GoTasty vs ChowNow
ChowNow and GoTasty both give an independent restaurant direct online ordering, a branded website and its own app, without marketplace commissions. They differ in what’s on each plan, how loyalty and texting work, and how you get paid at the counter.
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Which is better for my restaurant, GoTasty or ChowNow?
Both keep your direct orders free of marketplace commissions. ChowNow’s plans start at $229 a month billed annually or $249 billed monthly, plus a $119–$499 setup fee, and every plan includes branded iOS and Android apps; SMS marketing starts on its Grow plan (as of October 2026). GoTasty is $199/month (website) or $399/month (with your own app) plus a 1% platform fee and card processing, with no setup fee, SMS on every plan and Tap-to-Pay on your phone for the counter. Choose ChowNow for a branded app on the entry plan and its Google and marketplace reach; choose GoTasty for texting and loyalty from day one, in-person payments without hardware and marketing done for you.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
ChowNow figures are from its own pricing, product and help pages, checked October 2026. GoTasty figures are from our pricing page as of October 2026.
| Feature | GoTasty | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Fees (as of October 2026) | ||
| Monthly price | $199/mo Starter or $399/mo Pro ($159 or $319 billed annually); Enterprise custom | Launch from $229, Grow from $319, Elevate from $409 billed annually ($249, $349 and $449 billed monthly) |
| Per-order fees | 1% platform fee on orders + card processing; no marketplace commissions and no service fee added to the customer’s order | No commission on direct, app, marketplace and discovery orders with its Profit Protector setting on, which raises menu prices on its Discovery Network to cover fees |
| Card processing | 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction |
| Setup | No setup fee; done for you | $119–$499 setup fee, plus $250–$420 for a printer |
| Contract | Month-to-month, cancel anytime | Annual or monthly billing; 30-day cancellation notice. Minimum term not published |
| Ordering & App | ||
| Branded iOS and Android app | Your own iOS and Android app on Pro ($399/mo); Starter has the branded website | Branded iOS and Android apps on every plan; Apple’s $99/year developer fee is separate |
| Delivery | Your own delivery, fulfilled by Uber Direct drivers at a flat fee | Flex Delivery through Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive at a flat $7.98, which you can split with the diner |
| In-person payments | Tap-to-Pay on the phone you already have; no card reader to buy. Works alongside Square or Clover | Not part of ChowNow; it connects to 20+ POS systems, including Toast, Square and Clover |
| Growth Tools | ||
| Loyalty program | Included: points, rewards, birthdays; tiers and social rewards on Pro | Included on every plan: digital stickers per minimum order unlock a discount |
| Email and SMS marketing | SMS marketing included (500 contacts on Starter, 5,000 on Pro) | Automated email on every plan (500 contacts on Launch); SMS on Grow and Elevate only |
The Key Differences
Texting your regulars from the first plan
ChowNow’s Launch plan includes automated email to 500 contacts; SMS starts on Grow (from $319 billed annually). GoTasty includes SMS marketing on Starter, for up to 500 contacts.
Taking payment at the counter
ChowNow handles online orders and connects to your POS (Toast, Square, Clover and others). GoTasty also takes in-person payments: Tap-to-Pay turns your phone into the checkout for contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, so every sale adds to the same customer list and loyalty program.
Where new customers come from
ChowNow lists you on its Discovery Network (Google, Apple Maps, Yelp and more) and its own marketplace app; with Profit Protector on, it raises your menu prices there to cover its fees. GoTasty puts its effort into your own channel: it sets up and keeps your Google Business Profile current with an Order button to your site, publishes your menu for AI assistants, and runs referrals and social rewards.
Loyalty that fits a café
ChowNow’s rewards are digital stickers: a minimum order earns one, and enough stickers unlock a discount. GoTasty uses points and rewards you choose, with birthday treats, and on Pro adds tiers and points for posting about you on Instagram or TikTok.
When to Use Each Platform
Use GoTasty When...
- You want SMS marketing and loyalty on your first plan
- You want to take cards on your phone, with no POS hardware
- You want no setup fee and month-to-month billing
- You want your marketing done for you: Google, Maps, AI search and referrals
- You run a café, cart or truck as well as (or instead of) a restaurant
Choose ChowNow When...
- You want a branded app on the entry plan
- You want orders from Google, Apple Maps, Yelp and a marketplace app in one place
- You want delivery-app orders in the same dashboard
- You already have a POS ChowNow connects to
Pro tip: Whichever you pick, put the ordering link on your Google Business Profile and in your Instagram bio, so the people who find you there can order direct.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ChowNow cost?
As of October 2026, ChowNow’s pricing page lists Launch from $229, Grow from $319 and Elevate from $409 billed annually ($249, $349 and $449 billed monthly), plus a $119–$499 setup fee and card processing at 2.95% + $0.29. Branded apps also need Apple’s $99 a year developer fee.
Does ChowNow charge a commission?
ChowNow says direct, app, marketplace and discovery orders are commission-free with its Profit Protector setting on, which raises your menu prices on its Discovery Network to offset fees. Its marketplace terms also allow diner fees. GoTasty charges a 1% platform fee on orders, with no marketplace commissions.
Do both include a branded app?
ChowNow includes branded iOS and Android apps on every plan. GoTasty includes your own iOS and Android app on Pro ($399/month); Starter ($199/month) includes the branded ordering website. ChowNow lists Apple’s $99 a year developer fee as a separate cost; GoTasty’s app is likewise published under your own Apple developer account, which Apple charges $99 a year for.
Can I cancel either anytime?
GoTasty is month-to-month and you can cancel anytime. ChowNow offers annual or monthly billing, and its cancellation page says it has a 30-day cancellation policy from when you submit the form or finish the call.
Sources
- ChowNow pricing (checked October 2026).
- ChowNow branded mobile apps (checked October 2026).
- ChowNow Discovery Network (checked October 2026).
- ChowNow rewards program (checked October 2026).
- ChowNow help: how much is delivery (checked October 2026).
- ChowNow help: how to cancel a subscription (checked October 2026).
- GoTasty plans and fees: GoTasty pricing (as of October 2026).
Competitors change their prices and plans; check their pages for the current terms before you decide. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
Comparing ordering platforms?
- Best online ordering systems for small coffee shopsGoTasty, Owner.com, Toast, ChowNow and Square compared.
- White-label restaurant appYour own branded iOS and Android ordering app.
- GoTasty vs Owner.comTwo done-for-you ordering platforms, side by side.
- GoTasty vs ToastToast online ordering and loyalty, or your own app.
- GoTasty vs Square OnlineA site builder from your POS, or a branded app.
- GoTasty vs DoorDashA marketplace commission, or your own channel.
Want your regulars ordering direct?
Book a demo and we’ll show you your own ordering site and app, and what moving your regulars would mean for your margin.