Running the business · Global guide
Free restaurant management software: what you can run without paying
Which parts of running a restaurant free management software can handle today, from menus and orders to staff and payments, and where paid tools start.
“Restaurant management software” can mean anything from a menu builder to a full back-office suite. When you look for a free option, list the jobs you need it to do each day, then check which of those the free plan actually covers. A long feature list matters less than whether one shift can run from start to finish in one place.
The daily jobs worth putting in one system
- Keeping the menu, prices and sold-out items current.
- Taking orders at the counter, at the table and from guests’ phones.
- Passing orders to the kitchen and tracking what is ready.
- Producing a correct bill and recording how it was paid.
- Giving each staff member their own login with the right access.
What GiveMyMenu’s Free plan covers
The Free plan handles every job on that list for one location. It includes the menu, POS, guest QR ordering, a kitchen display, kitchen and receipt print views, payment recording and staff roles. At the time of writing it allows up to 10 tables or rooms and 2 staff accounts, including the owner. There is no expiry date and no card is needed to start.
Where paid plans start
Some management work is in paid plans. Starter and Pro add table and room PIN protection, inventory tracking, restaurant branding on the guest menu, detailed reports and guest reviews. They also raise the location, table and staff limits. For a multi-site group with custom needs, the Business plan is arranged directly with our team.
Be clear about what the software does not do on any plan. It is not an accounting system, a payroll tool or a hotel property-management system. It records cash and external card-terminal payments but does not process guest card payments. Keep those tools separate and avoid entering the same sale in two places.
Set up your first week
- Day 1: enter the menu and check every price on a phone.
- Day 2: create your tables, print the QR codes and add a staff account.
- Day 3: run a full practice service with the kitchen display.
- Days 4 to 7: use it for real service at a few tables, then all of them.
New accounts also get a trial of Pro features when they add their first venue. At launch the trial is 90 days. Use that time to find out whether inventory, reports or PINs change how you work before you decide on a paid plan.
Try it on one table
Set up a few dishes and follow an order through to the kitchen and bill.