The honest answer: most successful restaurants use both, but they serve different customers.
Websites reach everyone, instantly. No download required — a customer scans a QR code or clicks a link from Google and orders straight away. Best for first-time customers and anyone browsing on the go.
Apps win with regulars. An app on someone’s home screen is a direct line to your most loyal customers. Push notifications for offers, faster reordering, and loyalty tracking all work better in an app — but customers won’t download one for a takeaway they’ve only used once.
Websites are cheaper to maintain and update. Menu changes, price updates and new items go live instantly, with nothing for the customer to update.
The practical approach. Start with a strong ordering website — it’s what most first-time and occasional customers will use. Add an app once you have a base of repeat customers worth rewarding with a faster, more personal experience.
Both should run on one system. Orders from your website and app need to land in the same EPOS, so nothing gets missed or double-handled in the kitchen.
CholoEAT gives you a branded ordering website and mobile app together, both connected to one EPOS system. See how it works.
