ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, Square is probably the simplest low-cost choice.

My shortlist

• squareup.com — best fit for most small bakeries

• $0/month on the Free plan.
• You can create a simple ordering page, take online payments, and offer pickup or local delivery.
• Online card processing is currently 3.3% + $0.30 on the Free plan. Square Square
• You can set ordering windows, pickup times, delivery areas, and minimum/maximum order amounts. Square
• Particularly convenient if you already use Square for in-person payments.
• pos.toasttab.com — worth considering if you're becoming more restaurant-like

• Strong online ordering and POS integration, with commission-free direct ordering. Toast Support Center Toast POS
• But for a bakery selling just a few items, I'd investigate the subscription cost before choosing it; it isn't as straightforwardly "free" as Square.
• shopify.com — probably unnecessary for you right now

• Excellent if you eventually sell lots of products, ship baked goods, or build a larger e-commerce operation.
• The current Basic plan starts at $29/month when billed annually, so it's harder to justify for a tiny local menu. Shopify

What I'd do in your situation

I'd start with Square Free and make a very simple page:

[Bakery name]
Fresh baked goods — order ahead for pickup

• 🍪 Cookies — $X
• 🧁 Cupcakes — $X
• 🍞 Bread — $X
• 🎂 Custom orders — contact us

Choose pickup date/time → Pay → Done

You don't need a full website initially. Square lets you create a single ordering page, so you can simply put that link in your Instagram/Facebook bio and Google Business Profile. Square Square

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether customers pick up or you deliver, and whether you already use Square, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost per order.

For a small bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it very simple and avoid paying for a full e-commerce platform.

My shortlist

• squareup.com — probably the best fit

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when customers order.
• Built specifically for food businesses, with pickup, curbside pickup, local delivery, ordering windows, and item availability. Square Square
• You can have a standalone ordering page, so you don't even need to build a separate website.
• Particularly good if you also take payments in person with Square.
• clover.com — good if you already use Clover

• Clover says its online ordering has no subscription or setup fee, although normal online card-processing fees apply. Clover Clover
• Orders can flow directly into your Clover system.
• I wouldn't buy Clover hardware just to get an inexpensive ordering page, though.
• pos.toasttab.com — better for a larger food operation

• Offers commission-free ordering and strong POS/menu integration. Toast Support Center Toast POS
• But for a bakery selling only a few items, Toast can be more infrastructure than you need.

What I'd do in your situation

Start with Square Free. You could have something like:

[Your Bakery Name]
Fresh bread • Cookies • Cakes

🥐 Croissants — $4
🍪 Cookie Box — $18
🎂 8" Cake — $35

Choose pickup date/time → Pay → Done

You can put the Square ordering-page link in your Instagram/Facebook bio, Google Business Profile, and on a QR code at the bakery. Square specifically supports an "Order Online" layout intended for prepared food and local pickup/delivery. Square

If you tell me roughly how many orders you expect per week and whether customers will pick up, get delivery, or both, I can compare the actual costs of Square vs. a couple of alternatives for your bakery.

For a small local bakery with just a handful of products, Square Online is probably the simplest low-cost choice.

My shortlist

• 🥇 Square Online — best fit for a small bakery

• $0/month on the Free plan.
• You can create an ordering page, accept online payments, and offer pickup.
• Square's current Free plan charges 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments. Square Square
• Particularly convenient if you also take payments in person with Square.
• You can start without buying a website/domain or expensive software. Square
• squareup.com
• Toast — worth considering if you're becoming more of a restaurant operation

• Toast Online Ordering provides a branded ordering page and says it doesn't charge third-party commission on orders. Toast Support Center Toast POS
• However, for only a few bakery items, its broader restaurant/POS ecosystem may be more than you need.
• Shopify — good if you're planning to grow into a larger online store

• Much more powerful for a traditional ecommerce business, but Shopify's current Basic plan is $29/month when billed annually (or $39 month-to-month), so I'd generally avoid it for a tiny bakery menu. Shopify

What I'd do in your situation

I'd start with Square Free and make the ordering page extremely simple:

Cookies | Bread | Cakes | Pickup date/time → Pay

You don't need a complicated website. Put the Square ordering link in your Instagram/Facebook bio, Google Business Profile, and on a QR code at the bakery.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you do pickup/delivery, and whether you already use Square for in-person payments, I can tell you exactly how I'd set it up and what it would cost per $100 of orders.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online.

My recommendation: Square Online

squareup.com

Why it fits your situation:

• $0/month on the Square Free plan — you pay payment-processing fees when you actually make a sale. Square Square
• You can create a simple online ordering page with your bakery items. Square specifically supports prepared food and beverage businesses. Square
• Customers can choose pickup, curbside pickup, or local delivery. Square Square
• You can set pickup/order windows, which is particularly useful for a bakery that makes items in batches. Square
• If you take orders in person too, Square can keep your online and in-person sales/catalog together.
• You don't need to build a complicated website. You can essentially give customers one link such as yourbakery.square.site and put it in your Instagram/Google profile.

What I'd avoid for now

Toast is good, but I'd consider it overkill for a tiny bakery unless you're already using Toast POS. Its online ordering is designed around restaurant operations and POS integration. Toast Support Center Toast POS

Wix/Shopify can make a prettier full website, but if your immediate need is simply "Here are my 8 products—choose a quantity, select pickup time, pay", you don't need that complexity.

A simple setup I'd use

Homepage/order page

🍞 Bakery Name
Fresh baked goods available for pickup

Order for Pickup

• Sourdough loaf — $8
• Croissants — $4
• Chocolate chip cookies — $3
• Cinnamon rolls — $5
• Weekend pastry box — $24

Choose pickup date & time → Pay → Done

I'd also set up Google Business Profile + Instagram → Square ordering page so customers have an obvious path from finding you to actually placing an order.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you do pickup/delivery, and whether you already use a POS (Square, Clover, etc.), I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd personally use for your bakery, including the likely fees per $100 of orders.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online.

Square is particularly well suited to this because you don't need a full e-commerce website—you can create a simple ordering page with your products, pickup times, and payment. Square currently offers a $0/month Free plan, with fees charged when customers pay online. Square Square

My recommendation

🥇 Square Online — best overall

• $0 monthly subscription on the Free plan.
• Gives you a simple online ordering page.
• Customers can choose pickup or local delivery.
• You can set ordering windows, minimum orders, and delivery fees.
• You can use a free square.site web address, so you don't even need to buy a domain initially. Square Square
• Your online orders can connect with Square's POS if you use Square in the bakery.
• Online card processing on the current U.S. Square Free plan is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. Square

squareup.com

🥈 A simple website + Square payment link
If you mainly want a nice-looking page showing your 5–10 products, you could make a basic website elsewhere and put a "Order Now" button on it. This is inexpensive, but I'd only do this if appearance/branding is more important than having the ordering system integrated.

