Food & Restaurant · head to head
7shifts vs ChowNow
The short version
- Only 7shifts has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 7shifts subscription automatically renews at expiry for the same period at the then-current rate and fees are non-refundable, per 7shifts' Terms of Service.; ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available
- They diverge on capability: 7shifts covers Employee scheduling, ChowNow covers Branded ordering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 7shifts and ChowNow actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Food & Restaurant).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 7shifts
- Employee scheduling
- Time clocking
- Team communication
- Tip pooling
- Labor compliance
- Hiring
- Toast
- Square
Only in ChowNow
- Branded ordering
- Website integration
- Mobile app
- Customer database
- Marketing tools
- Delivery integration
- DoorDash Drive
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
7shifts
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
ChowNow
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
7shifts
- Subscription automatically renews at expiry for the same period at the then-current rate and fees are non-refundable, per 7shifts' Terms of Service.
- 7shifts may increase fees annually without notice to track CPI inflation, or with 30 days notice for other fee changes, per its Terms of Service.
ChowNow
- Limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available
- No multi-language support, limiting service to non-English speaking customer bases
- Multi-location management requires separate dashboard for each location
- Delivery reliability issues with reported order delays and non-arrivals
- Limited customer support responsiveness with long phone wait times
Pricing, plan by plan
7shifts
Free- CompFree
- Basic scheduling
- 1 location
- Appetizer$29.99/month
- Scheduling
- Time clocking
- Entree$69.99/month
- Tip pooling
- Labor compliance
- The Works$135/month
- Full features
- Task management
ChowNow
$249/month- Launch$249/month
- Commission-free ordering
- Website and mobile app
- Basic POS integrations
- Grow$349/month
- All Launch features
- Advanced marketing tools
- Email and SMS campaigns
- Elevate$449/month
- All Grow features
- Advanced reporting
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose 7shifts if
- You need employee scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want time clocking.
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Questions people ask
- Is 7shifts or ChowNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. 7shifts starts at Free and ChowNow at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 7shifts or ChowNow?
- 7shifts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for 7shifts and $249/month for ChowNow.
- Does 7shifts or ChowNow run on more platforms?
- 7shifts runs on Web, Ios, Android. ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use 7shifts for free?
- Yes. 7shifts has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChowNow starts at $249/month.
- What is 7shifts best used for?
- 7shifts is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can 7shifts do that ChowNow cannot?
- 7shifts covers Employee scheduling, Time clocking, Team communication, Tip pooling. ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ChowNow: Is ChowNow truly commission-free?
Yes, ChowNow charges no commission on orders placed through your website, app, or marketplace channels. However, you pay a monthly subscription ($249-$449), payment processing fees (2.95% plus $0.29 per transaction), and optional delivery fees ($7.98 per order with Flex Delivery).
SourceChowNow: Does ChowNow integrate with my POS system?
Yes. ChowNow integrates with over 45 POS systems including Toast, Square, Clover, and Revel. Orders are automatically synced to your POS and kitchen printers without manual entry.
SourceChowNow: Can I use ChowNow with delivery platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats?
ChowNow handles direct orders but also supports order aggregation from third-party delivery platforms including DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub through integrations.
SourceChowNow: How much does ChowNow cost?
ChowNow plans start at $249/month (Launch), $349/month (Grow), and $449/month (Elevate) when billed monthly. Annual billing saves 8-9%. Additional fees include payment processing (2.95% plus $0.29 per transaction), setup fees ($119-$499), and optional delivery charges.
SourceChowNow: What platforms are supported by ChowNow?
ChowNow is available on web, iOS, and Android. Restaurants get a website ordering interface and can offer a branded mobile app. Customers discover restaurants through Google Maps, Apple Maps, Yelp, and the ChowNow Marketplace.
Source