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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Tock

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tock logo

Tock

Software

All-in-one reservation and events platform

From
$199/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; Tock tock To Go pickup/delivery takes a 3% cut of orders from restaurants, with the separate $5 to $10 delivery charge passed to the consumer, per a case study reproduced on the vendor's own site (Internet Archive capture, 25 December 2022)
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Order management, Tock covers Reservations.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aloha POS and Tock differ
AttributeAloha POSTock
Starting price$150/month$199/month
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19882014

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

  • Order management
  • Labor scheduling
  • Inventory control
  • Enterprise reporting
  • Loyalty programs
  • NCR Back Office
  • Third-party delivery
  • Accounting software

Only in Tock

  • Reservations
  • Prepaid bookings
  • Event ticketing
  • Experiences
  • CRM
  • Toast
  • Square
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • Table management
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Aloha POS

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Tock

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Tock

  • Tock To Go pickup/delivery takes a 3% cut of orders from restaurants, with the separate $5 to $10 delivery charge passed to the consumer, per a case study reproduced on the vendor's own site (Internet Archive capture, 25 December 2022)

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

Tock

$199/month
  • Basic$199/month
    • Reservations
    • Basic features
  • Plus$699/month
    • Events
    • Prepaid
    • Marketing
  • ProFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full features

Which should you pick?

Choose Aloha POS if

  • You need order management.
  • You work on Windows, Android.
  • You also want labor scheduling.
Aloha POS review

Choose Tock if

  • You need reservations.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want prepaid bookings.
Tock review

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Tock better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Tock at $199/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Tock?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Tock at $199/month.
Does Aloha POS or Tock run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Tock 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.
What can Aloha POS do that Tock cannot?
Aloha POS covers Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control, Enterprise reporting. Tock covers Reservations, Prepaid bookings, Event ticketing, Experiences. Both handle Table management, 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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