Restaurant Technology
What Does "Free Restaurant Software" Really Mean?
When restaurant software says it costs nothing, it means you do not pay to start. The company still has to earn money, and how it does so decides what you will pay later: after a set number of days, after a number of orders, for features you will need, through ads on your pages, or through a fee on payments. None of these is dishonest in itself; what matters is knowing which one you are signing up for.
The six common models
| Model | How it works | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Time-limited | Everything is open for a set number of days, then a monthly fee starts | Fine for testing; budget for the fee from day one |
| Capped tier | A no-cost tier with a limit on orders, menus or locations | A good month can push you onto a paid tier |
| Paid add-ons | The core is open; the features you need cost extra | Price the features you will use, not the core |
| Advertising | The vendor shows its own ads or branding on your pages | Your guests see someone else's message |
| Fee on payments | A percentage or fixed fee on each payment processed | Cost grows with sales; check which payments count |
| Winding down | The product is being retired | No cost now, a forced move later |
What each model looks like in practice
Where to look on a vendor's own pages to tell which model you are signing up for.
- Capped tier: some QR-menu and ordering vendors limit their no-cost tier to a number of orders a month or a single location — read the tier table, not the headline.
- Paid add-ons and advertising: freemium website builders commonly let you sign up at no cost, then put your own domain, removal of their ads and taking payments in a paid upgrade.
- Fee on payments: some point-of-sale and online-store vendors charge a higher card fee on their no-cost tier than on their paid tiers — compare the fee on each tier.
- Winding down: check the vendor's home page and announcements for an end-of-life or retirement notice before you move your menu there.
What is never part of the software
- Hardware: tablets, printers, card terminals.
- The payment processor's own fee on each card payment.
- Your time to set up the menu and train staff.
A step-by-step check: how to tell if a restaurant platform really costs nothing.
Which model Thmenu uses
Thmenu uses the fee-on-payments model, and only that one. Every feature is open to every restaurant: there is no time limit, no paid tier, no upgrade, and no ads. Thmenu's revenue is a 1% platform fee on payments guests make to you online through Thmenu. The payment processor's fee is separate, and payments in cash or on your own card terminal carry no Thmenu fee — so a restaurant that never takes payments online through Thmenu pays Thmenu nothing. Hardware and the processor's fees are not covered. Your menu and site show "Powered by Thmenu", and that line cannot be hidden.
See how Thmenu works.
Sources
- Thmenu — Free Forever (accessed 28 October 2026)