Third-party commissions eating your profits again?
If you’re researching online ordering systems, you’re probably frustrated with high delivery app fees, clunky integrations, or inconsistent order flows that make digital growth hard.
But let’s be honest—the biggest headache is watching a chunk of every sale disappear daily just because you’re using someone else’s ordering platform.
GloriaFood fixes this with a free, all-in-one ordering solution that lets your restaurant accept unlimited orders, build a real online presence, and automate promos—without those painful per-order commissions or tech headaches.
Throughout this review, I’ll show you how GloriaFood puts your profits and control back in your own hands by centralizing orders, payments, marketing, and more.
In this GloriaFood review, you’ll discover my analysis of its core free features, add-ons, setup process, pricing, and how it stacks up against top alternatives for independent restaurants.
You’ll walk away knowing the features you need to cut through all the noise and choose smartly—no second guesses.
Let’s dive into the details.
Quick Summary
- GloriaFood is a free online ordering system that helps restaurants accept commission-free orders and manage them via a simple app.
- Best for small to medium-sized restaurants looking to start or improve direct online sales without high fees.
- You’ll appreciate its ease of setup, cost-effectiveness, and marketing add-ons that support customer retention and online presence.
- GloriaFood offers a free core platform with optional paid add-ons like websites, online payments, and branded apps starting at $9 per month.
GloriaFood Overview
GloriaFood launched in Romania back in 2013 with a very clear mission: to help independent restaurants escape high commission fees by offering a completely free online ordering system.
What I really appreciate is their laser focus on small-scale operators. The platform is intentionally built for independent restaurants, cafes, and local food trucks that urgently need a commission-free alternative to delivery portals.
Their 2021 acquisition by Oracle was a huge credibility boost for the company. As you’ll discover through this GloriaFood review, this move provides enterprise-level stability and deeper integration potential.
Unlike competitors that often lock you into costly monthly subscription plans, GloriaFood’s entire business model is built around its truly free core ordering system. This transparent, no-strings-attached approach feels like it was designed by actual restaurateurs.
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They work with tens of thousands of small businesses globally—especially the independent pizzerias and local chains that want to finally take full control of their own digital storefront and customer data.
From my analysis, their current strategy is all about empowering your self-sufficiency. They are consistently doubling down on tools that help you build your brand directly, own your customer data, and keep every dollar of your profits.
Now let’s examine their capabilities.
GloriaFood Features
Tired of high commission fees eating your restaurant’s profits?
GloriaFood features provide an integrated solution suite for restaurants to manage their online presence and streamline order management. Here are the five main GloriaFood features that help you take control of your online sales.
1. Online Ordering System
Losing money to third-party delivery apps?
High commission fees from external platforms can severely impact your restaurant’s profitability, limiting your control over sales.
GloriaFood’s free online ordering system allows you to accept unlimited orders with zero commissions, integrating directly into your website. From my testing, the single-page customer checkout experience is incredibly user-friendly and efficient. This core feature puts you in charge of your revenue.
This means you can keep more of your hard-earned money and build a direct relationship with your customers.
2. Free Order Taking App
Struggling to manage incoming orders efficiently?
Manual order processing or relying on phone calls often leads to errors and delays, frustrating both your staff and customers.
GloriaFood’s free order-taking app for Android and iOS ensures you receive real-time notifications on your device for every new order. What I love about this approach is how it displays all order details on one screen, allowing quick confirmation and estimated time communication. This feature truly streamlines fulfillment.
The result is your team gets a smooth, error-free order management process that enhances customer satisfaction immediately.
3. Sales Optimized Website
No website, no online presence?
Without a professional online presence, attracting new customers and increasing online sales can be a significant challenge for your restaurant.
This feature allows you to generate a fully functional, SEO-optimized website with integrated online ordering in minutes—no coding skills needed. Here’s what I found: some users have quadrupled their online sales using this solution. It’s designed to get you noticed online.
This means you can establish a strong digital storefront rapidly, driving new customer acquisition and boosting your revenue.
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4. Online / Credit Card Payment Service
Worried about payment issues or fake orders?
