2026 guide · by a restaurant owner

Looking for a
Lightspeed alternative?

Your team counts without you. You order without guessing, from anywhere. Every invoice keeps your costs current.

Know the work is handled, even when you’re away from the restaurant.

$299/mo
·
Set up in minutes
·
30-day guarantee

86 $299/mo · no setup feeLightspeed $69–$399/moSee full comparison

Pricing verified April 2026 · Starter tier requires inventory add-on. Payment processing extra. Enterprise custom. · source

86 mobile app — staff counting inventory with photos and last counts

86 web dashboard — order from anywhere with forecasts and vendor-by-vendor totals

86 mobile app — team counting without the owner

Your data can be a mess.
We can work with that.

Most inventory apps take weeks to set up — and you still have to learn the software yourself. 86 is different: the AI does your setup, and the app is so intuitive you learn as you go. You’re counting and seeing your real food cost the same day you sign up.

You send us

Shelf photos
Paper lists
Spreadsheets
Invoices
POS exports
Exports from your current system

We handle

Organize your inventory
Set up your vendors
Import everything you send us
Migrate from your current system
Build your account so your first login feels like your restaurant

Our AI sets up your account in minutes — most restaurants are counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

And if you’d rather have a hand, a real person is one tap away — chat or a call, right inside the app. The AI does the heavy lifting; we’re here whenever you want us.

We use AI where it’s reliable — setup, invoices, and your numbers. Your team still does the counting, because that’s where precision matters and it’s the one thing AI can’t do accurately yet.

Why Restaurants Are Switching

Common reasons restaurants look for Lightspeed alternatives.

Premium plan at $399/month

POS system adds additional costs

Can't add new products on-the-fly from POS terminal

Inventory module requires back-office server login for changes

Steeper learning curve - weeks of training

K-Series mobile app rated 2.8/5 on App Store

What to Look for in an Alternative

💰

Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees, no per-user charges, no surprise setup costs. Know exactly what you'll pay.

⚡

Fast Setup

Your team should be counting inventory this week, not waiting weeks for implementation.

📱

Team Simplicity

If your staff can use a phone, they should be able to use the inventory app. No weeks of training.

Feature Breakdown

See exactly where 86 wins.

Pricing & Setup

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Monthly Cost	$299	$69–$399
Setup Fee	$0 (FREE)	$0
Team Members Included	Unlimited	Varies by plan
Annual Cost (Essential tier)	$2,988	$2,268 Essential (inventory included). $4,788 Premium. Starter $828 + inventory add-on. Payment processing extra.

Core Features

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Inventory Management
Photo-Based Inventory
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Bridge Day Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Recipe Costing
Cost updates	Auto via invoices	Manual (via POS exports)
POS System Included
Low Stock Alerts
Automated Ordering

Mobile Experience

Feature	86	Lightspeed
iOS App
Android App		Limited
Modern, Fast Interface		Good
Count speed (rough average)	~15 min per 100 items	Slower — more taps per item

Team Management

Feature	86	Lightspeed
SMS Text Reminders
Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)
Push Notifications		Limited

Simplicity & Learning

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Who does the setup	AI does it for you	You configure (POS + inventory separate configs)
Setup Time	Same day	2–4 weeks
Learning Curve	Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.	Weeks
Feature Focus	Counting, ordering, invoices, and books	POS + inventory
Works without POS		Inventory requires POS
In-app support	Human chat inside the app	Tiered support plans

Data & Migration

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Free Data Import		Varies
Import Any Format	Paper, Excel, POS, CSV	Limited formats

Counting· proven at Zaco’s Tacos

“At Zaco’s Tacos, my bartender counted 200 items in 40 minutes on his first try.”

Hector Bilbao · owner, Zaco’s Tacos · builder of 86

How to switch from Lightspeed.

Migration is included. Our AI sets up your account in minutes — most restaurants are counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

Step 1

Export your inventory from Lightspeed (Inventory → Products → Export)

Step 2

Send the export file to [email protected]

Step 3

Our AI sets up your 86 account with all your items in minutes — most restaurants are counting the same day

Step 4

Keep Lightspeed running during transition — cancel when ready

Export Tip

In Lightspeed, go to Inventory → Products → use the Export button to download as CSV.

Frequently asked questions.

No. Lightspeed bundles inventory with their POS, but if you already have a POS (or don't need one), you're paying for features you won't use. 86 is a standalone inventory tool that works with any setup.

Yes! 86 is POS-independent. Keep your current POS for orders and payments, and use 86 for fast, simple inventory counts. No integration required.

Yes. You send us whatever you have — shelf photos, paper lists, spreadsheets, invoices, POS exports, or exports from your current system — and our AI sets up your account for you in minutes. Most restaurants are counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

Our AI handles the data import, vendor setup, and account build in minutes, so your first login looks like your restaurant, not a blank account. Most restaurants are counting the same day.

No. We import your existing inventory data as part of setup, and you can keep your old system running during the transition if you want.

86 follows up so you don't have to. The app is simple for your team to use, 86 sends text reminders (not email), you can watch progress live, and you'll know when the count is done. No long training required.

86 is $299/month with setup included and unlimited team members, and it covers counting, ordering, invoices, and your books in one tool. Lightspeed is $69–$399/mo.