🥉 Shopify
I'd skip it for now. It's excellent when you have a larger catalog or need sophisticated e-commerce, but for "I make 6 kinds of bread/cookies/cakes and customers pick them up locally," it's more infrastructure than you need.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd make a page roughly like:

[Bakery Name]
Freshly baked in [City]

Order for pickup
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $12/dozen
🥐 Croissants — $18/half-dozen
🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $9
🎂 Custom Cakes — Request a quote

Pickup: Fridays & Saturdays, 9 AM–2 PM
Order by: Thursday at noon

[ORDER NOW]

Square supports the food-specific Order Online layout and lets you share the ordering page via a link or QR code. Square Square

For a bakery with just a few items, I'd choose Square unless you already have another platform you're paying for. It's probably the lowest-friction way to go from "customers message me to order" to "customers click a link and place the order."

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you need pickup vs. delivery, and whether you already use Square for in-person payments, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per month.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it very simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant platform.

My top pick: squareup.com

Square Free is probably the best fit for you because:

• $0 monthly subscription on the Free plan—you pay processing fees when someone orders. Square Square
• You can create a single online ordering page rather than building a complicated website. Square
• It supports pickup, curbside pickup, and local delivery. Square Square
• Customers can pay online.
• You can add a few products such as cookies, cakes, breads, etc., with photos, descriptions, prices, and options.
• If you later get a Square card reader/POS, your online and in-person orders can be managed together.

For a bakery selling, say, 10–30 products, this is exactly the kind of setup I'd use.

Other options

Clover is worth considering if you already have a Clover POS: its online ordering page has no subscription/setup fee for online ordering, although Clover itself has monthly software/hardware costs. Clover Clover

I wouldn't choose Toast for a tiny bakery unless you already use Toast. It's designed around a much broader restaurant/POS ecosystem, and some of its more customized online-ordering functionality requires additional subscriptions. Toast Support Center

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd set up:

Your bakery → simple Square ordering page → customer chooses items → chooses pickup time → pays online → you receive the order.

Then put the Square ordering-page link in your Google Business Profile, Instagram, Facebook, and business cards.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you need pickup vs. delivery, and whether you already use Square/another POS, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd choose and exactly what it would cost per order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of items, I’d start with Square.

My picks

1. squareup.com — best overall

• $0/month on the Square Free plan.
• You can make a simple ordering page, add your bakery items, and let customers choose pickup/delivery options.
• No setup or monthly subscription fee; you pay payment processing when someone orders. In the U.S., Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments on its Free plan. Square Square
• Particularly good if you also want to take payments in person at the bakery, farmers markets, etc.
• bakesy.app — best bakery-specific option

• Designed specifically for bakers.
• $9.99/month for Standard or $17.99/month for Premium, with a 30-day free trial.
• Includes customer order forms, availability, automated receipts, photos/gallery, payments, and a bakery website. Bakesy
• I'd consider this if you have custom cakes, preorder windows, limited quantities, or lots of bakery-specific ordering requirements.
• Shopify — probably overkill for you

• Excellent if you eventually want a substantial ecommerce operation, but a small bakery selling 5–10 items generally doesn't need the extra complexity/cost. Shopify's current standard setup starts around $29/month according to its 2026 guide. Shopify

What I'd do in your situation

Start with Square Free. Make one very simple page:

Bakery Name
Freshly baked locally

🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
🥐 Croissants — $4
🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $9
🎂 Custom Cakes — Contact Us

[Order for Pickup]

Put the ordering link in your Instagram/Facebook bio, Google Business Profile, and a QR code at the bakery.

You can start at $0/month, and if your bakery grows, Square gives you room to add more features without having to rebuild everything. Square Square

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell (e.g. 5, 10, 20) and whether customers need pickup, delivery, or both, I can tell you which platform I'd choose and what the cheapest setup would be.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, you probably don’t need a full e-commerce website. The best platform depends on whether you mainly need pickup orders, delivery, or just a simple menu/order form.

Here are good low-cost options:

My recommendation for a small bakery

• If you have 5–20 items and mostly do local pickup: Start with Square Online. It’s simple, inexpensive, and built for exactly this use case.
• If you already have lots of customers ordering through Instagram/Facebook: Use a simple order page (Square or Shopify Starter) and put the link everywhere.
• If you want customers to discover you through Google: Set up a Google Business Profile and connect your ordering page.

A simple setup could be:

1. Create a Square Online menu.
2. Add items with photos, prices, and pickup windows.
3. Add your order link to Instagram, Facebook, and Google.
4. Turn on email/text order notifications.

A few questions would help narrow it down:

• Do you sell pickup only, or do you deliver?
• Are you already using Square, Clover, Toast, or another payment system?
• Roughly how many orders do you expect per week?

1. Create a Square Online menu.
2. Add items with photos, prices, and pickup windows.
3. Add your order link to Instagram, Facebook, and Google.
4. Turn on email/text order notifications.

A few questions would help narrow it down:

For a small local bakery with only a few items, I’d prioritize low monthly cost + simple ordering + pickup/delivery options, rather than a full e-commerce platform.

My top picks are:

• Square Online — probably the best overall choice. You can start with a free online ordering site, list a small menu, accept online payments, and connect it with Square POS if you use it in-store. You mainly pay payment-processing fees on orders.
• Toast — good if you already use Toast for your bakery, but usually more than you need for a very small operation.
• Shopify — powerful, but I wouldn’t choose it for just a handful of bakery items unless you expect to expand significantly.
• Wix — easy to make a nice-looking website, but the ordering/payment features can make it less inexpensive than Square.
• Google Business Profile + ordering link — useful as a companion, so customers searching for your bakery on Google can easily find your menu/order page.

My recommendation: start with Square Online. For something like 5–15 products (cakes, cookies, bread, pastries, etc.), it should be plenty without saddling you with a big monthly subscription.

If you tell me what you sell, whether orders are pickup or delivery, and roughly how many orders you get per week, I can compare the cheapest 2–3 options for your bakery, including their current fees.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online.

