ChowNow deserves credit: it was making the case for commission-free direct ordering long before it was fashionable, and its discovery network gives restaurants marketplace-style exposure without marketplace-style commissions.
But per its published pricing page as of 2026, ChowNow costs more than many owners expect: $249/month (Launch), $349/month (Grow), or $449/month (Elevate), plus a $119–$499 setup fee and a 2.95% + $0.29 per-transaction fee. "Commission-free" is true, but fee-free it is not.
If those numbers don't fit your restaurant, here are six real alternatives.
What should a ChowNow alternative offer?
ChowNow's core bundle is direct ordering, a branded app, and marketing tools. A genuine alternative should cover:
- Commission-free direct online ordering
- A website that actually ranks and converts, not just an ordering page
- A branded mobile app (if that matters to you)
- Email/SMS marketing and loyalty
- Predictable pricing without heavy setup fees
How do the top ChowNow alternatives compare?
| Platform | Published entry price | Setup fee | Commission on direct orders | Branded app |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menuline | $29/mo ($1/mo first 3 months) | None | 0% every plan | Growth plan |
| Owner.com | $249/mo + 5% per order | N/A | 5% on entry plan | Yes |
| Popmenu | $179/mo (ordering is an add-on) | Setup included, per its pricing page | 0% | Not standard |
| Toast Online Ordering | Paid add-on to Toast POS | Varies | 0% (processing applies) | Via Toast ecosystem |
| Square Online | $0–$149/mo | None | 0% (higher online processing on free tier) | No |
| GloriaFood | Free (paid add-ons) | None | 0% | No |
Competitor pricing per each company's published pricing page or materials as of 2026, so confirm current details with each vendor.
1. Menuline: best overall alternative
Menuline matches ChowNow's core promise (commission-free direct ordering with a branded iOS/Android app) and adds the piece ChowNow is weakest on: a real website. Menuline's AI builds an SEO-optimized site from your existing menu and Google Business Profile, then continuously improves it, and AI marketing and loyalty automation are included.
Pricing: $29/month (Starter) or $99/month (Growth), $1/month for the first 3 months, no setup fee, no long-term contracts, 0% commission on every plan. Even Menuline's top plan is $150/month less than ChowNow's entry plan. The honest caveat: ChowNow's discovery network (exposure through its marketplace and partner channels) is something Menuline doesn't replicate. If that channel drives real volume for you, factor it in.
2. Owner.com: full bundle at the highest price in this list
Owner.com covers website, ordering, branded app, and marketing automation, and bundles access to a delivery driver network. Per its published pricing page as of 2026: $249/month + 5% per order (Flexible) or $499/month flat. The 5% on the entry plan is the number to watch, because it scales with your sales: at $10,000/month in online orders, that plan runs $749. The flat plan removes the percentage but starts at $499/month, which is more than five times Menuline's Growth plan for the same core feature set. See Owner.com alternatives.
3. Popmenu: if marketing is the bigger problem than ordering
Popmenu is a website-and-marketing platform first; ordering is an extra-cost add-on. Per its published pricing page as of 2026, base plans are $179/month (Starter) and $299/month (Essentials). If your ordering volume is modest but your web presence and campaigns need work, it's worth a look. Full breakdown in Menuline vs Popmenu.
4. Toast Online Ordering: if Toast already runs your restaurant
Per Toast's published pricing as of 2026, POS plans start at $0/month (Starter Kit, higher processing rates) with paid plans from $69/month, and online ordering as a paid add-on. Orders flow straight into your POS with zero integration work. The tradeoff: it's an ordering page tied to your POS vendor, not a growth platform. More in Menuline vs Toast.
5. Square Online: lowest-cost path to basic ordering
Square Online offers a free tier and paid plans at $49–$149/month as of 2026, with higher online processing rates on the free plan. No branded app, no restaurant marketing engine, but if you need pickup ordering live this week at minimal cost, it works.
6. GloriaFood: free ordering widget
GloriaFood's base system is free, with paid add-ons per its published pricing (online payments $29/month, promo marketing $19/month). A functional ordering widget with no setup fee, and correspondingly little in the way of website quality, apps, or marketing.
How should you choose?
- Want ChowNow's commission-free model plus a real website, at a fraction of the cost? Menuline.
- Need a bundled delivery driver network and can absorb $499/month? Owner.com is the one here that includes it.
- Already on Toast? Try its native add-on first.
- Near-zero budget? GloriaFood or Square Online free tier.
Direct ordering only pays off if customers can find you, so before you pick, run the free Menuline AI grader. It audits your website, Google presence, and ordering setup in about a minute and shows exactly where orders are leaking. For the bigger picture on escaping delivery-app economics, see third-party delivery vs direct ordering.