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.
Crunchtime
Crunchtime is a comprehensive restaurant management platform that helps you control food costs, manage labor schedules, and maintain operational standards across multiple locations to maximize your bottom-line profitability.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | Crunchtime |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | crunchtime.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Custom |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Boston, USA |
Overview
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.
Crunchtime
Crunchtime gives you total control over your restaurant operations by connecting your back-of-house data with real-time insights. You can manage every aspect of your business, from tracking inventory levels and reducing food waste to creating optimized labor schedules that align with your sales forecasts. The platform acts as a single source of truth, helping you spot variances in food costs and labor productivity before they impact your margins.
You can also ensure brand consistency across all your locations using integrated task management and employee training tools. Whether you operate a growing regional chain or a global enterprise, the software scales to meet your needs by automating manual processes and providing mobile-first tools for your managers and staff. It helps you shift from reactive firefighting to proactive management by putting actionable data right in your hands.
Overview
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.
Crunchtime Features
- Inventory Management. Track your stock levels in real-time and automate your ordering process to eliminate waste and reduce high food costs.
- Labor Scheduling. Create efficient staff schedules based on sales forecasts so you always have the right people working during peak hours.
- Operational Checklists. Digitize your daily logs and health safety checks to ensure every location follows your exact brand standards every day.
- Business Intelligence. Access detailed reports and visual dashboards that highlight performance trends across your entire restaurant portfolio for better decision-making.
- Food Consumption Analytics. Compare your actual food usage against theoretical targets to identify exactly where theft or portioning errors occur.
- Employee Training. Deliver mobile-friendly training modules to your team to improve retention and ensure everyone knows how to execute your menu.
Pricing Comparison
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
Crunchtime Pricing
Pros & Cons
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
Crunchtime
Pros
- Excellent visibility into food cost variances
- Powerful forecasting tools for labor planning
- Centralized control for multi-unit operators
- Mobile apps make inventory counts faster
- Robust reporting for enterprise-level data analysis
Cons
- Significant time required for initial setup
- Steep learning curve for new managers
- Interface can feel complex for simple tasks