Hotplate is a drop-based preorder platform popular with home bakers and pop-ups. You set a menu, a pickup window, and when orders open. It texts your list, holds inventory in the cart, and builds a prep list. There is no monthly bill. That model is clear, and it works well if a drop night is most of what you sell.
The tradeoff is the cut. Hotplate takes 5% plus $0.55 on the subtotal of each order, including cash, Venmo, and Zelle (taken from your payout). Card checkout is Stripe at 2.9% plus $0.30. Loafaly Free takes 2% on cards only. Paid plans take $0. Basic is $3.99 a month. You also bring your own processor, so you are not locked to one card rail.
Loafaly still runs menu drops and pickup scheduling on your own shop. Around that sit the pieces Hotplate does not claim: an everyday catalog, custom cakes with deposits, a market stall or register, recipe costing, inventory, expenses and mileage, and cottage labels. Gift cards on Loafaly are on Pro. Hotplate includes gift cards, loyalty, and an automatic drop-open text in the drop product.
If you only need timed drops and you like paying per order, stay with Hotplate until the fees bother you. If you want the drop plus the rest of the week in one login, start a Loafaly trial. Web checkout collects a payment method at signup so billing can continue after the trial. You will not be charged until the trial ends, and you can cancel anytime during the trial.