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Restaurants · head to head

ChowNow vs Talech

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Restaurants

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Talech logo

Talech

Restaurants

Smart POS for restaurants and retail

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Talech has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Talech iPad-only solution with no Android or Windows support
  • They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Talech covers Cloud POS.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Talech actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and Talech differ
AttributeChowNowTalech
Starting price$249/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiPad
Founded20102012

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Talech

  • Cloud POS
  • Menu management
  • Table layouts
  • Inventory tracking
  • Employee management
  • Reporting
  • QuickBooks
  • Elavon payments

Both cover

  • 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

Talech

  • 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

Talech

  • iPad-only solution with no Android or Windows support
  • Limited offline functionality for disconnected operations

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

Talech

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Talech 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 Talech if

  • You need cloud pos.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want menu management.
Talech review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or Talech better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Talech at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Talech?
Talech has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $249/month for ChowNow and Free for Talech.
Does ChowNow or Talech run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Talech runs on iPad.
Can I use Talech for free?
Yes. Talech has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChowNow starts at $249/month.
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 Talech cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Talech covers Cloud POS, Menu management, Table layouts, Inventory tracking. Both handle 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
Talech: Does Talech have a free plan?

Talech offers a Mobile plan at $0 per month for very small operators, but with limited features. Standard features start at $29 per month for the Starter plan.

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
Talech: What devices does Talech support?

Talech is an iPad-based POS system that works with iPad Pro, Air, and Mini models, and is compatible with various peripherals including card readers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners.

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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