Software · head to head
ChowNow vs Owner.com
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Owner.com the $249 per month Flexible plan adds a 5 percent restaurant fee on every order, so cost rises with sales volume
- They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Owner.com covers Website builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Owner.com actually diverge.
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
- Marketing tools
Only in Owner.com
- Website builder
- Online ordering
- Marketing automation
- Loyalty program
Both cover
- Customer database
- Delivery integration
- DoorDash Drive
- 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 Owner.com
- Order Managementnot Owner.com
- Inventory Controlnot Owner.com
- Staff Schedulingnot Owner.com
Owner.com
- Commission free online ordering direct from a restaurant's own websitenot ChowNow
- Branded restaurant mobile app and loyalty programmenot ChowNow
- Automated email and SMS marketing to a restaurant's own customer listnot ChowNow
- Taking catering orders directly rather than through delivery marketplacesnot 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
Owner.com
- The $249 per month Flexible plan adds a 5 percent restaurant fee on every order, so cost rises with sales volume
- Avoiding the per order fee requires the Flat Rate plan at $499 per month
- Guests are charged a 5 percent order support fee on top of the restaurant's own costs
- Multi location operators are quoted special rates that are not published
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
Owner.com
On request- StarterFree
- Website
- Online ordering
- 2.5% transaction fee
- Pro$299/month
- Lower fees
- Marketing
Which should you pick?
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Choose Owner.com if
- You need website builder.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want online ordering.
Questions people ask
- Is ChowNow or Owner.com better?
- Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Owner.com at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Owner.com?
- ChowNow starts at $249/month and Owner.com at On request.
- Does ChowNow or Owner.com run on more platforms?
- ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Owner.com 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 Owner.com is typically brought in for.
- What can ChowNow do that Owner.com cannot?
- ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Marketing tools. Owner.com covers Website builder, Online ordering, Marketing automation, Loyalty program. Both handle Customer database, Delivery integration, DoorDash Drive, Google.
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