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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs tl;dv

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
tl;dv logo

tl;dv

Software

AI meeting recorder with highlights

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only tl;dv 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; tl;dv free plan limited to basic recording and transcription without CRM features
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, tl;dv covers Auto-recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aloha POS and tl;dv actually diverge.

Attributes where Aloha POS and tl;dv differ
AttributeAloha POStl;dv
Starting price$150/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
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 tl;dv

  • Auto-recording
  • AI notes
  • Timestamps
  • Video clips
  • Zoom
  • Google Meet
  • Teams
  • Notion

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 tl;dv
  • Order Managementnot tl;dv
  • Inventory Controlnot tl;dv
  • Staff Schedulingnot tl;dv

tl;dv

  • ai tools managementnot Aloha POS
  • Workflow automationnot Aloha POS
  • Reportingnot 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

tl;dv

  • Free plan limited to basic recording and transcription without CRM features
  • Real-time transcription accuracy may vary across 30+ supported languages
  • Requires third-party app installation in Zoom/Google Meet/Teams

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

tl;dv

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the tl;dv review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Aloha POS if

  • You need table management.
  • You work on Windows, Android.
  • You also want order management.

Choose tl;dv if

  • You need auto-recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
  • You also want ai notes.

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or tl;dv better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and tl;dv at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or tl;dv?
tl;dv has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $150/month for Aloha POS and Free for tl;dv.
Does Aloha POS or tl;dv run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. tl;dv runs on Web, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
Can I use tl;dv for free?
Yes. tl;dv 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 tl;dv is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that tl;dv cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. tl;dv covers Auto-recording, AI notes, Timestamps, Video clips. 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
tl;dv: Does tl;dv support multiple meeting platforms?

Yes. tl;dv works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, with automatic recording and transcription.

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
tl;dv: Is there a free plan for tl;dv?

Yes. tl;dv offers a free-forever plan with unlimited recordings and transcriptions in 30+ languages.

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
tl;dv: What languages does tl;dv support for transcription?

tl;dv supports transcription and AI summaries in over 30 languages with real-time generation.

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
tl;dv: Does tl;dv integrate with CRM tools?

Yes. The Pro plan ($18/user/month) includes integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot, plus access to over 6,000 other tools.

Source

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