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.

Set Up Your RestaurantBook a Call
  • $299/mo
  • Setup included
  • 30-day guarantee
86 $299/mo · no setup feeRestaurant365 Custom quote (~$469–$749/mo per location) · implementation billed separately (~$3,000–$15,000+)See full comparison

Pricing verified July 2026 · Restaurant365 doesn't publish pricing; range is from Capterra and R365's own published cost comparisons. Custom quote required. · 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 Restaurant365 alternatives.

Custom quote only — no published pricing. Third-party sources report ~$469–$749/month per location, plus implementation typically $3,000–$15,000+.

Overkill for independent restaurants

Complex implementation requiring a dedicated administrator — 2–12 weeks depending on scope

Steep learning curve reported across review platforms

Mobile app bugs reported: crashes, slow performance after updates, broken group messaging

Recipe items only appear in variance review when prep logging is enabled — complicates inventory variance analysis (per their own docs)

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 Restaurant365 does.

Pricing & Setup

  • Monthly Cost86: $299 flat per locationRestaurant365: Custom quote (~$469–$749/location per third-party sources)
  • Setup Fee86: $0 (included)Restaurant365: Implementation ~$3,000–$15,000+ by scope
  • Contract86: None — cancel online anytimeRestaurant365: Annual billing cycle
  • Team Members Included86: UnlimitedRestaurant365: Unlimited
  • Annual Cost (per location)86: $2,988Restaurant365: ~$5,628–$8,988 subscription, plus implementation

Core Features

  • Inventory Management86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Photo-Based Counting86: YesRestaurant365: Not listed on their site
  • Daily Prep Lists for the Kitchen86: No more writing the whiteboard — closing counts set the list, cooks check it offRestaurant365: Prep Sheet — printable daily prep guide
  • Invoice Scanning86: No monthly capRestaurant365: Yes
  • Cost updates86: Auto via invoices → recipes → booksRestaurant365: Via accounting workflows
  • Books86: Bank + cards connected — auto-categorized, you review only what's leftRestaurant365: Full accounting suite
  • Payroll Management86: NoRestaurant365: Yes
  • Scheduling86: NoRestaurant365: Yes
  • Recipe Costing86: YesRestaurant365: Yes

Simplicity & Learning

  • Who does the setup86: Done for you — AI + a human at your fingertipsRestaurant365: You configure with an implementation team (dedicated admin expected)
  • Setup Time86: Same dayRestaurant365: 2–12 weeks depending on scope
  • Learning Curve86: Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.Restaurant365: Steep (review-sourced)
  • In-app support86: Human chat inside the appRestaurant365: Implementation manager + support tiers
  • Best For86: Independents (1–5 locations)Restaurant365: Enterprise restaurant groups

Mobile Experience

  • iOS App86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Android App86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Offline Mode86: Tested in walk-ins — nothing gets lost. It just works.Restaurant365: Not listed on their site; reviewers report crashes and loading hangs

Team Management

  • Count Reminders by Text86: Text + push before the countRestaurant365: Not offered — completion summary after the fact
  • Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)86: YesRestaurant365: No overdue-count reminder on their site
  • Push Notifications86: YesRestaurant365: Yes

Data & Migration

  • Free Data Import86: YesRestaurant365: Varies
Hector Bilbao
“At Zaco’s Tacos, I stopped chasing my bookkeeper for basic answers.”

Hector Bilbao · owner, Zaco’s Tacos · builder of 86 — books, proven at Zaco’s Tacos

How to switch from Restaurant365.

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 data from Restaurant365 (Reports → Inventory → Export)

  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 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. 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. Restaurant365 is Custom quote (~$469–$749/mo per location) plus implementation billed separately (~$3,000–$15,000+).

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 MarketMan

Independent restaurants — typically 1–5 locations — that want the whole back office handled in one tool, not just inventory.

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