Is a restaurant app worth it?
A restaurant app is worth it when the commission it saves beats what it costs. A $99-a-month app breaks even when it moves about 11 orders a month off a 30% delivery app at $30 each, because each one saves $9 in commission. It's not worth it for a restaurant with few repeat customers or no delivery-app orders to move.
How it works
- Count your repeat delivery-app orders a month: same names, same addresses.
- Multiply by your commission per order, like $9 on a $30 order at 30%.
- If that beats $99 a month plus setup, an app pays for itself.
What it costs
| Nomback plan | Monthly | One-time setup |
|---|---|---|
| Your own ordering and rewards app (iPhone and Android) | $99 | $399 |
| App and website | $129 | $399 |
| Website only | $79 | $149 |
No commission on any order and no fee added to your customers. Card payments go through Stripe at 2.9% + 30¢. Apple charges $99 a year and Google $25 once for the developer accounts, which are in your name. Month to month, and live in about two weeks. Full pricing.
The break-even table
Each order moved from a delivery app to your own app saves the commission. Against Nomback's $99 a month:
| Average order | Commission rate | Saved per order | Orders a month to cover $99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | 30% | $7.50 | 14 |
| $30 | 30% | $9.00 | 11 |
| $30 | 15% | $4.50 | 22 |
| $45 | 25% | $11.25 | 9 |
Add the $399 setup over the first year and that's about $33 a month more, or 4 extra orders at $30 and 30%.
Do customers use restaurant apps?
The big chains say yes. Starbucks app orders were 33% of U.S. company-operated transactions in mid-2026 (Starbucks). The National Restaurant Association found 57% of adults had recently used mobile ordering, and nearly 9 in 10 would use limited-time offers only available in a restaurant's app (NRA).
The honest counterpoint: people don't download apps for places they visit once a year. The app works for restaurants with regulars, which is most independents doing takeout.
When it is not worth it
- You get few repeat orders, like a tourist spot or a special-occasion restaurant.
- You're not on delivery apps and don't do much takeout, so there's no commission to save.
- Nobody on staff will hand out the card or send a push. The app works when you tell people about it.
Questions owners ask
How much does a restaurant app cost?
Branded app platforms run from about $99 to $499 a month. Nomback is $99 a month and $399 setup, no commission. Custom-built apps run into the tens of thousands.
How many orders does an app need to pay off?
About 11 orders a month moved off a 30% delivery app at $30 covers a $99 app.
Will my customers download an app?
Regulars will, if you give them a reason, like a free item on the first app order and a stamp card after that.
Is a website enough?
A website is good for people who search for you. An app keeps you on a regular's phone and lets you send push deals.
What's the risk?
With Nomback there's no contract, so the most you risk is the setup and a month or two of fees.
Is any restaurant actually using one?
Yes. Anthony's Pizzeria in Allentown, PA runs its own Nomback app in the App Store.
Related: A white-label loyalty app with your restaurant’s name on it, How to get off DoorDash without losing your customers, A coffee shop app with mobile order and rewards.
Sources
- DoorDash merchant pricing
- Starbucks Q3 FY26 Digital IR Dashboard
- National Restaurant Association: off-premises dining, Apr 16, 2025
- Anthony's Pizzeria Rewards in the App Store
- Nomback pricing
Prices and fees were checked on October 30, 2026. They change, so check the source before you decide.