Fee Free Ordering vs ChowNow
A zero-commission online ordering platform charging a fixed monthly SaaS fee per restaurant location. Popular in the US.If you're comparing the two, here's how Fee Free Ordering stacks up.
Free core platform. First 100 orders every month free, 0% commission on direct orders. Turn on optional add-ons (card payments, hosted website, custom domain) only when you need them — see full pricing.
Zero commission.
What you actually pay
The real numbers, side by side. We keep ours public; theirs are from their published pricing.
| Fee Free Ordering | ChowNow | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | $0 | One-time setup fee (often cited ~$399, as of 2026) |
| Monthly cost | $0 core + optional add-ons | ~$150–199/mo per location (per published pricing) |
| Commission on direct orders | 0% | 0% to the restaurant |
| Hidden / customer-side fees | None on direct orders | 7% "Support Local Fee" charged to diners on ChowNow app/marketplace orders |
| Contract / commitment | None — cancel anytime | Monthly SaaS; confirm term at signup |
| Free to try (no demo call) | Yes — paste your menu, live in seconds | No — sales call to activate |
ChowNow's 7% diner-side "Support Local Fee" applies to orders through ChowNow's own app/marketplace, not necessarily your embedded direct widget — confirm which of your orders it touches. Figures as of 2026; our numbers are public at /pricing.
Run your own numbers.
Whatever ChowNowcosts, the bigger number is usually what the delivery apps take in commission. Drag your real volume in and see what you'd keep on direct orders with Fee Free Ordering.
See what the delivery apps really cost you.
About 1,200 orders a month.
Delivery marketplaces typically take 15–30% per order.
That's $126,000 a year gone to fees.
You keep $126,000 a year. 0% commission on direct orders.
Core platform is $0/month — free forever, first 100 orders on us.
Estimate only. Actual commission varies by app and market; direct orders through Fee Free Ordering are always 0% commission.
Why restaurants switch
The specific reasons owners moving from ChowNow pick Fee Free Ordering.
Free core platform vs $149+/mo SaaS
Fee Free Ordering's core (admin, widget, kitchen app, customer database) is free forever. ChowNow charges $149-199/mo per location just to use the platform, before add-ons.
Pay only for add-ons you actually use
Online Payments, Hosted Website and Multi-Location are each optional à-la-carte add-ons — turn on only what you need (current prices are public at /pricing). ChowNow bundles features into tiers, forcing you to pay for what you don't need.
Marketplace discovery coming soon
A discovery marketplace at feefreefood.com is coming soon. ChowNow has no marketplace; you bring 100% of your own customers.
No setup fee
Sign up at /signup, paste your menu, you're live. ChowNow charges a one-time setup fee (often quoted at $399+) to get started.
Side-by-side comparison
Every meaningful difference, laid out plainly.
| Feature | Fee Free Ordering | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Base monthly cost | $0 | $149–199 / location |
| Setup fee | $0 | Typically $399+ |
| Commission on direct orders | 0% | 0% |
| Marketplace included | Coming soon (feefreefood.com) | No |
| Hosted website | Optional add-on — see /pricing | Bundled (tier-dependent) |
| Multi-location | Optional add-on — see /pricing | Per-location pricing |
| Card payments | Optional add-on — see /pricing | Bundled with Stripe Connect |
| Setup time | Minutes (self-serve) | Days (sales call required) |
Facts checked against ChowNow's public pricing as of May 2026. We update this page when their pricing changes — flag anything stale at support@feefreeordering.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to ChowNow?
Fee Free Ordering — the core platform is free. Compared to ChowNow's $149-199/mo per location, an independent restaurant on Fee Free only pays for the à-la-carte add-ons it actually uses (current prices public at /pricing), typically saving well over $1,000/year per location.
Is ChowNow really zero-commission?
Yes — ChowNow charges a monthly SaaS fee instead of per-order commission. Fee Free Ordering does the same thing but the core platform is free with paid add-ons à la carte, which works out much cheaper for most single-location independents.
Ready to switch from ChowNow?
5 minutes to set up. No credit card. No commission on direct orders. Email us if you'd like help moving your menu over — we're a small team and we'll do it for you.