Not all free digital menu tools are equal. Here's what to look for and how the options compare.
Is it truly free or a trial? Can you update in real time? Does it work on phones and TVs? How many items? Do you need design skills?
Free forever, 20 items, public URL, categories, dietary tags, real-time 86ing, mobile dashboard. No credit card required.
Canva: free but static, requires re-export for every change. Google Docs: free but looks like a spreadsheet. POS systems: $69+/mo with proprietary hardware. QR generators: don't help you build the menu itself.
Stay free if you have 20 or fewer items. Upgrade when you need TV display, QR codes, custom branding, daily specials, or multi-language support.