Free QR menu: what you get and when paying makes sense
You can run a QR menu without paying anything, and for many bars that's enough. This guide shows what the free route gives you, where it falls short, and how to compare if you're thinking of paying.
The 100% free route
- Put your menu PDF somewhere public (your website or cloud storage with a public link) and make the code with any free QR generator.
- Use a static QR: it points straight to your link and never expires. Some free "dynamic" QR codes stop working when a trial ends, and you'd have to reprint every table card.
- Limits: PDFs read badly on phones, don't translate themselves, can't filter allergens, and every price change means remaking the PDF (in every language).
Free plans of digital menu services
Many services have a free plan with limits: number of dishes or languages, ads or the provider's branding, or no ordering. Check what happens to your QR if you leave.
When paying makes sense
- You get many foreign guests and staff spend time translating the menu out loud.
- You change prices or dishes often, and keeping PDFs in several languages is a mess.
- You want guests to order from the table, with the ticket reaching the kitchen in your language.
- Guests need to filter allergens in their own language.
How to compare paid options
- Final price including VAT, per-order commission (yes/no), lock-in, number of languages, who translates and whether you can correct it, how the 14 allergens are shown, and whether you can take your menu with you.
- For reference: MenuDoro costs €79.90/month or €598.80/year (€49.90/month), VAT included, no commission, no lock-in, first month free with no card. If you don't need languages or ordering, the free route is probably enough.
How it works
- Upload your menu as PDF, Excel or text (or send it to us and we upload it for free). Review it and publish.
- MenuDoro translates it into 10 languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Greek and Chinese.
- Print one QR code per table. Guests scan it with their camera, no app to download, and see the menu in their language.
- They order from their phone. The ticket reaches the kitchen screen in your language, with table and dishes in writing.
Frequently asked questions
- Do free QR codes expire?
- A static QR doesn't: the link is inside the code. What can stop working is the link it points to, or a dynamic QR from a trial service.
- Can a PDF menu meet allergen rules?
- In the EU, yes, if it includes the allergen information and guests can see it before ordering. Keep an alternative for people who don't use a phone.
- Is there a free option with table ordering?
- Some exist, with limits or a per-order commission. Compare the real cost with your order volume.
Price
One plan per restaurant: €79.90 a month, or €598.80 a year (€49.90 a month). VAT included. No commission per order, unlimited tables, no lock-in. The first month is free and we don't ask for a card.
Related guides
No made-up numbers: MenuDoro is a new product and this page describes what it does today. Updated: 2026-10-13.