Software · head to head
Sling vs ChowNow
The short version
- Only Sling has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Sling the free plan is limited to 30 users; ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available
- They diverge on capability: Sling covers Employee scheduling, ChowNow covers Branded ordering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sling and ChowNow actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Sling
- Employee scheduling
- Time tracking
- Team messaging
- Task management
- Shift swapping
- Labor cost tracking
- Toast
- Square
Only in ChowNow
- Branded ordering
- Website integration
- Mobile app
- Customer database
- Marketing tools
- Delivery integration
- DoorDash Drive
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sling
- Building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staffnot ChowNow
- Tracking clock in and clock out and labour costnot ChowNow
- Messaging and announcements across a shift based teamnot ChowNow
ChowNow
- Point of Salenot Sling
- Order Managementnot Sling
- Inventory Controlnot Sling
- Staff Schedulingnot Sling
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Sling
Free- FreeFree
- Scheduling
- Messaging
- Basic features
- Premium$2/user/month
- Time tracking
- Overtime alerts
- Business$4/user/month
- Labor costs
- Reporting
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 Sling if
- You need employee scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want time tracking.
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Sling or ChowNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sling starts at Free and ChowNow at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sling or ChowNow?
- Sling has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Sling and $249/month for ChowNow.
- Does Sling or ChowNow run on more platforms?
- Sling runs on Web, Ios, Android. ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Sling for free?
- Yes. Sling has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChowNow starts at $249/month.
- What is Sling best used for?
- Sling is most often used for building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staff, tracking clock in and clock out and labour cost, messaging and announcements across a shift based team. Of those, building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staff and tracking clock in and clock out and labour cost are not what ChowNow is typically brought in for.
- What can Sling do that ChowNow cannot?
- Sling covers Employee scheduling, Time tracking, Team messaging, Task management. ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. 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).
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