Free online ordering for restaurants: what it really costs

“Free” ordering systems always make money somewhere, usually per-order fees passed to your guests, ads, or by owning your customer. Town is genuinely low-fee and transparent: from $300/mo with 0% commission, with free migration.

Start selling Town vs GloriaFood

town.club/admin/orders

How “free” ordering tools actually make money

If a company gives away online ordering, it has to earn somewhere. Common trade-offs:

Per-order fees on your guests. A surcharge added at checkout, which raises your prices and shrinks orders.

Ads and upsells. Your ordering page becomes a place to market other things, or you're pushed to paid tiers for the features you actually need.

They own your customers. The data and the relationship stay with the platform, not you.

Thin support and SEO. When something breaks on a busy Friday, there's often no one to call.

A popular free option is going away

GloriaFood, one of the best-known free ordering tools, has closed new signups and is shutting the service down (ending April 30, 2027). If you're on a free tool, it's worth moving to something you own before you're forced to. Best GloriaFood alternative (2026).

Low-fee beats free when you do the math

Town isn't free, and that's the point, a low, predictable fee buys you a custom site you own, real online ordering into your POS, listings synced across 53 platforms, AI marketing, and real support. A flat $300/mo, 0% commission, and no contract.

Start selling

Questions

Is there a truly free online ordering system for restaurants?

Some tools advertise free ordering, but they make money somewhere, usually per-order fees passed to your guests, ads on your page, upsells, or by owning your customer data. GloriaFood, a popular free option, is also being shut down (signups closed, service ending April 30, 2027).

So what does “free” really cost me?

Often more than a low, predictable fee. Per-order surcharges, limited features, weak SEO, no real support, and no ownership of your customers can cost far more over a year than a low monthly plan.

How is Town different?

Town is genuinely low-fee and transparent: a flat $300/mo with 0% commission, with free migration, and you own your site and your customers.

Can you move me off a free tool?

Yes. Migration tools bring your menu, site and listings across, so switching is straightforward.

Keep exploring

Make the switch

›

Own it for a fraction of what “free” costs

Low-fee ordering, a custom site, and real support, $300/mo.

Start selling Contact sales