Digital menus for restaurants: a complete, no-nonsense guide
Digital menus replaced sticky laminated cards for good reason: they're cheaper to run, always current, and let you change prices instantly. Here's what they are, what they should cost, and how to set one up without giving away a cut of your orders.
What a digital menu actually is
A digital menu is your menu hosted online, reached by a QR code on the table. Guests scan and browse on their own phone — no app, no printed card to replace.
The real benefits
No reprinting when prices change. Instant updates for specials and sold-out items. A cleaner, more hygienic table. And, if your tool supports it, the option to add photos and descriptions that sell dishes better than a printed list.
Watch out for commission
Some "digital menu" products are really ordering platforms that take a percentage of every order or charge per-order fees. If you only want a menu, that's money leaking out of your margin.
A menu-only tool like MenuMint charges a flat price and never takes a cut of your covers — you keep 100% of your sales.
How to set one up
Build your menu, generate the QR, print it for the tables, and edit prices from your phone whenever you need. You can start free and only pay if you want multiple menus or custom branding.
Build your QR menu — free
Add your dishes, print one QR for the tables, and update prices anytime. Free to start.
Build your menu free →FAQ
How much should a digital menu cost?
A menu-only tool should be a small flat monthly fee (or free to start). Be wary of platforms that take a commission or per-order fee — that's ordering software, not just a menu.
Do digital menus take a commission on orders?
Menu-only tools like MenuMint don't — they charge a flat price and never take a cut. Ordering platforms often do, so check before you commit.