ChowNow for a pizzeria: commission-free, but at what monthly price?
ChowNow is commission-free online ordering for restaurants, sold as a monthly subscription: its published plans were reported at $229 to $449 a month in 2026, plus a one-time setup fee and card processing of 2.95% + 29¢. It is on the same side of the argument as your own site. The question is whether a single pizzeria needs what that monthly price buys.
What ChowNow costs
ChowNow sells three plans, Launch, Grow and Elevate. As of June 2026 its published rates ran from $229 to $449 a month depending on the plan and billing term, with a one-time setup fee of $119 to $499. Card processing is 2.95% + 29¢ per transaction. There is no commission on orders. Delivery arranged through ChowNow carries its own per-order fees.
| ChowNow (entry plan) | Your own site | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $229 | $19 + sales tax |
| Commission | 0% | 0% |
| Card processing per order | ~$1.18 (2.95% + 29¢) | ~$1.17 (2.9% + 30¢, est.) |
| Per month | ~$405 | ~$195 |
| Per year | ~$4,865 + setup | ~$2,334 |
ChowNow plan range and fees as reported in June 2026 (ChowNow's own pricing page could not be retrieved; check it before signing). Own-site column: Super Pizza Premium, sales tax depending on your state, card processing estimated.
Both are a long way below a delivery app, which on the same 150 orders would cost $8,000 to $16,000 a year. The difference between them is what the extra $200 or so a month buys you.
When ChowNow makes sense
- You run several locations and want one ordering system across them.
- You want your own branded mobile app, and your customers are loyal enough to install it.
- Your direct order volume is high. At a few thousand orders a month, the subscription becomes a small share of revenue.
What to ask before signing
- The term. Is the monthly price tied to an annual commitment, and what is the notice period?
- The setup fee, and what it includes.
- Who owns the customer list if you leave, and whether you can export it.
- The domain. If the ordering site lives on your own domain, make sure it stays registered in your name.
If you also need a point-of-sale system, Toast sells ordering bundled with the register; if you are comparing simpler website builders, see the roundup.