A PDF is enough if…
- Your menu is short and rarely changes
- You serve guests in one language
- You already have a good design file
QR menu vs PDF menu: an honest comparison.
Putting a PDF behind a QR code is the quickest way to get a menu onto guests’ phones, and it’s free. A menu built for phones costs money but saves time every time something changes. Here’s how they compare.
Side by side
| PDF behind a QR code | Mobile QR menu (Menuvola) | |
|---|---|---|
| Changing a price | Edit the design file, export a new PDF and upload it again | Change it in the panel; the menu updates right away |
| Reading on a phone | Pinch and zoom on a page designed for paper | Designed for phones, with large photos and readable text |
| Allergens and calories | Whatever fits on the page | Per dish, with a filter for the allergens a guest avoids |
| Languages | One PDF per language | Guests switch language in the menu |
| Printed menu | The PDF is already printable | Print-ready menu, allergen sheet and table cards generated from the same data |
| Search engines and screen readers | Harder to read | Regular web page text |
| Cost | Free | From €19 a month |
A mobile menu pays off if…
- Prices or dishes change often
- Many guests are tourists
- Guests often ask about allergens
- You want the printed menu and allergen sheet to always match
Whichever you choose, a QR code alone may not be enough for allergen rules in your country: keep written allergen information on the premises. See allergen rules by country.
Questions you may have.
When is a PDF menu enough?
If your menu is short, changes rarely, is in one language and you already have a well-designed file, a PDF behind a QR code is a reasonable, free choice. Make sure allergen information is still available in writing.
Can I keep my printed menu and add a QR menu?
Yes. Many restaurants keep a printed menu for the table and use the QR menu for photos, languages and allergen details. With Menuvola, both come from the same data.
Do my guests need an app?
No. Guests scan the QR code with their phone camera and the menu opens in the browser.
Try Menuvola free for 14 days.
Set up your menu, print your allergen sheet and see how it works for your business. No card needed.
