Food & Restaurant · head to head
Lavu vs Aloha POS
Aloha POS
Food & Restaurant
Industry-leading restaurant POS solution
- From
- $150/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Lavu iPad-only solution with no Android or Windows alternative; Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations
- They diverge on capability: Lavu covers iPad POS, Aloha POS covers Table management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lavu and Aloha POS actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Food & Restaurant).
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 Lavu
- iPad POS
- Split checks
- Tab management
- Happy hour pricing
- Inventory tracking
- Kitchen display
- QuickBooks
- Xero
Only in Aloha POS
- Table management
- Order management
- Labor scheduling
- Inventory control
- Enterprise reporting
- Loyalty programs
- NCR Back Office
- Third-party delivery
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lavu
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Aloha POS
- 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.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Lavu
$99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Lavu review.
Aloha POS
$150/month- Essentials$150/month
- POS
- Basic reporting
- Professional$250/month
- Advanced features
- Labor management
- EnterpriseFree
- Custom pricing
- Full suite
Which should you pick?
Choose Aloha POS if
- You need table management.
- You work on Windows, Android.
- You also want order management.
Questions people ask
- Is Lavu or Aloha POS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lavu starts at $99/month and Aloha POS at $150/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lavu or Aloha POS?
- Lavu starts at $99/month and Aloha POS at $150/month.
- Does Lavu or Aloha POS run on more platforms?
- Lavu runs on iPad. Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android.
- What is Lavu best used for?
- Lavu is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can Lavu do that Aloha POS cannot?
- Lavu covers iPad POS, Split checks, Tab management, Happy hour pricing. Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control.
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.
SourceAloha 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.
SourceLavu: 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.
SourceAloha 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.
SourceLavu: 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.
SourceAloha 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.
SourceAloha 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