Due to the stay-at-home order enacted by Governor DeWine, dining out has been limited to takeout or delivery only. Online ordering options, in addition to gift cards, are being utilized by many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic to help entrepreneurs generate revenue. Online ordering also offers a simple way for customers to browse the menu and order from a mobile device or computer.
While there are many apps, programs, and points of sale available to help restaurants with online ordering, they can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars. Given the current circumstances, most entrepreneurs are trying to limit overhead costs as much as possible, and luckily, many e-commerce sites are doing their part to help. Here are eight affordable online ordering solutions for restaurants.
| Name | Ease of Setup | Price (per location) | Notes |
| GloriaFood | Easy | Free; offers several optional paid services that can be useful but not necessary | Integrates ordering into current website and Facebook; can use merchant app or site to view orders |
| Menufy | Easy | Free; 2.5% + $0.30 processing fee/transaction; $1.50 customer order fee | Businesses can pay the $1.50 fee rather than charging customers |
| Ecwid | Easy | Free; offers paid plans $15-$99/month (free plan includes 10 items listed on menu; $15 plan includes 100) | Online ordering and POS tools free through 2020; can integrate into current website |
| The Ordering App | Easy | Free; 1.5% processing fee/transaction | Waiving 1.5% processing fee through July 2020; customers charged 45¢/order; can integrate into current site |
| Square for Restaurants | Easy-Intermediate | Free for 30 days; $60/month; 2.6% + 10¢ processing fee per transaction | Setup can be a bit confusing, but has a good FAQ. |
| RestoLabs | Easy | Free 30 day trial; $45-$85/month depending on plan; $99 setup fee | Premium ($85/mo) offers Facebook ordering; no special software or POS needed |
| Linga | Intermediate | 6 months free online ordering for restaurants; $19.99-$109.99/month depending on plan; add-ons additional | POS terminal required; offering free online ordering for 6 months due to COVID-19 |
