--- title: "Ghost kitchens vs. shared kitchens: What's the difference?" description: Since COVID-19 lockdowns began nearly two years ago, ghost kitchens have asserted themselves as a delivery trend that’s here to stay. image: https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/shared-kitchen.png --- # Ghost kitchens vs. shared kitchens: What's the difference? Share [![Share on Facebook](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/Facebook%20Share%20Syzlio.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.syzl.io%2Fghost-kitchens-vs-cloud-kitchens-vs-shared-kitchens-vs-virtual-kitchens%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/LinkedIn%20Share%20Syzlio.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.syzl.io%2Fghost-kitchens-vs-cloud-kitchens-vs-shared-kitchens-vs-virtual-kitchens%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/Instagram%20Share%20Syzlio.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.syzl.io%2Fghost-kitchens-vs-cloud-kitchens-vs-shared-kitchens-vs-virtual-kitchens%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.syzl.io%2Fghost-kitchens-vs-cloud-kitchens-vs-shared-kitchens-vs-virtual-kitchens%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Ghost%20kitchens%20vs.%20shared%20kitchens%3A%20What%27s%20the%20difference%3F) Not sure which is which? Here’s an overview.  Since COVID-19 lockdowns began nearly two years ago, ghost kitchens have asserted themselves as a delivery trend that’s here to stay. But for those new to the idea, the lingo can be confusing. Is there a difference between a ghost kitchen and a cloud kitchen? Are shared kitchens also ghost kitchens? How about virtual kitchens? First off, some good news: **These terms are mostly interchangeable.** Any time a new business model arrives, a lot of buzz words start popping up.  Their definitions usually vary depending on whom you’re talking to—and what they’re selling. When it comes to food businesses operating partially or completely without a space for customers to shop or dine in, **a cloud kitchen = a ghost kitchen = a virtual kitchen = a shared kitchen**—for the most part (more on that in a moment). The most commonly used term is ghost kitchen, so that’s what we’ll use here. To break it down a bit more:  ### Ghost kitchen A ghost kitchen is a **delivery-only restaurant concept that does not have a storefront or front of house space**. Most ghost kitchens rely on third-party apps such as SkipTheDishes, UberEats, or DoorDash to handle ordering, but some may use only their own website or social media page to connect with customers. In many cases, a ghost kitchen may be a franchise of a major food chain that wants to measure customer demand or simply avoid the cost and logistics of constructing a physical store. Some companies even specialize in ghost kitchen franchising by assisting food entrepreneurs with menu composition, marketing, and online ordering setup.  Some use *cloud kitchen* to mean a ghost kitchen that provides a more curated, all-inclusive experience for food makers, with extra services like kitchen staffing or order processing. A cloud kitchen may include online tools for managing your business, such as supply chain management or budgeting. In addition, in 2016 a company with the name CloudKitchens started operating in the US, providing ghost kitchen services. ### Shared kitchen A shared kitchen is **any kitchen space that’s shared among more than one business or concept. **Commissary kitchens are shared kitchens owned and operated for the express purpose of providing kitchen space. In contrast, an active food business or restaurant may choose to offer up part of their unused kitchen space for other businesses to use. This is also considered a shared kitchen, but with a slightly different business model. Any business using a shared kitchen space without providing in-person dining or shopping would also be considered a ghost kitchen. In some cases, a restaurant with a dine-in space may offer food for delivery outside of regular business hours or apart from the regular menu. This is often called a *virtual kitchen* and regarded as an offshoot of the original business.  Shared kitchens are used by caterers, established chefs who want to test a culinary concept before committing to a restaurant space, culinary students finishing a project, and food entrepreneurs trying out a new or limited-time business model. Syzl is an online platform and app that connects food makers with kitchen owners—sort of like an AirBnB for kitchens. Whether you’re looking into starting a ghost kitchen, finding shared kitchen space for a new venture, or finding vetted renters for your existing space, Syzl can help you make it happen. Have thoughts about this article? Want to know more about Syzl? Just want to talk about food? We’d love to hear from you. ## More from the Syzl blog [![Commercial kitchen facility](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/SyzlKitchenA-720x480.jpg) ### Syzl: A New Platform Connecting Chefs with Available Kitchens Syzl has been featured in RestoBiz, emphasizing its role in connecting chefs and food entrepreneurs... ](https://news.syzl.io/syzl-emerges-as-pitch-winner-at-collision-2023-1) [![Person making a pizza and wearing a white apron](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/this-new-app-makes-it-easy-for-toronto-food-makers-to-book-professional-kitchens.jpg) ### Syzl: A New App Facilitating Booking of Professional Kitchens in Toronto Syzl, a new app launched by Toronto co-founders Azrah Manji-Savin and Adrian Savin, aims to connect... ](https://news.syzl.io/syzl-emerges-as-pitch-winner-at-collision-2023-0-0) [![](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/Syzl-founder-at-Collision--770x513.jpg) ### Syzl Emerges as PITCH Winner at Collision 2023 Toronto-based kitchen rental startup Syzl was declared the PITCH competition winner at Collision... ](https://news.syzl.io/syzl-emerges-as-pitch-winner-at-collision-2023) [![](https://news.syzl.io/hubfs/chef_sam_medeiros_wins_the_chef_collective_battle_in_toronto.jpg) ### Chef Sam Medeiros Triumphs in The Chef Collective Battle in Toronto Chef Sam Medeiros emerged as the winner in the first culinary battle held by The Chef Collective in... ](https://news.syzl.io/syzl-emerges-as-pitch-winner-at-collision-2023-0)