Square for Restaurants vs ChowNow: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Square for Restaurants and ChowNow comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Square for Restaurants is our overall pick for restaurant pos workflows. Pick ChowNow if you need e-commerce.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Square for Restaurants
A comprehensive point-of-sale and management solution designed for every type of food business.
Best for you if:
- • You need restaurant pos features specifically
- • All-in-one POS and management system for diverse food businesses.
- • Consolidates payments, order management, marketing, and staff tools.
ChowNow
Commission-free online ordering for local restaurants.
Best for you if:
- • You need e-commerce features specifically
- • Commission-free online ordering for restaurants.
- • Subscription-based model, not per-order commission.
| At a Glance |  Square for Restaurants |  ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $29/moSquare Plus | Free tier + paid plansFree tier available |
Best For | Restaurant POS | E-commerce |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Square for Restaurants or ChowNow?
Choose Square for Restaurants if
A comprehensive point-of-sale and management solution designed for every type of food business.
- Highly intuitive and easy to implement, even for multi-location businesses.
- Bundles essential business functions (sales, reporting, timekeeping) into one platform.
- Provides powerful analytics for data-driven decision-making and growth strategies.
- Your work is restaurant pos-shaped, not e-commerce-shaped
Choose ChowNow if
Commission-free online ordering for local restaurants.
- Eliminates per-order commissions, increasing restaurant profit margins.
- Allows restaurants to own their customer data.
- Provides a branded online ordering experience.
- Your work is e-commerce-shaped, not restaurant pos-shaped
| Feature | Square for Restaurants | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 77 reviews | ★4.7/5 198 reviews |
| Categories | Restaurant POSPayment Processing | E-commerceFood & Restaurant |
In-Depth Analysis
Square for Restaurants
A comprehensive point-of-sale and management solution designed for every type of food business.
Strengths
- +Highly intuitive and easy to implement, even for multi-location businesses.
- +Bundles essential business functions (sales, reporting, timekeeping) into one platform.
- +Provides powerful analytics for data-driven decision-making and growth strategies.
- +Supports various food business models, from quick-service to full-service and catering.
- +Offers a free tier for basic account creation and product usage.
Weaknesses
- -Specific hardware may be required for certain POS functionalities.
- -Advanced features might require paid subscriptions or additional Square products.
Key features
ChowNow
Commission-free online ordering for local restaurants.
Strengths
- +Eliminates per-order commissions, increasing restaurant profit margins.
- +Allows restaurants to own their customer data.
- +Provides a branded online ordering experience.
- +Integrates seamlessly with existing restaurant digital assets.
- +Offers marketing tools to drive direct orders.
Weaknesses
- -Requires a monthly subscription fee, which can be a barrier for some.
- -Does not provide a marketplace for customer discovery like major delivery apps.
- -Restaurants are responsible for their own delivery logistics if not using a third-party integration.
Key features
Pricing: Square for Restaurants vs ChowNow
| Plan | Square for Restaurants | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0 Square Free | N/A |
| Tier 2 | $29 Square Plus | N/A |
| Tier 3 | $79 Square Premium | N/A |
| Tier 4 | Custom Square Pro | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Square for Restaurants pricing and ChowNow pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Square for Restaurants
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Square for Restaurants
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Square for Restaurants
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Square for Restaurants is a restaurant pos tool. ChowNow is in e-commerce. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Square for Restaurants
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
ChowNow
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (198 reviews)
- Better fit for e-commerce
The Bottom Line
Square for Restaurants is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Square for Restaurants or ChowNow better?
Square for Restaurants is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Square for Restaurants and ChowNow used for?
Square for Restaurants: A comprehensive point-of-sale and management solution designed for every type of food business.. ChowNow: Commission-free online ordering for local restaurants..
What does Square for Restaurants cost vs ChowNow?
Square for Restaurants is freemium (free tier + paid plans). ChowNow is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.