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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Apicbase

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apicbase logo

Apicbase

Software

F&B management for multi-unit operations

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations; Apicbase the Growth plan starts from 5 outlets, so a single site or a pair of restaurants is below the entry point
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Apicbase covers Centralized recipes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aloha POS and Apicbase actually diverge.

Attributes where Aloha POS and Apicbase differ
AttributeAloha POSApicbase
Starting price$150/month$200/month
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19882017

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Aloha POS

  • Table management
  • Order management
  • Labor scheduling
  • Inventory control
  • Enterprise reporting
  • Loyalty programs
  • NCR Back Office
  • Third-party delivery

Only in Apicbase

  • Centralized recipes
  • Inventory management
  • Procurement
  • Food cost analytics
  • Menu engineering
  • HACCP
  • POS systems
  • Supplier platforms

Both cover

  • Accounting software
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Aloha POS

  • Point of Salenot Apicbase
  • Order Managementnot Apicbase
  • Inventory Controlnot Apicbase
  • Staff Schedulingnot Apicbase

Apicbase

  • Recipe and menu engineering with costed ingredientsnot Aloha POS
  • Food cost and margin tracking across outletsnot Aloha POS
  • Inventory and stock counts for multi-site restaurant groupsnot Aloha POS
  • Purchasing and supplier price managementnot Aloha POS
  • Allergen and nutrition data on menusnot Aloha POS

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Aloha POS

  • High upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations
  • User interface is dated with functionality from 2005-era design, requiring training for staff familiar with modern applications
  • Network connectivity issues cause terminals to lose access to central database when Wi-Fi drops, leading to transaction failures
  • Requires proprietary terminals unlike competitors that run on standard iPads or Android tablets
  • Complex customization requires expensive professional services and cannot be configured by restaurant staff

Apicbase

  • The Growth plan starts from 5 outlets, so a single site or a pair of restaurants is below the entry point
  • Priced per location, with the per-location fee falling only as outlet count rises
  • Monthly billing carries a 15 percent surcharge over annual
  • No prices are published for any tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Aloha POS

$150/month
  • Essentials$150/month
    • POS
    • Basic reporting
  • Professional$250/month
    • Advanced features
    • Labor management
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full suite

Apicbase

$200/month
  • Standard$200/month
    • Recipe management
    • Inventory
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full features

Which should you pick?

Choose Aloha POS if

  • You need table management.
  • You work on Windows, Android.
  • You also want order management.
Aloha POS review

Choose Apicbase if

  • You need centralized recipes.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want inventory management.
Apicbase review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Apicbase better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Apicbase at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Apicbase?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Apicbase at $200/month.
Does Aloha POS or Apicbase run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Apicbase runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Aloha POS best used for?
Aloha POS is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what Apicbase is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Apicbase cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Apicbase covers Centralized recipes, Inventory management, Procurement, Food cost analytics. Both handle Accounting software, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aloha POS: What are the hardware options for Aloha POS?

Aloha offers two main products: Aloha Essentials POS which runs on Windows servers at your location, and Aloha Cloud POS which operates on Android-based mobile terminals connected to cloud systems. Hardware costs approximately $1,000 per terminal or available through subscription.

Source
Aloha POS: What features does Aloha include for restaurant operations?

Aloha includes kitchen automation, table management, staff rosters, payment processing, inventory tracking, reporting, customer loyalty programs, and employee time tracking.

Source
Aloha POS: Is Aloha POS available as a subscription?

Yes. NCR Aloha offers an all-in-one monthly subscription model that includes software, hardware, payment processing, and 24/7 customer support. Upfront implementation costs vary based on specific needs.

Source
Aloha POS: What are the network requirements for Aloha POS?

Aloha Essentials requires a stable network connection between terminals and the Windows server. Network disruptions cause terminals to lose access to the central database, resulting in transaction failures and payment errors.

Source
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