2026 guide · by a restaurant owner

Looking for a
Restaurant365 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 feeRestaurant365 Custom quote (~$369–$635/mo per location)See full comparison

Pricing verified April 2026 · Restaurant365 doesn't publish pricing; range is from Capterra / SelectHub / SaaSworthy aggregators. Custom quote required. · 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 Restaurant365 alternatives.

Custom quote only — no published pricing. Third-party review sites report $369–$635/month per location.

Overkill for independent restaurants

Complex implementation requiring dedicated administrator

Weeks to months of training required

Mobile app bugs: infinite loading screens, broken messaging

Inventory variance tracking issues with recipe breakdowns

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	Restaurant365
Monthly Cost	$299	Custom quote (~$369–$635/location per review sites)
Setup Fee	$0 (FREE)	Varies
Team Members Included	Unlimited	Unlimited
Annual Cost (per location)	$2,988	~$4,428–7,620 (per review-site estimates; R365 is custom quote only)

Core Features

Feature	86	Restaurant365
Inventory Management
Photo-Based Inventory
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Bridge Day Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Accounting Integration
Payroll Management
Scheduling
Recipe Costing
Cost updates	Auto via invoices	Via accounting (separate workflow)

Mobile Experience

Feature	86	Restaurant365
iOS App
Android App
Modern, Fast Interface		Average
Offline Mode	Robust	Unreliable
Count speed (rough average)	~15 min per 100 items	Slower — more taps per item

Team Management

Feature	86	Restaurant365
SMS Text Reminders
Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)
Push Notifications

Simplicity & Learning

Feature	86	Restaurant365
Who does the setup	AI does it for you	You configure + training (dedicated admin expected)
Setup Time	Same day	4–8 weeks (often longer)
Learning Curve	Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.	Weeks to months
Feature Complexity	Focused — no bloat	Very complex
In-app support	Human chat inside the app	Implementation manager + support tiers
Best For	Independents (1–5 locations)	Enterprise restaurant groups

Data & Migration

Feature	86	Restaurant365
Free Data Import		Varies
Import Any Format	Paper, Excel, POS, CSV	Limited formats

Books· proven at Zaco’s Tacos

“At Zaco’s Tacos, I stopped chasing my bookkeeper for basic answers.”

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

How to switch from Restaurant365.

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 data from Restaurant365 (Reports → Inventory → 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 Restaurant365 running during transition — cancel when ready

Export Tip

In Restaurant365, navigate to Reports → Inventory Reports → select your items → Export to CSV or Excel.

Frequently asked questions.

No. Restaurant365 bundles inventory with accounting, payroll, and scheduling for enterprise groups with a dedicated admin. If you're an independent owner (1–5 locations), 86 takes counting, ordering, invoices, and your books off your plate without that overhead — $299/month, unlimited team members.

Absolutely. Restaurant365 is built for enterprise restaurant groups with complex financial needs. If you're an independent restaurant, bar, or cafe, 86 gives you everything you need at a fraction of the cost.

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. Restaurant365 is Custom quote (~$369–$635/mo per location).