Restaurant ordering app price in 2026: how much it costs in Romania
Short answer: a restaurant ordering app costs €6,000–€40,000 in Romania in 2026. A menu site with simple ordering is €6,000–€12,000 and takes 6–8 weeks; online payments take it to €12,000–€22,000; own delivery and reporting to €18,000–€30,000; multi-location chains start around €28,000. A native Android or iOS app on top of the web platform often doubles the effort. The question usually comes up when an operator adds up Glovo, Bolt Food or Tazz commissions of 25–30% per order.
Price ranges by platform type
Total cost for a restaurant ordering platform in Romania is typically €6,000 – €40,000, depending on how far you go beyond a static menu with a WhatsApp link.
| Solution type | Cost (EUR) | Timeline | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu site + simple ordering | €6,000 – €12,000 | 6–8 wks | Menu, cart, kitchen notification, cash/card on delivery |
| Ordering platform + online payments | €12,000 – €22,000 | 10–14 wks | Stripe/PayU, customer account, order history, admin panel |
| Platform + own delivery + reporting | €18,000 – €30,000 | 3–4 mo | Delivery zones, own drivers, chef dashboard, accounting export |
| Multi-location / franchise | €28,000 – €40,000+ | 4–6 mo | Multiple locations, per-unit menus, roles, centralized loyalty |
Prices exclude VAT. For comparison, La Iancu is a different job: presentation sites and maintenance, not an ordering platform. General budgets for custom web apps are in our web app cost guide.
Why not every restaurant pays the same
- Order volume and peak hours. 200 orders on Saturday evening needs job queues, menu cache, and monitoring, not just a form.
- Cash vs card payments. Cash on delivery is simple; online card + invoicing + ANAF e-Factura integration adds 15–25% to budget.
- Own delivery. Zones, status, kitchen panel: €3,000–€8,000 extra vs MVP. Parcel AWB (Sameday/GLS) is for shops, not hot food.
- Native mobile app. Responsive web covers 80% of cases; native iOS/Android often doubles effort.
Restaurant app price on Android and iOS
Most restaurants start with a responsive web ordering app: it works on every phone, needs no App Store review and covers about 80% of cases. A native Android or iOS app on top of the web platform often doubles the effort, so it pays off once you have regular repeat customers. Our mobile app cost guide has ranges by app type, and web app vs mobile app explains when a PWA is enough.
Own platform vs aggregators: quick math
If a restaurant processes €40,000/month through Glovo at 28% commission, you pay ~€11,200/month to the platform. Example assumption: 30% of those orders move to your own channel, and running it costs up to €500 a month. You avoid €3,360 a month in commission and keep about €2,860, so a €20,000 investment pays back in about 7 months (20,000 ÷ 2,860 ≈ 7). If every order moved, payback would be under 2 months; if only 10% moved (about €620 a month kept), it would take close to 3 years. Payment processing fees (1.2–2.5%) and margin gains on repeat customers are not included.
Aggregators remain useful for discovery. Healthy strategy: own channel for loyal customers + marketplace presence for new volume. Monthly running costs after launch (hosting, notifications) and a phased rollout plan are in our restaurant ordering app guide for Bucharest.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a restaurant ordering app cost?
Between €6,000 and €40,000 in Romania, depending on digital menu, online payments, own delivery, multi-location, POS, and kitchen reporting. Sameday/GLS are for parcels, not hot food.
Is an own platform worth it vs Glovo or Bolt Food?
Yes, when 25–30% commissions exceed development cost in 12–18 months, or when you want customer data, promotions, and ordering experience under your control. Aggregators stay useful for discovery, not as your only channel.
How long does restaurant ordering app development take?
MVP with menu + checkout + notifications: 6–10 weeks. Full platform with courier, admin, and reports: 3–5 months. Multi-location chains: 4–6 months.
Which integrations increase price the most?
Live courier integration, POS (R-Keeper, Micros), e-invoicing, multi-restaurant loyalty, and native iOS/Android apps on top of web.
How much does a restaurant app cost on Android or iOS?
Most restaurants start with a responsive web ordering app, which covers about 80% of cases. A native Android or iOS app on top of the web platform often doubles the effort, so it is usually a second step once you have regular repeat customers.
Planning an ordering platform?
Ballpark estimate within 48 hours: menu, payments, courier, target budget. See also package pricing.