Pay by phone is a convenient new way to pay for meals at fast food restaurants thanks to a rise in smartphone restaurant apps.
Several fast food juggernauts have developed pay by phone apps to make your life easier when buying a burger and French fries. Chipotle (CMG) has a great app that allows you to create your own burrito and pay for it.
Read more about this app and four other fast food restaurants that are making waves with smartphone apps.
Pay by Phone Apps: Starbucks
Starbucks (SBUX) has released an iPhone app that allows customers to pay for their coffee with their smartphone.
The app allows people to make credit or debit card payments with their phones. Starbucks has updated the app so users can also add tips to the bill electronically, something they couldn’t do before.
The Starbucks apps have been downloaded by 10 million people and they account for 11% of purchases made in the chain’s locations.
Pay by Phone Apps: Chipotle
The Chipotle (CMG) Mobile Ordering app speeds the ordering process for customers waiting in line.
Some Chipotle lines are insanely long, but you can now put your order in before you make it to the front of the line. The app lets you order by choosing your meat, rice and toppings for your favorite Chipotle meal and you can pay it right away.
After you finish ordering, the app tells you how long you need to wait before your order is ready, giving you time to go elsewhere if the waiting time is too long.
Pay by Phone Apps: Wendy’s
Wendy’s (WEN) is currently testing a smartphone app in several locations.
The app can find you locations, nutritional data and a payment feature that allows you to pay for your meal with your phone. The Wendy’s app is still being tested so it can only be used in select U.S. locations, but it seems to work fine so far.
Read about the Burger King smartphone app on the next slide.
Pay by Phone Apps: Burger King
Burger King (BKW) is currently developing a smartphone app that will allow you to order from your local restaurant in an easy and convenient way.
The app will be process payments and it will include nutritional data, promotions, coupons and more. The Burger King app is set for an April release and it will be available in all 7,000+ Burger King locations in the U.S.
Read about the Taco Bell app on the next page.
Pay by Phone Apps: Taco Bell
Taco Bell (YUM) is testing mobile ordering through a smartphone app.
The chain’s app allows you to pay with your credit card or gift card using your smartphone. It also lets you customize your order by adding or removing toppings on your favorite taco or burrito.
Since the app is still being tested, it’s only available in select U.S. locations.
