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Software · head to head

ChowNow vs Wisely

ChowNow logo

ChowNow

Software

Commission-free online ordering

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wisely logo

Wisely

Software

Guest intelligence and CRM for restaurants

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available; Wisely wisely is now part of Olo, per the vendor: "Wisely is now part of Olo", and its pricing page redirects to Olo sales contact form rather than showing prices
  • They diverge on capability: ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Wisely covers Guest CRM.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChowNow and Wisely actually diverge.

Attributes where ChowNow and Wisely differ
AttributeChowNowWisely
Starting price$249/month$200/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Founded20102013

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
  • Customer database
  • Marketing tools
  • Delivery integration
  • DoorDash Drive
  • Google

Only in Wisely

  • Guest CRM
  • Waitlist
  • Reservations
  • Feedback
  • Marketing
  • Analytics
  • Toast
  • Square

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 Salenot Wisely
  • Order Managementnot Wisely
  • Inventory Controlnot Wisely
  • Staff Schedulingnot Wisely

Wisely

  • Restaurant customer intelligence and loyalty marketingnot 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

Wisely

  • Wisely is now part of Olo, per the vendor: "Wisely is now part of Olo", and its pricing page redirects to Olo sales contact form rather than showing prices

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

Wisely

$200/month
  • Standard$200/month
    • CRM
    • Waitlist
    • Basic features
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full features

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 Wisely if

  • You need guest crm.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want waitlist.
Wisely review

Questions people ask

Is ChowNow or Wisely better?
Neither clearly leads. ChowNow starts at $249/month and Wisely at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChowNow or Wisely?
ChowNow starts at $249/month and Wisely at $200/month.
Does ChowNow or Wisely run on more platforms?
ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android. Wisely 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 Wisely is typically brought in for.
What can ChowNow do that Wisely cannot?
ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Wisely covers Guest CRM, Waitlist, Reservations, Feedback. 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).

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
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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Related pages

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