Software · head to head
Sling vs Aloha POS
The short version
- Only Sling has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Sling the free plan is limited to 30 users; Aloha POS high upfront hardware costs ($1,000+ per terminal) make it expensive to deploy across multiple locations
- They diverge on capability: Sling covers Employee scheduling, Aloha POS covers Table management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sling and Aloha POS actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Sling
- Employee scheduling
- Time tracking
- Team messaging
- Task management
- Shift swapping
- Labor cost tracking
- Toast
- Square
Only in Aloha POS
- Table management
- Order management
- Labor scheduling
- Inventory control
- Enterprise reporting
- Loyalty programs
- NCR Back Office
- Third-party delivery
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sling
- Building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staffnot Aloha POS
- Tracking clock in and clock out and labour costnot Aloha POS
- Messaging and announcements across a shift based teamnot Aloha POS
Aloha POS
- Point of Salenot Sling
- Order Managementnot Sling
- Inventory Controlnot Sling
- Staff Schedulingnot Sling
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Sling
- The free plan is limited to 30 users
- Time tracking on mobile, labour cost tracking and overtime analysis require the Premium plan
- Kiosk time clock, hours and wages reporting, no show tracking, sick leave and PTO tracking require the Business plan
- The lowest advertised per user rates of $1.70 and $3.40 require annual billing
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
Sling
Free- FreeFree
- Scheduling
- Messaging
- Basic features
- Premium$2/user/month
- Time tracking
- Overtime alerts
- Business$4/user/month
- Labor costs
- Reporting
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 Sling if
- You need employee scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want time tracking.
Choose Aloha POS if
- You need table management.
- You work on Windows, Android.
- You also want order management.
Questions people ask
- Is Sling or Aloha POS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sling starts at Free and Aloha POS at $150/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sling or Aloha POS?
- Sling has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Sling and $150/month for Aloha POS.
- Does Sling or Aloha POS run on more platforms?
- Sling runs on Web, Ios, Android. Aloha POS runs on Windows, Android.
- Can I use Sling for free?
- Yes. Sling has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aloha POS starts at $150/month.
- What is Sling best used for?
- Sling is most often used for building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staff, tracking clock in and clock out and labour cost, messaging and announcements across a shift based team. Of those, building and publishing shift schedules for hourly staff and tracking clock in and clock out and labour cost are not what Aloha POS is typically brought in for.
- What can Sling do that Aloha POS cannot?
- Sling covers Employee scheduling, Time tracking, Team messaging, Task management. Aloha POS covers Table management, Order management, Labor scheduling, Inventory control. 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.
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