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Restaurants · head to head

Lunchbox vs When I Work

Lunchbox logo

Lunchbox

Restaurants

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
When I Work logo

When I Work

Restaurants

Scheduling and time tracking made simple

From
$2.5/user/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; When I Work aPI key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • They diverge on capability: Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, When I Work covers Shift scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lunchbox and When I Work actually diverge.

Attributes where Lunchbox and When I Work differ
AttributeLunchboxWhen I Work
Starting priceOn request$2.5/user/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 When I Work

  • Shift scheduling
  • Time clock
  • Team messaging
  • Availability management
  • Shift swapping
  • Mobile apps
  • QuickBooks
  • ADP

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 When I Work
  • A brand that wants its own iOS and Android apps without commissioning a bespoke buildnot When I Work
  • An operator who needs guest order history for retention campaigns rather than anonymous marketplace ordersnot When I Work
  • A group launching catering that needs a separate ordering flow from standard checkoutnot When I Work

When I Work

  • Scheduling hourly shift workers across locationsnot Lunchbox
  • Time clock and timesheet capture for payrollnot Lunchbox
  • Handling shift swaps, availability and time off requestsnot 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.

When I Work

  • API key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • Scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting require the Pro plan at $5 per user per month
  • There is no free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
  • Enterprise arrangements are priced by quote with no published rate

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

When I Work

$2.5/user/month
  • Standard$2.5/user/month
    • Scheduling
    • Messaging
  • Advanced$6/user/month
    • Time clock
    • Labor forecasting

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 When I Work if

  • You need shift scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time clock.
When I Work review

Questions people ask

Is Lunchbox or When I Work better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunchbox starts at On request and When I Work at $2.5/user/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lunchbox or When I Work?
Lunchbox starts at On request and When I Work at $2.5/user/month.
Does Lunchbox or When I Work run on more platforms?
Lunchbox runs on Web, iOS, Android. When I Work runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 When I Work is typically brought in for.
What can Lunchbox do that When I Work cannot?
Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, Loyalty and rewards, Guest data platform, Marketing automation. When I Work covers Shift scheduling, Time clock, Team messaging, Availability 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.

When I Work: What is the pricing structure?

Plans start at $2.50 per user per month, billed in user tiers of five, with pricing that scales flexibly with team size.

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.

When I Work: Are there long-term contracts required?

No long-term contracts, no hidden surprises, and no enterprise-only paywalls. The platform scales as your business grows without binding agreements.

Source
Lunchbox: Who owns the customer data?

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

When I Work: Is there a free trial available?

Try When I Work free for 14 days with full access to all core features. No credit card is required for the trial period.

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.

When I Work: Can I adjust or cancel my plan anytime?

You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time and adjust your plan at any time or use hibernation options during seasonal downtime.

Source
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