2026 guide · by a restaurant owner

Looking for a
MarketMan 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.

Start My Setup Book a Call

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

86 $299/mo · no setup feeMarketMan $199–$249/mo · $0 setup (promo) / $1,500 standardSee full comparison

Pricing verified April 2026 · Enterprise tier custom. Setup fee waived via promo at time of verification. · 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 MarketMan alternatives.

Published pricing $199–$249/month; standard setup fee $1,500 (promo-waived at time of verification)

5-week implementation process typical

Complex for small independent restaurants

Overwhelming feature set for simple needs

Steep learning curve requiring weeks of training

Offline mode unreliable in walk-in coolers (poor connectivity)

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	MarketMan
Monthly Cost	$299	$199–$249 (Enterprise custom)
Setup Fee	$0 (included)	$0 (promo) / $1,500 standard
Team Members Included	Unlimited	Varies by plan
Annual Cost (Starter tier)	$2,988	$2,388 (Starter $199 × 12). Growth tier $2,988/yr. Standard setup fee $1,500 normally.

Core Features

Feature	86	MarketMan
Inventory Counting
Photo-Based Inventory
Barcode Scanning
Vendor Management
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Long Weekend Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Recipe Costing
Price Tracking
Cost updates	Auto via invoices	Manual (no books flow)

Mobile Experience

Feature	86	MarketMan
iOS App
Android App
Modern, Fast Interface		Average
Offline Mode	Robust	Limited

Team Management

Feature	86	MarketMan
SMS Text Reminders		Email only
Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)
Push Notifications
Real-Time Team Progress

Simplicity & Learning

Feature	86	MarketMan
Who does the setup	AI does it for you	You configure with training
Setup Time	Same day	5 weeks
Learning Curve	Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.	Weeks of training
Feature Bloat	Focused — no bloat	Many unused features
Works without POS		POS recommended
In-app support	Human chat inside the app	Email / ticketing

Data & Migration

Feature	86	MarketMan
Free Data Import
Import Any Format	Paper, Excel, POS, CSV	Limited formats
Audit Trails

Profitability· proven at Zaco’s Tacos

“At Zaco’s Tacos, I thought our loaded nachos were making money. They weren’t. We raised the price from $12.50 to $20, nobody complained, and we stopped losing margin.”

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

How to switch from MarketMan.

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 list from MarketMan (Settings → Data Export → Inventory Items)

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 MarketMan running during the transition — cancel when you're ready

Export Tip

In MarketMan, go to Settings → Data Export → select 'Inventory Items' → Export as CSV.

Frequently asked questions.

No. EDI integrations are great for large operations with automated purchasing, but most independent restaurants don't need them. 86 focuses on what actually matters: fast, accurate inventory counts your team will do consistently.

MarketMan requires a lengthy implementation because of its complexity. With 86 you send us what you have — shelf photos, spreadsheets, POS exports — and our AI builds your account for you in minutes. Most restaurants are counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

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. MarketMan is $199–$249/mo plus $0 setup (promo) / $1,500 standard.