Software · head to head
OpenTable vs Aloha POS
OpenTable
Software
Restaurant reservation and management platform
- From
- $39/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: OpenTable openTable for Restaurants charges a subscription fee on top of per-cover network fees: Basic is $149/month with covers free for the first 30 days then $1.50 per network cover, Core is $299/month at $1 per network cover, and Pro is $499/month also at $1 per network cover, so cost scales with both plan tier and diner volume rather than a flat seat price (archived plans page, 5 November 2025); Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations
- They diverge on capability: OpenTable covers Online reservations, Aloha POS covers Order management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenTable and Aloha POS actually diverge.
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 OpenTable
- Online reservations
- Guest profiles
- Waitlist
- Marketing tools
- Reviews
- Toast
- Square
- Lightspeed
Only in Aloha POS
- Order management
- Labor scheduling
- Inventory control
- Enterprise reporting
- Loyalty programs
- NCR Back Office
- Third-party delivery
- Accounting software
Both cover
- Table management
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenTable
- 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.
OpenTable
- OpenTable for Restaurants charges a subscription fee on top of per-cover network fees: Basic is $149/month with covers free for the first 30 days then $1.50 per network cover, Core is $299/month at $1 per network cover, and Pro is $499/month also at $1 per network cover, so cost scales with both plan tier and diner volume rather than a flat seat price (archived plans page, 5 November 2025)
- On the Basic plan, reservations booked through the restaurant's own website are not free: they cost $0.25 per cover or a $49/month flat fee, a charge that is waived only on the higher Core and Pro tiers (archived plans page, 5 November 2025)
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
OpenTable
$39/month- Basic$39/month
- Reservations
- Table management
- Core$249/month
- Guest profiles
- Marketing
- Pro$449/month
- Full features
- Premium support
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 OpenTable if
- You need online reservations.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want guest profiles.
Choose Aloha POS if
- You need order management.
- You work on Windows, Android.
- You also want labor scheduling.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenTable or Aloha POS better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenTable starts at $39/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, OpenTable or Aloha POS?
- OpenTable starts at $39/month and Aloha POS at $150/month.
- Does OpenTable or Aloha POS run on more platforms?
- OpenTable runs on Web, Ios, Android. Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android.
- What is OpenTable best used for?
- OpenTable is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can OpenTable do that Aloha POS cannot?
- OpenTable covers Online reservations, Guest profiles, Waitlist, Marketing tools. Aloha POS covers Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control, Enterprise reporting. 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.
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.
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