TLDR
Not too long ago, Owner was seen as a go-to platform for independent restaurants trying to boost direct orders. But there’s been a quiet shift happening lately. More and more restaurants using Square have started moving away from Owner.com to a more suitable alternative that is more aligned with their system, and easier to justify month after month: Per Diem.
If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're already familiar with Owner.com. Maybe you've tried it, or you're using it now. You’ve probably heard positive things about the platform, but still have questions. The monthly cost seems high. The tools don’t fully connect with what you already use. And over time, the results may not feel quite aligned with what you expected.
If you're using Square, it's worth taking a closer look at how these systems fit together. This article walks through what Owner.com offers for Square-based restaurants, what that $500 a month actually delivers, and how it compares to other alternative platforms designed specifically for Square users, including one at a much lower cost.
Let’s take a side-by-side look at two approaches, so you can decide what makes the most sense for your restaurant.
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Understanding the Cost: Pricing vs Platform Fit
When you compare software subscriptions, price is usually the first thing on the table. A $99 monthly fee is obviously easier to manage than $500. But price alone doesn’t tell the full story. The real cost shows up in how well the system fits, how much time it saves (or wastes), and how many extra tools or workarounds you need to make it function inside your current setup.
Owner’s Price Tag: What Are You Paying For?
Owner.com offers a branded ordering website, a loyalty app, and tools for basic marketing. On the surface, it covers a lot. But for Square-based restaurants, most of those features don’t sync fully with the tools they already rely on every day.
Loyalty points earned through Square? Not connected. Square Customer groups? Not usable for targeted promotions. So, while Owner technically checks some boxes, many of those tools sit outside the Square ecosystem. You’re paying to layer on a second system, not expand the one you already trust.
At $500 a month, it’s worth asking if this kind of setup adds clarity or complexity. When your staff has to juggle separate tools or when loyalty programs don’t reflect in your POS, the system feels disjointed. That disconnect becomes expensive, even if the feature list looks long.
Per Diem: A System That Syncs Natively With Square
Per Diem was built specifically for restaurants already using Square. It doesn’t replace your existing tools. It connects with them.
That means your Square Loyalty setup continues to run as usual, but with the added boost of in-app rewards, referral bonuses, birthday discounts, and other loyalty features your customers will actually see and use. Your customer groups from Square can be used for personalized push notifications without starting from scratch. Menu changes made in Square appear instantly in the app, with no double entry.
That’s a lot at $99 a month. And when it fits smoothly with what you're already using, it becomes less of an “add-on” and more of an “amplifier.”
The Value Equation Is Changing
Let’s pause here. A report from Square’s App Marketplace shows that apps integrated with Square tend to get faster adoption and higher retention among restaurant users. Why? When the tech supports your workflow instead of creating extra steps, the benefits show up quickly.
Owner might work well for restaurants on Clover or other systems. But Square restaurants aren’t seeing that same synergy, which is why many are quietly reconsidering the math. The $500 they’re spending feels harder to justify when the tools aren’t aligned.
Feature Comparison: Per Deim vs Owner
How Per Diem Works Directly With Square Tools
Square restaurants need tools that cooperate with their current systems. Per Diem focuses on this exact need by integrating tightly with Square’s core features.
Restaurants that choose Per Diem gain full access to their existing Square Loyalty program through the app. They do not need to switch loyalty providers or reset how rewards work. Per Diem connects directly with Square customer groups, so every push notification targets real behavior and real segments without any manual export.
Here’s what you get with Per Diem’s $199 plan
Full Square Loyalty Integration
Keep using your existing Square loyalty program inside the app with zero extra work.
Custom Loyalty Tools
Launch streak-based rewards, birthday offers, referral bonuses, and spin-the-wheel games to keep guests engaged.
Push Notifications with Customer Groups
Tap into your Square customer groups and target messages based on order behavior, visit frequency, or loyalty status.
Pickup, Takeaway, Delivery
Accept all types of orders through a branded app or online store that connects with your Square system.
Web Ordering & Table QR Experience
Let guests order and pay from their table without downloading anything. Scan, tap, and the order is sent to your kitchen.
Learn more about Pay-at-Table
AI Marketing Assistant (Powered by Anthropic)
Access a built-in AI assistant trained to help you craft effective promotions, campaign ideas, and messaging based on your restaurant's goals and customer data.
Custom Landing Page for Your App
A branded landing page designed to promote app orders, encourage downloads, and improve your restaurant’s visibility in local search.
Subscription Management Tools
Offer and manage prepaid meal plans, VIP memberships, or weekly specials using built-in subscription features, fully integrated with Square.
Discounts, Promo Codes, and Preorders
Set up promotions, time-sensitive offers, or early ordering for popular menu items with full control from the app dashboard.
Every feature above supports your Square ecosystem. The app behaves as an extension of the Square dashboard, not as a separate dashboard to manage or learn.
What Owner Offers, and Why Square Users May Find It Less Aligned
Owner provides an all-in-one platform with a loyalty app, ordering site, and marketing features. This structure works well for restaurants on POS systems like Clover or Toast. For Square users, it often creates a split between systems.
Owner’s app runs its own loyalty system, which does not deeply integrate with Square points or loyalty history. Restaurants using Owner must manage loyalty separately, even if they have already set it up inside Square. Owner also keeps customer data in its own system. This forces staff to switch between platforms to review customer information, analyze sales trends, or send messages.
At $500 a month, Square users receive tools that repeat features already included in Square. They end up working harder to combine two separate systems, without gaining better results.
Choosing the Right Fit for Your Restaurant
Square gives restaurants a strong foundation with its reliable POS, built-in loyalty, customer data, and order management. The right add-on should build on this setup, not create a separate track.
Per Diem connects with the tools you already use. Loyalty points remain in one place. Customer groups work directly with your app promotions. Orders go straight to your Square system. Your team doesn't have to adjust how they work. Everything continues within the platform they already know.
Owner follows a broader model. It works as a standalone platform. For Square restaurants, this often leads to overlap. You manage separate customer lists and reward systems. The process becomes less efficient, even if the features look complete on their own.
Every restaurant faces different needs. But if your team already depends on Square, choosing a product that supports what you use daily makes more sense. Compatibility saves time. It reduces errors. It lowers training time and helps keep your digital tools simple and aligned.
Final Thoughts
This article is not only about comparing software. It’s about choosing a system that supports how your restaurant operates. That’s exactly what many restaurants have already started to do. One option fits into your existing setup. The other sits beside it and makes you work harder to keep things aligned.
If you already use Square, it makes sense to build on that foundation. That brings faster onboarding, fewer complications, and a smoother experience for both your team and your customers.
Before you decide, consider:
- Does this platform work with the tools we already trust?
- Will it simplify our day-to-day tasks, or add more work?
- Can our staff manage it confidently without extra training?
- Are we spending on features that don’t bring real value?
- Does our loyalty program feel simple and rewarding for guests?
- Are we setting ourselves up to grow, or just covering gaps?
With these answered, many Square-based restaurants are already starting to make the shift. Not just because of cost, but because the difference in fit and function is becoming too clear to ignore.
If you're using Square and looking for tools that work with your system, try Per Diem. Start with a walkthrough and decide if it’s a better match for your restaurant.