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.
Shipday
Shipday is a delivery management software that helps you automate local delivery operations with real-time driver tracking, automated dispatching, and customer notifications to streamline your last-mile logistics.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | Shipday |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | shipday.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days 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 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Fremont, 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.
Shipday
Shipday is a specialized delivery management platform designed to help you handle local deliveries with ease. Whether you run a restaurant, a flower shop, or a professional courier service, you can automate the entire process from order entry to final drop-off. You can manage your own fleet of drivers or easily sync with third-party delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Direct when your team is at capacity.
The platform provides you with a centralized dashboard to monitor every active delivery on a live map. You can reduce manual work by setting up auto-dispatch rules that assign orders to the nearest available driver. By providing your customers with real-time tracking links and automated SMS updates, you eliminate the 'where is my order' phone calls and build stronger brand trust.
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.
Shipday Features
- Real-time Driver Tracking. Monitor your drivers' exact locations on a live map so you can provide accurate ETAs to your customers.
- Automated Dispatch. Assign orders automatically to the best-positioned driver based on distance or workload to speed up your fulfillment.
- Route Optimization. Generate the most efficient delivery paths for your drivers to save on fuel costs and reduce delivery times.
- Customer Notifications. Send automated SMS and email updates with live tracking links so your customers stay informed at every step.
- Proof of Delivery. Capture digital signatures, photos, and notes upon completion to ensure every package is accounted for and verified.
- Third-party Integration. Connect with on-demand delivery networks like DoorDash Drive to handle overflow orders during your busiest hours.
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
Shipday Pricing
- Up to 300 orders per month
- Unlimited drivers
- Dispatch dashboard
- Driver mobile app
- Customer tracking links
- Basic reporting
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited orders
- Route optimization
- Automated dispatching
- Proof of delivery (Photo/Signature)
- SMS notifications (usage fees apply)
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
Shipday
Pros
- Extremely easy to set up and learn quickly
- Generous free tier for businesses starting out
- Seamless integration with popular POS systems
- Reliable real-time tracking for drivers and customers
Cons
- SMS notification costs can add up quickly
- Route optimization limited on the free plan
- Mobile app occasionally experiences GPS lag