Food & Restaurant · head to head
ChowNow vs Olo
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Olo olo platform pricing is not published; it is sold directly to restaurant operators via sales contact, with only free operator-facing apps visible on the App Store
- They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Olo covers Digital ordering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Olo actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 ChowNow
- Branded ordering
- Website integration
- Mobile app
- Customer database
- Marketing tools
- Delivery integration
- DoorDash Drive
Only in Olo
- Digital ordering
- Delivery management
- Dispatch
- Rails integration
- Catering
- Enterprise analytics
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
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 Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Olo
- 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
Olo
- Olo platform pricing is not published; it is sold directly to restaurant operators via sales contact, with only free operator-facing apps visible on the App Store
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
Olo
On request- EnterpriseFree
- Custom pricing
- Full platform
Which should you pick?
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Choose Olo if
- You need digital ordering.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want delivery management.
Questions people ask
- Is ChowNow or Olo better?
- Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Olo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Olo?
- ChowNow starts at $249/month and Olo at On request.
- Does ChowNow or Olo run on more platforms?
- ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Olo 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.
- What can ChowNow do that Olo cannot?
- ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Olo covers Digital ordering, Delivery management, Dispatch, Rails integration. 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