Toolbox · Comparison
Online ordering head-to-head
ChowNow vs Owner.com for a small restaurant
Both let an independent take orders without the 15–30% the delivery apps charge. In short: ChowNow is the cheaper, focused ordering channel that bolts onto your current site; Owner.com is a pricier all-in-one that rebuilds your website, app and marketing — worth it once you're doing real online volume.
The short version
These are two of the most common ways independents escape commission-heavy delivery apps, and they solve the problem differently. ChowNow gives you a branded, commission-free ordering page plus a spot in its marketplace app, and connects to the website and POS you already run — a lower monthly cost for owners who mainly want ordering. Owner.com is an all-in-one: it uses AI to build your website and branded app and bundles loyalty, email/SMS and SEO on top, aimed at owners who want their entire direct-order stack in one place and have the volume to earn back a higher fee. Pick on two questions: how much online volume do you do, and do you need a new website or just ordering?
ChowNow vs Owner.com at a glance (2026)
| ChowNow | Owner.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Commission-free branded ordering + marketplace app | All-in-one: AI website, app, ordering, loyalty & marketing |
| Typical price | ~$149–$199/mo per location + ~2.95% + 29¢ processing (+ one-time setup) | Flat-Rate ~$499/mo (0% commission) or Flex ~$249/mo + 5% per order |
| Restaurant commission | 0% on direct orders | 0% on Flat-Rate; 5% on Flex |
| Guest-facing fee | None built in | ~5% order-support fee to guests |
| Builds your website? | No — bolts onto your existing site | Yes — AI-built website + branded app |
| Contract | Month-to-month, annual or 2-year options | Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| Best for | Owners who just want low-cost commission-free ordering | Owners who want the whole direct-order stack & have volume |
Pricing reflects publicly listed 2026 figures and varies by location, volume and setup — always confirm on a live quote.
Where ChowNow wins
ChowNow is the safer, cheaper first step. If you already have a decent website, you're just adding a commission-free ordering button and a marketplace listing — for a predictable monthly cost that's well below Owner.com's flat rate. It integrates with the major POS systems (Toast, Square, Clover and others) so orders drop into the kitchen, offers flexible contract terms, and doesn't pass a fee to your guests. For a restaurant doing modest but steady direct volume, that's the lowest-risk way to stop feeding the apps 15–30%.
Where Owner.com wins
Owner.com wins when you want more than an ordering button. It rebuilds your website and branded app, and layers on loyalty, email/SMS and SEO — the machinery that actually grows repeat direct orders — with 0% restaurant commission on the Flat-Rate plan. If your current website is weak and you're doing (or ready to do) meaningful online volume, that bundle can pay for itself. The watch-outs are real, though: $499/month is steep at low volume, and the ~5% guest-facing fee can nudge some customers back to the apps.
Which should you pick?
Lean ChowNow if you already have a working website, your online volume is modest, and you want the cheapest reliable way to own commission-free ordering. Lean Owner.com if your website needs a rebuild, you want loyalty and marketing built in, and you're doing enough direct volume (often cited around $5,000+/month) that a flat fee beats per-order economics. The one wrong answer is staying 100% on delivery apps at 15–30% — either platform keeps far more of that in your pocket.
How we work: AZ Restaurant Partners takes no commission from any vendor — we don't earn a cent whether you pick ChowNow, Owner.com, or neither. We set up whichever fits your real numbers, done-for-you, and we only get paid once you're saving. If you'd rather not sort through it alone, that's the call to book.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChowNow or Owner.com cheaper for a small restaurant?
For a lower-volume restaurant, ChowNow is usually cheaper: its subscription runs roughly $149–$199/month per location plus standard card processing, versus Owner.com's flat-rate plan at about $499/month. Owner.com only becomes cost-competitive once you're doing meaningful direct online volume (commonly cited around $5,000+/month in online sales), where its 0% commission and bundled website, app, loyalty and marketing pay for the higher fee.
Do ChowNow and Owner.com charge commission on orders?
Neither takes the 15–30% the delivery apps do. ChowNow is 0% commission on your direct orders (you pay the subscription plus card processing). Owner.com's Flat-Rate plan is 0% restaurant commission, but guests pay about a 5% order-support fee; its cheaper Flex plan adds a 5% per-order fee on the restaurant side. Confirm current terms on a live quote.
What's the difference between ChowNow and Owner.com?
ChowNow is a focused commission-free ordering channel — a branded ordering page plus a marketplace app — that bolts onto your existing website and POS. Owner.com is an all-in-one that also builds your website and branded app and bundles loyalty, email/SMS and SEO tooling. ChowNow suits owners who just want ordering; Owner.com suits owners who want their whole direct-order stack in one place and have the volume to justify it.
Which is better for an independent restaurant?
It depends on volume and what you already have. Choose ChowNow if you have a decent website and want a lower-cost, commission-free ordering add-on. Choose Owner.com if you want an all-in-one that rebuilds your website, app and marketing to grow direct orders and you're doing (or ready to do) meaningful online volume. Either beats paying delivery apps 15–30%.