Toolbox · Comparison
Own your orders
Commission-free online ordering systems, compared (2026)
Commission-free online ordering means no per-order percentage cut — instead of the 15–30% a delivery app takes, you pay a flat monthly fee plus standard card processing (about 2.6–3% + a flat fee). Here's an honest, vendor-neutral look at the main platforms — ChowNow, Square Online, GloriaFood, Owner.com, 247waiter and Slice — what each really costs, who it fits, and the math of going direct.
The short version
None of these is "the best" in the abstract, and there's no neutral incumbent you should default to. The right pick turns on two things: your order volume (which decides whether a flat monthly fee beats a free tier) and how much brand polish you need. If you want zero cost to start, look at Square Online or GloriaFood. If you want a branded, commission-free channel and do real direct volume, ChowNow or Owner.com earn their fee. If you run a pizzeria, Slice is purpose-built. 247waiter is a low-cost workhorse for straightforward ordering.
Commission-free ordering systems at a glance (2026)
| Platform | Monthly fee | Setup | Processing | Best for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChowNow | ~$149–$199/mo | One-time, often $119–$499 | ~2.95% + 29¢ | Independents wanting a branded, commission-free channel + app | Flat fee only pays off with real direct volume; contract options vary |
| Square Online | Free; paid ~$29–$79+/mo | None (self-serve) | Standard Square rates | Square users & budget-conscious independents | Less brand polish; best if you're already on Square |
| GloriaFood | Free (paid add-ons) | None | Via connected processor | Tightest budgets; a truly free starting point | Key extras (branded app, promotions) are paid add-ons |
| Owner.com | ~$249/mo (+5% fee) or $499/mo (0%) | Included; no contract | Standard processing | Operators serious about repeat direct volume | Flex plan adds a 5% per-order fee; guest pays a 5% support fee |
| 247waiter | ~$45/mo | Low / varies | Standard processing | Cost-conscious spots wanting a no-frills workhorse | Less brand polish than premium platforms |
| Slice | ~$39/mo | Low | ~$2.25–$3.00 per order | Pizzerias specifically | Pizza-only; irrelevant for other concepts |
Pricing above is the public list rate or a research estimate as of 2026 — always confirm on a live quote. AZ Restaurant Partners takes no commission from any vendor; this is for reference.
How to read the field
The free tier isn't a trick — but it isn't free of processing. Square Online and GloriaFood genuinely charge no per-order commission and no subscription at the entry level. You still pay card processing on every order, and you trade away some brand polish, a native app, and advanced marketing. For a new or very small operation, that trade is usually smart: launch commission-free at zero cost, then upgrade once volume justifies it.
The paid platforms are buying you brand and repeat volume. ChowNow and Owner.com cost more per month because they wrap your ordering in a branded site and app, push repeat orders, and handle marketing. That fee is dead weight at low volume and a bargain at high volume — the flip point is entirely about how many direct orders you drive. Owner.com even splits the difference with a lower monthly plus a small per-order fee, versus a higher flat monthly at 0%.
Concept matters. Slice is built end-to-end for pizzerias and is one of the cheapest tailored options — and completely irrelevant if you're not a pizzeria. 247waiter is the no-frills workhorse: cheap, functional, light on polish. Match the tool to what you actually run.
What it really costs to go direct
Here's the honest math, because "commission-free" isn't the same as "free." Going direct costs you two things: card processing (roughly 2.6–3% plus a flat per-transaction fee) and your platform subscription. A third-party delivery app instead takes 15–30% of the entire order, and often layers fees on top.
On a $30 order, direct processing runs about $1.20–$1.50. A 25% app commission on that same order is $7.50 — five times more, on every single ticket. So each order you move to direct saves roughly $6. The one honest caveat: the monthly subscription is a fixed cost that only pays for itself once you clear enough orders. If a platform costs $149/mo and you save ~$6 an order, you need on the order of 25 direct orders a month just to break even on the fee — everything above that is money kept. That's exactly why you should run your own numbers before committing.
Do the math on your restaurant, not a generic example. Plug your real order count and average ticket into our free first-party ordering ROI calculator — it shows the break-even and annual savings for going direct. Or start with the delivery commission calculator to see what the apps cost you today.
So which should you pick?
Start free (Square Online or GloriaFood) if you're new, low-volume, or just want to prove the direct channel works before paying for it. Pay for branded volume (ChowNow or Owner.com) once you're driving enough direct orders that the fee is trivial next to what you're saving, and you want an app and marketing behind it. Go 247waiter if you want cheap and functional without the polish, and Slice if and only if you run a pizzeria. Whatever you choose, the win isn't the logo on the ordering page — it's owning the order, the customer, and the data instead of renting them from an app at 25% a ticket. For the bigger picture, see online ordering without DoorDash and the full online-ordering section of the toolbox.
Frequently asked questions
What does "commission-free" online ordering actually mean?
It means the platform doesn't take a percentage cut of each order the way delivery apps take 15–30%. Instead you typically pay a flat monthly subscription (roughly $0–$500/mo) plus standard card processing (about 2.6–3% + a flat fee per transaction). On steady direct volume that is dramatically cheaper than per-order commissions, which is the whole point.
Is there a genuinely free commission-free ordering system?
Yes. GloriaFood offers free online ordering (you pay only for optional add-ons and payment processing), and Square Online has a free tier that runs pickup and delivery ordering on standard Square processing. Neither charges a per-order commission. You still pay card-processing fees, and the free tiers trade away some brand polish and advanced features.
How much does it really cost to run direct ordering versus DoorDash?
Going direct costs roughly 2.6–3% processing plus a flat per-transaction fee, plus your platform's monthly subscription. A third-party app takes 15–30% of the whole order. On a $30 order, direct might cost around $1.20–$1.50; a 25% app commission is $7.50. The subscription only pays off once you drive enough direct volume to beat the flat fee — so the honest answer depends on your order count, which is why you should run the numbers first.
Which commission-free ordering system is best?
There's no single best — it depends on your concept and volume. Square Online or GloriaFood suit budget-conscious or new operators; ChowNow suits independents who want a branded commission-free channel; Owner.com suits those serious about repeat direct volume; 247waiter is a low-cost workhorse; and Slice is purpose-built for pizzerias. Match the tool to your volume and how much brand polish you need.