DirectOrders vs ChowNow: Which Is Better for Your Restaurant?

ChowNow's Place in Restaurant Tech

ChowNow deserves credit. They were early advocates for commission-free ordering when DoorDash and Uber Eats dominated with 25-30% takes.

According to Crunchbase, ChowNow has raised over $60M in funding and serves thousands of restaurants. They helped establish that restaurants shouldn't give away a quarter of every order to delivery apps.

But the market has evolved. What was innovative in 2018 is table stakes in 2026. Here's how the platforms compare today.

The Critical Difference: Customer Fees

Let's start with what matters most to your customers.

ChowNow

ChowNow charges customers a service fee on orders. The exact amount varies by plan and order size, but typically:

• Service fee: 5-10% of order value
• A $40 order costs your customer $42-46

This fee is visible at checkout. Customers see your prices, then see fees added.

DirectOrders

Zero customer fees. Your menu price is what customers pay.

• No service fee
• No convenience fee
• A $40 order costs exactly $40

Why this matters:

According to Baymard Institute research, 48% of cart abandonment happens due to extra costs revealed at checkout. When customers see unexpected fees, they leave.

With DirectOrders, what they see is what they pay. Higher conversion, happier customers.

Feature Comparison

Verdict: DirectOrders offers significantly more channels and zero customer fees. ChowNow covers basics but charges your customers.

Pricing Breakdown

ChowNow Pricing

Based on ChowNow's published pricing and restaurant reports:

• Starter: ~$149/month + customer service fees
• Standard: ~$249/month + customer service fees
• Premium: ~$399/month + customer service fees
• Additional fees for certain features and integrations

Note: ChowNow pricing varies and may include setup fees. Contact them for current rates.

DirectOrders Pricing

• Pro: $249/month (founding rate, normally $449)
• Full omnichannel platform
• Zero customer fees
• Same-day payouts included

• Pro + Voice: $349/month (founding rate, normally $799)
• Everything in Pro
• AI phone ordering (500 minutes included)
• Additional minutes: $0.15/min

No setup fees. No customer fees. No revenue share. Month-to-month available.

The Math on Customer Fees

Let's calculate the real impact of ChowNow's customer fees:

Restaurant doing $30,000/month in online orders:

With ChowNow (assuming 7% average customer fee):

• Your customers pay: $32,100 total
• Extra cost to customers: $2,100/month
• Potential abandoned carts (from fee surprise): 15-20% of orders

With DirectOrders:

• Your customers pay: $30,000 total
• Extra cost to customers: $0
• No fee-related cart abandonment

Your customers save $25,200/year. That goodwill translates to loyalty.

Channel Comparison

Where ChowNow Accepts Orders

1. Branded website

2. Mobile app

3. Google ordering

4. Facebook ordering

Where DirectOrders Accepts Orders

1. Branded website

2. Mobile app

3. Google Business ordering

4. Facebook ordering

5. Instagram DM ordering

6. WhatsApp ordering

7. SMS ordering

8. Voice AI (phone)

9. ChatGPT

10. Perplexity AI

11. Google AI Overviews

12. Apple Business Chat

13. Facebook Messenger

14. QR code ordering

15. Third-party delivery app routing

DirectOrders provides 3x more ordering channels, including the AI and social channels where modern customers discover restaurants.

Voice AI: The Capability Gap

Phone orders still matter. Popmenu research shows 35% of restaurant orders come by phone.

ChowNow

• No AI phone ordering
• Phone calls go to voicemail or staff
• Busy periods = missed calls = lost revenue

DirectOrders

• Voice AI answers every call
• Takes complete orders with modifications
• Handles multiple calls simultaneously
• 94% order accuracy
• 500 minutes included on Pro + Voice

Result: DirectOrders restaurants capture phone orders that ChowNow restaurants miss.

Same-Day Payouts

ChowNow

• Standard payout timing: 2-3 business days
• No same-day option available

DirectOrders

• Same-day payouts included free on all plans
• No percentage fee
• Your money, the day you earn it

According to U.S. Bank research, 82% of business failures cite cash flow issues. Getting paid daily vs. waiting 3 days makes a real difference.

Support Comparison

ChowNow

• Email and chat support
• Phone support on higher tiers
• Extensive knowledge base

DirectOrders

• Email, chat, and phone support on all plans
• Founders personally respond to tickets
• No tiered support - everyone gets the same level

Who ChowNow Works For

ChowNow can work if:

• You only need website and app ordering
• Customer fees don't concern you
• You don't need AI phone ordering
• Same-day payouts aren't important
• You're satisfied with basic channels

Who DirectOrders Works For

DirectOrders is better if:

• You want zero fees for your customers
• AI features matter (Voice AI, ChatGPT)
• You want 15+ ordering channels
• Same-day payouts help your cash flow
• Month-to-month flexibility is important

Making the Switch

If you're currently on ChowNow, switching to DirectOrders is straightforward:

Week 1:

• Import your menu (we handle this)
• Set up branded website
• Configure payment processing

Week 2:

• Connect additional channels (Instagram, WhatsApp, Voice AI)
• Set up Google Business integration
• Train staff on new dashboard

Week 3:

• Go live with DirectOrders
• Redirect ordering links
• Begin customer migration

We provide migration support at no extra cost.

The Bottom Line

ChowNow helped restaurants escape delivery app commissions. That was valuable.

DirectOrders takes it further: zero customer fees, 15+ channels, Voice AI, ChatGPT integration, and same-day payouts.

Your customers shouldn't pay service fees for the privilege of ordering from you. With DirectOrders, they don't.

Ready to see the difference? [Book a DirectOrders demo](https://www.directorders.com/demo) and we'll show you exactly how your restaurant would benefit.