" for everyone. If you're tied to one POS, Toast or SpotOn make sense; if you're tiny and on Square, Square Online is easy; for enterprise, Olo. But if you want to stay commission-free, own your brand and data, run your own apps and delivery, and keep the option to scale into a full marketplace, Ordering.co is the pick that doesn't box you in.

Not sure which fits your restaurant? We'll show you, honestly, in one call.

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How to choose

Matching the system to your restaurant

Start with the question that decides the most money: commission. Per-order fees compound brutally, so for any volume, a commission-free platform usually wins on margin. Next, check data ownership and branding — these decide whether you're building your own business or someone else's.

Then match the rest to your situation. A single café on Square may be happiest with Square Online. A 50-location chain needs Olo-grade scale. But a restaurant or group that wants to own ordering end-to-end — site, apps, delivery, marketing, and the freedom to grow into a marketplace — is exactly where Ordering.co fits, commission-free and fully white-label.

Migrating from GloriaFood? With it winding down, Ordering.co is a natural destination — commission-free ordering, your own apps, and a guided migration so you don't lose momentum.

Ready to pick a system you won't outgrow? Start with a demo.

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FAQ

Common questions about online ordering systems

What is the best online ordering system for restaurants?
It depends on your needs. Leading options include Ordering.co, ChowNow, Toast, Square Online, Olo and SpotOn. For commission-free, white-label ordering with your own apps, delivery and room to scale, Ordering.co is our top pick.
What's the best commission-free online ordering system?
Commission-free options include Ordering.co, ChowNow and SpotOn. Ordering.co stands out if you also want a fully branded experience, your own native apps, delivery management, and the ability to grow into a multi-vendor marketplace.
Should I use a marketplace or my own ordering system?
Use marketplaces like Uber Eats or DoorDash for discovery if you want, but push regulars to your own system. Direct ordering avoids 15–30% commissions and keeps the customer relationship and data with you.
What should I look for in an online ordering system?
Commission model, data ownership, branding and your own apps, POS integration, delivery options, and built-in marketing and loyalty. Those six decide whether a system grows your business or quietly taxes it.
Is there a free online ordering system for restaurants?
Square Online has a genuinely free tier (you pay payment processing), and GloriaFood was a popular free option but is being discontinued. Free tiers suit testing; for serious direct-ordering with branding and apps, a commission-free platform like Ordering.co is usually the better long-term call.
Why choose Ordering.co?
It's commission-free and fully white-label: your branded website and native apps, split payments, delivery (own drivers or couriers), and marketing and loyalty — with the option to scale from a single restaurant to a multi-vendor marketplace, all on one platform.
Let's talk

See why Ordering.co tops the list

Tell us about your restaurant. We'll show the platform live — commission-free ordering, your own apps, delivery and marketing — and compare it honestly against whatever you're considering.

  • Commission-free & fully white-label
  • Your own apps, delivery & loyalty
  • Scale from one restaurant to a marketplace

Get a demo

Commission-free. Pricing is a conversation, not a paywall.

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