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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs BentoBox

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
B

BentoBox

Software

Restaurant websites and marketing platform

From
$99/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; BentoBox bentoBox is now Clover, and its own site states that BentoBox products and services are only available to Clover POS customers
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, BentoBox covers Website builder.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and BentoBox differ
AttributeAloha POSBentoBox
Starting price$150/month$99/month
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb
Founded19882013

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 BentoBox

  • Website builder
  • Online ordering
  • Email marketing
  • Gift cards
  • Catering
  • Event management
  • OpenTable
  • Resy

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Aloha POS

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

BentoBox

  • Restaurant websites with integrated online orderingnot Aloha POS
  • Gift cards, events and catering enquiries from a restaurant's own sitenot Aloha POS
  • Marketing and customer data capture for restaurants on Clover POSnot 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

BentoBox

  • BentoBox is now Clover, and its own site states that BentoBox products and services are only available to Clover POS customers
  • The pricing page publishes no plan price, setup fee, online ordering commission or contract length
  • Existing customers wanting to add services are directed to a customer success manager or an email address rather than a self serve price

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

BentoBox

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Website
    • Basic features
  • Essential$199/month
    • Online ordering
    • Marketing
  • Pro$399/month
    • Full features
    • Catering

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 BentoBox if

  • You need website builder.
  • You also want online ordering.
BentoBox review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or BentoBox better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and BentoBox at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or BentoBox?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and BentoBox at $99/month.
Does Aloha POS or BentoBox run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. BentoBox runs on Web.
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 BentoBox is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that BentoBox cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. BentoBox covers Website builder, Online ordering, Email marketing, Gift cards. Both handle 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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