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Software · head to head

Sling vs TouchBistro

Sling logo

Sling

Software

Free employee scheduling software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TouchBistro logo

TouchBistro

Software

All-in-one POS built for restaurants

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Sling covers Employee scheduling, TouchBistro covers iPad POS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sling and TouchBistro actually diverge.

Attributes where Sling and TouchBistro differ
AttributeSlingTouchBistro
Starting priceFree$69/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiPad
Founded20152010

Identical on both: 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 TouchBistro

  • iPad POS
  • Table management
  • Menu management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Inventory tracking
  • Customer relationship management
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Both cover

  • Ios 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 TouchBistro
  • Tracking clock in and clock out and labour costnot TouchBistro
  • Messaging and announcements across a shift based teamnot TouchBistro

TouchBistro

  • 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

TouchBistro

  • Requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • Add-on pricing for features like online ordering, reservations, loyalty programs is not transparent and requires custom quotes
  • Limited to iPad hardware, reducing flexibility compared to multi-device systems like Lightspeed or Clover
  • Mandatory use of TouchBistro Payments for new customers reduces payment processor options

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

TouchBistro

$69/month

No published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.

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.
Sling review

Choose TouchBistro if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want table management.
TouchBistro review

Questions people ask

Is Sling or TouchBistro better?
Neither clearly leads. Sling starts at Free and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sling or TouchBistro?
Sling has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Sling and $69/month for TouchBistro.
Does Sling or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
Sling runs on Web, Ios, Android. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
Can I use Sling for free?
Yes. Sling has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TouchBistro starts at $69/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 TouchBistro is typically brought in for.
What can Sling do that TouchBistro cannot?
Sling covers Employee scheduling, Time tracking, Team messaging, Task management. TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

TouchBistro: Can TouchBistro process payments offline?

Yes. TouchBistro has offline payment capabilities where you can accept payments and store credit card information when offline, with transactions processing once Internet is restored. However, you cannot dip or tap the card in offline mode; you must swipe instead.

Source
TouchBistro: Can I integrate TouchBistro with DoorDash or Uber Eats?

Yes. TouchBistro integrates with delivery platforms through Deliverect and UrbanPiper, which aggregate orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other services directly into your TouchBistro POS, eliminating manual order entry.

Source
TouchBistro: What are the minimum hardware requirements for TouchBistro?

TouchBistro runs on Apple iPads and works with compatible printers, cash drawers, and payment terminals. The system leverages iPad hardware you may already own, potentially reducing initial hardware costs compared to dedicated POS systems.

Source
TouchBistro: Do I have to sign a long-term contract with TouchBistro?

Yes. All TouchBistro plans require annual contracts, and the system requires TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase) for payment processing on all new customer accounts.

Source
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Related pages

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