The three ways restaurants get a website
There's no single price for a restaurant website. What you pay depends mostly on who builds it and who keeps it up to date afterward.
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Do-it-yourself builder | About $20–$60/month, plus your time | A brand-new spot with a simple menu and someone on staff who enjoys tinkering |
| Freelancer | About $1,500–$10,000 up front, then hourly for changes | A one-time refresh when you have a trusted designer you can reach quickly |
| Agency | About $5,000–$30,000+ up front, often plus monthly maintenance | Multi-location groups that need branding, marketing and custom features |
| Webdiner | From $99/month, with a fixed price agreed before work starts | Owners who want a custom site and want to update it themselves in seconds |
Ranges are typical U.S. prices and vary by market, number of pages and features.
What actually drives the price
- Custom design vs. a template. A site designed around your brand costs more than a theme, but it's what makes guests remember you.
- Menus. Several menus (brunch, happy hour, catering, seasonal) take more work than one PDF, and text menus help both guests and Google.
- Locations. Each location needs its own hours, address, menu and map.
- Connections to your tools. Linking your ordering, reservations, gift cards and POS so guests can act right away.
- Photos and branding. A photo shoot, logo or full brand refresh is usually priced separately.
- Search and AI visibility. Setting the site up to show on Google, Google Maps and AI assistants like ChatGPT.
The hidden cost: keeping it up to date
The build is only the start. Prices change, dishes sell out, you close for a snowstorm, and holiday hours come around every year. If every change means emailing your web person and waiting, you either pay for each update or your website slowly falls out of date, and guests notice.
With AI Website Control, included in every Webdiner site, you just say what you need, like "86 the halibut tonight" or "We're closed Thanksgiving." You see exactly what will change, and nothing goes live until you tap Approve.
What a Webdiner plan includes
- A custom, mobile-first website designed for your restaurant (never a template)
- AI Website Control for menus, prices, hours, photos and promotions
- Connections to the ordering, reservation and POS tools you already use
- Setup for Google, Google Maps and AI search
- A real team you can reach, and a fixed scope and price agreed before any work begins
Plans start at $99 a month. Bigger branding, marketing and tech buildouts are quoted up front, with no surprise invoices. See pricing →
5 questions to ask before you sign
- Who owns the website and domain? You should.
- How do I change a price or my hours? And how long does it take?
- What does each update cost? Get it in writing.
- Will it work with my ordering and reservation system?
- Is the total price fixed before you start?
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheap website builder good enough for a restaurant?
It can be for a brand-new spot with a simple menu. The real cost is your time: building it, keeping menus and hours current, and fixing things when they break.
How long does it take to build a restaurant website?
A freelancer or agency usually takes several weeks to a few months. Webdiner can launch a custom site in as little as two weeks.
Do I need a website if I'm on Google, Instagram and delivery apps?
Yes. Your website is the one place you fully control, and it's where Google, AI assistants and guests go to check your real menu, hours and links.
What does Webdiner cost?
Plans start at $99 a month, including custom design and AI Website Control, with a fixed price agreed before we start.
Want a straight answer for your restaurant?
Book a free 15-minute demo. We'll show you AI Website Control live and give you a clear price for your site.
Book a free demo