Softwr

Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Jolt

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jolt logo

Jolt

Software

Operations execution platform

From
$69/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; Jolt jolt.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to smartsense.co/request-a-quote; Jolt is sold under SmartSense
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Jolt covers Digital checklists.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Jolt differ
AttributeAloha POSJolt
Starting price$150/month$69/month
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19882012

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 Jolt

  • Digital checklists
  • Temperature logging
  • Food labeling
  • Employee accountability
  • Time clock
  • Training
  • POS systems
  • HR software

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 Jolt
  • Order Managementnot Jolt
  • Inventory Controlnot Jolt
  • Staff Schedulingnot Jolt

Jolt

  • Digital checklists and task management for restaurant and retail shift worknot Aloha POS
  • Food safety labelling and temperature loggingnot Aloha POS
  • Employee scheduling and shift accountability for hourly teamsnot 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

Jolt

  • jolt.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to smartsense.co/request-a-quote; Jolt is sold under SmartSense
  • Pricing is by quote only, with no published rate, no minimum and no named cost driver on the vendor site

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

Jolt

$69/month
  • Basic$69/month
    • Checklists
    • Temperature logs
  • Standard$129/month
    • Food safety
    • Employee management
  • Premium$229/month
    • Full features
    • Analytics

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 Jolt if

  • You need digital checklists.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want temperature logging.
Jolt review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Jolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Jolt at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Jolt?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Jolt at $69/month.
Does Aloha POS or Jolt run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Jolt 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 Jolt is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Jolt cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Jolt covers Digital checklists, Temperature logging, Food labeling, Employee accountability. 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Aloha POS

More on Jolt

Keep looking

Other head to heads