2026 guide · by a restaurant owner

Looking for a
WISK AI 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 feeWISK AI $189–$499/mo · $299–$1,500 setup (tier-dependent)See full comparison

Pricing verified July 2026 · Per location. Setup $299–$1,500 by tier. Food inventory is a paid add-on. Quarterly billing available (~14–17% more than annual). · 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 WISK AI alternatives.

Setup fees and tier-based pricing per location ($189–$499/month + $299–$1,500 setup)

Food inventory is a paid add-on ($99–$199+/mo) on top of a Professional or Premium beverage plan

AI invoice scans are capped per tier (50–200/month); human-review packs cost extra

iOS only — no Android app (per their own help center)

Alerts are email-based — no text reminders, and missed counts rely on manual supervision

Higher price tiers can be prohibitive for independents

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 WISK AI does.

Pricing & Setup

  • Monthly Cost86: $299 flat per locationWISK AI: $189–$499/location (+ food add-on $99–$199+)
  • Setup Fee86: $0 (included)WISK AI: $299–$1,500 (tier-dependent)
  • Contract86: None — cancel online anytimeWISK AI: Quarterly or annual billing; 60-day money-back
  • Team Members Included86: UnlimitedWISK AI: 3 / 15 / unlimited (by tier)
  • Annual Cost (per location)86: $2,988WISK AI: $2,268 Essentials + $299 setup. $2,988 Professional + $750 setup. $5,988 Premium + $1,500 setup. Food add-on extra.

Core Features

  • Inventory Management86: YesWISK AI: Yes
  • Photo-Based Counting86: YesWISK AI: Yes
  • AI Image Recognition86: NoWISK AI: Yes
  • Daily Prep Lists for the Kitchen86: No more writing the whiteboard — closing counts set the list, cooks check it offWISK AI: No
  • Recipe Costing86: YesWISK AI: Yes
  • Cost updates86: Auto via invoices → recipes → booksWISK AI: Via invoices (AI scans capped per tier)
  • Invoice Scans Included86: No monthly capWISK AI: 50–200 AI scans/mo by tier; review packs extra
  • Books86: Bank + cards connected — auto-categorized, you review only what's leftWISK AI: Not listed on their site
  • Beverage-Focused Features86: NoWISK AI: Yes

Simplicity & Learning

  • Who does the setup86: Done for you — AI + a human at your fingertipsWISK AI: You configure (annual plans include a recipe data-entry service)
  • Setup Time86: Same dayWISK AI: Recipe setup alone saves '1–2 weeks of manual work' (their own estimate)
  • Learning Curve86: Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.WISK AI: Days to weeks
  • In-app support86: Human chat inside the appWISK AI: Email / help desk
  • Best For86: Independents (1–5 locations)WISK AI: Beverage-specialized operations

Mobile Experience

  • iOS App86: YesWISK AI: Yes
  • Android App86: YesWISK AI: iOS only
  • Offline Mode86: Tested in walk-ins — nothing gets lost. It just works.WISK AI: Yes

Team Management

  • Count Reminders by Text86: Text + push — 86 follows up so you don't have toWISK AI: Email alerts only
  • Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)86: YesWISK AI: No — manual 'Area Status' supervision
  • Push Notifications86: YesWISK AI: No

Data & Migration

  • Setup & Data Import Included86: Included — AI builds from photos, spreadsheets, exportsWISK AI: Recipe data-entry service on annual plans
Hector Bilbao
“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 — counting, proven at Zaco’s Tacos

How to switch from WISK AI.

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 from WISK AI (Settings → Data → Export 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 WISK AI running during transition — cancel when ready

Export tip

In WISK AI, go to Settings → Data Management → Export your item list as CSV.

Frequently asked questions.

AI recognition is impressive technology, but it adds cost and complexity. With 86, your team counts with photos and last-count context — roughly 15 minutes per 100 items, depending on inventory size, and no AI training required.
Yes. WISK specializes in bars, but 86 handles food and beverage together — no separate add-on. For bars that want straightforward counting plus invoices, ordering, and books in one tool, 86 is a simpler fit at $299/month flat with setup included.
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. WISK AI is $189–$499/mo plus $299–$1,500 setup (tier-dependent).

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 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 →

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