My recommendation

• 🥇 Square Online — best overall for you

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when someone orders. Square Square
• You can create a simple ordering page with photos, prices, variations, pickup, and local delivery. Square Square
• Customers can simply click a link from Google, Instagram, Facebook, or a QR code.
• Particularly good if you already use Square for taking payments in the bakery.
• Current U.S. online processing on Square Free is 3.3% + 30¢ per online transaction. Square
• 🥈 Clover — worth considering if you already use Clover

• Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription/setup fee, with card-not-present processing fees applying. Clover
• However, its online ordering requires a compatible Clover POS setup, so I wouldn't buy Clover just for the website if you're starting from scratch. Clover
• 🥉 Toast — better for a larger food operation

• Toast has commission-free direct online ordering, but it's more of a restaurant/POS ecosystem than you need for a tiny bakery menu. Toast Support Center

What I'd actually do

For, say, 5–15 bakery items, I'd make the ordering page extremely simple:

Your Bakery

Fresh baked goods — order online for pickup

Menu

• Cookies — $X
• Cupcakes — $X
• Bread — $X
• Cake — $X
• Pastry box — $X

Then:
Choose quantity → choose pickup date/time → pay → receive confirmation.

You don't need a complicated website, delivery marketplace, or expensive restaurant POS.

squareup.com

If you tell me what you sell, roughly how many orders you get per week, and whether you already use Square/Clover/another payment system, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest in actual dollars for your bakery.

squareup.com

For a small local bakery with only a handful of items, I’d keep it very simple. My first choice would be Square.

🥇 Best overall: squareup.com

Square is particularly well suited to what you described:

• $0/month on the Free plan — no website subscription required. Square Square
• Customers can order for pickup, and you can also set up local delivery. Square Square
• You get a simple ordering page with your bakery's products, photos, prices, hours, etc.
• You can share one ordering link on Instagram, Facebook, Google, flyers, QR codes, and business cards.
• Payments are handled through Square. In the U.S., the current Free-plan online processing rate is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. Square
• If you eventually have a physical counter/POS, your online and in-person orders can be managed together. Square

For example, if you sell cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and bread, your page could essentially be:

Your Bakery
🍪 Cookies — $18/dozen
🧁 Cupcakes — $24/dozen
🍰 8" Cake — $45
🍞 Sourdough — $9

Choose pickup date → Pay → Done

That's probably all you need.

🥈 Toast

pos.toasttab.com is worth considering if you're planning to become a more substantial bakery/café with lots of menu customization, employees, kitchen operations, etc. Toast has strong bakery-specific menu functionality and direct online ordering. Toast Support Center Toast Support Center

But for "I sell a few things and just need customers to order online," I'd consider Toast more system than you need.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Square Free. Don't pay for a fancy website yet.

You can have:

Google/Instagram → Square ordering page → customer pays → you make the order → customer picks it up.

Square also lets you put an ordering link on your Google Business Profile, which is useful because people searching for your bakery can go directly from Google to ordering. support.google.com

If you tell me what your bakery sells (e.g. cakes, cookies, bread), whether you do pickup or delivery, and roughly how many orders you get per week, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per month.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full restaurant-management system.

My top pick: Square

Square is probably the best fit if you want a simple ordering page with pickup and online payment.

• $0/month on Square’s Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when someone orders. Square Square
• You can create a single ordering page rather than building a complicated website. Square
• Customers can choose fulfillment options such as pickup.
• It works especially well if you already use Square for taking payments in person.
• You can add photos, prices, descriptions, availability, and options/modifiers for things like cake sizes or flavors.

squareup.com

Other good options

• Ecwid — good if you already have a website and just want to add a small store. Its Starter plan supports up to 10 products, and Ecwid says it charges no transaction fees of its own, although your payment processor still charges processing fees. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid Help Center

ecwid.com

• Wix — better if you want a beautiful bakery website plus ordering, rather than just an ordering page. Wix has restaurant/food ordering functionality with pickup and delivery options. wix.com Wix Help Center

wix.com

• Toast — excellent for a larger bakery/café with a POS, but I'd consider it overkill for just a few products. Toast's online ordering is designed to integrate closely with its POS. Toast Support Center Toast Support Center

What I'd do in your situation

Start with Square Free. You could have a page like:

Order from [Your Bakery]
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
🧁 Cupcakes — $4
🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $8
🎂 6" Custom Cake — $35

Pickup: Friday–Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM
Order cutoff: Thursday at noon
[Order Now]

That gets you online without committing to a monthly subscription.

If you tell me (1) what your 3–10 bakery items are, (2) whether you want pickup, delivery, or both, and (3) whether you already use Square, I can recommend the cheapest setup and tell you exactly how I'd structure the ordering page.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d strongly recommend Square Online.

My pick: squareup.com

Square’s Free plan is $0/month and lets you create a simple ordering website, take online payments, and offer pickup/local delivery. You only pay payment-processing fees when someone orders. Square Square

For a bakery, it’s especially convenient because you can set things like:

• Pickup days and time windows
• Local delivery
• Order cutoffs/lead times
• Product variations and add-ons
• Photos and descriptions
• A simple branded ordering page

Online payments on Square Free are currently 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. Square

Other options

• Toast — Good if you're already using Toast for your POS. Its online ordering can be commission-free and integrates directly with Toast, but I'd consider it more infrastructure than you need if you're a tiny bakery. Toast Support Center Toast POS
• Shopify — Excellent if you eventually want a larger e-commerce operation, shipping, subscriptions, lots of products, etc. But at $29/month when billed annually for Basic, it's probably unnecessary for a small bakery menu. Shopify
• A custom website + ordering system — I'd skip this initially. You'd be paying for complexity you probably don't need.

Bottom line: Start with Square Free. You can have something like:

[Your Bakery Name]
Fresh bread • Cookies • Cakes • Pastries
Order for Pickup
Friday & Saturday pickup
[View Menu & Order]

…and put that ordering link in your Google Business Profile, Instagram, Facebook, and business cards.

If you tell me what you sell, roughly how many orders you get per week, whether you offer pickup/delivery, and whether you already use Square, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per month.

For a small local bakery with just a few items, you probably don’t need a full e-commerce store. The best choice is usually a simple ordering page with low fees, easy menu updates, and pickup options.

Here are some good options:

My recommendation for a small bakery

I’d start with Square Online if:

• you have 5–30 items,
• most orders are pickup,
• you want something running quickly,
• you don’t want a monthly bill.

A simple setup could be:

1. Create a Square Online page.
2. Add your best sellers only (cookies, cakes, breads, seasonal items).
3. Enable pickup windows (for example, “Pickup Saturday 9–12”).
4. Add your ordering link to your Google Business Profile and Instagram.

If you already have a website and just need an order button, another lightweight option is ecwid.com, which can add ordering to an existing site.

A couple of details would change the recommendation:

• Do you mainly sell same-day items (bread/cookies) or preorders (cakes/custom orders)?
• Do you already use a payment system like Square, Clover, Toast, or something else?
• Are you offering pickup only, or delivery too?

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full e-commerce platform.

