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.

Set Up Your RestaurantBook a Call
  • $299/mo
  • Setup included
  • 30-day guarantee
86 $299/mo · no setup feeMarketMan $199–$249/mo · $0 setup (promo) / $1,500 standardSee full comparison

Pricing verified July 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

Drop in the mess. Start with a working account.

No forms, no data entry, no blank account to fill in. 86 reads whatever you’ve got — and builds your account in minutes.

Whatever you have

  • Shelf photos
  • Invoices
  • Spreadsheets
  • Handwritten counts
  • POS exports
86 builds it
86 inventory after setup — items with photos, categories, stock levels, pars and status, all organized

Items, vendors, and the link between them — even migrated from your old system — built and ready when you first log in.

Want a hand? We’ll set it up with you — even moving everything over from your current system. Chat or a call, right in the app. No fee, no pitch.

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)

12-month minimum commitment with a 60-day cancellation notice

Vendor quotes 2–4 weeks of implementation for a single location — users report 6–12 weeks in practice

Steep learning curve requiring real training time

Overwhelming feature set for simple needs

Offline mode unreliable in walk-in coolers (review-sourced)

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 — and where MarketMan does.

Pricing & Setup

  • Monthly Cost86: $299 flat per locationMarketMan: $199–$249 (Enterprise custom)
  • Setup Fee86: $0 (included)MarketMan: $0 (promo) / $1,500 standard
  • Contract86: None — cancel online anytimeMarketMan: 12-month minimum, 60-day cancellation notice
  • Team Members Included86: UnlimitedMarketMan: Varies by plan
  • Annual Cost (Starter tier)86: $2,988MarketMan: $2,388 (Starter) – $2,988 (Growth), plus $1,500 setup when the promo lapses

Core Features

  • Inventory Counting86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Photo-Based Counting86: YesMarketMan: Not listed on their site
  • Barcode Scanning86: NoMarketMan: Yes
  • Daily Prep Lists for the Kitchen86: No more writing the whiteboard — closing counts set the list, cooks check it offMarketMan: Not listed on their site
  • Vendor Management86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Recipe Costing86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Cost updates86: Auto via invoices → recipes → booksMarketMan: Via invoice scans (50/mo on Starter)
  • Invoice Scans Included86: No monthly capMarketMan: 50/mo on Starter; paid add-on beyond
  • Price Tracking86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Books86: Bank + cards connected — auto-categorized, you review only what's leftMarketMan: Via accounting integrations
  • Ordering86: Forecast + suggested quantities — you place the orderMarketMan: Purchasing + EDI ordering (AI ordering is an add-on)

Simplicity & Learning

  • Who does the setup86: Done for you — AI + a human at your fingertipsMarketMan: You configure, with training
  • Setup Time86: Same dayMarketMan: 2–4 weeks quoted; users report 6–12
  • Learning Curve86: Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.MarketMan: Steep at first (review-sourced)
  • Works without POS86: YesMarketMan: POS recommended
  • In-app support86: Human chat inside the appMarketMan: Ticketing; critical-bug fixes reported at 3–7 days

Mobile Experience

  • iOS App86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Android App86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Offline Mode86: Tested in walk-ins — nothing gets lost. It just works.MarketMan: Limited — reviewers report failures in walk-ins

Team Management

  • Count Reminders by Text86: Text + push — 86 follows up so you don't have toMarketMan: Not listed on their site (stock alerts are SMS/email)
  • Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)86: YesMarketMan: Not listed on their site
  • Push Notifications86: YesMarketMan: Yes
  • Real-Time Team Progress86: YesMarketMan: Yes

Data & Migration

  • Setup & Data Import Included86: Included — AI builds from photos, spreadsheets, exportsMarketMan: $1,500 standard setup; Enhanced Onboarding is a paid add-on
  • Audit Trails86: YesMarketMan: Yes
Hector Bilbao
“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 — profitability, proven at Zaco’s Tacos

How to switch from MarketMan.

Migration is included. Our AI sets up your account in minutes — you can be counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

  1. Step 1

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

  2. Step 2

    Send the export file to [email protected]

  3. Step 3

    Our AI sets up your 86 account with all your items in minutes — you can be counting the same day

  4. 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 quotes 2–4 weeks of implementation for a single location, and users report 6–12 weeks once recipes, data migration, and training are counted. With 86 you drop in what you have — shelf photos, spreadsheets, POS exports — and our AI builds your account for you in minutes. You can be 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. You can be 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. You can be 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.

Have more questions? Email Hector

See where each tool fits.

Not every tool is the same kind of tool. Here’s where 86 fits against a few other options independents consider.

86 vs Restaurant365

Independent operators (1–5 locations) who want the same visibility without the enterprise admin overhead.

Full comparison →86 vs MarginEdge

Independents (1–5 locations) who want invoices, counting, ordering, and books off their plate in the same login.

Full comparison →86 vs WISK AI

Independents (1–5 locations) that run food and beverage, and want the rest of the back office in the same tool.

Full comparison →

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

Set Up Your RestaurantTry a Sample RestaurantBook a Call
  • $299/mo
  • Setup included
  • 30-day guarantee