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Software · head to head

ChowNow vs Jolt

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Software

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jolt logo

Jolt

Software

Operations execution platform

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Jolt jolt.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to smartsense.co/request-a-quote; Jolt is sold under SmartSense
  • They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Jolt covers Digital checklists.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Jolt actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and Jolt differ
AttributeChowNowJolt
Starting price$249/month$69/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Founded20102012

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Jolt

  • Digital checklists
  • Temperature logging
  • Food labeling
  • Employee accountability
  • Time clock
  • Training
  • POS systems
  • HR software

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

ChowNow

  • Point of Salenot Jolt
  • Order Managementnot Jolt
  • Inventory Controlnot Jolt
  • Staff Schedulingnot Jolt

Jolt

  • Digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift worknot ChowNow
  • Food safety labelling and temperature loggingnot ChowNow
  • Employee scheduling and shift accountability for hourly teamsnot ChowNow

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

Jolt

  • jolt.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to smartsense.co/request-a-quote; Jolt is sold under SmartSense
  • Pricing is by quote only, with no published rate, no minimum and no named cost driver on the vendor site

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

Jolt

$69/month
  • Basic$69/month
    • Checklists
    • Temperature logs
  • Standard$129/month
    • Food safety
    • Employee management
  • Premium$229/month
    • Full features
    • Analytics

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 Jolt if

  • You need digital checklists.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want temperature logging.
Jolt review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or Jolt better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Jolt at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Jolt?
ChowNow starts at $249/month and Jolt at $69/month.
Does ChowNow or Jolt run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Jolt runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is ChowNow best used for?
ChowNow is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what Jolt is typically brought in for.
What can ChowNow do that Jolt cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Jolt covers Digital checklists, Temperature logging, Food labeling, Employee accountability. 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).

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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Related pages

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