Software · head to head
OpenTable vs ChowNow
OpenTable
Software
Restaurant reservation and management platform
- From
- $39/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: OpenTable openTable for Restaurants charges a subscription fee on top of per-cover network fees: Basic is $149/month with covers free for the first 30 days then $1.50 per network cover, Core is $299/month at $1 per network cover, and Pro is $499/month also at $1 per network cover, so cost scales with both plan tier and diner volume rather than a flat seat price (archived plans page, 5 November 2025); ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available
- They diverge on capability: OpenTable covers Online reservations, ChowNow covers Branded ordering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenTable and ChowNow actually diverge.
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 OpenTable
- Online reservations
- Table management
- Guest profiles
- Waitlist
- Reviews
- Toast
- Square
- Lightspeed
Only in ChowNow
- Branded ordering
- Website integration
- Mobile app
- Customer database
- Delivery integration
- DoorDash Drive
Both cover
- Marketing tools
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenTable
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
ChowNow
- 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.
OpenTable
- OpenTable for Restaurants charges a subscription fee on top of per-cover network fees: Basic is $149/month with covers free for the first 30 days then $1.50 per network cover, Core is $299/month at $1 per network cover, and Pro is $499/month also at $1 per network cover, so cost scales with both plan tier and diner volume rather than a flat seat price (archived plans page, 5 November 2025)
- On the Basic plan, reservations booked through the restaurant's own website are not free: they cost $0.25 per cover or a $49/month flat fee, a charge that is waived only on the higher Core and Pro tiers (archived plans page, 5 November 2025)
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
Pricing, plan by plan
OpenTable
$39/month- Basic$39/month
- Reservations
- Table management
- Core$249/month
- Guest profiles
- Marketing
- Pro$449/month
- Full features
- Premium support
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
Which should you pick?
Choose OpenTable if
- You need online reservations.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want table management.
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenTable or ChowNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenTable starts at $39/month and ChowNow at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenTable or ChowNow?
- OpenTable starts at $39/month and ChowNow at $249/month.
- Does OpenTable or ChowNow run on more platforms?
- OpenTable runs on Web, Ios, Android. ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is OpenTable best used for?
- OpenTable is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can OpenTable do that ChowNow cannot?
- OpenTable covers Online reservations, Table management, Guest profiles, Waitlist. ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Both handle Marketing tools, 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).
SourceChowNow: 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.
SourceChowNow: 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.
SourceChowNow: 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.
SourceChowNow: 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