My top pick: squareup.com

Square Free is probably the best fit for you. It lets you create a simple ordering page with $0/month subscription cost. You pay processing fees when customers actually order. Square Square

You can set up:

• Your 5–20 bakery items
• Product photos and descriptions
• Pickup dates/times
• Local delivery
• Online payments
• A shareable ordering link and QR code
• Your branding/logo

Square's current U.S. online processing rate on the Free plan is 3.3% + $0.30 per online transaction. Square Square

For example, on a $30 order, the processing fee would be about $1.29, leaving you about $28.71 before other costs.

What I'd choose for your situation

shopify.com currently starts at $29/month when billed annually for Basic, so I'd only move to Shopify if you eventually need a more sophisticated online store. Shopify

Toast is another strong option if you're already using Toast POS; its online ordering can be commission-free, but online ordering is part of its paid Digital Storefront offering, so I wouldn't choose it solely to save money. Toast Support Center Toast POS

If I were setting up your bakery, I'd start with Square Free: one clean page, your products, pickup windows, payment, and a QR code you can put on your bags/business cards/Instagram.

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week and whether you need pickup, delivery, or both, I can tell you which setup would cost you the least and what I'd use.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it very simple:

🥇 My pick: squareup.com

Square is probably the best fit for you, especially if you also take payments in person.

• $0 monthly cost on Square Free—you pay processing fees when someone orders. Square Square
• Gives you a proper online ordering page rather than just a contact form.
• Customers can choose pickup or local delivery. Square Square
• You can set pickup times/order windows, minimum orders, delivery fees, etc.
• It works particularly well for prepared food, and Square specifically supports an “Order Online” layout for food businesses. Square
• You can put the ordering link on your Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile, and business cards.
• Google lets businesses add custom ordering links to their Business Profile, so customers finding you through Google can get straight to your order page. Google Help

One thing to watch: Square's current U.S. Free pricing lists online payments at 3.3% + 30¢ per transaction. Square

Other options

Clover is worth considering if you already use Clover for taking payments. Its online ordering page has no subscription or setup fee, although online card-processing fees apply. Clover

Toast is more restaurant-oriented. I'd skip it for a tiny bakery unless you're expecting to grow into a larger operation with more restaurant-style needs.

What I'd do in your situation

I'd make a very simple Square page:

Your Bakery

• 🍞 Sourdough — $10
• 🥐 Croissants — $4
• 🍪 Chocolate chip cookies — $3
• 🎂 Weekly special — $X

Then:

Choose pickup → choose date/time → pay → receive confirmation.

No expensive website, no complicated restaurant software, and no need to maintain a giant online catalog.

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week and whether you need pickup, delivery, or both, I can compare Square vs. 2–3 genuinely inexpensive alternatives and tell you which will cost you the least.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need Shopify or a full restaurant system.

My top pick: squareup.com

Square Free is particularly well suited to your situation:

• $0/month — you only pay payment-processing fees when someone orders.
• You get an actual online ordering page, rather than just a payment link.
• Customers can choose pickup or local delivery.
• You can set pickup times/order windows, which is useful for baked goods.
• It works especially well if you already use Square for in-person payments. Square Square

For a bakery, you could have something as simple as:

Fresh Baked Goods
🍞 Sourdough — $8
🥐 Croissants — $4
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
🎂 Custom Cakes — Order Inquiry

Choose pickup date → Pay → Done

Other options

Clover is worth considering if you're already using Clover hardware. Its online ordering page has no additional subscription/setup fee for the ordering service, although you'll still have payment-processing costs and Clover's broader POS pricing depends on your setup. Clover Clover

I wouldn't choose Shopify for just a few bakery items unless you have plans for a much larger ecommerce operation. Its current Basic plan starts at $29/month when billed annually, so you're paying for considerably more ecommerce functionality than you likely need. Shopify

Toast is also capable of commission-free direct online ordering, but it's primarily a restaurant POS ecosystem and is likely excessive for a tiny bakery menu. Toast Support Center

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Square Free and make a single, clean ordering page. Put the link in your Google Business Profile, Instagram/Facebook bio, and QR code on your packaging. You can start at essentially no fixed monthly cost and upgrade only if you eventually need more features.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether customers pick up or you deliver, and whether you already use a POS like Square/Clover, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per month.

For a small local bakery with just a few items, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full e-commerce platform.

My top picks are:

• Square Online — probably the best overall choice. You can create a simple ordering page, accept online payments, offer pickup, and start on a free plan. You generally pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale rather than a big monthly subscription.
• Toast — worth considering if you already use Toast for your bakery’s in-person POS, but it’s less compelling if you’re starting from scratch.
• Clover — good if you already use Clover hardware/POS, though I’d generally choose Square for a very small operation.
• Google Forms + payment link — the absolute budget option if you only need customers to submit orders. It’s less polished and requires more manual work.
• Shopify — excellent for a larger online store, but probably overkill if you only sell a handful of bakery items locally.

What I'd choose for you

Square Online would be my first choice. For example, your page could have:

Order for Pickup
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $8
🥐 Croissants — $4
🎂 Custom Cakes — Request a Quote

Choose pickup date → Pay online → Receive confirmation

You can also put the ordering-page link in your Instagram/Facebook bio, Google Business Profile, and text messages to customers.

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week and whether you need pickup only or delivery too, I can compare the cheapest 2–3 options for your bakery, including their current transaction/monthly fees.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it very simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant website or an expensive e-commerce platform.

My top pick: squareup.com

Why I’d choose it for you:

• $0/month on the Free plan — you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. Square Square
• Gives you a real online ordering page customers can open from Google, Instagram, Facebook, or a QR code.
• Designed to handle food/bakery items, pickup, and local delivery. Square Square
• Customers can order and pay online.
• You can set pickup dates/times, which is especially useful for a bakery.
• If you eventually start taking orders in person, Square can connect your online and in-person sales.

For a bakery selling, say, cookies, cupcakes, cakes, bread, and a few seasonal items, this is probably all you need.

Another option: Clover

clover.com is worth considering if you already use Clover for your register/payment system. Clover says its online ordering page has no separate subscription/setup fee, although normal card-not-present processing fees apply. Clover Clover

I wouldn't start with Toast

toasttab.com is excellent for restaurants, but for a tiny bakery with a short menu, it's likely more system than you need. Toast's online ordering is geared toward businesses already using its restaurant POS ecosystem. Toast Support Center

What I'd do in your shoes

Square Free → simple ordering page → Google Business Profile → Instagram/Facebook link → QR code in your shop.

You could have a page that looks roughly like:

Jane's Bakery
Fresh baked goods — order ahead for pickup

🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $18/dozen
🧁 Cupcakes — $24/dozen
🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $9
🎂 8" Celebration Cake — $42

Choose your pickup date & time
Pay online

That would give you a professional ordering system without paying a monthly website bill.