Cash handling creates security risks, and relying solely on cash-on-delivery can lead to issues like fake orders or payment disputes.
This add-on service lets customers pay securely online, providing convenience and reducing cash dependency. From my testing, this feature provides peace of mind, ensuring you get paid upfront for every order. It truly simplifies your financial workflow.
So, as a restaurant owner, you can minimize payment risks and ensure a smoother, more secure transaction experience for everyone.
5. Advanced Promo Marketing
Struggling to bring customers back repeatedly?
Without effective marketing, attracting new customers and encouraging repeat business can be a constant struggle, hindering growth.
The Advanced Promo Marketing module helps you create targeted campaigns like first-buy or loyalty offers. What I love about this feature is the “Autopilot” functionality, which automates SMS and email campaigns based on purchase history. This gets results.
This means you can drive repeat business effortlessly, building stronger customer loyalty and consistently increasing engagement.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Zero commission fees keep more profit in your pocket.
- ✅ Incredibly intuitive setup and user-friendly daily operations.
- ✅ Robust sales-optimized website boosts online visibility.
- ⚠️ Limited advanced integrations compared to enterprise platforms.
- ⚠️ Some users desire more frequent feature updates.
- ⚠️ Support for specific feature requests can be challenging.
You’ll actually appreciate how these GloriaFood features work together to create a comprehensive online ordering and marketing system that helps your restaurant thrive digitally.
GloriaFood Pricing
Worried about hidden software costs?
GloriaFood pricing is transparent with a “freemium” model, making it incredibly accessible for restaurants of all sizes, especially with commission-free online ordering.
Plan | Price & Features |
---|---|
Core Free Offering | $0 per month • Unlimited online orders • Zero commissions • Customizable online menu • Pickup and delivery options • Free order taking app (iOS/Android) |
Sales Optimized Website | $9 per month • SEO-optimized website • Integrated online ordering • Hosting and domain name support |
Online / Credit Card Payment | $29 per month • Secure online payment processing • Credit card acceptance • Reduces cash handling needs |
Advanced Promo Marketing | $19 per month • Create promotional campaigns • Customer segmentation • Automated SMS/email marketing • User profiling |
Branded Mobile Apps | $59 per month • Custom-branded Android app • Custom-branded iOS app • Restaurant logo and menu on app stores |
1. Value Assessment
Incredible value on offer.
From my cost analysis, GloriaFood’s core free offering is a game-changer, especially for small to mid-sized restaurants looking to avoid high commission fees. Their pay-as-you-go pricing empowers your budget, letting you add premium features only when truly needed, ensuring you don’t overspend.
This means your initial costs are virtually zero, allowing you to scale up features precisely as your business grows.
2. Trial/Demo Options
Try before you buy.
GloriaFood operates on a “freemium” model, meaning the core online ordering system is entirely free to use indefinitely. What I found invaluable is how you can truly test the full ordering flow without any time limits, ensuring it fits your restaurant’s operations before considering paid add-ons.
This lets you validate the system’s effectiveness and user experience without committing to any pricing upfront.
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3. Plan Comparison
Choose what your restaurant needs.
The core free offering is robust enough for many, but add-ons like the Sales Optimized Website or Online Payments are clear upgrades. What stands out is how each add-on solves a specific business problem, allowing you to tailor GloriaFood’s features to your exact needs rather than buying bundles.
This tiered approach helps you match pricing to actual usage requirements, ensuring you only pay for what directly benefits your operations.
My Take: GloriaFood’s pricing strategy is highly transparent and customer-friendly, perfect for restaurants seeking to escape commission-heavy platforms and maintain full control over their online sales.
The overall GloriaFood pricing reflects transparent, flexible value designed to save you money.
GloriaFood Reviews
What do real customers actually think?
These GloriaFood reviews provide balanced insights into real user experiences, pulling directly from feedback to help you understand what customers truly think about the software.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Users seem largely satisfied with GloriaFood.
From my review analysis, GloriaFood consistently receives positive ratings, especially from small businesses. What impressed me most is how users appreciate its straight forward, cost-effective solution for online ordering, often highlighting the free plan as a significant benefit compared to commission-heavy alternatives.
