Untappd vs. Menu Board Manager: Which Digital Menu Board Platform Is Right for Your Business?
As technology continues to reshape the restaurant and brewery industries, choosing the right platform for your digital signage can make a significant difference in customer experience and operational efficiency. Untappd and Menu Board Manager are two platforms that serve overlapping but distinct needs. This comparison breaks down their features and pricing to help you determine which solution fits your business best.
Untappd: Built for the Craft Beer Community
Untappd began as a social networking platform for beer enthusiasts, offering users the ability to discover, rate, and share beer experiences. Its business product, Untappd for Business, extends that ecosystem to bars, breweries, and restaurants. The platform enables businesses to display live beer menus on TVs, websites, and mobile apps, with automatic updates tied to inventory changes. Integration with the consumer-facing Untappd app gives patrons the ability to explore offerings, leave reviews, and share their experiences — a powerful marketing channel for craft beer-focused establishments. Untappd also provides beer-specific analytics, inventory tracking with low-stock alerts, and third-party POS integrations with systems like Square or Toast. Pricing starts at approximately $599 per year for small businesses, with additional costs for add-ons like customized displays or expanded analytics.
Menu Board Manager: Versatile Digital Menu Management
Menu Board Manager is purpose-built for digital menu boards, serving breweries, cafes, quick-service restaurants, and multi-unit operations. Where Untappd focuses on beer discovery, Menu Board Manager delivers a highly customizable platform for managing complete food and drink menus across any number of screens and locations. Real-time updates allow operators to change menu items, pricing, and specials instantly across all displays. The platform supports offline functionality, ensuring menus continue to display even during internet outages — a critical feature for high-volume environments. Hardware compatibility extends to most commercial displays and tablets, and restaurant-focused features include the ability to highlight specials, nutritional information, and allergen warnings. Menu Board Manager also offers robust POS integrations with systems including Toast, Brink, Northstar, Qu, and Olo. For restaurants using Toast specifically, the Toast POS integration enables real-time menu syncing and automatic 86 management, keeping your boards accurate without manual intervention. Pricing starts at $9.99 per month per screen, with custom pricing available for larger deployments.
Feature and Pricing Comparison
The core distinction between these platforms comes down to scope and flexibility. Untappd is optimized for beer-centric businesses that want to tap into an existing social network of craft beer enthusiasts. Its consumer app integration provides a unique marketing advantage that no standalone digital signage platform can replicate. However, its customization is limited primarily to beer menus, it lacks offline support, and its annual pricing starts higher than many alternatives.
Menu Board Manager is the stronger choice for businesses that need a flexible, cost-effective solution for managing diverse menus across multiple locations. Its offline functionality, broad hardware compatibility, and deep POS integration make it a more practical platform for restaurants that serve more than just beer. At $9.99 per month per screen versus $599 per year, it also offers a more accessible entry point — and you can evaluate the financial impact using the digital menu board ROI calculator.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
If your business revolves around craft beer and you want to leverage a built-in community of beer enthusiasts for discovery and engagement, Untappd is a compelling option. If you need a versatile, reliable digital menu board system that handles food and drink menus, supports multiple locations, works offline, and integrates with leading POS platforms, Menu Board Manager is the clear choice for long-term operational value.
Ready to see how Menu Board Manager can transform your menu displays? Contact us today to discuss your needs and find the right solution for your business.
