GoTab is a tab and ordering platform built around commission-free online orders, a genuine and real claim. The fuller picture includes a software subscription and separate paid add-ons for loyalty, gift cards, and delivery aggregation, each priced on top of the base plan rather than bundled in.
What GoTab Actually Offers
GoTab centers its pitch on eliminating commission fees on online orders, keeping pricing consistent whether a guest orders in person or online.
- Basic software at $15/mo, Pro at $99/mo, Sync at $229/mo
- Card processing starting at 2.40% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
- Loyalty and gift card add-on at $35/mo
- Delivery aggregation add-on at $55/mo
- Extra POS units, KDS, or kiosks at $25 to $35/mo each
The commission-free framing is genuine and worth crediting, but it describes only one line item in a much larger monthly bill once a restaurant wants the loyalty tracking or delivery aggregation most vendors eventually decide they need.
What GoTab Actually Costs
The commission-free claim on online orders holds up, but a restaurant wanting loyalty tracking and delivery aggregation alongside its base software plan is realistically looking at $90 or more a month in add-ons before the base plan is even counted.
A restaurant on the Pro tier wanting both add-ons would pay $99 plus $35 plus $55, or $189 a month total, before any card processing fees or hardware are factored in, a meaningfully different number than the $15 entry price most often quoted.
Understanding which combination of add-ons a specific restaurant would actually need is worth working out before comparing headline prices elsewhere, since the real total depends entirely on which features end up being genuinely necessary.
| Cost Line | Rate or Price |
|---|---|
| Basic software | $15/mo |
| Pro software | $99/mo |
| Sync software | $229/mo |
| Loyalty and gift cards add-on | $35/mo |
| Delivery aggregation add-on | $55/mo |
What AUANI Offers Instead
AUANI starts at $0 a month with no setup fee. The Free tier includes loyalty and an exportable guest list as standard features, not paid add-ons, alongside pickup, dine-in, and real courier delivery.
The Monthly plan is $300 a month, drops the marketplace fee to 5%, and adds a fully hosted website, a 0% direct ordering widget, the full Google visibility suite, and menu analytics, all in the one published price.
Bundling loyalty and delivery in this way removes the specific decision GoTab forces on every restaurant weighing whether each individual add-on is worth its separate monthly charge, since the features are simply part of the account from the start.
That removes a recurring source of decision fatigue too, since a vendor never has to re-evaluate whether a given add-on is still worth its separate monthly cost as usage patterns shift over time.
Side by Side
| Feature | GoTab | AUANI |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on online orders | None | 10% Free, 5% Monthly, 3% at 2+ locations |
| Base software cost | $15 to $229/mo | $0/mo Free, $300/mo Monthly |
| Loyalty included in base price | No, $35/mo add-on | Yes, included on every tier |
| Delivery aggregation included | No, $55/mo add-on | Yes, real courier delivery through Uber included |
| Requires new POS hardware | Yes, typically | No, syncs with existing POS |
An Honest Case for Choosing GoTab Anyway
A restaurant or bar built around a tab-based service model, where guests open and settle a running tab rather than placing discrete orders, has a real reason to consider GoTab, since that workflow is a core part of its design.
Best For
GoTab suits a bar or restaurant built around tab-based service ready to assemble its feature set from add-ons. AUANI suits a vendor that wants loyalty and delivery included in the base price without stacking separate subscriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GoTab really charge no commission on online orders?
Yes, GoTab's online ordering is commission-free, though standard card processing and any add-ons selected still apply.
Is loyalty tracking included in GoTab's base software price?
No, loyalty and gift cards are a separate add-on priced at $35 a month.
Does AUANI require new POS hardware like GoTab does?
No, AUANI syncs with an existing POS rather than requiring a hardware replacement.
What is the cheapest way to start on AUANI?
The Free tier, at $0 a month with a 10% marketplace fee and no setup fee.
What would a restaurant pay on GoTab's Pro tier with both add-ons?
$99 in base software plus $35 for loyalty and $55 for delivery aggregation, or $189 a month total before processing fees, compared to $0 on AUANI's Free tier.
Where can I compare every platform in this series at once?
The master fee comparison table and the Restaurant & Bar online ordering guide both cover this.
For the full picture against every platform in this series, see the master fee comparison table. For the full picture beyond fees, see the Restaurant & Bar online ordering guide.