This suggests you can expect a practical solution for basic online ordering needs.
2. Common Praise Points
Users consistently love its intuitive design.
Customers frequently praise GloriaFood for its remarkable ease of use, both for setting up the system and for customers placing orders. Review-wise, what stands out is how users report streamlined order management, significantly reducing manual effort and speeding up fulfillment.
This means you’ll likely find it easy to integrate into your existing operations.
3. Frequent Complaints
Some advanced features are lacking.
While generally positive, several GloriaFood reviews point to limited advanced integrations compared to more robust platforms. What stood out in customer feedback is how users desire more frequent updates and feature enhancements, suggesting a slower product direction than some competitors.
These issues might be minor for most, but critical for businesses needing deep customization.
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What Customers Say
- Positive: “Our experience with GloriaFood has been consistently positive. The system is user-friendly…” (Helen H., Korean Food Stories)
- Constructive: “It does not provide postcode lookup for address confirmation, which can be an issue…” (User on a forum)
- Bottom Line: “My sales have quadrupled since using it. It’s the best online food ordering system.” (Amanda S.)
The overall GloriaFood reviews indicate strong satisfaction for its core offering, with some room for advanced feature growth.
Best GloriaFood Alternatives
What are the best GloriaFood alternatives for your business?
The best GloriaFood alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different restaurant sizes, budget priorities, and specific operational needs. I’ll help you navigate the competitive landscape.
1. ChowNow
Do you prioritize strong support and a flat monthly fee?
ChowNow typically charges a flat monthly fee for its platform, which many small businesses prefer for predictable budgeting and their reported strong support. From my competitive analysis, ChowNow offers a more hands-on, supported setup as an alternative, though it lacks GloriaFood’s free core offering.
Choose ChowNow if you value all-inclusive monthly pricing and dedicated product support over a free entry point.
2. DoorDash Storefront
Need integrated delivery services leveraging a large fleet?
DoorDash Storefront offers the unique advantage of integrating directly with DoorDash’s vast delivery driver network, ideal if you lack your own delivery staff. What I found comparing options is that DoorDash Storefront provides a seamless integrated delivery solution, which is a key differentiator from GloriaFood’s focus on self-managed orders.
Consider this alternative when your primary need is outsourced delivery without managing your own drivers.
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3. Toast POS
Looking for a complete, integrated restaurant management system?
Toast POS provides an all-in-one cloud-based solution that integrates online ordering with comprehensive POS, inventory, and employee management. From my analysis, Toast offers a holistic restaurant operational ecosystem, a broader scope than GloriaFood’s primary online ordering focus, though it represents a much larger investment.
Choose Toast if your business needs a fully integrated POS system beyond just online ordering.
4. Square Online / Wix Restaurants
Already using Square for payments or need a comprehensive website?
Square Online excels for businesses already using Square’s payment processing and POS, offering seamless integration. Wix Restaurants is ideal for those building an entire website with integrated ordering. Alternative-wise, these options provide broader ecosystem integration or web building, compared to GloriaFood’s specialized online ordering.
Opt for Square Online if you’re in their ecosystem, or Wix Restaurants if you need a full website builder.
Quick Decision Guide
- Choose GloriaFood: Free core online ordering with zero commissions
- Choose ChowNow: Predictable flat monthly fee with strong customer support
- Choose DoorDash Storefront: Integrated delivery using DoorDash’s driver network
- Choose Toast POS: Comprehensive all-in-one restaurant management system
- Choose Square Online/Wix Restaurants: Integrated payments or full website building
The best GloriaFood alternatives really come down to your specific budget, desired features, and operational scale.
GloriaFood Setup
Is GloriaFood implementation straightforward for you?
GloriaFood review indicates a highly intuitive, DIY deployment process for restaurants, designed to get you taking online orders quickly without extensive technical knowledge.
1. Setup Complexity & Timeline
Getting started is surprisingly fast.
GloriaFood’s setup is intuitive, allowing restaurants to take their first online order within minutes by creating an account and adding widgets to their site. From my implementation analysis, most businesses are operational in minutes or hours, not days or weeks, making it ideal for rapid deployment.
