Updated September 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team
Progression Agency builds branded restaurant apps for independent restaurants, groups and franchises: online ordering, rewards, reservations and catering — integrated with your POS so orders flow straight to the kitchen and guests order from you, not a marketplace.
On this page · 11 sections
- What is restaurant app development?
- Restaurant apps we build
- What features does a restaurant app need?
- Integrations for restaurant apps
- Security, privacy and store rules for restaurant apps
- Our restaurant app development process
- How much does it cost to build a restaurant app?
- Technology for restaurant apps
- Mistakes to avoid when building a restaurant app
- Why choose Progression Agency for restaurant app development?
- Related app development services
The short answerRestaurant app development is building branded apps for ordering, pickup and delivery, loyalty, reservations and catering, integrated with POS and kitchen systems. A restaurant ordering and rewards app commonly costs $50,000-$150,000 depending on POS integration and locations.
Cost ranges are US planning figures, not quotes.
What is restaurant app development?
Restaurant app development is designing and building a restaurant’s own mobile ordering, loyalty and reservation app.
A branded app lets restaurants own guest relationships and reduce third-party commissions; see restaurant websites and restaurant marketing for the rest of the funnel.
Restaurant apps we build
Our restaurant app development services cover these product types.
Ordering apps
Pickup, curbside and delivery with modifiers, scheduling and saved favorites.
Loyalty and rewards
Points, offers and birthday rewards tied to every order.
Reservation and waitlist
Table booking and waitlists.
Catering ordering
Large-order flows with lead times and invoicing.
QR table ordering and kiosks
Order and pay at the table or counter.
Multi-location and franchise apps
Location-aware menus and central management.
A branded app lets restaurants own guest relationships and reduce third-party commissions; see restaurant websites and restaurant marketing for the rest of the funnel.
What features does a restaurant app need?
The features users expect on day one.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Menu with modifiers | Accurate orders |
| Fast reorder | Repeat purchase |
| Loyalty | Retention |
| POS integration | Orders to the kitchen |
| Scheduled orders | Plan ahead |
| Delivery options | Own drivers or partners |
| Push offers | Drive visits |
| Location awareness | Right menu, right store |
Integrations for restaurant apps
The services these apps typically connect to.
| System | What we connect |
|---|---|
| POS | Toast, Square, Clover and others via APIs |
| Payments | Cards, wallets |
| Delivery partners | On-demand courier services |
| Reservations | Table management |
| Marketing | Email and SMS |
| Analytics | Sales and repeat rate |
Security, privacy and store rules for restaurant apps
Payments and accessibility obligations apply.
- PCI-compliant payment providers.
- Accessible ordering (WCAG 2.2).
- Accurate allergen and menu information.
- App store rules for in-app ordering of physical goods.
Our restaurant app development process
We validate the restaurant concept and target users, define a first release around the core loop, prototype and test the flows, build cross-platform or native in two-week sprints, prepare App Store and Google Play submissions, and launch with analytics and acquisition campaigns.
How much does it cost to build a restaurant app?
As a planning range, an ordering and rewards app commonly costs $50,000-$120,000 and a multi-location platform with catering and reservations $120,000-$200,000.
| Scope | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering + rewards app | $50,000-$120,000 | 3-5 months |
| QR / kiosk ordering | $30,000-$80,000 | 2-3 months |
| Multi-location platform | $120,000-$200,000 | 5-7 months |
Technology for restaurant apps
Chosen for speed to both stores and long-term maintainability.
| Layer | Choice |
|---|---|
| Mobile | React Native or Flutter; native Swift/Kotlin where needed |
| Backend | Node.js or Python APIs |
| Data | PostgreSQL, Redis |
| Real time | WebSockets or managed messaging |
| Payments | Stripe, Apple and Google in-app purchase |
| Analytics | Firebase, product analytics |
Mistakes to avoid when building a restaurant app
What sinks apps in this category.
- Menus that do not match the POS.
- Slow reorder flows.
- Loyalty disconnected from orders.
- Ignoring kitchen timing.
- One menu for every location.
- No marketing plan to move guests to the app.
Why choose Progression Agency for restaurant app development?
We build the app and help it get users.
- POS integration experience.
- Fast-reorder UX.
- Restaurant marketing to shift guests from marketplaces.
- You own the code and developer accounts.
- Headquartered in New York City, working with clients nationwide and worldwide.
Related app development services
See delivery app development, restaurant websites and restaurant marketing.
Building a restaurant app?
Tell us the idea and audience. We will propose a first release, platform approach and planning estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a restaurant app cost?
How long does restaurant app development take?
Can the app send orders to our POS?
Do we need our own delivery drivers?
Can you build a loyalty program?
Can you add reservations?
Can you build QR table ordering?
Why build our own app instead of using marketplaces?
Can the app handle multiple locations?
Can you build catering ordering?
What POS systems do you integrate?
Native or cross-platform?
How do we get guests to use the app?
Can you add gift cards?
What tech stack do you use?
How much maintenance is required?
What should I look for in a restaurant app developer?
Do you build franchise apps?
Who owns the app?
Where is Progression Agency located?
How do restaurant app development companies price a project?
Planning an app?We build branded ordering, rewards and reservation apps integrated with your POS so orders reach the kitchen directly.
Get a free marketing proposal
Tell us what you are trying to grow and we will come back with a plan, not a pitch deck. Same-day reply on weekdays.