Chomp Free vs. Pro: Which Plan is Right for Your Food Truck?

We get asked this a lot: "Do I really need Pro, or is the free plan enough?"

The honest answer: it depends on where you are in your business. Some trucks do great on Free. Others leave money on the table without Pro. Here's how to decide.

What You Get on Free

The free tier is real — no credit card, no trial period, no "free for 14 days then we charge you." It's free forever.

Here's exactly what's included:

• Basic public profile — your truck name, cuisine type, and one photo
• Listed in search and map — customers and venues can find you
• Browse open events — see what's available in your area
• 3 proposals per month — apply to up to 3 events or brewery slots
• Accept venue invitations — if a brewery invites you directly, you can accept (unlimited)
• Messaging with venues — communicate directly through the platform

Who Free is for:

• Trucks that are just starting out and want to test the waters
• Part-time operators doing 1-2 events per month
• Trucks that already have a full calendar and just want to be listed
• Anyone who wants to try the platform before committing

What Free doesn't include:

• Calendar management
• Mobile ordering
• Live location broadcast
• Enhanced profile (photo gallery, menu showcase, reviews, verified badge)
• Analytics
• Push notifications to followers

What You Get on Pro ($19/month)

Pro unlocks everything. No feature gates, no "contact sales for enterprise." $19/month gets you the full platform.

Everything in Free, plus:

• Unlimited proposals and booking — apply to as many events as you want
• Full calendar management — see your schedule, manage availability, set recurring dates
• Recurring and repeat bookings — lock in weekly brewery spots automatically
• Booking confirmations and reminders — automatic notifications for both you and the venue
• Mobile ordering — customers order from their phone, orders go to your Square POS. A $0.35 convenience fee is charged to the customer (not you)
• Live GPS location broadcast — customers see exactly where you are, updated in real time
• Advanced analytics — track bookings, revenue, popular items, and customer trends
• Push notifications — alert your followers when you're open or at a new location
• Enhanced profile — verified badge, full photo gallery, complete menu showcase, customer reviews, and higher placement in search results

Who Pro is for:

• Trucks doing 4+ events per month (or wanting to)
• Anyone who wants mobile ordering to increase per-customer revenue
• Trucks that move locations and need customers to find them
• Operators who want a professional, verified presence
• Anyone serious about building a booked-solid calendar

The Math

Let's run the numbers on whether Pro pays for itself.

Scenario 1: One extra booking per month. A single brewery night typically brings in $800-2,000. Even a slow night is $500+. If Pro helps you land one additional booking per month that you wouldn't have gotten with only 3 proposals, the $19 pays for itself 25-100x over.

Scenario 2: Mobile ordering revenue. Say you do 50 orders at a brewery night. Without mobile ordering, you're limited by line speed — maybe 30-40 orders in the same time. With mobile ordering, customers who would have skipped the line order from their phone instead. Even 10 extra orders at $12 average = $120 in revenue you would have missed. Over a month of events, that adds up fast.

Scenario 3: Location broadcast. You're parked at a new spot on a Wednesday lunch. Without live location, your regulars don't know you're there. With it, you push a notification to every follower within range. Even 5 extra customers from that notification = $50-75 in immediate sales.

The break-even point: Pro pays for itself if it generates even $19 of additional revenue per month. One extra customer at one event covers it.

The Free Route: Brewery Partner Codes

Here's something most trucks don't know: you might be able to get Pro for free.

Chomp's Founding Partner breweries each receive 10 access codes that unlock full Pro at no cost. If you work with a brewery that's on Chomp, ask them for a code. Each code is worth $228/year.

How to get one:

1. Ask the brewery you work with most often if they have Chomp partner codes
2. Enter the code when you sign up
3. Get full Pro access — no monthly fee, no expiration (as long as the brewery maintains their account)

This is designed to be a win-win: the brewery strengthens its vendor relationships by giving you free tools, and you get Pro without paying for it.

When to Upgrade

Stay on Free if:

• You're testing the platform and haven't committed yet
• You have a full calendar and don't need more bookings
• You only do 1-2 events per month and 3 proposals is enough

Upgrade to Pro if:

• You're applying to more than 3 events per month
• You want mobile ordering (the $0.35 customer fee model means it costs you nothing)
• You move locations and need live GPS for customers
• You want to build a recurring weekly schedule
• A brewery offers you a free access code (why not?)

The simplest test: If you've used all 3 proposals in a month and wished you had more, Pro is worth it.

No Contracts, No Lock-In

Pro is month-to-month. No annual commitment, no cancellation fees, no "call us to cancel." If it's not working for you after a month, cancel. If a brewery gives you a partner code later, switch to that. No friction either way.

The free tier is a real product, not a demo. But if you're serious about growing, Pro is $19 that pays for itself before lunch.

Sign up free → or learn about Pro →