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Restaurants · head to head

ChowNow vs Compeat

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Restaurants

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Compeat logo

Compeat

Restaurants

Restaurant back office and accounting

From
$350/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Compeat the Internet Archive's capture of Compeat's homepage on 9 January 2020 confirmed the restaurant management suite is sold only via 'Request Demo', bundling distinct modules named Accounting, Inventory, Intelligence, Logbook, Labor, Schedule, Compeat Pay, Compeat Advantage and Ctuit Radar, with no price figure published for any.
  • They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Compeat covers Accounting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Compeat actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and Compeat differ
AttributeChowNowCompeat
Starting price$249/month$350/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20101998

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

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 ChowNow

  • Branded ordering
  • Website integration
  • Mobile app
  • Customer database
  • Marketing tools
  • Delivery integration
  • DoorDash Drive
  • Google

Only in Compeat

  • Accounting
  • Inventory
  • Recipe costing
  • Labor scheduling
  • AP/AR
  • Financial reporting
  • Major POS systems
  • Payroll providers

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ChowNow

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Compeat

  • 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.

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

Compeat

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Compeat's homepage on 9 January 2020 confirmed the restaurant management suite is sold only via 'Request Demo', bundling distinct modules named Accounting, Inventory, Intelligence, Logbook, Labor, Schedule, Compeat Pay, Compeat Advantage and Ctuit Radar, with no price figure published for any.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Compeat

$350/month
  • Standard$350/month
    • Accounting
    • Inventory
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full features

Which should you pick?

Choose ChowNow if

  • You need branded ordering.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want website integration.
ChowNow review

Choose Compeat if

  • You need accounting.
  • You also want inventory.
Compeat review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or Compeat better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Compeat at $350/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Compeat?
ChowNow starts at $249/month and Compeat at $350/month.
Does ChowNow or Compeat run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Compeat runs on Web.
What is ChowNow best used for?
ChowNow is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
What can ChowNow do that Compeat cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Compeat covers Accounting, Inventory, Recipe costing, Labor scheduling. Both handle Web 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).

Source
ChowNow: 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.

Source
ChowNow: 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.

Source
ChowNow: 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.

Source
ChowNow: 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
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