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If you're considering launching your own restaurant or takeaway app, one of the first questions you'll ask is:
"How much does a restaurant app cost?"
The answer depends on how the app is built, the features you need, and whether you choose a custom development company or a specialist restaurant ordering platform.
In the UK, restaurant app costs can range from £500 to more than £100,000.
In this guide, we'll explain the different pricing options, what affects the cost, and why many UK restaurants choose OrderApps to launch their own branded ordering app without paying marketplace commissions.
Average Restaurant App Costs
Solution
Typical Cost
Basic ordering app
£500–£2,000
White-label restaurant app
£1,000–£5,000
Custom-built restaurant app
£20,000–£100,000+
Enterprise restaurant platform
£100,000+
While a low-cost app may seem attractive, it's important to consider what you're actually getting.
Many inexpensive solutions lack essential features such as online payments, loyalty programmes, push notifications, delivery management, and EPOS integration.
What Affects the Cost of a Restaurant App?
Several factors determine the overall cost.
1. App Design
A professionally designed branded app creates trust and encourages customers to order directly.
A custom-designed app generally costs more than a template-based solution.
2. Online Ordering
Your app should allow customers to:
- Browse your menu
- Customise meals
- Place orders
- Pay securely online
- Schedule collections or deliveries
Without these features, customers may still rely on third-party marketplaces.
3. iOS and Android Development
To reach all customers, your restaurant app should be available on both:
- Apple App Store
- Google Play Store
Building separate native apps from scratch significantly increases development costs.
4. Payment Integration
Customers expect secure payment methods such as:
- Credit & Debit Cards
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Online Wallets
Payment gateway integration adds both development and maintenance costs.
5. Push Notifications
Push notifications help restaurants increase repeat orders by promoting:
- Special offers
- Discount codes
- New menu items
- Seasonal promotions
This is one of the highest ROI features in any restaurant app.
6. Loyalty & Rewards
Loyalty programmes encourage repeat business by rewarding customers for ordering directly.
Popular features include:
- Points systems
- Digital stamp cards
- Birthday rewards
- Referral incentives
7. Delivery Management
If you offer delivery, you'll need features such as:
- Delivery zones
- Delivery fees
- Driver management
- Order tracking
These features increase development complexity.
Hidden Costs Many Restaurants Don't Expect
Some providers advertise a low initial price but charge extra for essential services.
Common hidden costs include:
- Commission on every order
- Monthly platform fees
- Setup charges
- App publishing fees
- Update charges
- Support fees
- Payment processing markups
Over time, these costs can become significantly more expensive than the original setup price.
Is Building a Custom Restaurant App Worth It?
Hiring a software development agency to build an app from scratch gives complete flexibility, but it comes with significant drawbacks.
Pros
- Fully customised
- Unique design
- Bespoke functionality
Cons
- Very expensive
- Development can take several months
- Ongoing maintenance costs
- Bug fixes and updates are your responsibility
- Future feature development can be costly
For most independent restaurants and takeaways, a specialist restaurant ordering platform provides much better value.
Why More UK Restaurants Choose OrderApps
Instead of spending tens of thousands of pounds on custom development, many restaurants choose OrderApps because it provides everything needed to accept direct online orders in one complete solution.
With OrderApps, you receive:
- Your own branded restaurant app
- Online ordering website
- iOS and Android apps
- Secure online payments
- Customer loyalty features
- Push notifications
- Menu management
- Delivery and collection options
- Marketing tools
- Dedicated UK support
Most importantly, OrderApps is built to help restaurants grow direct orders and reduce dependence on expensive third-party delivery marketplaces.
Why Direct Ordering Is Better Than Marketplace Apps
Food delivery marketplaces can help restaurants reach new customers, but they often charge high commissions and own the customer relationship.
When customers order directly through your own branded app:
- You build your own customer database.
- You strengthen your brand.
- You can send promotions directly to customers.
- You encourage repeat orders without relying on third parties.
- You keep more of the revenue from each order.
For many restaurants, this creates a more sustainable and profitable business over the long term.
Why OrderApps Is a Smart Investment
OrderApps is designed specifically for UK restaurants and takeaways that want to grow direct online ordering.
Rather than paying to develop an app from scratch—or paying ongoing commissions to marketplaces—you can launch a professional branded ordering app with the features modern customers expect.
Whether you run a pizza shop, Indian takeaway, Chinese restaurant, burger restaurant, café, dessert shop, or multi-location business, OrderApps provides a scalable platform that helps you:
- Increase direct online orders
- Improve customer loyalty
- Promote your own brand
- Reduce reliance on third-party platforms
- Simplify restaurant operations
- Grow your business with modern ordering technology
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a restaurant app?
A custom-built restaurant app can cost anywhere from £20,000 to over £100,000, depending on its complexity. White-label platforms offer a much more affordable way to launch a professional app.
Is a restaurant app worth it?
Yes. A branded restaurant app can increase repeat orders, improve customer loyalty, and give you greater control over your customer relationships and marketing.
Can I have both a website and a mobile app?
Absolutely. Many restaurants choose a solution that includes both a branded online ordering website and mobile apps, allowing customers to order however they prefer.
How long does it take to launch?
Custom development can take several months. A specialist platform such as OrderApps can help restaurants launch much faster, allowing them to start accepting direct orders sooner.
Final Thoughts
The cost of a restaurant app depends on your goals, budget, and the level of functionality you require. While custom-built apps offer maximum flexibility, they often involve significant upfront investment and ongoing maintenance.
For most restaurants, the smarter option is a dedicated ordering platform that combines a branded website, mobile apps, secure payments, loyalty features, and marketing tools in one solution.
OrderApps helps restaurants across the UK launch professional branded ordering apps, take more direct orders, strengthen customer relationships, and build long-term profitability without relying solely on third-party marketplaces.
If you're ready to modernise your restaurant and give customers a seamless ordering experience, OrderApps offers a practical, scalable solution designed specifically for the hospitality industry.
Ready to grow your food business?
Commission-free ordering, branded apps, bookings, and EPOS on one platform.
