BentoBox
BentoBox is a comprehensive hospitality marketing and commerce platform that provides restaurants with mobile-optimized websites, online ordering tools, and automated marketing features to drive growth and improve guest experiences.
ChowNow
ChowNow is an online ordering and marketing platform that helps independent restaurants build their own branded digital storefronts to take commission-free orders directly from their customers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | BentoBox | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Website | bentobox.com | chownow.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $150/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Los Angeles, USA |
Overview
BentoBox
BentoBox gives you a powerful digital storefront designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Instead of struggling with generic website builders, you get a mobile-optimized platform that integrates high-margin revenue streams like online ordering, gift cards, and event management directly into your site. You can manage your entire digital presence from a single dashboard, ensuring your menus and hours are always up to date across the web.
The platform helps you turn diners into loyal regulars by capturing guest data and automating your marketing efforts. Whether you run a single neighborhood cafe or a multi-concept restaurant group, you can use these tools to increase your direct sales and reduce reliance on third-party delivery apps. It focuses on putting your brand first while simplifying the technical side of running a modern restaurant.
ChowNow
ChowNow provides you with the tools to take control of your restaurant's digital presence and eliminate high third-party delivery fees. You can launch your own branded ordering system across your website, social media profiles, and a custom-built mobile app. This allows you to keep 100% of your profits on every order while capturing valuable customer data that third-party apps usually keep for themselves.
The platform focuses on sustainable growth by providing you with automated marketing tools and a dedicated success manager to help increase your order volume. Whether you run a single local eatery or a growing regional chain, you can manage your entire digital menu and track sales performance through a centralized dashboard. It integrates directly with your existing POS system to keep your kitchen operations running smoothly without manual data entry.
Overview
BentoBox Features
- Restaurant Website Builder Create a stunning, mobile-optimized website with built-in accessibility features and SEO tools designed to help local diners find you easily.
- Direct Online Ordering Take control of your delivery and pickup business with a native ordering system that eliminates high third-party marketplace commissions.
- Digital Gift Cards Boost your cash flow by selling digital and physical gift cards directly through your website with automated fulfillment options.
- Event Management Streamline your private dining business by managing inquiries, contracts, and deposits through a centralized system on your site.
- Automated Marketing Engage your guests automatically with email campaigns triggered by their behavior, such as birthdays or recent online orders.
- Centralized Menu Management Update your menus in one place and see changes reflected instantly across your website, social media, and search listings.
ChowNow Features
- Commission-Free Ordering. Keep every dollar you earn from your online orders instead of paying 15-30% in fees to third-party delivery platforms.
- Branded Mobile Apps. Launch your own custom-branded iOS and Android apps so your customers can order directly from their home screens.
- OrderBetter Network. Get discovered by new diners through a network of high-traffic sites like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor with integrated ordering.
- Automated Marketing. Send automated email campaigns and push notifications to your customers to drive repeat business and increase order frequency.
- POS Integrations. Sync your online orders directly with your existing point-of-sale system to eliminate manual entry and reduce kitchen errors.
- Customer Data Ownership. Access your own customer database including email addresses and order history to power your personalized marketing efforts.
Pricing Comparison
BentoBox Pricing
- Mobile-responsive website
- Secure cloud hosting
- Menu management tools
- Basic SEO optimization
- Standard customer support
- Everything in Essentials, plus:
- Online ordering integration
- Gift card sales
- Event management tools
- Advanced marketing automation
ChowNow Pricing
- Commission-free ordering
- Ordering on your website
- Google Search & Maps ordering
- Digital menu management
- Standard payment processing
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Custom-branded mobile app
- Automated email marketing
- Dedicated Success Manager
- Loyalty program tools
- Advanced data reporting
Pros & Cons
BentoBox
Pros
- Beautiful website templates specifically designed for food photography
- Easy-to-use interface requires no technical coding knowledge
- Excellent customer support that understands restaurant industry needs
- Seamless integration with popular POS systems like Toast
Cons
- Higher monthly subscription cost than generic website builders
- Limited customization options for highly specific design requests
- Additional transaction fees may apply to certain commerce features
ChowNow
Pros
- Eliminates expensive per-order commissions entirely
- Provides full ownership of customer contact data
- Responsive customer support and dedicated success managers
- Easy-to-use interface for updating menus quickly
Cons
- Initial setup fees can be high
- Requires your own staff for local delivery
- Limited customization options for the mobile app