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What is PlateForm?
PlateForm is a commission-free online ordering platform that allows restaurants to build, launch, and manage their own branded ordering website without paying per-order commissions. The platform offers three plans: Starter (free, subdomain, 1 branch, cash on delivery), Pro ($79/month, custom domain, card payments, AI chatbot, up to 5 branches, and a marketing suite with WhatsApp, SMS, and email messaging), and Scale ($159/month, white-label mobile apps, unlimited branches, POS integration, loyalty programs, and dedicated account management). All plans include zero commissions, real-time order management, distance-based delivery zones, phone verification via OTP, and full ownership of customer data and order history. See all {{link:/en/features|features}} or compare {{link:/en/pricing|pricing plans}}.
Who is this restaurant ordering system designed for?
PlateForm is designed for independent restaurants, cafes, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), and growing multi-location restaurant brands that want to own their online ordering experience without paying third-party commissions. The platform serves operators across the MENA region, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. Single-branch restaurants can start free on the Starter plan with a subdomain storefront. Growing brands with up to 5 locations can use the Pro plan ($79/month) for custom domain ordering and card payments. Restaurant chains needing unlimited branches, white-label mobile apps, and POS integration can use the Scale plan ($159/month). All plans include Arabic and English interfaces, RTL layout support, and full customer data ownership.
How is PlateForm different from food third-party apps?
PlateForm differs from third-party food delivery apps like Talabat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats in three fundamental ways. First, commissions: third-party apps charge restaurants between 15% and 30% per order, while PlateForm charges zero commissions on all plans, including its free Starter tier. Second, data ownership: aggregator platforms retain customer contact information, order history, and behavioral data, preventing restaurants from building direct customer relationships. PlateForm gives restaurants full ownership and export access to all customer and order data. Third, brand control: on aggregator platforms, restaurants appear as listings alongside competitors with standardized layouts. PlateForm provides restaurants with their own branded ordering website on a custom domain (Pro/Scale), maintaining brand identity and removing competitor visibility. Compare the differences on our {{link:/en/vs/third-party-apps|PlateForm vs Third-Party Apps}} page.
How does pricing work?
PlateForm uses a flat monthly subscription model with zero commissions on all plans. The Starter plan is free forever and includes one branch, a subdomain storefront, cash on delivery, and up to 100 menu items. The Pro plan costs $79 per month and adds a custom branded domain with auto-SSL, online card payments, an AI chatbot, advanced reporting, and a marketing suite with 250 WhatsApp messages, 1,000 SMS, and 3,000 emails included monthly. The Scale plan costs $159 per month and includes everything in Pro plus white-label mobile apps, unlimited branches, POS integration, loyalty programs, a dedicated account manager, and an expanded messaging quota. Annual billing is available at a 20% discount. Visit our {{link:/en/pricing|pricing page}} for a full plan comparison and savings calculator.
Is there a free trial?
PlateForm offers something better than a free trial: the Starter plan is free forever with no credit card required. With Starter, restaurants get their own ordering page on a subdomain (yourname.plateform.me), cash on delivery payments, up to 100 menu items, delivery zone management, and WhatsApp order notifications - all at zero cost. Restaurants can use Starter indefinitely to test demand and take orders from one branch. When ready for custom domain ordering, card payments, and advanced features like the AI chatbot and marketing suite, upgrading to Pro costs $79 per month. The upgrade can be done at any time from the dashboard, and the transition is instant with no data migration required.
Are there any hidden fees or commissions?
PlateForm charges zero commissions on all plans - the platform never takes a percentage of order revenue. Pricing is a flat monthly fee: Starter is free, Pro is $79 per month, and Scale is $159 per month. Annual billing is available at a 20% discount. Pro includes 250 WhatsApp messages, 1,000 SMS, and 3,000 emails per month. Scale includes 600 WhatsApp messages, 3,000 SMS, and 8,000 emails per month. If a restaurant exceeds its included messaging quota, additional messages are available at competitive pay-as-you-go rates. Payment processing fees from payment gateway providers (for card payments on Pro/Scale) are pass-through costs set by the gateway, not by PlateForm. There are no setup fees, no contract lock-ins, and restaurants can upgrade or downgrade plans at any time.
