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Aloha POS vs Pop

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pop logo

Pop

Software

Lightweight screen sharing and recording

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pop has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Pop covers Screen sharing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Pop differ
AttributeAloha POSPop
Starting price$150/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Chrome extension, Desktop
Founded19882020

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 Pop

  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Instant links
  • Minimal interface
  • Chat
  • Slack
  • Chrome extension support
  • Desktop support

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 Pop
  • Order Managementnot Pop
  • Inventory Controlnot Pop
  • Staff Schedulingnot Pop

Pop

  • Video Conferencingnot Aloha POS
  • Team Collaborationnot Aloha POS
  • Project Managementnot 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

Pop

Nothing recorded yet. See the Pop review.

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

Pop

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Instant sharing
    • Recording
    • Basic features
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support

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 Pop if

  • You need screen sharing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome extension, Desktop.
  • You also want recording.
Pop review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Pop better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Pop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Pop?
Pop has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $150/month for Aloha POS and Free for Pop.
Does Aloha POS or Pop run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Pop runs on Web, Chrome extension, Desktop.
Can I use Pop for free?
Yes. Pop 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 Pop is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Pop cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Pop covers Screen sharing, Recording, Instant links, Minimal interface. 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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Related pages

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