If you tell me what you sell, roughly how many orders you get per week, and whether customers pick up or you deliver, I can tell you exactly which platform I'd use and what it would cost you per month.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, you probably don’t need a full e-commerce website. The best option is usually a simple ordering page with pickup options, low fees, and minimal setup.

Here are some good fits:

My recommendation for a small bakery

1. Start with Square Online if you want the easiest setup:

• Add your 5–20 products
• Set pickup days/times
• Take card payments
• Share one ordering link on Instagram, Facebook, flyers, and Google
• Use a simple website builder only if you need branding:

• “About us”
• Gallery
• Wedding/catering enquiries
• Custom cake request forms
• Avoid marketplaces like delivery apps unless you need delivery reach:

• They can bring customers, but commissions and fees can be significant for low-margin bakery items.

For a bakery, I’d also consider whether you need:

• pre-orders only (e.g., bread every Friday, cakes by advance order), or
• same-day ordering (cookies, pastries, ready-to-go items).

If you tell me your country (I’m guessing UK from your location), what you sell (cakes, bread, pastries, etc.), and whether you need delivery or just collection, I can narrow it down to the best choice.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need Shopify or a full restaurant POS.

My top picks

🥇 I'd start with Square

Square's free plan has no monthly subscription cost; you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. It can give you a simple ordering page where customers can see your products, pay online, and choose pickup or local delivery. Square Square

You can even use a free Square web address such as yourbakery.square.site, so you don't have to buy a domain initially. Square

For a bakery selling, say:

• 6 cupcake flavors
• 3 cookie varieties
• 2 cakes
• Brownies
• Seasonal specials

…Square is more than enough.

One particularly nice feature: Square lets you set ordering windows and pickup/delivery options, which is useful if you're making everything yourself and don't want orders coming in whenever they feel like it. Square

🥈 Consider Bakesy if you're more of a custom-order bakery

bakesy.app is specifically built around baking businesses. It gives you a bakery storefront, order forms, availability management, invoices, customer reviews, and payment options. Its current Standard plan is $9.99/month, with a 30-day free trial. Bakesy Bakesy

I'd choose Bakesy over Square if your orders tend to be things like:

"I need a birthday cake for 15 people, vanilla, pink frosting, pickup Saturday."

rather than straightforward:

"I want 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies for pickup Friday."

What I would do in your situation

Start with Square Free. Don't pay for a website, domain, or complicated software yet.

Set up one clean page:

Your Bakery
📸 Photos
→ Cupcakes — $X
→ Cookies — $X
→ Brownies — $X
→ Cakes — $X
→ Order for Pickup
→ Choose date/time
→ Pay

Then put the Square ordering link in your Instagram bio, Google Business Profile, Facebook page, and QR code on your packaging.

If you tell me what items you sell, whether customers pick up or you deliver, and roughly how many orders you get per week, I can tell you which of Square vs. Bakesy would be the better fit—and what the cheapest setup would be.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it very simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant POS or expensive ecommerce site.

My top pick: squareup.com

Why I’d choose Square:

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay processing fees when someone orders. Square
• Gives you a ready-made online ordering page you can share from Instagram, Google, Facebook, or a QR code.
• Customers can choose pickup or local delivery. Square
• Very good for a bakery menu: cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, etc.
• You can set pickup times/order windows, which is especially useful if you need orders placed a day or two ahead.
• If you eventually want a Square card reader/POS at the bakery, everything can stay in the same system.
• You don't need to buy hardware to start. Square

For your situation, I'd probably start with Square Free + a very simple ordering page, rather than paying for a website.

Other options

Clover does offer an online ordering page without a separate online-ordering subscription/setup fee, but Clover itself generally involves POS/software costs, so I wouldn't switch to it solely for a small bakery ordering page. Clover Clover

What I'd actually set up

I'd make the customer experience something like:

YourBakery.com/order

→ Pick a product
→ Choose quantity/flavor
→ Choose pickup date & time
→ Pay online
→ You receive the order
→ Customer gets confirmation

If you're selling, say, 10–20 items and mostly doing pickup, Square can handle this without making your business feel like a complicated ecommerce operation.

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week, whether you already use a POS (Square/Clover/etc.), and whether you need pickup, delivery, or both, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest for your bakery and what you'd actually pay per order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square. It’s inexpensive, easy to set up, and you don’t need a complicated restaurant website.

My top choices

1. squareup.com — Best overall

• $0/month on the Square Free plan.
• You can create a simple ordering page with your bakery items.
• Customers can order for pickup or local delivery.
• No coding or separate website is required.
• You pay payment-processing fees when you actually make a sale. Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments on its Free plan. Square Square
• You can share the ordering link on Instagram, Facebook, Google, or put it behind a QR code. Square

This would be my choice for you.

2. clover.com — Good if you already use Clover

• Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription or setup fees; you pay the applicable card-not-present processing fees. Clover
• The catch: Clover's online ordering requires a compatible Clover POS device, so I wouldn't buy into Clover just for a tiny bakery's online ordering page. Clover
• pos.toasttab.com — Probably more than you need

• Toast is excellent for restaurants, but for a bakery selling, say, 5–15 products, it can be unnecessarily elaborate.
• Its current Starter Kit starts at $0/month, while its regular POS software starts at $69/month. Toast POS
• I'd only consider it if you're planning to grow into a larger food-service operation.

What I'd do in your situation

I'd make a single Square ordering page rather than building a full website:

Bakery name → product photos → items/prices → pickup date/time → payment → confirmation

For example:

Chocolate Chip Cookies — $18/dozen
Brownies — $24/dozen
Sourdough Loaf — $9
Cinnamon Rolls — $20/6
Custom Cake — Request a quote

You can also configure ordering windows so customers select when they'll pick up their order. Square specifically supports pickup, delivery, and scheduled orders. Square

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you need pickup only or delivery too, and whether you already use Square/Clover/another payment system, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of items, I’d keep it very simple. You probably don’t need a full e-commerce website.

My top choice: Square

squareup.com is probably the best fit.

• $0/month on the Square Free plan.
• You get an actual online ordering page rather than just a contact form.
• Customers can choose pickup and you can set fulfillment options.
• You can add only your 5–15 products, with photos, descriptions, prices, and options.
• Customers can pay online.
• You can share the ordering page on Google, Facebook, Instagram, and a QR code.
• There are no monthly fees on the Free plan; Square charges payment processing when someone orders. Square currently lists online payments at 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan. Square Square

For a bakery, I especially like that you can make the ordering experience very focused: “Choose your treats → choose pickup time → pay.”

squareup.com

If you want the absolute lowest cost: GloriaFood

gloriafood.com is worth considering if you primarily want online ordering without paying a monthly fee or commission.

