Owner.com vs ChowNow vs Menuthere: which is best?
By the Menuthere editorial team · Updated
All three give a restaurant its own commission-free ordering, but at very different prices. Owner.com starts at $249 a month (plus a 5% guest fee), ChowNow at $249 a month month-to-month with a setup fee, and Menuthere at $17 a month, with an own branded app at $99. Owner.com and ChowNow suit established US places that want heavy marketing automation; Menuthere suits owners who want the same direct ordering for a much lower fixed price.
- Owner.com: Flexible $249/mo (plus a 5% per-order restaurant fee) or Flat Rate $499/mo; a 5% guest order-support fee on both; branded app included.
- ChowNow: Launch $249/mo, Grow $349/mo, Elevate $449/mo month-to-month, plus a $119–$499 setup fee; 0% commission on direct orders; branded app on Grow and up.
- Menuthere: Lite $17/mo, Pro $39/mo, Branded App $99/mo; 0% commission; 7-day free trial on Lite and Pro.
- Owner.com and ChowNow build in marketing automation and are priced for places already doing real online volume.
- Menuthere is the lowest fixed price here and needs no setup fee; the owner keeps 100% of each order minus the payment gateway's own fee.
The same direct orders, at a fraction of the price
Menuthere gives you your own ordering website, QR menu, WhatsApp ordering and, if you want it, your own app on both stores, all at 0% commission. You get the direct-ordering outcome Owner.com and ChowNow sell, without their high monthly floor or setup fee.
Owner.com vs ChowNow vs Menuthere: what does each cost?
The three are priced for different stages. Owner.com and ChowNow both start around $249 a month and are built for restaurants already taking real online orders; ChowNow also charges a one-time setup fee, and Owner.com adds a guest order-support fee. Menuthere starts at $17 a month with no setup fee, so a smaller or newer place can take the same commission-free orders without a high monthly floor.
| Owner.com | ChowNow | Menuthere | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry monthly price | $249/mo (Flexible) | $249/mo (Launch, month-to-month) | $17/mo (Lite) |
| Top published tier | $499/mo (Flat Rate) | $449/mo (Elevate) | $99/mo (Branded App) |
| Setup fee | Not published as a fixed figure | $119–$499 one-time | None |
| Order commission | 0% (plus a 5% guest fee) | 0% on direct orders | 0% |
| Branded app | Included | On Grow ($349/mo) and up | Branded App $99/mo |
| Free trial | Not published | Not published | 7 days (Lite, Pro) |
Payment-processing fees apply to every platform and are charged by the card processor, not the ordering provider. Compare the all-in monthly cost at your real order volume.
Owner.com vs ChowNow: what is the real difference?
Both give you a commission-free ordering website and a branded app, and both lean on marketing automation to win repeat orders. Owner.com builds its pitch around a done-for-you website, SEO and automated marketing, with a guest order-support fee on top of the monthly price. ChowNow prices in tiers with a setup fee and puts the branded app on its middle plan and above. For an established place with volume, the choice is about which marketing approach and account support you prefer.
Which should a small restaurant choose?
Choose Owner.com or ChowNow if you are already doing real online volume, want heavy done-for-you marketing and can justify $249 or more a month. Choose Menuthere if you want the same commission-free ordering, QR menu, WhatsApp ordering and an optional own app for a much lower fixed price, with a free trial to test it first. You can always move up later; starting lean keeps more of each early order.
Who this is a good fit for
- Independent and small-chain US restaurants that want their own ordering without paying delivery-app commission, on a low fixed price.
- Owners weighing Owner.com or ChowNow who find $249+ a month hard to justify at their current online volume.
- Places that want a branded app but not a four-figure build or a high monthly floor.
Who this is not for
- Established restaurants already doing high online volume who want deep, done-for-you marketing automation and have the budget: Owner.com or ChowNow may fit.
- Owners who want a US-based account manager to run their marketing for them.
- Large chains needing franchise-level reporting.
Common follow-up questions
Is Owner.com or ChowNow cheaper?
They are close at entry: both around $249 a month month-to-month. ChowNow adds a one-time setup fee of $119–$499; Owner.com adds a 5% guest order-support fee. Menuthere is the cheapest of the three at $17 a month with no setup fee. Figures from each provider's own pricing page, read 25 October 2026.
Do Owner.com and ChowNow charge commission?
Neither takes a percentage commission on your own direct orders, which is their main selling point against delivery apps. Owner.com does add a 5% guest order-support fee, and card processing applies on both. Menuthere is also 0% commission.
Does Menuthere include a branded app like Owner.com and ChowNow?
Yes. Menuthere's Branded App is $99 a month and puts your own app on Google Play and the App Store, with everything in the Pro plan behind it. ChowNow includes the app on Grow and up; Owner.com includes it on both plans.
Can I try Menuthere before paying?
Yes. Lite and Pro come with a 7-day free trial so you can set up your menu and take real orders first. See pricing for what each plan includes.
Read next
Sources (2)
- Owner.com pricing, Owner.com, read 25 October 2026
- ChowNow pricing, ChowNow, read 25 October 2026