Do I need a cashier (POS) system or just an ordering system?
By the Menuthere editorial team · Updated
They are different things. A cashier (POS) such as Foodics, from about SAR 423 a month, runs in-store payment, inventory and ZATCA e-invoicing. An ordering system such as Menuthere, from $0 at 0% commission, takes direct orders through your site, QR and WhatsApp. A dine-in restaurant usually needs a cashier; a place that mainly wants direct orders can start with an ordering system. Many use both. Updated October 2026.
- A cashier (POS) = in-store payment, inventory, reports and ZATCA e-invoicing from the till.
- An ordering system = website, QR and WhatsApp to take direct orders at 0% commission.
- Menuthere is not a cashier and not a ZATCA e-invoicing provider; it is a 0% online-ordering layer.
- A cloud kitchen or takeout café may need only an ordering system; a dine-in restaurant needs a cashier.
- Start free on Menuthere Free ($0), then Lite $17 and Pro $39 with a 14-day trial.
A 0% ordering layer alongside your cashier
Menuthere takes your direct orders through a website, QR menu and WhatsApp at 0% commission on every order, and works alongside the cashier in your store. Start free with no hardware; ZATCA invoicing stays with your approved POS.
What is the difference between a cashier and an ordering system?
A cashier (POS) is what runs selling inside the store: taking payment, printing, inventory, reports and ZATCA e-invoicing from the till. An online ordering system has a different job: letting the customer order from you remotely through your website, QR code and WhatsApp, with the order landing in your dashboard at 0% commission. The first serves the counter; the second serves direct, remote orders.
| Cashier (e.g. Foodics) | Ordering system (Menuthere) | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | In-store payment and selling | Direct remote orders |
| Price | From ~SAR 423/mo + hardware | From $0, 0% commission |
| Inventory and reports | Yes | No (not a cashier) |
| ZATCA e-invoicing | Yes, from the till | No (not an invoicing provider) |
| Website/QR/WhatsApp ordering | Limited/add-on | Core and free |
When is an ordering system enough on its own?
An ordering system alone is enough if your business leans on takeout, delivery or pre-orders more than counter sales — a cloud kitchen, a bakery, a cart, a small café that takes cash. Then you start on Menuthere Free at $0 and 0% commission, and take cash or payment on pickup for free. But if you have a busy counter with card payments and inventory, a cashier stays essential for the store.
Can I use a cashier and an ordering system together?
Yes, and it is the most common setup. Keep the cashier in-store for selling, inventory and ZATCA invoices, and add Menuthere to take direct orders online at 0% commission instead of paying a cut to delivery apps. The two do not clash: the cashier for the counter, the ordering system for your own channel. Compare cashier alternatives for ordering in the best Foodics alternative for online ordering.
Who this is a good fit for
- A cloud kitchen, café or bakery that is takeout-first and mainly wants direct orders at 0% commission.
- A restaurant that already has a cashier and wants to add a commission-free online ordering channel.
- Owners who want to start free without buying hardware.
Who this is not for
- A dine-in restaurant that needs in-store payment, inventory and ZATCA e-invoicing from the till: Foodics or a ZATCA-approved POS fits better.
- Owners who want a counter cashier device; Menuthere runs in the browser and on a phone, not as a till.
Common follow-up questions
Is Menuthere a cashier system?
No. Menuthere is not a cashier (POS) and does not run in-store payment or inventory, and it is not a ZATCA e-invoicing provider. It is an online ordering system that gives you a website, QR and WhatsApp at 0% commission on every order.
Does Menuthere issue ZATCA invoices?
No. Compliant ZATCA e-invoices come from a ZATCA-approved POS or accounting system such as Foodics, not from Menuthere. Menuthere keeps a clean order record you can hand to your invoicing system.
How much does starting with an ordering system instead of a cashier cost?
You start on the Free plan at $0 with 0% commission and 50 orders a month, then Lite at $17 or Pro at $39 a month, with a 14-day free trial on both paid plans.
Read next
Sources (3)
- Restaurant POS pricing in Saudi Arabia (Foodics from ~SAR 423), Chefpin, read 25 October 2026
- E-invoicing (Fatoora) — ZATCA, ZATCA, read 25 October 2026
- Menuthere pricing — 0% commission on every plan, Menuthere, read 25 October 2026