Our picks by task
Quotes & invoices
- QuickBooks Online: Create invoices and quotes (estimates) and see what's outstanding.
- Zoho Books: Free plan includes invoices and quotes for solo and micro businesses.
- Wave: Free invoicing on the Starter plan, handy if you only send a few invoices.
Social media posts
- Canva: Templates and AI tools for quick posts and stories; there's a free plan.
- Later: Visual planner suited to photo-led Instagram and TikTok posting.
- Buffer: Schedule a week of posts in one go; free plan covers 3 channels.
Customer replies & email
- ChatGPT: Draft friendly replies to enquiries, complaints and reviews, then edit before sending.
- Grammarly: Checks spelling and tone so replies read professionally; free plan available.
- Tidio: Website chat with an AI bot that can answer common questions out of hours.
Bookkeeping & tax
- QuickBooks Online: Accounting with bank feeds and AI categorisation; a free plan in the US and MTD-compatible software in the UK.
- Xero: Popular cloud accounting with bank feeds and invoicing; in the UK it handles MTD-compatible VAT returns.
- Wave: Free Starter plan for invoicing and basic bookkeeping; Pro adds bank-transaction import.
Product or service listings
- ChatGPT: Draft titles, bullet points and descriptions. Check facts and marketplace rules before posting.
- Claude: Rewrite service descriptions (e.g. For Google Business Profile or directories) in plain English.
- Canva: Make clear price lists, menus or service graphics.
Bookings & scheduling
- Calendly: Send a link and let customers pick a time; free plan available.
- Setmore: Free booking page for small teams (up to 4 users).
- Square Appointments: Free single-location booking calendar that ties in with Square payments.
Website & marketing copy
- Wix: Build a site without code, with AI text and layout tools; free plan available.
- Hostinger Website Builder: Low-cost AI website builder. Check the renewal price, not just the intro price.
- ChatGPT: Free first drafts of your About page, service pages and FAQs.
Compare prices
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | Free trial | Best for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | USD: Simple Start $38/month (intro discount shown) | Yes, QuickBooks Free (US): 1 user, 2 invoices/month | 30-day free trial (per site) | Invoicing and bookkeeping | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Zoho Books | USD: Standard $15/org/month billed annually ($20 monthly) | Yes, for solopreneurs and micro businesses | Free trial offered | Solo businesses wanting free accounting software | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Wave | USD: Pro $190 USD/year (billed annually) | Yes, Starter plan $0 | Not stated | Freelancers and very small businesses wanting free invoicing | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Canva | USD: Pro US$144/year for one person | Yes | Free trial of Pro offered | Social posts, flyers, menus and price lists | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Later | USD: Starter $18.75/month (billed yearly) | No | 14-day free trial | Image-led businesses: salons, cafés, photographers | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Buffer | USD: Essentials $5/month per channel (billed yearly) | Yes, 3 channels | 14-day free trial | Scheduling posts across a few social accounts | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| ChatGPT | USD: Go $8/month (Plus $20/month) | Yes | Not stated | Drafting emails, quotes wording, posts and descriptions | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Grammarly | USD: Pro from $12 (USD; billing period shown varies) | Yes | Not stated | Making customer emails and replies clear and professional | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Tidio | USD: Starter $24.17/month | Yes | 7-day free trial | Answering repeat customer questions on your website | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Xero | GBP: Ignite £18/month (excl. VAT); USD: Early $27/month (intro discount shown) | No | Not stated (intro discount shown) | Invoicing and bookkeeping for most small businesses | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Claude | USD: Pro $20/month ($17/month billed annually) | Yes | Not stated | Longer documents, careful rewrites and policy wording | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Calendly | USD: Standard $10/seat/month (billed yearly) | Yes | Not stated | Consultations, discovery calls and site visits | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Setmore | USD: Pro $5/user/month (billed annually) | Yes, up to 4 users | Not stated | Simple booking pages for small teams | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Square Appointments | GBP: Plus £29/month per location; USD: Plus $49/month per location; AUD: Plus A$40/month per location; CAD: Plus C$35/month per location; EUR: Plus €19/month + VAT per location (Ireland) | Yes, single location | Not stated | Appointment-based businesses that also take card payments | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Wix | Check site | Yes | 14-day money-back guarantee (per site) | A simple website without a developer | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
| Hostinger Website Builder | GBP: Premium £2.39/month on a 48-month term (renews at £10.99/month) | No | 30-day money-back guarantee | A budget website for a local business | Official pricing (checked 29 October 2026) |
Prices are the starting paid plans shown on each official pricing page on 29 October 2026. Currencies are as shown there; prices in your country, taxes and intro offers can differ. Always confirm on the official site.
Verdict by business type
- Just starting, zero budget: begin with free plans: QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Wave, Canva, Buffer.
- Growing team: pick one job-management or booking system from the list and add an AI assistant for writing.
- Outside the US/UK: many prices are shown in USD or GBP; check the local pricing page.
FAQ
What is the best free AI tool for cafés and restaurants?
Tools in this guide with a free plan (per their official pages on 29 October 2026): QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Wave, Canva, Buffer, ChatGPT, Grammarly, Tidio, Claude, Calendly, Setmore, Square Appointments, Wix.
How much do AI tools for cafés and restaurants cost?
Starting paid prices in this guide range from free plans to monthly subscriptions; see the table, where each price links to its official pricing page.
Are these picks paid for?
No. Picks are based on fit and verified pricing. Paid placements on WiseToolHQ are always marked Featured and never change the order of our picks.
Last checked: 29 October 2026. Our picks are never paid for; paid placements are always marked Featured. See our disclosure.
Get your shortlist in 30 seconds
Open the finderPick your job and see the best-fit tools for Café & restaurant, with checked prices.