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.
No credit card · No commission on direct orders · Cancel anytime
Free core platform. Optional add-ons (Online Payments $29.99/mo, Hosted Website $19.99/mo) only when you need them. Marketplace at $3 max/order or $199.99/mo unlimited.
Zero 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 ($29.99/mo), Hosted Website ($19.99/mo), Multi-Location ($49.99/mo per child site) — each is optional. ChowNow bundles features into tiers, forcing you to pay for what you don't need.
Marketplace discovery built-in
Customers find restaurants on feefreefood.com. 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 | Yes (feefreefood.com) | No |
| Hosted website | $19.99/mo add-on | Bundled (tier-dependent) |
| Multi-location | $49.99/mo per child site | Per-location pricing |
| Card payments | $29.99/mo Online Payments add-on | Bundled with Stripe Connect |
| Setup time | Minutes (self-serve) | Days (sales call required) |
Facts checked against ChowNow's public pricing as of June 2026. We update this page when their pricing changes — flag anything stale at hello@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 add-ons it uses (typically $29.99-79.99/mo total) and saves $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.