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.
Dark POS
Dark POS is a cloud-based point of sale software designed to help retail and restaurant businesses manage sales, inventory, and customer loyalty through a unified digital interface.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | Dark POS |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | darkpos.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 | 0 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Houston, 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.
Dark POS
Dark POS provides you with a comprehensive toolkit to run your retail or hospitality business from any device. You can process transactions quickly, manage complex inventory across multiple locations, and track employee performance without switching between different apps. The platform focuses on simplifying the checkout experience while giving you deep insights into your daily sales trends and stock levels.
You can also build lasting customer relationships using the built-in loyalty programs and gift card features. Whether you run a single boutique or a busy quick-service restaurant, the software adapts to your specific workflow. It eliminates manual data entry by syncing your front-of-house sales directly with your back-office reporting, helping you make faster, data-driven decisions for your business growth.
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.
Dark POS Features
- Multi-Store Management. Monitor and manage all your business locations from a single dashboard with real-time data synchronization across your entire enterprise.
- Inventory Tracking. Keep your stock levels accurate with automated alerts and easy purchase order management to ensure you never miss a sale.
- Customer Loyalty. Create custom rewards programs and track purchase history to keep your customers coming back for more with personalized offers.
- Employee Permissions. Protect your business by setting specific access levels for staff members and tracking individual sales performance and clock-in times.
- Offline Mode. Continue processing transactions even when your internet goes down, and sync everything automatically once you are back online.
- Detailed Reporting. Generate instant reports on sales, taxes, and top-selling items to understand exactly where your revenue is coming from.
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
Dark POS 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
Dark POS
Pros
- Cloud-based architecture allows you to manage business remotely
- Supports both retail and restaurant specific workflows effectively
- Offline functionality ensures you never stop taking payments
- Integrated loyalty tools help increase your customer lifetime value
Cons
- Lack of transparent public pricing requires sales contact
- May have a learning curve for very small teams
- Hardware compatibility details are not immediately available online