Honest comparison

vs Lightspeed

86 vs Lightspeed — which one actually gets work off your plate?

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 feeLightspeed $69–$399/moSee feature breakdown

Pricing verified April 2026 · Starter tier requires inventory add-on. Payment processing extra. Enterprise custom. · 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.

Where 86 actually differs.

Not a price fight. A different approach to getting the work done.

Who sets it up

AI does it for you

Lightspeed

You configure (POS + inventory separate configs)

Time to go live

Same day

Lightspeed

2–4 weeks

Team members

Unlimited

Lightspeed

Varies by plan

Cost updates

Auto via invoices

Lightspeed

Manual (via POS exports)

Feature Breakdown

See exactly where 86 wins.

Pricing & Setup

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Monthly Cost	$299	$69–$399
Setup Fee	$0 (FREE)	$0
Team Members Included	Unlimited	Varies by plan
Annual Cost (Essential tier)	$2,988	$2,268 Essential (inventory included). $4,788 Premium. Starter $828 + inventory add-on. Payment processing extra.

Core Features

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Inventory Management
Photo-Based Inventory
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Bridge Day Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Recipe Costing
Cost updates	Auto via invoices	Manual (via POS exports)
POS System Included
Low Stock Alerts
Automated Ordering

Mobile Experience

Feature	86	Lightspeed
iOS App
Android App		Limited
Modern, Fast Interface		Good
Count speed (rough average)	~15 min per 100 items	Slower — more taps per item

Team Management

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

Simplicity & Learning

Feature	86	Lightspeed
Who does the setup	AI does it for you	You configure (POS + inventory separate configs)
Setup Time	Same day	2–4 weeks
Learning Curve	Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.	Weeks
Feature Focus	Counting, ordering, invoices, and books	POS + inventory
Works without POS		Inventory requires POS
In-app support	Human chat inside the app	Tiered support plans

Data & Migration

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

Honest assessment.

Not a price fight. A different approach to how the work gets done.

Why choose 86

The AI does the setup for you. Send us shelf photos, spreadsheets, POS exports — anything. Our AI builds your account in minutes, and most restaurants are counting the same day.
Your team counts without you. Text reminders, live progress, and a notification when the count is done. 86 follows up so you don’t have to.
Costs stay current, automatically. Scan an invoice — item costs, recipes, and your books update in the background. You review what matters.
One tool, one login. Counting, ordering, invoices, and your books — no tool patchwork, no per-user fees, no contract.
Human support inside the app. Chat lives where the work lives, and a real person answers.

Where 86 fits

Independents (1–5 locations) who already have a POS and want the rest of the back office handled.

Why choose Lightspeed

•Comprehensive POS integration
•Real-time inventory tracking with low-stock alerts
•Strong analytics and reporting
•Recipe costing and margin tracking

Best for

Restaurants that need POS + basic inventory in one system.

Frequently asked questions.

No. Lightspeed bundles inventory with their POS, but if you already have a POS (or don't need one), you're paying for features you won't use. 86 is a standalone inventory tool that works with any setup.

Yes! 86 is POS-independent. Keep your current POS for orders and payments, and use 86 for fast, simple inventory counts. No integration required.

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. Lightspeed is $69–$399/mo.