Craver Vs. Per Diem App Builder at a Glance
So, you’re looking at restaurant app builders, but you’re not sure which to choose between Craver and Per Diem.
You’ve come to the right place! This blog is designed to help you understand the differences between these two restaurant app solutions, so you can confidently pick the right app builder for your business.
Follow along as we compare Craver with the Per Diem app builder using several key criteria: ordering, branding, loyalty, operational fit, and long-term growth capabilities.
Let’s get started!
Key Differences in Ordering, Loyalty, and Guest Experience
As you’re debating between Craver vs. Per Diem for your new restaurant app, there are a few key capabilities you should explore in each platform.
While Craver and Per Diem are both white-label restaurant apps, they have different features and capabilities. Some might be exactly what you’re looking for, while others may not have the functionality your restaurant needs.
Take a look at each platform’s key differences, sorted by the features that’ll most impact your decision-making:
Brand Customization
- Craver is the highly customizable option, with each app using your restaurant’s distinct brand kit (including logo, colors, and fonts). You also get several different layout options to choose from, so every app looks and feels distinct — while also feeling like yours.
- Per Diem is more of a templated solution with limited customization. The design options are clean and aesthetically pleasing, but they’re standardized across customers. With Per Diem, you can expect your app to look similar to other restaurants’ apps.
Loyalty & Rewards
- Craver has in-platform loyalty and rewards programs that are simple for guests to understand and easy to use. We also integrate with Square Loyalty for those who want to keep their operations within the Square ecosystem. Craver Loyalty is also a good way to save money because, unlike Square Loyalty, it’s included in your app package, so you get a built-in restaurant loyalty app that doesn’t cost extra.
- Per Diem doesn’t have any proprietary loyalty or rewards programs. If you want a loyalty app for your restaurant, you’ll have to pay for Square Loyalty on top of the Per Diem subscription. However, you can include gamification — like spin-the-wheel, streaks, and challenges — in your offerings if you’re willing to pay for the Pro plan.
Customer Support
- Craver’s customer support options are very hands-on. When you first sign up with Craver, you’ll get a dedicated onboarding manager to set everything up for you, including marketing support to get people to download your app. We also have a chatbot on our website with a 3-minute response time and a ticket submission option for more involved help (but you’ll still get a response within two hours). And, if you need help with something non-Craver-related, like setting up your Square menu or inventory, we can also assist with that!
- Per Diem has a support form on their Help Center page and a self-serve model to guide you through Square-related issues. However, you don’t get a dedicated onboarding manager to help you set everything up, and most issues are left up to the merchants to figure out.
Square POS Integration
Both Craver and Per Diem have strong integration capabilities with Square POS, but there are differences in how you add new menu items:
- Craver has auto-sync options, so new menu items are automatically added in Square and go live in your mobile ordering app without any extra steps.
- Per Diem requires you to add new items and toggle them to “on” manually before they appear to your customers in the app.
What other integrations should your restaurant be looking for? Check out our blog on the best restaurant software stack for small teams.
Marketing & Engagement Tools
Both Craver and Per Diem offer push notifications to help you better connect with your customers. However, each platform has a few distinct features:
- Craver offers unlimited push notifications at no extra cost on all pricing tiers, giving you a direct line to your guests for promotions and new items. We can offer marketing support and can run your email and SMS marketing campaigns at no extra cost.
- Per Diem also offers unlimited push notifications on all pricing tiers. However, if you want email and SMS marketing support, or an AI assistant to give you a hand, you have to pay for the Pro plan.
Time to Launch
- Craver requires approximately 24 hours to launch a fully custom-built app. If you have extensive design requirements, it could take a couple of days, but all timeline adjustments will be communicated directly to your team.
- Per Diem requires approximately 24 hours to launch an app using a ready-made template, but like Craver, it could take extra time depending on your needs. Per Diem also adds an additional 1-2 days to get approval on the app store.
As you’re gearing up for the big app reveal, check out our five best practices for app launch blog to make sure you have everything you need!
Pricing
Both Craver and Per Diem offer similar plans starting at $99/month. However, the baseline price plans offer different capabilities:
- Craver’s base plan includes a dedicated onboarding manager, unlimited commission-free orders, white-label delivery integration, and more.
- Per Diem’s base plan doesn’t include a dedicated onboarding manager and also has higher fees for pickup orders and delivery.
Delivery Integrations
- Both Craver and Per Diem have the same integration capabilities with white-label restaurant ordering apps like DoorDash Drive and Uber Direct.
| Feature | Craver | Per Diem |
| Brand Customization | Highly customizable using your restaurant’s brand kit | Minimal customization with emphasis on templates instead |
| Loyalty & Rewards | In-platform loyalty and rewards + Square Loyalty integration option | No in-platform loyalty or rewards; Square Loyalty integration only |
| Customer Support | Onboarding manager, fast website chatbot, and same-day ticket support | No onboarding manager, online support form, and self-serve guides |
| Square POS Integration | Strong integration with menu auto-syncing | Strong integration without menu auto-syncing |
| Marketing & Engagement Tools | Unlimited push notifications + marketing support at no extra cost | Unlimited push notifications + marketing support with Pro plan only |
| Time To Launch | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Pricing | Starts at $99/month (with an onboarding manager) | Starts at $99/month (with no onboarding manager) |
| Delivery Integrations | Integrates with white-label apps like DoorDash Drive and Uber Direct | Integrates with white-label apps like DoorDash Drive and Uber Direct |
Check out this blog to see our other must-have features for restaurant mobile apps!
How to Choose Between Craver and Per Diem for Your Restaurant
As you’re deciding between Craver vs. Per Diem, here’s a quick summary to help you choose between the two restaurant app builders.
Craver is best for restaurant owners who want:
- A custom-branded app that looks and feels like yours
- Fast, hands-on customer support whenever you need it
- In-platform loyalty that saves you money on external integrations
Per Diem is best for restaurant owners who want:
- A more hands-off, self-serve experience
- A templated app that isn’t 100% customizable
- More gamification features without the in-platform loyalty
FAQs
Customization is the key difference between these restaurant mobile app builders. Craver offers more customization according to your restaurant’s brand kit, while Per Diem focuses more on templates.
Which platform is the better choice for your restaurant app?
Both Craver and Per Diem have features that are beneficial for restaurant apps, but here are the use cases each one is best for. Craver is best for those who run coffee shops or restaurants and want a fully custom-branded app that looks and feels like their own with hands-on customer support. Per Diem is best for those who want to stay self-serve, are happy with a templated app, and want more gamification features.
Does Craver support loyalty and repeat customer engagement?
Yes. Craver acts as a built-in restaurant loyalty app, with engagement tools like rewards programs and subscriptions. We also offer unlimited push notifications to send offers and promotions straight to your customers’ phones.
Is Per Diem app builder a good fit for independent restaurants?
Per Diem is a good restaurant app builder if you’re happy with a templated app build, more gamification features, and self-serve support options. If you’d prefer full customization and hands-on support, go with Craver instead.
How important are branding and customization in a restaurant app?
Very important. Branding and customization are key to building an instantly recognizable brand identity and presence on any mobile ordering app for restaurants, so your business always stays top-of-mind.
What should restaurants do after launching their app?
After launch, maintenance is key to ensuring the app works correctly and stays that way. You should also start tracking KPIs and customer loyalty to see what’s working and what you can improve. Different app builders for restaurants offer different post-launch features, so make sure to check what the one you choose can offer you.