Its free plan includes unlimited orders, a website ordering widget, mobile ordering, scheduled orders, pickup/delivery options, and no commission per order. GloriaFood GloriaFood

The catch is that online credit-card payments are a paid add-on ($29/month), so it's less attractive if you want customers to pay by card directly through the ordering page. GloriaFood

What I'd choose for your bakery

I'd start with Square Free. For a bakery selling just a few items, paying $0/month and accepting orders directly is hard to beat.

And you don't even need a traditional website initially—you could have a simple page that says:

Fresh baked goods — order online
🍪 Cookies
🍰 Cakes
🥖 Breads
🧁 Cupcakes

[Order for Pickup]

Then put that link everywhere customers already find you.

If you tell me what your few bakery items are, whether you offer pickup/delivery, and roughly how many orders you get per week, I can recommend the cheapest setup specifically for your bakery and tell you exactly what I'd use.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online.

Square Online

Why Square is probably the best fit

• $0/month on the Free plan — you pay transaction processing fees when someone orders. squareup.comsquareup.com
• You get a real online ordering page where customers can see your items, choose quantities/options, and pay.
• It supports pickup and local delivery, which is particularly useful for a bakery. squareup.com
• You can give customers a simple link or QR code to your ordering page.
• Square specifically supports prepared food and beverage businesses, including bakeries. squareup.com
• It can also put an Order button in Google Search/Google Maps, at no additional charge. squareup.com

The main downside is the payment fee: Square's current U.S. Free-plan rate for online payments is 3.3% + 30¢ per transaction. squareup.comsquareup.com

What I'd choose

I wouldn't pay for a website-building platform yet. For a small menu, Square can effectively be your website + menu + checkout + order management in one place.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you offer pickup/delivery, and whether customers need to choose pickup times, I can recommend the cheapest setup and explain exactly what I'd configure.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, I’d avoid a full e-commerce setup and choose something that makes ordering simple (menu → pickup time → payment). Good low-cost options:

For your situation, my likely picks:

1. Start with Square Online if you sell things like cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bread, pastries, or preorder items. You can create a simple page quickly and only pay when someone orders.
2. Use Shopify only if you plan to ship products (cookie boxes, holiday assortments, subscriptions).
3. Use a simple website + order link if you only need weekend preorder sales.

A bakery menu structure that works well online:

• Featured items (3–6 best sellers)
• Individual products with photos
• Pickup dates/times
• “Order cutoff” notes (e.g., orders close 48 hours before pickup)
• Custom cake inquiry form separately (don’t force custom orders through the normal cart)

If you already have a point-of-sale system (Square, Clover, Toast, etc.) or a website/domain, that would change the best choice.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, I’d keep it very simple. My first choice would be Square Online.

🥇 Best overall: Square Online

Why I think it fits you:

• $0/month on the Free plan
• You get an actual online ordering page customers can visit.
• Customers can order for pickup or delivery.
• You can list your baked goods with photos, descriptions, prices, and variations.
• No coding required.
• You can take payment online, or potentially allow other payment methods.
• If you eventually start selling more, you can upgrade without rebuilding everything. squareup.com

The main cost is payment processing. Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments on its Free plan. squareup.comsquareup.comsupport.toasttab.com

For example, on a $20 online order, that's about $0.96 in processing fees.

🥈 Clover

Clover Online Ordering is another good option, particularly if you already use Clover for taking payments in your bakery.

Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription/setup fee, although you still pay applicable card-not-present processing fees. www.clover.com

The catch is that Clover's overall POS systems can involve monthly software/hardware costs, so I wouldn't buy into Clover just to get an inexpensive ordering page. www.clover.com

What I'd avoid for your situation

Toast is excellent for restaurants, but for a tiny bakery with a handful of products, it's probably more system than you need. Its online ordering/customization features are geared toward a broader restaurant POS ecosystem. support.toasttab.com

My recommendation

If I were setting up your bakery:

Square Free → simple ordering page → pickup times → online payment → link to it from Facebook/Instagram/Google.

You could have something as simple as:

Today's Bakery Menu

🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $8
🧁 Cupcakes — $3 each
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $2
🎂 Custom Cakes — Call to order

[Order for Pickup]

If you tell me what you're selling (e.g., breads, cupcakes, cakes, cookies), roughly how many orders you get per week, and whether customers pick up or you deliver, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest and easiest for your bakery.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full restaurant/POS system unless you need one.

My top pick: Square

Square Online is probably the best fit.

• $0/month on Square’s Free plan. squareup.com
• Gives you an actual online ordering page you can share from Instagram, Google, your business card, etc.
• Customers can order for pickup or local delivery. squareup.com
• You can set pickup times/order windows and mark items sold out.
• You don't need to build a complicated website.
• You pay payment-processing fees when someone orders; Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments on its Free plan. squareup.com
• Square also offers a free branded online ordering profile, essentially giving you a menu/order page without the commissions associated with marketplace apps. squareup.com

For example, if you sell 6–10 bakery items—cookies, cupcakes, cakes, brownies, etc.—I'd use Square rather than Toast or Clover.

Other options

Clover's online ordering itself has no setup or subscription fees, but its overall system involves POS/payment products, so I wouldn't choose it solely to get a simple bakery ordering page. www.clover.com

Toast is similarly more geared toward businesses that need a full restaurant POS ecosystem; its online ordering is commission-free but requires subscribing to Toast Online Ordering. support.toasttab.com

Bottom line: I'd start with Square Free. For a small bakery, you can have a professional-looking ordering page without adding another monthly bill.

If you tell me what you sell (e.g., 5–10 items), whether customers pick up or you deliver, and whether you already use a card reader/POS, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost per month/order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online. It’s probably the best balance of free, simple, and professional for what you’re describing.

🥇 My pick: Square Online

Square Online

• $0/month on the Free plan.
• You pay processing fees when someone orders online; Square currently lists 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction for the Free online-store plan. squareup.com
• You can create a simple ordering website without knowing how to build websites.
• Customers can choose pickup, and you can also offer local delivery. squareup.com
• You can have only your 5–10 bakery items on the page—no need to build a giant online store.
• It can connect with Google Search and Google Maps, so customers can find an ordering button when they search for your bakery. squareup.com
• If you eventually use Square for in-person payments, online and in-person orders can sync together. squareup.com

For a bakery, I'd probably set it up something like:

Your Bakery

🍪 Cookies — $X
🧁 Cupcakes — $X
🍞 Sourdough — $X
🎂 Custom cakes — Request/order

Pickup: Select date & time
Payment: Online
Order cutoff: Thursday at noon

That keeps it extremely simple.

