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.
Mashgin
Mashgin is an AI-powered self-checkout system that uses computer vision to identify items instantly without barcodes, allowing you to complete transactions in seconds for a faster shopping experience.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | Mashgin |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | mashgin.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 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Palo Alto, 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.
Mashgin
Mashgin offers a touchless self-checkout solution that uses computer vision to identify multiple items simultaneously. Instead of scanning individual barcodes, you simply place your items—including plated food, packaged goods, and produce—on the kiosk tray. The system recognizes everything instantly, totaling your bill in less than a second so you can pay and go without waiting in long lines.
You can deploy these kiosks in high-traffic environments like stadiums, corporate cafeterias, healthcare facilities, and convenience stores. The platform integrates with your existing payment processors and inventory systems, providing real-time data on sales and popular items. It helps you reduce labor costs and improve throughput during peak hours by moving customers through the checkout process up to four times faster than traditional methods.
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.
Mashgin Features
- Instant Object Recognition. Place multiple items on the tray at once and watch the system identify them instantly without searching for barcodes.
- Plated Food Identification. Identify open-faced food items and cafeteria meals by shape and color, eliminating the need for manual price lookups.
- Touchless Payments. Complete your entire transaction without touching the screen by using mobile wallets or tap-to-pay credit cards.
- Real-Time Analytics. Access your sales data and inventory levels through a cloud-based dashboard to make informed business decisions on the fly.
- Multi-Item Scanning. Scan your entire lunch tray in one go rather than ringing up items individually to keep lines moving quickly.
- Hardware Integration. Connect your kiosks with existing POS systems and payment gateways to maintain a unified financial record.
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
Mashgin 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
Mashgin
Pros
- Significantly reduces wait times during peak hours
- Identifies non-barcoded items like fruit and meals
- Easy for customers to use with zero training
- Reduces the need for dedicated checkout staff
- Compact footprint fits into small retail spaces
Cons
- High initial investment for specialized hardware
- Requires consistent lighting for optimal recognition
- Limited to physical kiosk deployments only