Question 1

What is restaurant online ordering software?

Accepted Answer

Restaurant online ordering software lets your diners place food orders directly through your website, app, or connected ordering channels. Depending on the platform, it may also include tools for menu management, POS integration, customer data collection, marketing automation, and delivery coordination.

Question 2

What is the difference between direct ordering software and a delivery marketplace?

Accepted Answer

Direct ordering software, like ChowNow, lets your diners order through your own website or branded app without you paying a per-order commission. You own the customer relationship and keep their contact information for future marketing. Delivery marketplaces, like DoorDash or Grubhub, bring orders from their own user base but charge commissions of 15% to 30% per order and retain customer data. Most independent restaurants benefit from using both: marketplaces to bring in new diners, and direct ordering to build the relationship and protect margin over time.

Question 3

How much does restaurant online ordering software cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the platform and the model. Some charge a flat monthly fee, ChowNow starts at $229/month, others charge per transaction or take a percentage of each order. When you’re comparing options, factor in per-order fees, setup costs, and what’s included in the base plan. A lower monthly fee that requires separate marketing subscriptions, or a commission on every order, can end up costing more in practice than a higher flat rate.

Question 4

What should I look for in an online ordering platform for my restaurant?

Accepted Answer

For most independent restaurants, the three things that matter most are commission structure, customer data ownership, and built-in marketing tools. A platform that charges no commissions and gives you your diners’ contact information puts you in control of your revenue and your customer relationships. One that includes automated email marketing and a loyalty program means you’re not starting from scratch every time you want to bring someone back.

Question 5

Is ChowNow a good fit for a small, single-location restaurant?

Accepted Answer

ChowNow is built specifically for independent restaurants, including single-location operators. The flat monthly fee means your cost doesn’t go up as your order volume grows. G2 reviewers rate ChowNow 91% for ease of use and 90% for ease of setup. These are scores that reflect how the platform performs for operators running a restaurant, not a technology department.

Question 6

Does ChowNow integrate with Toast and Square POS?

Accepted Answer

Yes to both. ChowNow integrates directly with Toast POS and Square POS. Orders from ChowNow’s direct web channel, branded app, and third-party delivery platforms auto-accept and route straight to your existing system — no manual entry, no extra tablet. If you’re already running Toast or Square, you can keep your POS and add commission-free direct ordering on top of it. See all POS integrations at get.chownow.com/integrations/all/

Question 7

Can I use ChowNow and DoorDash at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and most independent restaurants do. ChowNow’s DoorDash integration is the operations layer as it pulls those DoorDash orders into the same dashboard as your direct ChowNow orders, auto-accepts them, and sends them to your POS. Menu updates push to both platforms at once. See how it works at get.chownow.com/integrations/doordash/

Ordering

MARKETING

OPERATIONS

Q2 Feature Release

POS INTEGRATIONS

Delivery App Integrations

DISCOVERY NETWORK

See all 20+ ChowNow Integrations

LEARN & GROW

CUSTOMER STORIES

SUPPORT

ABOUT CHOWNOW

PARTNERS & CONTACT

Restaurant Technology

How to Start a Catering Business at Your Restaurant (Step by Step)

How To Set Up Direct Online Ordering For Your Restaurant

ChowNow for Restaurants: FAQs on Features, Pricing, Delivery, and More

How Restaurants Handle Corporate Catering Orders Online

The 7 Best Restaurant Online Ordering Software, Reviewed

The 7 Best Restaurant Online Ordering Software, Reviewed

Online Ordering for Multi-Location Restaurants

How to Choose an Online Ordering Platform for Your Independent Restaurant

Best Food Delivery Software for Restaurants in 2026: An Operator's Framework

Direct Online Ordering: How Independent Restaurants Reduce Third-Party Dependence

Restaurant Operations & POS Integrations: How to Unify Your Ordering Tech Stack

Is QR Code Ordering Worth It for Your Restaurant? (Pros, Cons, and ROI)

Restaurant Catering: How Independent Operators Add a High-Margin Revenue Channel

Best Catering Software for Restaurants in 2026: 7 Platforms Ranked

How QR Code Ordering Works (And Why Your Restaurant Should Use It)

9 Catering Marketing Ideas to Grow Restaurant Sales

What's New at ChowNow This Spring 2026