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Food & Restaurant · head to head

ChowNow vs Revel Systems

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Food & Restaurant

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Revel Systems logo

Revel Systems

Food & Restaurant

Cloud-based iPad POS for enterprise

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Revel Systems requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel
  • They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Revel Systems covers iPad POS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Revel Systems actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and Revel Systems differ
AttributeChowNowRevel Systems
Starting price$249/month$99/month
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiPad, Web

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Food & Restaurant), founded (2010).

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 Revel Systems

  • iPad POS
  • Inventory management
  • CRM
  • Employee management
  • Delivery management
  • Multi-location management
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Both cover

  • Ios 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

Revel Systems

  • 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

Revel Systems

  • Requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel
  • System crashes and glitches frequently, especially at high transaction volumes
  • Mandatory payment processing through Revel's Advantage processor with external processors heavily penalized
  • Customer support quality is poor with Level 1 support described as ineffective
  • Expensive upfront costs and numerous hidden fees for add-on features

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

Revel Systems

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Revel Systems review.

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 Revel Systems if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel Systems review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or Revel Systems better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Revel Systems at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Revel Systems?
ChowNow starts at $249/month and Revel Systems at $99/month.
Does ChowNow or Revel Systems run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Revel Systems runs on iPad, 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 Revel Systems cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Revel Systems covers iPad POS, Inventory management, CRM, Employee management. Both handle Ios 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
Revel Systems: What does Revel Systems cost?

Revel pricing starts around $99 per month per terminal with a minimum 3-year contract requirement. Customers also pay for additional features like reporting, workforce management, integrations, and Advantage payment processing which is typically mandatory.

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
Revel Systems: How long does implementation take?

Revel implementation typically takes 2-4 weeks, including hardware setup, menu configuration, staff training, and system integration.

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
Revel Systems: What integrations does Revel support?

Revel integrates with multiple payment processors through Stripe and Square connectors, plus accounting, payroll, and ecommerce solutions. Payment gateways vary by region.

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
Revel Systems: What are Revel's contract terms?

Revel requires a minimum 3-year contract with high early termination fees. Use of Revel's Advantage payment processing is typically mandatory, and using outside processors is heavily penalized or not allowed.

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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