Guide
ChowNow pricing and fees, explained
ChowNow is a commission-free online ordering platform, which sounds simple until you look at how it actually charges. Instead of a percentage per order, it leans on monthly subscriptions, setup fees, and contract terms. This guide explains ChowNow's pricing model, what to watch for, and how the math compares to a flat low-fee option.
By Town · Reviewed July 2026 · ~9 min read
Quick answer
ChowNow charges restaurants a flat monthly subscription rather than a per-order commission, commonly with a setup fee, a contract term, and separate payment processing on top. There is no marketplace percentage on each order, but you pay the subscription whether you do 10 orders or 1,000. Confirm current ChowNow pricing directly, as plans change.
| What you pay | Typical range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly subscription (not per-order commission) |
| Setup fee | Commonly charged upfront |
| Contract term | Historically required, ask about length |
| Payment processing | Separate, on the order total |
| Per-order commission | None |
| Website | Templated |
| With Town instead | One flat monthly price, 0% commission, a custom site you own |
ChowNow's model: subscription, not commission
ChowNow's pitch is commission-free ordering, and that part is real, it does not take a percentage of each order the way a marketplace does. Instead, it charges a monthly subscription, often paired with a setup fee and a contract term. Payment processing on orders is separate. So the trade you are making is predictable monthly cost in exchange for keeping the per-order commission at zero.
Verify current terms
Pricing structures and contract lengths change. Treat the ranges here as a framework and confirm the current subscription, setup fee, and term directly with ChowNow before signing.
Where the model works, and where it pinches
For a restaurant with steady, high order volume, a flat subscription can be excellent, because a fixed fee spread over many orders is a tiny effective rate per order. The pinch comes at lower volume: if you only do a handful of online orders a week, a monthly subscription plus setup can work out to a high effective cost per order, and a contract locks you in while you wait for volume to grow.
The questions to ask before you sign
- What is the exact monthly fee, and is it per location?
- Is there a setup or onboarding fee?
- How long is the contract, and what does it cost to leave?
- What are the payment processing rates on top of the subscription?
- Do I own my customer data and my site, or does it live inside ChowNow?
How Town compares
Town takes a different path: a 0% commission one flat monthly price, and no long contract. You get your own branded website and ordering, delivery on the same DoorDash Drive and Uber Direct drivers, listings, and marketing tools included, so you are not stacking a subscription and a separate site build. See Town vs ChowNow for a side-by-side, and Do free ordering systems cost you? for the honest math on "free" and low-fee models.
Key takeaways
- ChowNow is commission-free but charges a monthly subscription, often with a setup fee and contract.
- Payment processing is separate from the subscription.
- Flat subscriptions reward high volume and can be costly per order at low volume.
- Always confirm the monthly fee, setup cost, contract length, and exit terms before signing.
- Town is a 0% commission one flat monthly price with no long contract and the site included.