The question is what starts the order
Hotplate starts with the drop. You choose the menu, open a preorder window, set pickup details, reserve inventory, and let customers pay before you make the food. Its built-in list, texts, waitlists, prep lists, and tickets are designed around that rhythm.
Confita starts with the product and the request. You can run a drop too, but the deeper difference is the custom-order path: ask for the date, servings, flavors, allergies, and reference photo, then send a private quote link with the deposit and payment instructions.
Both can sell online. The workflow is different.
Hotplate is a strong drop operations tool. Confita is a focused storefront and custom-order tool that also handles drops.
| Confita | Hotplate | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $4.99/month | No monthly subscription |
| Annual price | $39/year | No annual subscription |
| Before you publish | Create the shop free; start Pro when ready to publish | Create and hold an account free |
| Platform fee | 0% added by Confita | 5% + $0.55 on customer subtotal by default; fee split can be adjusted |
| Payment processing | Normal processor rates can apply | 2.9% + $0.30 paid by the seller |
| Customer ordering | browser storefront and custom request flow | preorder drops through a branded storefront |
| Seller access | phone, tablet, or computer | web-based storefront and seller tools |
| Storefront editor | full editor with themes, colors, covers, fonts, banners, and live preview | custom storefront with branding; detailed editor controls not listed publicly |
| Custom questions and reference photos | built into the product flow | not listed publicly |
| Private quotes and deposits | private quote link with deposit, instructions, and receipt upload | prepaid checkout; quote workflow not listed publicly |
| Scheduled drops | drops, cutoffs, pickup windows, and capacity limits | core workflow with menus, pickup windows, and order windows |
| Inventory controls | product and capacity limits | inventory reservations, per-item limits, and waitlists |
| Customer messaging | order details and private status link | automatic SMS alerts, reminders, and built-in inbox |
| Prep lists and order tickets | order inbox and order details | automated prep lists, packing tickets, and order labels |
| English and Spanish storefronts | not listed publicly |
Hotplate pricing and feature details checked July 10, 2026. Its default customer-facing platform fee is 5% + $0.55 on subtotal, and its pricing page lists 2.9% + $0.30 for payment processing paid by the seller. Confirm the current fee split and payment terms before relying on them.
A storefront you can shape beyond the branding
Hotplate gives you a branded storefront built to launch quickly. Confita puts more of the visual decision-making in the editor: themes, colors, covers, fonts, banners, stickers, entrance animations, and live preview.
If your shop link is part of your brand, Confita gives you more room to make it feel like your business. You can build and edit it from any phone, tablet, or computer, then start Pro only when it is ready to publish.
Custom orders need more than a drop menu
A drop works best when the menu and quantities are known in advance. A custom cake often starts with a date, servings, flavors, allergies, inspiration, and a conversation about price.
Confita lets the product collect those details before you quote. Then you send one private link with the total, deposit, remaining balance, payment instructions, and receipt upload.
Where Hotplate genuinely wins
Hotplate is a strong choice if drops are the operating system of your business. Its public pricing and product pages highlight automatic customer texts, inventory reservations, waitlists, prep lists, order tickets, a built-in inbox, reviews, loyalty, and insights.
The tradeoff is the per-order fee. Hotplate has no monthly subscription or setup fee, but its default pricing shows a 5% + $0.55 fee to the customer and 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing paid by the seller. You can decide how much of the platform fee to absorb or pass through.
Choose Hotplate if drops are the center
Choose Hotplate if you want a drop-first system with customer texting, inventory reservations, waitlists, prep lists, tickets, and no monthly subscription.
- You sell a predictable menu during scheduled preorder windows.
- Automatic SMS alerts and reminders matter every week.
- You need waitlists and inventory reservations to prevent overselling.
- Prep lists and order tickets save real time.
- You are comfortable comparing per-order fees against a fixed subscription.
Choose Confita if the storefront and custom request are the center
Choose Confita if you want a shop you can design more deeply and a custom-order flow that collects the details needed before you quote.
- You need custom questions and reference photos.
- You send private quotes and collect deposits.
- You want full storefront design control with live preview.
- You want to work from any phone, tablet, or computer.
- You prefer a transparent $4.99/month or $39/year price with 0% platform commission.
Keep comparing based on the work you do
Build the storefront before you pay for it
Create your products, customize the shop, add your questions, and send yourself a test order. Start Pro only when you are ready to publish.
Sources
Details were checked against public sources on July 10, 2026. Confirm current prices, policies, or provider instructions before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Hotplate charge?
Hotplate has no monthly subscription or setup cost. Its pricing page lists a default customer-facing platform fee of 5% + $0.55 on the customer subtotal, plus 2.9% + $0.30 for payment processing paid by the seller. Hotplate says sellers can adjust the fee split. Confirm the current terms before subscribing.
Is Confita cheaper than Hotplate?
The answer depends on order volume. Confita charges $4.99/month or $39/year and adds 0% platform commission. Hotplate has no subscription, but charges per order. Compare Hotplate’s per-order fees with Confita’s fixed plan based on the volume you expect to sell.
Which is better for weekly drops?
Hotplate is the stronger fit if you need automatic texts, inventory reservations, waitlists, prep lists, and order tickets around every drop. Confita is the stronger fit if you want product limits, cutoffs, pickup windows, and a drop flow alongside custom quotes and deposits.
Which has the better storefront editor?
Confita is the stronger fit if you want hands-on visual control. Its editor includes themes, colors, covers, fonts, banners, stickers, entrance animations, and live preview. Hotplate offers a branded storefront designed for quick launch, but its public materials do not detail the same editor controls.
Does Hotplate support custom cake quotes?
Hotplate is built around prepaid drops and its public materials do not list a private quote workflow. Confita is built for custom questions, reference photos, private quote links, deposits, payment instructions, and receipt uploads.
Can I use Confita on any device?
Yes. Confita works from a phone, tablet, or computer for both sellers and customers. You can create the shop, edit its design, review requests, and send quotes from the browser.