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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Caviar

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Caviar logo

Caviar

Software

Premium restaurant delivery service

From
$20/order
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; Caviar limited availability to 20 major metropolitan areas
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Caviar covers Premium delivery.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Caviar differ
AttributeAloha POSCaviar
Starting price$150/month$20/order
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19882012

Identical on both: 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
  • Labor scheduling
  • Inventory control
  • Enterprise reporting
  • Loyalty programs
  • NCR Back Office
  • Third-party delivery
  • Accounting software

Only in Caviar

  • Premium delivery
  • Curated marketplace
  • Quality-focused
  • Analytics
  • DoorDash
  • Toast
  • Square
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Order management
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Aloha POS

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Caviar

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Caviar

  • Limited availability to 20 major metropolitan areas
  • Service fee of 18 percent applied to all orders
  • Not available in all regions as standalone service

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

Caviar

$20/order
  • Standard$25/percent
    • Premium delivery
    • Curated placement

Which should you pick?

Choose Aloha POS if

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

Choose Caviar if

  • You need premium delivery.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want curated marketplace.
Caviar review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Caviar better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Caviar at $20/order, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Caviar?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Caviar at $20/order.
Does Aloha POS or Caviar run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Caviar 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.
What can Aloha POS do that Caviar cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control, Enterprise reporting. Caviar covers Premium delivery, Curated marketplace, Quality-focused, Analytics. Both handle Order management, 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
Caviar: What does Caviar charge for delivery?

A service fee of 18 percent is applied to each Caviar delivery order. The delivery fee ranges from $1.99 to $8.99 depending on distance and demand. Customers ordering for pickup pay no order minimums, service fee or delivery fee.

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
Caviar: Is Caviar available as a standalone service?

No. Caviar was acquired by DoorDash in October 2019 and now operates as part of the DoorDash platform. DoorDash members with DashPass enjoy waived delivery fees and reduced service charges on Caviar orders.

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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