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Food & Restaurant · head to head

Aloha POS vs Genbook

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Food & Restaurant

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Genbook logo

Genbook

Beauty & Salon

Online booking and business growth for salons

From
$29/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; Genbook limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Genbook covers Online booking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Genbook differ
AttributeAloha POSGenbook
Starting price$150/month$29/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Mobile
CategoryFood & RestaurantBeauty & Salon
Founded19882006

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Genbook

  • Online booking
  • Review collection
  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Reputation management
  • Calendar sync
  • Mobile apps

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 Genbook
  • Order Managementnot Genbook
  • Inventory Controlnot Genbook
  • Staff Schedulingnot Genbook

Genbook

  • Getting more clientsnot Aloha POS
  • Managing reviewsnot Aloha POS
  • Online bookingnot Aloha POS
  • Building reputationnot 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

Genbook

  • Limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users
  • Customer support responsiveness can be slow or unreliable
  • Limited flexibility in rebooking timeframes and appointment management
  • Competitors offer additional features like HIPAA-compliant SOAP notes at lower prices

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

Genbook

$29/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Genbook review.

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 Genbook if

  • You need online booking.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want review collection.
Genbook review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Genbook better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Genbook at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Genbook?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Genbook at $29/month.
Does Aloha POS or Genbook run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Genbook runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Genbook is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Genbook cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Genbook covers Online booking, Review collection, Client management, Payment processing. 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
Genbook: What does Genbook cost?

Genbook starts at $29 per month with different tiers available for businesses with varying needs.

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
Genbook: What support options are available?

Genbook offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, knowledge base, phone support, 24/7 live representative, and chat support.

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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