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.
PostPilot
PostPilot is a direct mail marketing automation platform that allows ecommerce brands to send personalized postcards and catalogs as easily as sending an email to increase customer retention.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | PostPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | postpilot.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has 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 | 2011 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Spartanburg, 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.
PostPilot
PostPilot is a direct mail automation platform built specifically for ecommerce brands that want to reach customers physically. You can create, launch, and track postcard or catalog campaigns directly from your dashboard, treating direct mail with the same speed and data-driven precision as your email marketing. By connecting your store, you can trigger physical mail based on real-time customer behavior like abandoned carts or second-purchase reminders.
You can design your own mailers using a simple drag-and-drop editor or lean on their professional design services to handle the creative work for you. The platform eliminates the traditional headaches of direct mail like minimum order quantities and long lead times. It helps you cut through the digital noise of crowded inboxes by landing a tangible, personalized message directly in your customers' mailboxes to drive higher lifetime value.
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.
PostPilot Features
- Behavioral Triggers. Automatically send postcards when customers abandon a cart, make a first purchase, or reach a specific spending milestone.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor. Create beautiful, branded postcards and catalogs in minutes using an intuitive design interface built for non-designers.
- Real-Time Tracking. Monitor your campaign performance with automatic ROI tracking that matches mail deliveries to actual store purchases.
- Smart Segmenting. Target specific customer groups by filtering your audience based on purchase history, location, or total lifetime value.
- Concierge Design. Access professional designers who create custom, high-converting mailer layouts for your brand at no extra cost.
- No Minimums. Send a single postcard or thousands at once without worrying about the restrictive minimums of traditional print shops.
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
PostPilot Pricing
- No monthly fee
- Standard postcard pricing
- Basic segmenting tools
- Self-service design editor
- Email support
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Lower per-piece mailing rates
- Automated lifecycle campaigns
- Concierge design services
- Advanced ROI reporting
- Priority support
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
PostPilot
Pros
- Seamless integration with Shopify and Klaviyo
- High-quality print and card stock
- Excellent concierge design team support
- Easy to track actual ROI from mailings
- No minimum order requirements for campaigns
Cons
- Monthly subscription fees are relatively high
- International shipping options are more limited
- Learning curve for complex segment logic