Other options

Clover is worth considering if you already have a Clover POS. Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription or setup fees, although you still pay payment-processing fees, and online ordering requires compatible Clover hardware. www.clover.com

Toast is excellent for restaurants, but I'd consider it overkill for a tiny bakery unless you're already using Toast. It has considerably more restaurant-oriented functionality. support.toasttab.com

What I'd do in your situation

Square Free + a simple ordering page + Google Business Profile.

You could have customers find you on Google, click Order, see your handful of products, choose a pickup time, and pay—all without you paying a monthly website fee. Google also allows businesses to add/manage ordering links on their Business Profile. support.google.com

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether customers pick up or you deliver, and whether you already use a cash register/POS, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use and what it would cost you per order.

For a small local bakery with only a few items, you probably don’t need a full ecommerce store. Look for something that handles menus, pickup times, payments, and simple order notifications without monthly overhead.

Here are the best fits:

For a small bakery with a handful of items, I’d usually choose:

1. Square Online — best overall if you want something cheap and easy:
   • Add 5–20 products
   • Customers order online
   • Accept card payments
   • Offer pickup times
   • No website-building skills needed

2. Wix + Square payments — if your main goal is a beautiful bakery website with photos, story, and an order button.

3. A simple order form — if you only sell a few things (for example, 3 cookie flavors and weekend cakes), a free form tool plus payment link can work, but it’s less polished.

A few bakery-specific features I’d prioritize:

• Pre-order cutoff times (e.g., “order by Thursday for Saturday pickup”)
• Pickup scheduling
• Item quantity limits (avoid selling out accidentally)
• Custom notes (cake messages, allergies, substitutions)
• Automatic confirmation texts/emails

If you tell me:

• your approximate number of orders per week,
• whether you already use Square/card payments,
• pickup only vs delivery,
• and whether you have a website already,

I can narrow it down to the best choice.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d start with Square Online.

Square Online offers a $0/month plan, and you only pay payment-processing fees when someone orders. Square specifically supports online ordering for food businesses, and you can give customers a simple ordering page/link or QR code. squareup.com

My ranking for your situation

Why Square fits particularly well: you can list your 5–20 products, let customers choose quantities/options, take payment, and schedule pickup without building a complicated website. Square's free tier also includes websites and online ordering. squareup.com

For example, your ordering page could simply be:

Your Bakery

• 🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
• 🥐 Croissants — $4
• 🍞 Sourdough Loaf — $8
• 🎂 6" Cake — $35
• Pickup: Saturday 9 AM–2 PM
• Order cutoff: Thursday at noon

You could put the Square ordering link in your Instagram bio, Google Business Profile, Facebook page, and a QR code at the bakery.

One important distinction: if by "online ordering" you mean customers place orders for pickup, Square is an especially good fit. If you need custom cake requests, deposits, delivery zones, subscriptions, or shipping, I'd consider a different setup.

If you tell me (1) roughly how many items you sell, (2) pickup vs. delivery, and (3) whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you exactly what I'd use and what it would cost you per month/order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full restaurant/e-commerce system.

My top choices

I'd start with Square. Square's Free plan doesn't have a monthly subscription, and online payments are currently listed at 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. squareup.com

For example, if someone places a $30 bakery order online, the processing fee would be about $1.29, leaving you about $28.71 before other costs.

You can make a very straightforward page with:

• 🍞 Bread
• 🧁 Cupcakes
• 🍪 Cookies
• 🎂 Cakes
• Pickup date/time
• Customer name + phone
• Online payment
• Special instructions

You can also put the ordering link on your Google Business Profile, so customers searching for your bakery can get directly to ordering. Google supports adding custom ordering links and setting a preferred ordering provider. support.google.com

When I'd choose Ecwid instead

If you want something that feels more like a little bakery website/store rather than primarily an ordering page, Ecwid is worth considering. Its Starter plan supports up to 10 products, includes a basic store/site, and Ecwid says it charges 0% transaction fees (you still pay your payment processor). www.ecwid.com

One thing I'd skip

I wouldn't jump into Toast just for online ordering unless you already use Toast. Toast's online ordering is commission-free for orders placed directly through your ordering page, but online ordering is part of its paid Digital Storefront offering. support.toasttab.com

Bottom line:
👉 Square if your priority is cheap + easy + pickup orders.
👉 Ecwid if your priority is a nicer little online storefront.

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week, whether customers pick up or you deliver, and whether you already use Square for in-person payments, I can tell you which one would likely cost you the least.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant POS system.

My top pick: Square Online

Why I’d choose it for you:

• $0/month on the Free plan — you pay processing fees when someone orders. squareup.com
• Gives you an actual online ordering page rather than just a payment link.
• Customers can choose pickup or local delivery, and you can set ordering windows and minimum/maximum order amounts. squareup.com
• You can have customers preorder for a particular date/time, which is especially useful for cakes, pies, weekend pastries, etc. squareup.com
• If you eventually sell at a physical location, Square can keep online and in-person inventory/orders together.

For a bakery selling, say, 5–20 items, this is probably the best balance of inexpensive + professional + easy.

Two alternatives

Clover — Worth considering if you already use Clover. Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription or setup fee, although online card-processing rates still apply. The catch is that its online ordering requires a compatible Clover POS device. www.clover.com

Wix Restaurants — Better if your priority is a beautiful bakery website with ordering built into it. Wix advertises commission-free online ordering, but you need to upgrade the site to accept online orders/payments, so it's less attractive if your primary goal is keeping costs near zero. www.wix.com

What I'd do in your situation

\*Clover's overall POS/device costs can still apply. www.clover.comwww.clover.com

I'd start with Square Free. You could have a page with something like Cookies → Breads → Pastries → Cakes, customers select quantities, choose a pickup date/time, pay online, and you get the order.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether orders are pickup only or delivery too, and whether you already use Square/Clover/another card reader, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest for your specific bakery.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of items, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a full restaurant POS unless you need one.

My top picks

1. Square Online — best overall for you

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. squareup.comsquareup.com
• Customers get a real ordering page where they can choose items and pay.
• Supports pickup and local delivery, including scheduled orders. squareup.comsquareup.com
• You can share the ordering link on Instagram/Facebook, Google, your business card, or a QR code.
• Especially good if you might eventually want a Square card reader for in-person sales.

