ChowNow is a well-established commission-free online ordering platform for independent restaurants, with plans that bundle ordering, marketing and a branded app. AIOrders competes in the same space. Below we lay out ChowNow's published 2026 pricing, where each product is stronger, and how to decide.
ChowNow and AIOrders agree on the big idea: restaurants should own their orders and their customer data instead of paying marketplace commission. ChowNow's own savings calculator assumes an average 22% commission charged by third-party apps (ChowNow, as of Oct 2026). The differences are in the price structure and how much of the marketing work is done for you.
Common reasons owners compare ChowNow alternatives:
All figures are from ChowNow's public pricing page (get.chownow.com/pricing, as of Oct 2026).
Additional fees ChowNow lists: $119–$499 setup fee; 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction; $99 annual Apple developer fee for branded mobile apps; $250–$420 for a printer; $7.98/order for Flex Delivery orders.
Example: a restaurant doing $10,000/month in direct orders at a $30 average ticket (about 333 orders) on Launch monthly pays $249 + $295 in percentage fees + about $97 in per-order fees, roughly $641/month before setup. That is processing, not commission, and most platforms charge some processing. Ask AIOrders about its processing costs on a demo so you compare like with like.
| Feature | AIOrders | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees; entry plan adds a per-order fee (see pricing) | $229–$409/mo billed annually, or $249–$449 monthly |
| Per-order fees | No commission on the flat-monthly plan; Uber Direct delivery billed per delivery | 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction; $7.98 per Flex Delivery order |
| Commission | 0% on direct orders | Commission-free direct ordering |
| QR ordering | Yes, Smart QR table ordering | Grow and Elevate plans |
| Website | AI website builder included | SEO-optimized website included |
| SEO | AI SEO and Google listings included | Included |
| Review automation | Voice of Guest, included | Not listed |
| Loyalty | Included | Included |
| AI phone | Optional add-on | Not listed |
| Contract | Cancel anytime; money-back guarantee, see pricing | Annual or monthly billing; setup fee $119–$499 |
| Canada / USA | Vancouver-based; serves restaurants in Canada and the USA | USD pricing; check Canadian availability with ChowNow |
| POS | Not a POS; Order Hub syncs to Square, Clover, Toast | Not a POS; 30+ POS integrations |
"Not listed" means we could not find it on the competitor's public pricing page when we checked. It may still exist as an add-on, so ask their sales team.
The AIOrders model is simple: a flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees (see pricing; the entry plan adds a per-order fee), instead of a percentage of each order (aiorders.io, as of Oct 2026). On that plan you keep every dollar of every direct order, minus payment processing.
ChowNow is better for US restaurants that want a proven, widely integrated ordering platform and are comfortable managing their own marketing calendar with good tools. Its Launch plan has a low published entry price, it lists 30+ POS integrations, and it includes branded mobile apps and printed flyers, which some owners value a lot. Multi-location brands that want centralized menu management across direct and third-party channels should look closely at Grow and Elevate.
AIOrders fits better if you want the work done for you (review replies, win-back flows, Google listing upkeep, catering capture) and want to talk to a team based in Vancouver.
Import your menu with the free Menu Import tool (PDF, photos, your website or a delivery-app link; nothing is published until you review it), check modifiers and prices, then point your website and Google "Order Online" links to the new page. Run ChowNow and AIOrders side by side for a few weeks; move regulars over with a bag insert or QR code that rewards ordering direct. The migration checklist has the full steps.
AIOrders reports that Vancouver Pizza Heaven, a take-out pizza shop in Vancouver, BC, saw +$91K in additional sales with zero ads, a +40% boost in repeat orders, and a Google rating that went from 4.1 to 4.8 after moving to direct ordering (case study). Results depend on your market and effort.
Next step: plug your monthly delivery sales into the calculator and compare the result with a flat monthly fee (see pricing).
ChowNow lists Launch from $229/month (annual) or $249 monthly, Grow from $319/$349 and Elevate from $409/$449, plus a $119–$499 setup fee and 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction (ChowNow, as of Oct 2026).
No. ChowNow sells commission-free direct ordering. It does list 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction and $7.98 per Flex Delivery order (ChowNow, as of Oct 2026).
For many independents, yes. It is a mature product with strong integrations. The question is whether you want tools you run yourself or an AI-run growth system; that is where AIOrders differs.
Yes. Paste your ordering link or upload a PDF or photos into the free Menu Import tool, which turns it into an editable online menu (Menu Import, as of Oct 2026).
AIOrders offers a flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees, one subscription instead of a percentage of each order; its entry plan adds a per-order fee (see pricing). The AI Calling Receptionist is an optional add-on.