Commission-Free Online Ordering: How It Works and What It Costs

"Commission-free" is on almost every restaurant software homepage now. Toast says "No commissions. No hidden fees." DoorDash offers commission-free online ordering. Uber Eats sells a "commission-free online ordering site." So what does commission-free actually mean, and what will you still pay?

This guide explains the model in plain language, lists the costs that don't go away, and gives you a simple way to compare platforms.

What "commission-free" means

A commission is a percentage of each order that a platform keeps. Delivery marketplaces charge them because they bring you the customer: Uber Eats Canada lists 20% to 30% on delivery depending on the plan (Uber Eats Canada, as of Oct 2026), and DoorDash US lists 15% to 30% (DoorDash US, as of Oct 2026).

Commission-free online ordering means customers order from your own website, app or QR code, and the software company does not take a percentage cut of the order as its fee. You pay for the software another way, usually a monthly subscription.

The costs that still apply

Commission-free never means cost-free. Here's what to budget for:

  1. Card processing. Someone has to move the money. Rates are usually a percentage plus a few cents per transaction. ChowNow, for example, lists "2.95% + $0.29 per transaction" (ChowNow pricing, as of Oct 2026).
  2. A subscription. Menufy lists $149/month on an annual agreement (Menufy pricing); Owner.com lists a $499/month Flat Rate plan (Owner pricing); AIOrders is flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees. All as of Oct 2026.
  3. Per-order platform fees that aren't called commission. Popmenu says it doesn't take a cut of sales but charges "a flat $1.00 per online order," which can be passed to the guest (Popmenu pricing, as of Oct 2026). Owner's Flexible plan adds a "5% restaurant fee per order" (Owner pricing).
  4. Fees charged to your guests. Owner says guests pay "a 5% order support fee" on both of its plans (Owner pricing, as of Oct 2026). That's not your cost directly, but it raises your guests' checkout total.
  5. Delivery. If you don't have drivers, on-demand delivery costs money per trip. Uber Direct lists "No commissions; tailored pricing is based on distance" (Uber Eats Canada, as of Oct 2026). Toast advertises flat delivery fees through Toast Delivery Services (Toast online ordering).
  6. Setup and hardware. Some platforms charge setup fees or require printers or tablets.

How commission-free ordering works, step by step

  1. Your menu goes online on a page you control, ideally on your own domain.
  2. A guest orders and pays on that page, by link, Google, social media or a QR code.
  3. The order reaches your kitchen, on a tablet, printer, kitchen display or POS.
  4. You fulfill it as pickup, your own delivery, or on-demand delivery such as Uber Direct.
  5. You keep the customer's details, so you can invite them back by email or SMS.

That last step is the real value. AIOrders' online ordering page puts it this way: "Third-party platforms own your customer data. With direct ordering, you build lasting relationships and can market to them directly" (aiorders.io/product/online-ordering, as of Oct 2026).

How to compare the true cost

Use one formula for every platform:

Monthly cost = subscription + (processing % × sales) + (per-order fees × orders) + delivery + amortized setup

Then compare it with what the same orders would cost on a delivery app. A quick example with simple arithmetic:

Our online ordering cost calculator does this for you, and our post on free vs flat-fee vs per-order pricing walks through when each model wins.

What to look for in a commission-free platform

Is commission-free ordering worth it for a small restaurant?

If you get even a handful of repeat orders a day through delivery apps, usually yes. AIOrders' product page gives this example: "On $50,000 in delivery orders, third-party apps charge $15,000 in commissions" (aiorders.io/product/online-ordering, as of Oct 2026), which assumes a 30% rate. Your rate depends on your plan; check it on your app statement.

The catch: commission-free ordering only saves money if people use it. Budget time for the switch: QR codes on tables, a card in every delivery bag, and a reason to order direct, like a loyalty reward.

Compare commission-free platforms side by side on our best online ordering system for restaurants page, or see how AIOrders stacks up in AIOrders vs Toast and AIOrders vs ChowNow.

About AIOrders: a commission-free online ordering and restaurant marketing platform based in Vancouver, BC, serving restaurants in Canada and the USA. Pricing: a flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees, or a lower-cost entry plan with a per-order fee.

FAQ

What does commission-free online ordering mean?

It means the ordering software doesn't keep a percentage of each order as its fee. You usually pay a subscription instead, plus card processing.

Is commission-free online ordering really free?

No. You still pay card processing, often a subscription, and sometimes per-order platform fees, delivery costs, setup or hardware. Compare total monthly cost, not the word "commission."

How much can a restaurant save with commission-free ordering?

It depends on your delivery-app rate and volume. On 600 orders at $35, a 25% delivery plan costs $5,250 a month in commission. Compare that with a flat subscription plus processing in a cost calculator.

Do I have to leave Uber Eats or DoorDash?

No. Most restaurants keep the apps for new customers and move regulars to commission-free direct ordering.

Which platforms offer commission-free online ordering?

Toast, ChowNow, Menufy, Owner, Popmenu, DoorDash (Online Ordering by DoorDash), Uber Eats (Webshop) and AIOrders all advertise commission-free ordering, with different subscription and per-order fees.