Best Square Online Alternatives for Restaurants
Move beyond Square Online's retail-focused platform to restaurant-specific solutions with branded apps, loyalty programs, and comprehensive marketing tools.
11 min read
Updated Jan 1, 2026
2,650 words
Table of Contents
Introduction
Why Look for Square Online Alternatives
Quick Comparison
Top Alternatives
Feature Comparison
Pricing Breakdown
How to Switch
FAQs
Square Online has become a popular choice for small businesses looking to sell online, particularly those already using Square for payment processing. While Square Online offers basic online ordering capabilities, many restaurant owners discover that its platform lacks the specialized features restaurants need to succeed in the competitive food service industry. **Square Online's Restaurant Limitations:** - Designed primarily for retail, not restaurants - No branded mobile apps for iOS/Android - Limited restaurant-specific marketing tools - Basic menu management without modifiers - No loyalty program or customer retention features - Minimal delivery management capabilities - Limited customization options for restaurant branding For restaurants doing $20,000+ in monthly online orders, Square Online's lack of restaurant-focused features can significantly impact customer experience, operational efficiency, and growth potential. Restaurant-specific platforms offer specialized tools that can increase order frequency by 40-60% and average order value by 25-35%.
Why Restaurants Look for Square Online Alternatives
Built for Retail, Not Restaurants
Square Online was designed primarily for retail businesses selling physical products. While it can handle food orders, it lacks critical restaurant features like complex menu modifiers, preparation time management, kitchen display systems, and table management.
💡 Restaurant operators report spending 2-3x longer managing menus on Square Online compared to restaurant-specific platforms due to limited modifier options and poor menu organization tools.
No Branded Mobile Apps
Square Online doesn't offer branded iOS or Android mobile apps for your restaurant. Customers must order through a generic website or the Square marketplace, preventing you from building strong brand recognition and direct customer relationships through mobile.
💡 Studies show restaurants with branded mobile apps see 3x higher order frequency compared to website-only ordering, as apps keep your brand top-of-mind.
Limited Marketing and Customer Retention Tools
Square Online provides basic email capabilities but lacks comprehensive marketing automation, SMS messaging, push notifications, and sophisticated loyalty programs that restaurants need to drive repeat orders.
💡 Restaurants with advanced marketing automation see 40-50% higher customer retention rates compared to those using basic email-only systems.
Basic Delivery Management
Square Online's delivery features are minimal. There's no sophisticated delivery zone management, time-slot scheduling, or integration with multiple delivery services. Many restaurants struggle to manage delivery operations efficiently.
Limited Customization and Restaurant Branding
Square Online templates are generic and difficult to customize for restaurant branding. You can't create the immersive, appetite-appealing experiences that drive conversions. Photo galleries, video content, and storytelling are all limited.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Square Online | RestauNax | ChowNow | Toast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | Free-$72/mo | $99/mo | $149/mo | $50/mo* |
| Restaurant-Specific Design | ❌ Retail focus | ✅ Restaurant-built | ✅ Restaurant-built | ✅ Restaurant-built |
| Branded Mobile Apps | ❌ No | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Loyalty Program | ❌ Basic points | ✅ Advanced rewards | ❌ Limited | ✅ Yes |
| Marketing Automation | ❌ Basic email | ✅ Email/SMS/Push | Email only | Limited |
| Menu Modifiers | Limited | Unlimited | Advanced | Unlimited |
| POS Integration | Square only | 20+ systems | Multiple | Toast only |
Top Square Online Alternatives for 2026
1. RestauNax
Complete restaurant-specific online ordering platform with branded mobile apps, advanced marketing automation, and comprehensive loyalty programs. Purpose-built for restaurant operations with all the specialized features Square Online lacks.
Pricing
$99/month, unlimited orders, 0% commission
Best For
Restaurants wanting a complete, restaurant-specific solution
Pros
• Restaurant-specific platform built for food service
• Branded iOS & Android mobile apps
• Advanced loyalty and rewards program
• Email, SMS, and push notification marketing
• Unlimited menu modifiers and customization
• Integration with 20+ POS systems (not just Square)
• Kitchen display system integration
• Advanced delivery zone and time-slot management
• Real-time analytics and customer insights
• Dedicated restaurant support team
Cons
• Higher monthly cost than Square Online free plan
• Requires setup time (though support is provided)
• Need to drive customer acquisition
2. ChowNow
Restaurant-focused commission-free ordering platform with branded experiences and Google Food Ordering integration. Better restaurant features than Square Online, though more expensive.
