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Apicbase vs Lavu

Apicbase logo

Apicbase

Software

F&B management for multi-unit operations

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lavu logo

Lavu

Software

iPad POS for restaurants and bars

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apicbase the Growth plan starts from 5 outlets, so a single site or a pair of restaurants is below the entry point; Lavu iPad-only solution with no Android or Windows alternative
  • They diverge on capability: Apicbase covers Centralized recipes, Lavu covers iPad POS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apicbase and Lavu actually diverge.

Attributes where Apicbase and Lavu differ
AttributeApicbaseLavu
Starting price$200/month$99/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiPad
Founded20172010

Identical on both: 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 Apicbase

  • Centralized recipes
  • Inventory management
  • Procurement
  • Food cost analytics
  • Menu engineering
  • HACCP
  • POS systems
  • Accounting software

Only in Lavu

  • iPad POS
  • Split checks
  • Tab management
  • Happy hour pricing
  • Inventory tracking
  • Kitchen display
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Apicbase

  • Recipe and menu engineering with costed ingredientsnot Lavu
  • Food cost and margin tracking across outletsnot Lavu
  • Inventory and stock counts for multi-site restaurant groupsnot Lavu
  • Purchasing and supplier price managementnot Lavu
  • Allergen and nutrition data on menusnot Lavu

Lavu

  • Point of Salenot Apicbase
  • Order Managementnot Apicbase
  • Inventory Controlnot Apicbase
  • Staff Schedulingnot Apicbase

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apicbase

  • The Growth plan starts from 5 outlets, so a single site or a pair of restaurants is below the entry point
  • Priced per location, with the per-location fee falling only as outlet count rises
  • Monthly billing carries a 15 percent surcharge over annual
  • No prices are published for any tier

Lavu

  • iPad-only solution with no Android or Windows alternative
  • Hardware costs are significant with devices starting at $700
  • Limited offline functionality compared to some competitors

Pricing, plan by plan

Apicbase

$200/month
  • Standard$200/month
    • Recipe management
    • Inventory
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full features

Lavu

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Lavu review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Apicbase if

  • You need centralized recipes.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want inventory management.
Apicbase review

Choose Lavu if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want split checks.
Lavu review

Questions people ask

Is Apicbase or Lavu better?
Neither clearly leads. Apicbase starts at $200/month and Lavu at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apicbase or Lavu?
Apicbase starts at $200/month and Lavu at $99/month.
Does Apicbase or Lavu run on more platforms?
Apicbase runs on Web, Ios, Android. Lavu runs on iPad.
What is Apicbase best used for?
Apicbase is most often used for recipe and menu engineering with costed ingredients, food cost and margin tracking across outlets, inventory and stock counts for multi-site restaurant groups, purchasing and supplier price management. Of those, recipe and menu engineering with costed ingredients and food cost and margin tracking across outlets are not what Lavu is typically brought in for.
What can Apicbase do that Lavu cannot?
Apicbase covers Centralized recipes, Inventory management, Procurement, Food cost analytics. Lavu covers iPad POS, Split checks, Tab management, Happy hour pricing. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lavu: What devices does Lavu support?

Lavu is iPad-based and works with iPad Pro, Air, and Mini models. It is compatible with peripherals from Ingenico, Magtek, and supports various receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners.

Source
Lavu: Does Lavu offer financing for hardware?

Yes. Lavu offers 0% no-interest financing on hardware for 3-year contracts, and supports both 1-year and 3-year contract terms.

Source
Lavu: What is Lavu's pricing range?

Lavu monthly POS software costs range from $99 to $279 per month, with hardware starting at $700 and up to $1,500 for full systems.

Source
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Related pages

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