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Restaurants · head to head

Lunchbox vs Sling

Lunchbox logo

Lunchbox

Restaurants

First party ordering websites, apps and loyalty for growing multi unit restaurant brands

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sling logo

Sling

Restaurants

Free employee scheduling software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Sling has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lunchbox the fee is charged per location per month regardless of how many direct orders you generate, so brands that do not fund marketing pay for a channel that stays quiet.; Sling the free plan is limited to 30 users
  • They diverge on capability: Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, Sling covers Employee scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lunchbox and Sling actually diverge.

Attributes where Lunchbox and Sling differ
AttributeLunchboxSling
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Lunchbox

  • Branded ordering web and apps
  • Loyalty and rewards
  • Guest data platform
  • Marketing automation
  • POS and delivery integrations
  • Catering and group ordering

Only in Sling

  • Employee scheduling
  • Time tracking
  • Team messaging
  • Task management
  • Shift swapping
  • Labor cost tracking
  • Toast
  • Square

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Lunchbox

  • A fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplacesnot Sling
  • A brand that wants its own iOS and Android apps without commissioning a bespoke buildnot Sling
  • An operator who needs guest order history for retention campaigns rather than anonymous marketplace ordersnot Sling
  • A group launching catering that needs a separate ordering flow from standard checkoutnot Sling

Sling

  • Building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staffnot Lunchbox
  • Tracking clock in and clock out and labour costnot Lunchbox
  • Messaging and announcements across a shift based teamnot Lunchbox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lunchbox

  • The fee is charged per location per month regardless of how many direct orders you generate, so brands that do not fund marketing pay for a channel that stays quiet.
  • Moving customers off marketplaces requires sustained discounting and advertising that the restaurant funds, and none of that cost appears in the software quote.
  • The company has been through substantial restructuring since its peak funding, so integration maintenance and roadmap continuity are fair questions to put in writing before signing.
  • Native app launches involve app store review, brand assets and a build fee, so time to first order is measured in weeks rather than days.
  • The integration list is narrower than that of the large enterprise ordering vendors, and a group on an uncommon POS may find order injection limited or unsupported.

Sling

  • The free plan is limited to 30 users
  • Time tracking on mobile, labour cost tracking and overtime analysis require the Premium plan
  • Kiosk time clock, hours and wages reporting, no show tracking, sick leave and PTO tracking require the Business plan
  • The lowest advertised per user rates of $1.70 and $3.40 require annual billing

Pricing, plan by plan

Lunchbox

On request
  • Lunchbox$undefined/year
    • Priced per location per month with modules for ordering, loyalty and marketing
    • One time build and launch fee for web and mobile apps
    • App store submission and brand design handled during onboarding

Sling

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 30 users
    • Shift scheduling
    • Time-off requests
  • Premium$2/month
    • Mobile time tracking
    • Labor cost management
    • Overtime tracking
  • Business$4/month
    • Kiosk time tracking
    • Comprehensive reports
    • No-show tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Lunchbox if

  • You need branded ordering web and apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want loyalty and rewards.
Lunchbox review

Choose Sling if

  • You need employee scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time tracking.
Sling review

Questions people ask

Is Lunchbox or Sling better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunchbox starts at On request and Sling at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lunchbox or Sling?
Sling has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Lunchbox and Free for Sling.
Does Lunchbox or Sling run on more platforms?
Lunchbox runs on Web, iOS, Android. Sling runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Sling for free?
Yes. Sling has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lunchbox starts at On request.
What is Lunchbox best used for?
Lunchbox is most often used for a fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplaces, a brand that wants its own ios and android apps without commissioning a bespoke build, an operator who needs guest order history for retention campaigns rather than anonymous marketplace orders, a group launching catering that needs a separate ordering flow from standard checkout. Of those, a fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplaces and a brand that wants its own ios and android apps without commissioning a bespoke build are not what Sling is typically brought in for.
What can Lunchbox do that Sling cannot?
Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, Loyalty and rewards, Guest data platform, Marketing automation. Sling covers Employee scheduling, Time tracking, Team messaging, Task management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunchbox: Does it stop me paying delivery commission?

Only on orders that move to your own channels. Orders still placed on DoorDash or Uber Eats carry their usual commission.

Sling: How much does Sling cost?

Sling offers a free tier supporting up to 30 users. Premium plans start at $2.00 per user per month (or $1.70 with annual billing), and Business plans cost $4.00 per user per month (or $3.40 with annual billing). Both paid tiers offer a 15% discount for annual billing.

Source
Lunchbox: Do I get my own branded mobile app?

Yes, native iOS and Android apps under your brand, built and submitted during onboarding for a one time fee on top of the subscription.

Sling: Does Sling offer a free trial?

Yes, Sling offers a free plan supporting unlimited scheduling features for up to 30 users. Additionally, Premium and Business plans include 15-day free trials with no credit card required to start.

Source
Lunchbox: Who owns the customer data?

The restaurant. That is the central argument for first party ordering over marketplace ordering.

Sling: What does Sling's Business plan include?

Sling's Business plan, marked as recommended, costs $4.00 per user per month (or $3.40 with annual billing). It includes kiosk time tracking, comprehensive reports, no-show tracking, sick call-out management, and PTO management. Users only pay for active team members with prorated charges when employees are deactivated.

Source
Lunchbox: What size of brand is it aimed at?

Multi unit groups, broadly five to fifty locations. Single sites usually do better with a cheaper ordering product.

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