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Software · head to head

Aloha POS vs Yelp Reservations

Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Software

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Yelp Reservations logo

Yelp Reservations

Software

Reservations powered by Yelp

From
$99/month
Rated
-

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; Yelp Reservations basic Guest Manager plan caps at 500 covers per month; higher volume requires the Plus plan at $279/month (annual) or $349/month (monthly)
  • They diverge on capability: Aloha POS covers Table management, Yelp Reservations covers Online reservations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aloha POS and Yelp Reservations actually diverge.

Attributes where Aloha POS and Yelp Reservations differ
AttributeAloha POSYelp Reservations
Starting price$150/month$99/month
PlatformsWindows, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19882004

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 Yelp Reservations

  • Online reservations
  • Waitlist management
  • Table assignments
  • Yelp integration
  • Guest messaging
  • Analytics
  • Yelp
  • Toast

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 Yelp Reservations
  • Order Managementnot Yelp Reservations
  • Inventory Controlnot Yelp Reservations
  • Staff Schedulingnot Yelp Reservations

Yelp Reservations

  • Managing restaurant reservations, waitlists and AI phone call answeringnot 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

Yelp Reservations

  • Basic Guest Manager plan caps at 500 covers per month; higher volume requires the Plus plan at $279/month (annual) or $349/month (monthly)
  • Monthly billing costs more than annual billing at every tier, for example Basic Guest Manager is $159/month billed monthly versus $129/month billed annually

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

Yelp Reservations

$99/month
  • Basic$99/month
    • Reservations
    • Waitlist
  • Plus$299/month
    • Table management
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Aloha POS if

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

Choose Yelp Reservations if

  • You need online reservations.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want waitlist management.

Questions people ask

Is Aloha POS or Yelp Reservations better?
Neither clearly leads. Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Yelp Reservations at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aloha POS or Yelp Reservations?
Aloha POS starts at $150/month and Yelp Reservations at $99/month.
Does Aloha POS or Yelp Reservations run on more platforms?
Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android. Yelp Reservations 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 Yelp Reservations is typically brought in for.
What can Aloha POS do that Yelp Reservations cannot?
Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. Yelp Reservations covers Online reservations, Waitlist management, Table assignments, Yelp integration. 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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