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Restaurants · head to head

ChowNow vs MarginEdge

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Restaurants

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MarginEdge logo

MarginEdge

Restaurants

Restaurant back office for invoice processing, food cost and inventory tracking

From
$350/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; MarginEdge no free trial or freemium option available, requiring full commitment upfront at $350 per month minimum
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and MarginEdge actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and MarginEdge differ
AttributeChowNowMarginEdge
Starting price$249/month$350/monthly
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2010Unknown

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 MarginEdge

Nothing recorded that ChowNow does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

ChowNow

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

MarginEdge

  • Restaurant management and financial trackingnot ChowNow
  • Food cost control and inventory management for restaurantsnot 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

MarginEdge

  • No free trial or freemium option available, requiring full commitment upfront at $350 per month minimum
  • High monthly per-location cost makes adoption expensive for multi-unit restaurant groups
  • Additional Toast API integration requires extra $50 per month per location, increasing total cost

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

MarginEdge

$350/monthly
  • MarginEdge$350/monthly
    • Unlimited invoice processing
    • Unlimited bill payments for U.S. locations
    • Unlimited email support
  • MarginEdge + Freepour$500/monthly
    • All MarginEdge features
    • Smart scale technology for liquor inventory management
    • Freepour adds $150 per month to base subscription

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 MarginEdge if

Nothing in the data separates MarginEdge from ChowNow on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

MarginEdge review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or MarginEdge better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and MarginEdge at $350/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or MarginEdge?
ChowNow starts at $249/month and MarginEdge at $350/monthly.
Does ChowNow or MarginEdge run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. MarginEdge runs on Web.
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 MarginEdge is typically brought in for.
What can ChowNow do that MarginEdge cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database.

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
MarginEdge: What is the pricing structure and billing frequency for MarginEdge?

MarginEdge costs $350 per month per location with monthly or annual billing. Annual billing includes a 10 percent discount resulting in $420 annual savings. No long-term contracts are required and customers may cancel anytime.

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
MarginEdge: How much does the Freepour add-on cost and what does it include?

The Freepour bundle adds $150 per month to the base subscription, making the total $500 per month per location. It includes smart scale technology for automated liquor inventory management. Annual billing saves $600 per year when bundled with Freepour.

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
MarginEdge: Are there any additional fees beyond the monthly subscription?

Yes, if you use the Toast API or Toast Restaurant Management Suite, there is an additional $50 per month per location charge. Discounts are available for multi-unit restaurant groups and accounting firms through custom pricing.

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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