Honest comparison
vs MarketMan
86 vs MarketMan — 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
Pricing verified April 2026 · Enterprise tier custom. Setup fee waived via promo at time of verification. · source
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.
Feature Breakdown
See exactly where 86 wins.
Pricing & Setup
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $299 | $199–$249 (Enterprise custom) |
| Setup Fee | $0 (included) | $0 (promo) / $1,500 standard |
| Team Members Included | Unlimited | Varies by plan |
| Annual Cost (Starter tier) | $2,988 | $2,388 (Starter $199 × 12). Growth tier $2,988/yr. Standard setup fee $1,500 normally. |
Core Features
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Counting | ||
| Photo-Based Inventory | ||
| Barcode Scanning | ||
| Vendor Management | ||
| Real-time Sync (No Refresh) | ||
| Holiday/Long Weekend Alerts | ||
| Alternative Vendor Suggestions | ||
| Recipe Costing | ||
| Price Tracking | ||
| Cost updates | Auto via invoices | Manual (no books flow) |
Mobile Experience
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| iOS App | ||
| Android App | ||
| Modern, Fast Interface | Average | |
| Offline Mode | Robust | Limited |
Team Management
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Text Reminders | Email only | |
| Manager Alerts (Missed Counts) | ||
| Push Notifications | ||
| Real-Time Team Progress |
Simplicity & Learning
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the setup | AI does it for you | You configure with training |
| Setup Time | Same day | 5 weeks |
| Learning Curve | Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go. | Weeks of training |
| Feature Bloat | Focused — no bloat | Many unused features |
| Works without POS | POS recommended | |
| In-app support | Human chat inside the app | Email / ticketing |
Data & Migration
| Feature | 86 | MarketMan |
|---|---|---|
| Free Data Import | ||
| Import Any Format | Paper, Excel, POS, CSV | Limited formats |
| Audit Trails |
Profitability· proven at Zaco’s Tacos
“At Zaco’s Tacos, I thought our loaded nachos were making money. They weren’t. We raised the price from $12.50 to $20, nobody complained, and we stopped losing margin.”
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
Independent restaurants — typically 1–5 locations — that want the whole back office handled in one tool, not just inventory.
Why choose MarketMan
- •Strong EDI vendor integrations
- •Comprehensive recipe costing engine
- •Theoretical food cost calculations
- •Automated low stock alerts
Best for
Mid-to-large operations with EDI vendor relationships and a dedicated back-office person.
Frequently asked questions.
How to switch from MarketMan.
Migration is included. Our AI sets up your account in minutes — most restaurants are counting and seeing real food costs the same day.
Export your inventory list from MarketMan (Settings → Data Export → Inventory Items)
Send the export file to [email protected]
Our AI sets up your 86 account with all your items in minutes — most restaurants are counting the same day
Keep MarketMan running during the transition — cancel when you're ready
Export Tip
In MarketMan, go to Settings → Data Export → select 'Inventory Items' → Export as CSV.
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.
Restaurant365
Where 86 fits
Independent operators (1–5 locations) who want the same visibility without the enterprise admin overhead.
MarginEdge
Where 86 fits
Independents (1–5 locations) who want invoices, counting, ordering, and books off their plate in the same login.
WISK AI
Where 86 fits
Independents (1–5 locations) that run food and beverage, and want the rest of the back office in the same tool.
Know the work is handled, even when you’re away from the restaurant.
- $299/mo
- Set up in minutes
- 30-day guarantee