ChowNow Alternative & Fee (For Restaurant Owners)
Collaborating with third-party online food delivery platforms such as ChowNow may not necessarily be beneficial for your restaurant. By utilizing ChowNow alternatives like UpMenu, you can regain authority over your restaurant, provide delivery at a lower cost, and reduce commission expenses. Begin selling food on your own website, on your own conditions.

Stop paying fees on every order
Food ordering services like ChowNow charge up to $1.99 per order. See how much you could save with UpMenu's flat-fee subscription.
That's how much a year you can save on commissions with UpMenu

Meet advantages of own online ordering system
UpMenu is fulfilling the requirements of the restaurant industry, offering a complete solution that optimizes operations, streamlines management, and help increases revenue to accelerate the growth of your restaurant.
- No commission fees are charged per order.
- Costs stay the same with business growth.
- Direct control over online ordering and delivery systems without a middleman.
- Stand out from other local eateries and avoid losing customers.
- Save time with an improved online ordering experience for customers.
- Control over marketing, customer relationships, and promoting special deals
- Elimination of responsibility for delayed deliveries from third-party food delivery apps.
UpMenu vs ChowNow
Features & Business Benefits
Find out why UpMenu is one of the best ChowNow alternatives.
| UpMenu | ChowNow | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission-free ordering (pricing model) | ✅Commission-free subscription plan, $49-$169 per month (flat fee subscription) | ❌$0.99-$1,99 fee-per-order plus 2.95% + $0.20 processing fee |
| System setup | ✅Free setup | ❌Setup fee $199 Ordering tablet $20/ mo |
| Free trial | ✅Test up to 14 days for free | ❌To gain insight into the functionality of the system, you must arrange a demonstration with one of the customer support or sales representatives. Upon completion of the demo, you will be required to make an upfront payment for the plan you have selected to use. |
| Online ordering from your own website trial | ✅Offer food ordering from your own website Customize the whole platform to fit your brand | ❌You have to pay upfront additional costs to sell from your own website: Monthly Fee: $199 /mo + $199 Setup Fee per location. The Annual Plan ($1,867): $139 /mo x 12 months + $199 Setup Fee per location. Two-Year Plan ($3,494): ($129 /mo x 12 months) x 2 + $199 Setup Fee per location. |
| Branded mobile app for customers | ✅Your own branded mobile app Customize the app to fit your branding | ❌You are listed on ChowNow’ app among other restaurants You cannot customize the app |
| Control over delivery services | ✅You have full control over the delivery process, own delivery drivers including delivery fees, time, and quality | ➖You have minimal control over the time and quality of the delivery. Depending on your plan, you can have your own delivery drivers. |
| Restaurant website builder | ✅If you don’t have a website, you can build your own using 60+ ready-to-use templates | ➖You are limited to a few website layouts without option to fully customize your website |
| Table reservations | ✅Take not only online orders but also table reservations | ❌Not available |
| Tableside ordering with QR codes | ✅Allow clients to make in-house orders via tableside QR codes Design the layout of your QR code stand | ➖You can use QR codes but you cannot choose how they look to match your brand identity |
| Loyalty program & customer relations ownership | ✅You can create your own loyalty program You own relationships with your customers | ➖You are limited to ChowNow loyalty system |
| Marketing tools & customers databases | ✅You have 100% control over your brand and marketing activities You are the owner of the customer data Create marketing campaigns for SEO, Email, SMS, and push, as well as promotions and coupon codes | ➖You can create campaigns and promotions, but you are limited to few options of discounts |
Our happy clients
Why restaurateurs choose UpMenu
What owners say