You can confidently plan for a quick go-live, focusing more on menu details than complex technical configurations.
2. Technical Requirements & Integration
Minimal technical hurdles for most users.
Your setup primarily involves accessing GloriaFood via a web browser and downloading the free order-taking app on a smartphone or tablet. What I found about deployment is that it integrates well with specific POS systems, but core functionality requires only basic existing hardware.
Prepare your existing website or Facebook page for widget integration, and ensure your team has a reliable device for the order-taking app.
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3. Training & Change Management
User adoption is remarkably smooth here.
The system’s user-friendly interface and self-explanatory design mean extensive staff training isn’t typically required for daily operations. From my analysis, the intuitive order-taking app simplifies management, displaying all details clearly to reduce errors and accelerate fulfillment.
Your team will quickly adapt to GloriaFood with minimal guidance, focusing more on order flow than complex software navigation.
4. Support & Success Factors
Vendor support can be a mixed bag.
While some users praise GloriaFood’s chat/email support as prompt and understandable, others find them difficult regarding feature requests. From my implementation analysis, effective communication is key for troubleshooting, despite the lack of a phone option for direct assistance.
Plan to utilize their chat/email support for setup queries and prioritize using GloriaFood’s sales-optimized features for customer attraction.
Implementation Checklist
- Timeline: Minutes to a few hours for initial setup
- Team Size: Restaurant owner/manager for initial setup
- Budget: Primarily staff time; software is free base
- Technical: Smartphone/tablet for order app, website for widgets
- Success Factor: Leveraging sales-optimized features for customer growth
The overall GloriaFood setup prioritizes ease of use and rapid deployment, making it highly accessible for restaurants seeking a straightforward online ordering solution.
Bottom Line
Is GloriaFood the right fit for your restaurant?
This GloriaFood review synthesizes my comprehensive analysis, offering a clear recommendation by assessing who benefits most from its features, strengths, and limitations.
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1. Who This Works Best For
Independent restaurants, cafes, and food trucks.
GloriaFood is ideal for small to medium-sized food service businesses looking to establish or enhance their online ordering presence without significant investment. What I found about target users is that restaurant owners keen on reducing third-party commissions gain immediate value and control over their customer relationships.
You’ll find success if your priority is cost-effective online ordering and direct customer engagement without complex enterprise integrations.
2. Overall Strengths
Commission-free online ordering is a game-changer.
The software succeeds by offering a completely free, commission-free online ordering system, empowering restaurants to take direct orders and reduce reliance on expensive third-party platforms. From my comprehensive analysis, its intuitive setup and user-friendly order-taking app make it incredibly accessible, even for those with limited technical expertise.
These strengths translate directly into significant cost savings and streamlined operations, leading to higher profit margins for your business.
3. Key Limitations
Advanced integrations are less comprehensive.
While excellent for core online ordering, GloriaFood may lack certain advanced integrations compared to more robust, enterprise-level POS systems. Based on this review, users requiring highly specialized inventory or labor management might find its ecosystem less expansive than competitors.
I’d say these limitations are manageable trade-offs for its cost-effectiveness, rather than deal-breakers, for its target audience.
4. Final Recommendation
GloriaFood is highly recommended for its target market.
You should choose GloriaFood if you’re a small to medium-sized restaurant aiming to cut commission fees, gain control over online orders, and build direct customer relationships. From my analysis, its value proposition is unparalleled for budget-conscious operators seeking a straightforward, powerful online ordering solution.
My confidence level is high for this recommendation, especially for businesses new to online ordering or looking to reduce current third-party costs.
Bottom Line
- Verdict: Recommended for small-to-medium restaurants
- Best For: Restaurant owners, cafes, food trucks seeking commission-free online ordering
- Business Size: Small to medium-sized independent restaurants and growing chains
- Biggest Strength: Free, commission-free online ordering system with ease of use
- Main Concern: Less comprehensive advanced integrations compared to enterprise POS
- Next Step: Explore the free online ordering system to test its fit
This GloriaFood review demonstrates strong value for small-to-medium restaurants while highlighting its straightforward approach to online ordering for your business.