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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Make

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Make logo

Make

Software

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Make has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations; Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Make covers Visual workflow builder.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Make differ
AttributeAloha POSMake
Starting price$150/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb
Founded19882013

Identical on both: 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 Make

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • API connectors
  • Conditional logic
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration

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 Make
  • Order Managementnot Make
  • Inventory Controlnot Make
  • Staff Schedulingnot Make

Make

  • Automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applicationsnot Aloha POS
  • Building AI agents and workflow automation without extensive codingnot Aloha POS
  • Enterprise automation with GDPR, SOC 2 Type II compliancenot Aloha POS
  • Rapid deployment of automations from concept to livenot 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

Make

  • Free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • Free tier restricted to 2 active scenarios maximum
  • Free tier enforces 15-minute minimum scheduling interval
  • Credit-based model means costs scale with usage volume, not just features

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

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make 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 Make if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want webhooks.
Make review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Make better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Make at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Make?
Make has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $150/month for Aloha POS and Free for Make.
Does Aloha POS or Make run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Make runs on Web.
Can I use Make for free?
Yes. Make has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aloha POS starts at $150/month.
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 Make is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Make cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic. 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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