Honest comparison
86 vs Restaurant365 — which one actually gets work off your plate?
Know the work is handled, even when you’re away from the restaurant.
Pricing verified April 2026 · Restaurant365 doesn't publish pricing; range is from Capterra / SelectHub / SaaSworthy aggregators. Custom quote required. · source



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
We handle
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.
Not a price fight. A different approach to getting the work done.
See exactly where 86 wins.
| Feature | 86 | Restaurant365 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $299 | Custom quote (~$369–$635/location per review sites) |
| Setup Fee | $0 (FREE) | Varies |
| Team Members Included | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Annual Cost (per location) | $2,988 | ~$4,428–7,620 (per review-site estimates; R365 is custom quote only) |
| Feature | 86 | 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 updates | Auto via invoices | Via accounting (separate workflow) |
| Feature | 86 | Restaurant365 |
|---|---|---|
| iOS App | ||
| Android App | ||
| Modern, Fast Interface | Average | |
| Offline Mode | Robust | Unreliable |
| Count speed (rough average) | ~15 min per 100 items | Slower — more taps per item |
| Feature | 86 | Restaurant365 |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Text Reminders | ||
| Manager Alerts (Missed Counts) | ||
| Push Notifications |
| Feature | 86 | Restaurant365 |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the setup | AI does it for you | You configure + training (dedicated admin expected) |
| Setup Time | Same day | 4–8 weeks (often longer) |
| Learning Curve | Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go. | Weeks to months |
| Feature Complexity | Focused — no bloat | Very complex |
| In-app support | Human chat inside the app | Implementation manager + support tiers |
| Best For | Independents (1–5 locations) | Enterprise restaurant groups |
| Feature | 86 | Restaurant365 |
|---|---|---|
| Free Data Import | Varies | |
| Import Any Format | Paper, Excel, POS, CSV | Limited 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
Not a price fight. A different approach to how the work gets done.
Where 86 fits
Independent operators (1–5 locations) who want the same visibility without the enterprise admin overhead.
Best for
Enterprise restaurant groups with a dedicated administrator and many locations.
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 data from Restaurant365 (Reports → Inventory → Export)
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 Restaurant365 running during transition — cancel when ready
Export Tip
In Restaurant365, navigate to Reports → Inventory Reports → select your items → Export to CSV or Excel.
Not every tool is the same kind of tool. Here’s where 86 fits against a few other options independents consider.
Where 86 fits
Independent restaurants — typically 1–5 locations — that want the whole back office handled in one tool, not just inventory.
Where 86 fits
Independents (1–5 locations) who want invoices, counting, ordering, and books off their plate in the same login.
Where 86 fits
Independents (1–5 locations) that run food and beverage, and want the rest of the back office in the same tool.