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Food & Restaurant · head to head

Revel Systems vs Aloha POS

Revel Systems logo

Revel Systems

Food & Restaurant

Cloud-based iPad POS for enterprise

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aloha POS logo

Aloha POS

Food & Restaurant

Industry-leading restaurant POS solution

From
$150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Revel Systems requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel; Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations
  • They diverge on capability: Revel Systems covers iPad POS, Aloha POS covers Table management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Revel Systems and Aloha POS actually diverge.

Attributes where Revel Systems and Aloha POS differ
AttributeRevel SystemsAloha POS
Starting price$99/month$150/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiPad, WebWindows, Android
Founded20101988

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 Revel Systems

  • iPad POS
  • Inventory management
  • CRM
  • Employee management
  • Delivery management
  • Multi-location management
  • 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.

Revel Systems

  • 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.

Revel Systems

  • Requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel
  • System crashes and glitches frequently, especially at high transaction volumes
  • Mandatory payment processing through Revel's Advantage processor with external processors heavily penalized
  • Customer support quality is poor with Level 1 support described as ineffective
  • Expensive upfront costs and numerous hidden fees for add-on features

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

Revel Systems

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Revel Systems 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 Revel Systems if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel Systems review

Choose Aloha POS if

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

Questions people ask

Is Revel Systems or Aloha POS better?
Neither clearly leads. Revel Systems 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, Revel Systems or Aloha POS?
Revel Systems starts at $99/month and Aloha POS at $150/month.
Does Revel Systems or Aloha POS run on more platforms?
Revel Systems runs on iPad, Web. Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android.
What is Revel Systems best used for?
Revel Systems is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
What can Revel Systems do that Aloha POS cannot?
Revel Systems covers iPad POS, Inventory management, CRM, Employee management. Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Revel Systems: What does Revel Systems cost?

Revel pricing starts around $99 per month per terminal with a minimum 3-year contract requirement. Customers also pay for additional features like reporting, workforce management, integrations, and Advantage payment processing which is typically mandatory.

Source
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
Revel Systems: How long does implementation take?

Revel implementation typically takes 2-4 weeks, including hardware setup, menu configuration, staff training, and system integration.

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
Revel Systems: What integrations does Revel support?

Revel integrates with multiple payment processors through Stripe and Square connectors, plus accounting, payroll, and ecommerce solutions. Payment gateways vary by region.

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
Revel Systems: What are Revel's contract terms?

Revel requires a minimum 3-year contract with high early termination fees. Use of Revel's Advantage payment processing is typically mandatory, and using outside processors is heavily penalized or not allowed.

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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