Square Online

2. Bakesy — best specifically for a bakery

• Designed for bakers rather than general retailers.
• $9.99/month after a 30-day free trial for the Standard plan. www.bakesy.app
• Includes a website, customer order forms, unlimited orders, invoices, availability, automated receipts, reviews, and payment options. www.bakesy.app
• Customers don't need to download an app. squareup.comsquareup.comwww.bakesy.app

Bakesy

3. Clover — worth considering if you already use Clover

• Clover says its online ordering page has no subscription/setup fee, with payment-processing fees applying to online orders. www.clover.com
• But I wouldn't buy Clover hardware just to get an ordering page for a tiny bakery.

What I'd choose

For your situation, I'd start with Square Online Free. You can have a simple page like “Cookies • Brownies • Cakes • Pickup”, let customers select quantities and pickup times, and avoid a monthly subscription. Square explicitly offers free online ordering profiles for food-and-beverage businesses as well. squareup.com

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you offer pickup/delivery, and whether you already use Square/another POS, I can tell you which option will be cheapest in practice—including the payment fees.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of items, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant POS system.

My picks

1. Square Online — best overall for a bakery

• Very easy to set up a simple menu/order page.
• Good for pickup orders, scheduled orders, and online payments.
• Especially attractive if you already use Square for taking payments in person.
• You can start cheaply and add features as you grow.

2. Ecwid — best if you want a very small online store

• Designed for small catalogs; its Starter plan supports up to 10 products and has a free company.site domain. www.ecwid.comsupport.wix.com
• Ecwid says it charges no transaction fee of its own on sales, although your payment processor will still charge its normal processing fee. www.ecwid.comsupport.wix.com
• This could be a particularly good fit if you literally have 5–10 bakery items.

3. Wix — best if you also want a nicer bakery website

• Stronger website/design capabilities, with online ordering, menus, pickup/delivery, etc. support.wix.com
• The catch: Wix requires a paid site plan to accept online orders and payments. support.wix.com
• So I'd choose it if you want the ordering page plus a polished website with your story, photos, hours, location, catering information, etc.

I wouldn't start with Toast unless you're planning to grow into a more traditional restaurant/POS operation. It's more capable than you likely need for a tiny bakery menu.

What I'd choose for you

For your situation, Square Online would be my first choice, unless you specifically want a standalone website rather than just an ordering page.

If you tell me (1) roughly how many items you sell, (2) pickup only vs. delivery, and (3) whether you already use Square/another payment system, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option and tell you roughly what you'd pay per order.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d avoid Shopify and the more elaborate restaurant systems. You probably want a simple menu + pickup date/time + payment, without a monthly bill.

My top choices

🥇 I'd choose Square

For your situation, Square is probably the sweet spot. You can have a simple page such as:

Sweet Bakery
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies — $12/dozen
🍰 6" Celebration Cake — $35
🥐 Croissants — $3 each
🎂 Custom Cake — Request a Quote

Choose pickup date/time → Pay → Done

You don't need to build a complicated website. You can put the ordering-page link in your Google Business Profile, Instagram, Facebook, and business cards.

The big advantage is that Square can also handle payments in person, so you can eventually have your online and in-person sales in the same system.

One thing I'd specifically look for

Since you're a bakery, pickup scheduling and order cutoffs are more important than fancy ecommerce features. For example:

• Orders must be placed 24 hours ahead
• Pickup available Friday–Saturday, 9 AM–3 PM
• Customer chooses a pickup time
• Items can be marked sold out
• Customer pays online
• You get an order notification

If you tell me roughly how many orders you get per week and whether you already use Square, Clover, PayPal, or another card reader, I can tell you which option would likely cost you the least in actual fees.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need Shopify or a full restaurant POS.

My top pick: Square Online

Square Online is probably the best fit if you want something that looks professional and is easy to manage.

• $0/month on the Free plan
• Customers can order for pickup or local delivery.
• You get a shareable ordering page and QR code.
• Payments are handled online.
• You can set pickup times, order limits, and ordering hours.
• If you eventually sell in person with Square, your online and in-person orders can stay in one system. squareup.com
• You pay transaction processing fees when you make a sale rather than a monthly subscription. squareup.com

For a bakery selling, say, 6–15 items, this is a very comfortable setup.

Another option: GloriaFood

GloriaFood is worth considering if your absolute priority is paying as little as possible. Its basic ordering system advertises no monthly fee, no commission, and unlimited orders. However, online credit-card payments are an additional paid service, currently listed at $29/month. www.gloriafood.com

So I'd choose:

Toast does offer commission-free online ordering, but it's built around its broader restaurant/POS ecosystem, so I'd only consider it if you're expecting to grow substantially. support.toasttab.com

If it were my bakery, I'd start with Square Free. You could have a simple page like:

Fresh Bakes → Choose Items → Select pickup date/time → Pay → Receive confirmation

No need to build a complicated website.

If you tell me what you're selling (e.g., cakes, cookies, breads), whether you need pickup only or delivery, and roughly how many orders you get per week, I can narrow it down to the cheapest setup and tell you exactly what I'd use.

For a small local bakery with only a handful of products, I’d keep it simple. You probably don’t need a full restaurant website or expensive POS system.

My top pick: Square Online

Why I’d choose it for you:

• $0 monthly cost on Square Free—you pay payment-processing fees when someone orders. squareup.comsquareup.com
• Gives you a simple online ordering page with your products, prices, photos, pickup times, etc.
• Customers can order and pay online.
• You can share the ordering link on Google, Instagram, Facebook, business cards, and a QR code. squareup.com
• You can also offer local delivery if you want. squareup.com
• Particularly good if you eventually want to take payments in person too.

For Square Free, current online payment processing is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. squareup.comsquareup.com

Another good option: Clover Online Ordering

Clover can create an online ordering page for you with no subscription or setup fee for the ordering page, although you'll still pay card-not-present processing fees, and Clover's overall POS plans can involve monthly costs. www.clover.com

I'd consider Clover mainly if you're already using Clover for your bakery's register.

What I'd avoid for your situation

Toast is excellent for restaurants, but it's probably overkill if you have, say, 5–15 bakery items and mostly pickup orders. Toast's direct online ordering is commission-free, but you need a Toast subscription to use it. support.toasttab.com

Wix can make a prettier full website, but if your immediate goal is simply "Here's my bakery → here's my 10 items → order for pickup," I'd start with Square rather than paying for a website builder.

What I'd do if I were you

Square Free + a simple ordering page + Google Business Profile + Instagram link.

You could have something as simple as:

🍪 Cookies — $3 each
🧁 Cupcakes — $24/dozen
🍞 Sourdough — $9
🎂 8" Cakes — from $35

Pickup: Friday–Saturday
Order by: Thursday at noon

That is enough for a small bakery to start taking online orders without adding much overhead.

If you tell me roughly how many items you sell, whether you need pickup only or delivery too, and whether you already use Square/Clover/another payment system, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest for your specific bakery.