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.

Start My Setup Book a Call

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

86 $299/mo · no setup feeWISK AI $189–$499/mo · $299–$1,500 setup (tier-dependent)See full comparison

Pricing verified April 2026 · Per location, annual billing. Setup $299-$1,500 by tier. Invoice packs extra. · 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 WISK AI alternatives.

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

Quarterly billing adds 15-17% on top of monthly rates

Food inventory features less mature than beverage

Overkill for simple inventory needs

Higher price tiers can be prohibitive for independents

Learning curve for advanced features

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	WISK AI
Monthly Cost	$299	$189–$499/location
Setup Fee	$0 (included)	$299–$1,500 (tier-dependent)
Team Members Included	Unlimited	3 / 15 / unlimited (by tier)
Annual Cost (per location)	$2,988	$2,268 Essentials + $299 setup. $2,988 Professional + $750 setup. $5,988 Premium + $1,500 setup.

Core Features

Feature	86	WISK AI
Inventory Management
Photo-Based Inventory
AI Image Recognition
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Bridge Day Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Recipe Costing
Cost updates	Auto via invoices	Manual (beverage focus)
Beverage-Focused Features
Offline Mode

Mobile Experience

Feature	86	WISK AI
iOS App
Android App
Modern, Fast Interface		Good
Count speed (rough average)	~15 min per 100 items	Varies — slower without photos

Team Management

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

Simplicity & Learning

Feature	86	WISK AI
Who does the setup	AI does it for you	You configure (recipe setup on WISK takes 1–2 weeks of manual work)
Setup Time	Same day	1–2 weeks
Learning Curve	Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.	Days to weeks
Feature Complexity	Focused — no bloat	Advanced beverage features add complexity
In-app support	Human chat inside the app	Email / help desk
Best For	Independents (1–5 locations)	Beverage-specialized operations

Data & Migration

Feature	86	WISK AI
Free Data Import		Varies
Import Any Format	Paper, Excel, POS, CSV	Various formats

Counting· proven at Zaco’s Tacos

“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

How to switch from WISK AI.

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 from WISK AI (Settings → Data → Export 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 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. For bars that want straightforward counting plus invoices, ordering, and books in one tool — without WISK's $189–$499/month per-location pricing and setup fees — 86 is a simpler fit at $299/month flat.

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. WISK AI is $189–$499/mo plus $299–$1,500 setup (tier-dependent).