Better Cater vs CaterZen

Better Cater is catering software that manages an event from inquiry through proposals, menus, BEOs, kitchen reports, invoices, and profit analysis using one event record. Users can create branded proposals from menus, send contracts, and collect electronic signatures. Reusable menus and packages support per-person or fixed pricing, with staff, rentals, taxes, and service charges in the catalog. The calendar tracks inquiry, tentative, confirmed, and other statuses, and repeat events can be duplicated. Events can be subscribed to in Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, or other apps that read ICS feeds, but the feed syncs one way from Better Cater. The company describes access on phones and tablets and supports current and previous major versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Premium includes API access for custom integrations. Plus costs $83 a year with annual billing or $99 a month; Premium costs $125 a year or $149 a month. The service has no free plan but offers a 30-day trial. Online client payments for deposits and balances are marked as coming soon.

CaterZen is web-based catering software for drop-off, full-service, and event-space businesses. It brings catering sales, marketing, operations, and CRM into one system, with access on the web, Android, and iOS. Customers can order through a custom-branded, mobile-friendly interface. Delivery tools include interactive maps, route assignments, driver smartphone tools, client communication, tipping, and digital signatures. Kitchen production reports can cover individual orders or date ranges, with a touchscreen checklist and real-time updates. Sales and marketing features include proposal templates, follow-up reminders, lead forms, and email marketing. Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online, Authorize.Net, Google Calendar, Chowly, Gmail, Tango Card, Nowsta, and Nearby Now. All plans include unlimited users, transactions, menus and items, and orders and events, though some third-party integrations may have additional service fees. Pro costs $179 a month; Pro Plus costs $199 a month and adds a custom-branded ordering site. Marketing Pro Plus costs $229 a month and adds marketing systems, VoIP calling, delivery management, and BEO templates. A 30-day trial includes pre-loaded data and requires no credit card.