Honest comparison

vs Restaurant365

86 vs Restaurant365 — 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 feeRestaurant365 Custom quote (~$369–$635/mo per location)See feature breakdown

Pricing verified April 2026 · Restaurant365 doesn't publish pricing; range is from Capterra / SelectHub / SaaSworthy aggregators. Custom quote required. · source

86 mobile app — staff counting inventory with photos and last counts

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
vs
Restaurant365
You configure + training (dedicated admin expected)
Time to go live
Same day
vs
Restaurant365
4–8 weeks (often longer)
Team members
Unlimited
vs
Restaurant365
Unlimited
Cost updates
Auto via invoices
vs
Restaurant365
Via accounting (separate workflow)

Feature Breakdown

See exactly where 86 wins.

Pricing & Setup

Feature86
Restaurant365
Monthly Cost$299Custom quote (~$369–$635/location per review sites)
Setup Fee$0 (FREE)Varies
Team Members IncludedUnlimitedUnlimited
Annual Cost (per location)$2,988~$4,428–7,620 (per review-site estimates; R365 is custom quote only)

Core Features

Feature86
Restaurant365
Inventory Management
Photo-Based Inventory
Real-time Sync (No Refresh)
Holiday/Bridge Day Alerts
Alternative Vendor Suggestions
Accounting Integration
Payroll Management
Scheduling
Recipe Costing
Cost updatesAuto via invoicesVia accounting (separate workflow)

Mobile Experience

Feature86
Restaurant365
iOS App
Android App
Modern, Fast Interface
Average
Offline ModeRobustUnreliable
Count speed (rough average)~15 min per 100 itemsSlower — more taps per item

Team Management

Feature86
Restaurant365
SMS Text Reminders
Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)
Push Notifications

Simplicity & Learning

Feature86
Restaurant365
Who does the setupAI does it for youYou configure + training (dedicated admin expected)
Setup TimeSame day4–8 weeks (often longer)
Learning CurveCounting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.Weeks to months
Feature ComplexityFocused — no bloatVery complex
In-app supportHuman chat inside the appImplementation manager + support tiers
Best ForIndependents (1–5 locations)Enterprise restaurant groups

Data & Migration

Feature86
Restaurant365
Free Data Import
Varies
Import Any FormatPaper, Excel, POS, CSVLimited formats

Books· proven at Zaco’s Tacos

At Zaco’s Tacos, I stopped chasing my bookkeeper for basic answers.

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 operators (1–5 locations) who want the same visibility without the enterprise admin overhead.

Why choose Restaurant365

  • Complete restaurant management suite
  • Integrated accounting, payroll, and scheduling
  • Robust reporting and analytics
  • Multi-location management

Best for

Enterprise restaurant groups with a dedicated administrator and many locations.

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. 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. Restaurant365 is Custom quote (~$369–$635/mo per location).

How to switch from Restaurant365.

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 data from Restaurant365 (Reports → Inventory → Export)

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 Restaurant365 running during transition — cancel when ready

Export Tip

In Restaurant365, navigate to Reports → Inventory Reports → select your items → Export to CSV or Excel.

Know the work is handled, even when you’re away from the restaurant.

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