How quickly can I launch my restaurant?
Most restaurants using PlateForm launch their online ordering system within 2 to 4 hours after an initial onboarding session with PlateForm's setup team. The onboarding process includes menu migration from existing platforms or spreadsheets, brand configuration (logo, colors, domain mapping), delivery zone setup with distance-based fee calculation, and payment gateway integration for Pro and Scale customers. Starter plan users can self-serve the entire setup without technical assistance - adding menu items, uploading photos, and configuring delivery zones through the dashboard requires no coding knowledge. For Pro and Scale plans, PlateForm handles custom domain DNS configuration and provides automatic SSL certificate provisioning. {{link:/en/contact|Contact our team}} to schedule your onboarding session.
What technical knowledge do I need?
PlateForm requires minimal technical knowledge to operate. If a restaurant operator can edit a spreadsheet and upload images, they can manage their entire ordering system through the PlateForm dashboard. Menu items, photos, prices, availability schedules, and delivery zones are all managed through a visual interface without any coding. For Pro and Scale plans that include custom domain setup, PlateForm provides step-by-step DNS configuration instructions and handles automatic SSL certificate provisioning. The dashboard includes a real-time order management panel, analytics with weekly email summaries, and full data export in CSV and PDF formats. Explore all dashboard {{link:/en/features|features}} or {{link:/en/contact|talk to our team}} for a walkthrough.
Do you help with menu migration?
Yes, PlateForm provides menu migration assistance for restaurants switching from other platforms or starting fresh. The platform supports menu import from CSV files, allowing restaurants to upload their entire menu structure including items, categories, options, modifiers, and pricing in a single operation. Restaurants can also add menu items manually through the dashboard, which includes photo uploads, availability scheduling, and modifier management. For Pro and Scale customers, PlateForm's onboarding team offers guided migration support to ensure menus are correctly configured with all options, combos, and pricing. Menu items support photos, descriptions, availability schedules, and change history with audit trails for compliance. The entire menu management system syncs in real time, so changes made in the dashboard are immediately reflected on the customer-facing ordering page.
What payment methods are supported?
PlateForm supports multiple payment methods across its pricing tiers. The Starter plan (free) includes cash on delivery (COD), which remains the dominant payment method in MENA markets. The Pro plan ($79/month) and Scale plan ($159/month) add online card and digital wallet payments through integrated payment gateways, with availability varying by region and payment provider partnerships. All plans include phone verification via one-time password (OTP) at checkout, which reduces failed orders by approximately 60% by confirming the customer's identity before order submission. Restaurants receive order payments directly through their own payment gateway accounts - PlateForm does not act as a payment intermediary or hold merchant funds. Order notifications are sent instantly via WhatsApp Business, allowing restaurants to accept or refuse each order in real time.
Can stores accept or refuse orders?
Yes, PlateForm gives restaurant operators full control over incoming orders. When a new order is placed, the store receives an instant notification via WhatsApp Business containing the order details, customer information, and delivery address. The notification includes Accept and Refuse action buttons that the store can tap directly within WhatsApp. When a store accepts or refuses an order, the status updates automatically in the PlateForm dashboard and the customer is notified of the decision. This workflow ensures that restaurants are never locked into fulfilling orders they cannot handle due to capacity, ingredient availability, or operating hours. The system also supports order management through the PlateForm dashboard, where operators can view, filter, and manage all orders with full status tracking.
How are delivery fees calculated?
PlateForm calculates delivery fees using a distance-based pricing model that restaurants configure through their dashboard. Restaurant operators define delivery zones by setting distance tiers from their location (for example, 0-3 km, 3-7 km, 7-12 km) and assign a delivery fee to each tier. Alternatively, restaurants can set flat-rate fees for specific named zones. The system uses the customer's delivery address or map pin to automatically calculate the applicable fee at checkout. Restaurants retain full control over their delivery fee structure - PlateForm does not add any surcharge or take any percentage of delivery fees. Minimum order values can also be set per delivery zone. This approach allows restaurants to balance delivery costs with order volume, adjusting fees by distance to ensure profitability on each delivery without overcharging nearby customers.