The best digital menus for UK cafés and coffee shops (2026)
Updated 19 October 2026
For most UK cafés, the best digital menu is a free QR menu you can edit from your phone between rushes, with add-ons for milk and syrups, and the option to take orders from tables or the queue. Menuthere, Square and MENU TIGER all have free plans that suit cafés, with different catches. FineDine is a strong paid option. A QR code linked to a PDF is free but can't change daily specials easily or take orders. For restaurants and pubs, see our wider list of the best free QR menu systems.
Menuthere publishes this list and includes itself. Figures come from each company's own pages, read on the date shown.
Updated: 11 October 2026.
What a café needs from a digital menu
| Need | Why it matters in a café |
|---|---|
| Edit from your phone in seconds | Cakes, soups and specials change daily |
| Add-ons with prices | Oat milk, extra shot, syrups, sizes |
| Sold-out switch | The last slice of carrot cake goes at 2pm |
| Counter and table QR codes | Queue orders ahead; seated guests reorder |
| Allergen info per item | Milk alternatives bring their own allergens |
| Works without an app | Regulars won't download one for a flat white |
| No commission | Café margins are thin |
At a glance
| System | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menuthere | Independent cafés that want ordering without commission | Yes: 50 orders a month | US$17/month | 0% |
| Square | Cafés already using Square's till and card reader | Yes: £0/month + card fees | £69/month (Plus) | Card fees only |
| MENU TIGER | Small cafés with short menus | Yes: 49 items, 10 table codes | US$17/month | 0% |
| FineDine | Cafés in hotels or multi-language areas | No free plan shown | US$29/month, billed yearly | None listed |
| Take App | Cafés selling cakes and boxes via WhatsApp | Yes: 50 saved orders a month | US$50/month | 0% |
| QR code + PDF | View-only menu at zero cost | Yes | n/a | n/a |
1. Menuthere
Best for: independent cafés that want a QR menu now and table or collection ordering with no commission.
- Free: QR codes, unlimited items, sizes and add-ons, sold-out marking, allergen and calorie tags on each dish, 50 orders a month, 0% commission. AI imports your menu from a photo or PDF. Or try the free digital menu creator for a view-only menu in about a minute.
- Paid: Lite at US$17 a month adds unlimited orders, card payments through your own Stripe, scheduled collection orders and coupons. Pro at US$39 a month adds loyalty points and WhatsApp ordering. 7-day free trial on Lite and Pro, with a card; nothing is charged until the trial ends.
- Catches: card payments need Lite. No UK EPOS integration, so orders don't flow into a separate till; Menuthere's own counter billing (POS) is a US$10 a month add-on. Plans are billed in US dollars; your bank converts it.
More on Menuthere for cafés. Weighing up a till as well? See EPOS for cafés.
2. Square
Best for: cafés already on Square for card payments.
- Free: Square for Restaurants Free, £0 a month plus card fees (1.75% in person; 1.4% + 25p online for UK cards). Online ordering included.
- Extras: Square Kiosk at £35 per device a month plus £99 hardware (iPad not included), useful for a busy counter.
- Catches: Square Online describes QR ordering for dine-in, but check which plan includes the features you need. Tied to Square payments.
3. MENU TIGER
Best for: cafés with a short menu that want table ordering through Stripe.
- Free (Freemium): 1 store, 10 table QR codes, up to 7 categories of 7 items, 200 QR orders and 250 online orders a month. Cash and Stripe only.
- Paid: Regular US$17/month removes the item and order caps.
- Catches: 49 items fills up fast once you list every drink size. Prices in US$.
4. FineDine
Best for: hotel cafés and venues that need many menu languages.
- Price: Starter US$29/month billed yearly (100 items, 20 tables, 1,000 orders a month). Growth US$69/month adds a custom domain and multiple languages.
- Catches: no free plan or free trial shown on its pricing page. Prices in US$.
5. Take App
Best for: cafés and home bakers selling cake boxes and pre-orders through WhatsApp.
- Free: Basic plan, 50 orders a month saved to the dashboard. After that, orders still reach your WhatsApp but aren't saved. The Business plan is US$50 a month.
- Catches: built around WhatsApp orders rather than table QR menus. Card payments need the paid Business plan.
6. A QR code linked to a PDF
Best for: a view-only menu that rarely changes.
- Catches: daily specials mean a new PDF each day. Guests pinch and zoom. Some free generators switch codes off when a trial ends. No ordering.
Milk alternatives and allergens
Cafés often forget that milk swaps change the allergens. Set them up as add-ons and name the allergen in the add-on, for example "Oat milk (contains oats)". On Menuthere you can also tag each dish with any of the 14 UK allergens and its calories, on every plan, and customers see them when they open the dish.
| Add-on | Allergen to declare |
|---|---|
| Cow's milk | Milk |
| Soya milk | Soya |
| Oat milk | Cereals containing gluten (oats). Check each brand's label |
| Almond or cashew milk | Nuts |
| Syrups | Check each label |
Under UK rules, allergen information for the 14 allergens must be available for everything you sell. Keep a printed matrix at the counter as well. Our free allergen chart maker builds one.
Counter or table ordering?
- Counter QR code: guests in the queue scan and order ahead. Call names when drinks are ready.
- Table QR codes: seated guests order a second coffee without getting up. Print one per table with our free table QR card maker.
- Menu board: if you're thinking about screens behind the counter, read digital menu boards vs QR menus.
Free plan: QR codes, unlimited items, 50 orders a month, 0% commission. Secondary:.
FAQs
What is the best free QR menu for a café?
One you can edit from your phone, with paid add-ons for milk and syrups, a sold-out switch and no commission. Menuthere, Square and MENU TIGER all have free plans; check the order, item and payment limits.
Do I need a digital menu if I have a chalkboard?
Not for the queue. A QR code helps seated guests reorder, gives online and allergen information, and takes collection orders.
Can customers order coffee ahead with a QR code?
Yes, if your digital menu supports ordering. Put a QR code on the counter, window and takeaway cups.
Do digital menus charge commission?
None on this list do. Card providers charge their own fees.
Do cafés need to show calories?
Only businesses with 250 or more employees in England. Most independent cafés don't. If you want to show them anyway, Menuthere lets you add the kcal to each dish on every plan.
Sources (6)
- Menuthere, Pricing. Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://www.menuthere.com/en/pricing
- Square, Square for Restaurants pricing (UK). Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://squareup.com/gb/en/point-of-sale/restaurants/pricing
- MENU TIGER, Pricing. Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://www.menutiger.com/pricing
- FineDine, Pricing. Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://www.finedinemenu.com/en/pricing/
- Take App, Pricing (Basic free, 50 saved orders a month; Business US$50/month with card payments; 0% commission). Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://www.take.app/pricing
- Food Standards Agency, Allergen guidance for food businesses (GOV.UK). Accessed 11 Oct 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses