How to publish your restaurant menu online for free and get a public URL
Step-by-step guide to upload your menu online, create a free public link, and use it for your QR code without a website or paid hosting.
In this step, you will publish your digital menu online using Blogger to generate a free public URL. This link will be the direct address you can share on social media, messaging apps, or connect to your QR code. You don’t need a website, domain, or web hosting service. Blogger works as free hosting for your restaurant menu.
Tip: open your published menu in an incognito window. If it loads correctly, the URL is correct.
Follow this video tutorial to publish your menu online for free and create a permanent public link. No domain registration or paid hosting required — we’ll use your Gmail account and Google’s free Blogger platform.
How to upload your menu online for free and create a public URL
Learn how to publish your restaurant menu without a website or technical skills.
Quick overview: how to upload your menu online
- Open Blogger with your Google account.
- Create a new post and upload your menu image.
- Publish and save the URL: you will use it to create the QR code.
Step-by-step guide to publishing your restaurant menu online
Below, we show you the complete process to upload your digital menu online and create your menu’s QR code.
- Open Chrome.
- Sign in to Gmail.
- Click on the 'Waffle' or 'Google Apps' (nine dots next to your account or username) and select 'Blogger' (white B on a yellow background).
- Click the 'Create your Blog' button. If prompted, select the account you want to use (especially if you’re signed in to multiple accounts).
- Choose a name for your blog, for example: My Restaurant.
- Choose a URL for your blog, for example: myrestaurant123.blogspot.com. [This will be your PUBLIC URL.]
- Enter the display name your customers will see, for example: My Restaurant.
- Go to 'Theme' and select 'Essential' (the simplest and cleanest).
- Click 'APPLY'.
- Go to 'Posts' and click '+ NEW POST' (top left).
- Find the 'Insert image' icon (white mountains on a black background) and select 'Upload from computer'.
- Click 'Browse' and select your menu.
- Click the inserted image, then click 'Change' (gear icon).
- Select 'Original Size'. In 'Alt Text', enter a message in case the image doesn’t load (for example: Restaurant Menu). Then click 'Update'.
- Enter the menu title (top left), for example: Menu. To indicate the language, you can use 'Menu [EN]'.
- If you want, add your address in 'Location' in the right sidebar (optional).
- In 'Options' (right sidebar), under 'Reader comments', select 'Do not allow, hide existing'.
- Click 'Publish' (top right).
- Click 'Confirm' in the message that appears.
- To publish the menu in another language, repeat steps 10 through 19, upload the menu in the other language, and use a title such as 'Menu [ES]'.
- In the left menu, click 'Layout'.
- In the 'Sidebar (top)', hide the 'About Me' widget and click 'Save'.
- In the 'Sidebar (bottom)', hide the 'Blog Archive' widget and click 'Save'.
- In 'Header', you can leave it as is, edit it, or hide it.
- If the menu is in one language:
- In 'Page body':
- In 'Blog posts', uncheck 'Show publish time', 'Show comment with count', and 'Show labels'.
- Hide the 'Popular posts' widget.
- Click 'Save'.
- If the menu is in two languages:
- In 'Page body':
- Hide the 'Featured post' widget.
- In 'Blog posts', uncheck 'Show publish time', 'Show comment with count', and 'Show labels'.
- Hide the 'Popular posts' widget.
- Click 'Save'.
- In 'Footer', hide the 'Report Abuse' widget and click 'Save'.
- Click the 'Save' icon (bottom right).
- In 'Settings', click 'Favicon' and 'Select Icon File'. Then choose your favicon and click 'Save'.
- Done! Your menu is now published for free on Blogger with a favicon. Save your blog’s URL, because you’ll need it to create the QR code.
How to convert a PDF into a QR code for free
Convert PDF to QR code free in just a few minutes. You only need to upload your file to Google Drive, get a public link and use it to generate your QR code.
To convert a PDF into a QR code, you need to upload the file online, get a public link and create the QR code using that link.
This method is perfect if you already have your menu in PDF format and want to share it with a QR code without creating a website or paying for hosting.
- Click on the Google apps icon (the nine dots, also known as 'Waffle') and open 'Drive' (blue, green and yellow triangle).
- Click on 'My Drive' (top left).
- Right-click on the main panel and select 'File upload'. Then locate your PDF on your computer and click 'Open'. You can also drag and drop the file into the panel.
- Once uploaded, right-click the PDF or click the three dots on the right and select 'Share' and, in the next menu, again 'Share'.
- In 'General access', change 'Restricted' to 'Anyone with the link'.
- Click 'Copy link' and then 'Done'.
- Use that link to create your QR code.
You can update your PDF without changing the QR code. Do not delete the file or upload a new one. Do the following:
- Click the three dots on the right.
- Select 'File information' and then 'Manage versions'.
- Click 'Upload new version' and choose the updated file.
- Your QR code will keep working with the updated PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How can I upload my restaurant menu online for free?
You can upload your restaurant menu online for free by creating a digital menu and getting a public link. Once you have the link, you can share it or use it to generate a QR code.
How do I create a QR code for a menu without a website?
You don’t need a website to create a menu QR code. Simply upload your menu online, get a public link, and convert that link into a QR code that your customers can scan.
Can I convert a PDF to a QR code for free?
Yes. You can convert PDF to QR code free by uploading your file online, getting a public link, and using that link to generate your QR code in seconds.
What is the best free way to host a menu online?
The best free online menu hosting option is to use a tool that lets you publish your menu, generate a public link, and share it easily without needing hosting or a domain.
How can I create a menu online for free?
You can create a menu online for free using a digital menu generator that allows you to build your menu, publish it instantly, and get a shareable link.
Can I use my digital menu on Google Maps or social media?
Yes. Once you have your menu link, you can add it to Google Maps, share it on WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook, or use it in a QR code.
Do I need hosting or a domain for a digital menu?
No. You can publish your digital menu for free and get a public link without buying a domain or paying for hosting.