Software · head to head
Tock vs ChowNow
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Tock tock To Go pickup/delivery takes a 3% cut of orders from restaurants, with the separate $5 to $10 delivery charge passed to the consumer, per a case study reproduced on the vendor's own site (Internet Archive capture, 25 December 2022); ChowNow limited website customization with only pre-built Squarespace templates available
- They diverge on capability: Tock covers Reservations, ChowNow covers Branded ordering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tock 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 Tock
- Reservations
- Prepaid bookings
- Event ticketing
- Experiences
- Table management
- CRM
- 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.
Tock
- 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.
Tock
- Tock To Go pickup/delivery takes a 3% cut of orders from restaurants, with the separate $5 to $10 delivery charge passed to the consumer, per a case study reproduced on the vendor's own site (Internet Archive capture, 25 December 2022)
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
Tock
$199/month- Basic$199/month
- Reservations
- Basic features
- Plus$699/month
- Events
- Prepaid
- Marketing
- ProFree
- Custom pricing
- Full features
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 Tock if
- You need reservations.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want prepaid bookings.
Choose ChowNow if
- You need branded ordering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want website integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Tock or ChowNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tock starts at $199/month and ChowNow at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Tock or ChowNow?
- Tock starts at $199/month and ChowNow at $249/month.
- Does Tock or ChowNow run on more platforms?
- Tock runs on Web, Ios, Android. ChowNow runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Tock best used for?
- Tock is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can Tock do that ChowNow cannot?
- Tock covers Reservations, Prepaid bookings, Event ticketing, Experiences. ChowNow covers Branded ordering, Website integration, Mobile app, Customer database. Both handle Google, 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