ChowNow alternative: the same branded app for less a month

By the Nomback team, who build ordering apps for independent restaurants · Updated October 30, 2026

How it works

1. Send us your menu, logo and photos, and we build your app under your own name.
2. Your app goes live in the App Store and Google Play in about two weeks, with your rewards set the way you choose.
3. You keep ChowNow until the switch, then point your website and Google ordering link at the new app.

What it costs

No commission on any order and no fee added to your customers. Card payments go through Stripe at 2.9% + 30¢. Apple charges $99 a year and Google $25 once for the developer accounts, which are in your name. Month to month, and live in about two weeks. Full pricing.

ChowNow vs Nomback: price for price

Prices from ChowNow's pricing page and ours, checked October 2026. ChowNow shows two prices per plan; the lower one is usually the annual rate.

What 300 orders a month costs in year one

Take 300 orders a month at $30, which is $9,000 a month in app sales. Card fees are about the same on both, so the difference is the monthly fee and setup.

ChowNow's per-order fee is 2.95% + 29¢: $0.885 + $0.29 = $1.175 on a $30 order. Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ is $1.17. Both rounded.

Where ChowNow is stronger

ChowNow is the bigger, older company. It lists integrations with many POS systems, and its higher plans add more marketing tools. If you need a specific POS integration today, check theirs. Nomback sends orders to a tablet or your kitchen printer; a Clover connection is rolling out and isn't live yet.

Nomback's case is simpler: the app, the stamp card, memberships and push deals for $99, and the QR bag card that moves DoorDash regulars into the app. That's the part that pays for itself.

Questions owners ask

How much does ChowNow cost per month?

ChowNow lists Launch at $229 to $249, Grow at $319 to $349 and Elevate at $409 to $449 a month, plus a $119 to $499 setup fee and 2.95% + 29 cents per order.

Is there a cheaper alternative to ChowNow with an app?

Yes. Nomback gives you your own iPhone and Android app for $99 a month and $399 setup, with no commission. You pay normal card processing through Stripe.

Can I move my customers from ChowNow to Nomback?

Your customers download your new app and order there. We put the QR card in your bags and on the counter, and you switch your website and Google links when the app is live.

Does Nomback charge my customers a fee?

No. Nomback doesn't add a fee to the customer's order. Your prices are what customers pay, plus tax and any delivery fee you set.

Do I own the app?

The Apple and Google developer accounts are in your restaurant's name, so the listing is yours.

Does Nomback work with my POS?

Orders go to a tablet or a kitchen printer today. A Clover connection is rolling out and isn't live yet.

Related: Owner.com alternative without the 5% fee on your customers, Menufy alternative: your own app for less than Menufy costs now, A white-label loyalty app with your restaurant’s name on it.

Sources

1. ChowNow pricing
2. Stripe pricing
3. Nomback pricing

Prices and fees were checked on October 30, 2026. They change, so check the source before you decide.