Pricing
$149/month + $399 setup fee
Best For
Established restaurants focused on Google discovery
Pros
• Restaurant-specific platform
• Branded ordering experience
• Google Food Ordering integration
• Facebook/Instagram ordering
• Customer data ownership
• Marketing support
Cons
• Higher cost than Square Online or RestauNax
• Setup fee required
• Email marketing only (no SMS)
• Limited mobile app features
• Fewer POS integrations than RestauNax
3. Toast Online Ordering
Restaurant-specific online ordering built into the Toast POS ecosystem. Excellent for Toast users but requires Toast POS system.
Pricing
$50/month (requires Toast POS subscription)
Best For
Restaurants already using Toast POS
Pros
• Deep Toast POS integration
• Restaurant-specific features
• Loyalty program included
• Good kitchen workflow
• Unified reporting
Cons
• Requires expensive Toast POS system ($119-234/month)
• No branded mobile apps
• Limited marketing features
• Toast payment processing fees higher than competitors
• Locked into Toast ecosystem
4. Owner.com
Comprehensive restaurant commerce platform with advanced marketing automation, customer acquisition tools, and commission-free ordering. More sophisticated than Square Online.
Pricing
$99-299/month based on features
Best For
Multi-location restaurants wanting marketing automation
Pros
• Restaurant-focused platform
• Advanced marketing automation
• Customer data platform with analytics
• Google Ads management
• Multi-location support
• Delivery integrations
Cons
• Higher pricing tiers for full features
• Complex for single-location restaurants
• Steeper learning curve
• May be overkill for simple operations
5. GloriaFood
Free restaurant online ordering system with premium add-ons. Good budget alternative to Square Online with more restaurant features.
Pricing
Free basic plan, premium features $9-49/month
Best For
Budget-conscious small restaurants
Pros
• Free basic plan available
• Restaurant-specific features
• More menu flexibility than Square Online
• Facebook ordering integration
• No commission fees
• Quick setup
Cons
• Limited branding on free plan
• No mobile apps
• Basic marketing tools
• Premium features cost extra
• Limited POS integrations
• Ads on free plan
6. Benbria (formerly Ameego)
Restaurant ordering and guest engagement platform with strong marketing and loyalty features. More sophisticated than Square Online for restaurant operations.
Pricing
$95-195/month based on features
Best For
Full-service restaurants focused on guest engagement
Pros
• Restaurant-specific platform
• Strong guest engagement tools
• Loyalty and rewards program
• Marketing automation
• Table management integration
• Customer feedback tools
Cons
• Higher cost for full features
• Better suited for full-service than QSR
• Learning curve for advanced features
• Limited mobile app capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm using Square POS. Can RestauNax still integrate with it?
Yes, absolutely. RestauNax integrates seamlessly with Square POS just like Square Online does. Orders from RestauNax flow directly into your Square POS system automatically. You can use RestauNax for the superior ordering experience while keeping Square for payment processing and POS operations.
Is RestauNax really worth $99/month vs Square Online free plan?
Yes, significantly. Restaurants typically see 40-60% higher order frequency and 25-35% higher average order values with RestauNax due to branded mobile apps, loyalty programs, and better marketing tools. For a restaurant doing $15,000/month in online orders, RestauNax typically generates $100,000+ in additional annual revenue, making the $1,188 annual cost a 84:1 ROI.
What restaurant-specific features does RestauNax have that Square Online doesn't?
RestauNax includes: branded iOS/Android mobile apps, unlimited menu modifiers, advanced loyalty rewards, SMS marketing, push notifications, kitchen display system integration, sophisticated delivery zone management, restaurant-optimized upselling, and integrations with 20+ POS systems (not just Square). Square Online is built for retail and lacks these critical restaurant features.
How long does it take to switch from Square Online to RestauNax?
Initial setup takes 5-7 days including menu import, POS integration, and staff training. Mobile apps are live in 10-14 days (waiting for App Store approval). Full customer migration typically takes 30-45 days. You can run both platforms simultaneously during transition to avoid any revenue interruption.
Can I keep my existing Square payment processing with RestauNax?
Yes. RestauNax allows you to use any payment processor including Square. You can keep your existing Square merchant account and processing rates. Unlike Square Online which locks you into Square processing, RestauNax gives you flexibility to use any processor.
Will my customers need to download an app to order?
No. RestauNax provides both branded mobile apps AND a website ordering option. Customers can order from your website without downloading anything. However, customers who download your branded app order 3-4x more frequently due to the convenience and your brand always being on their phone.
Does RestauNax work for pickup only, or can it handle delivery too?
RestauNax handles both pickup and delivery orders with sophisticated features for each. For delivery, you can use your own drivers, integrate with delivery-as-a-service providers (DoorDash Drive, Uber Direct), or offer pickup only. RestauNax provides advanced delivery zone management, time-slot scheduling, and driver coordination tools that Square Online lacks.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Join thousands of restaurants that switched to RestauNax and started keeping 100% of their revenue.