Side by side

86 vs Restaurant365

Which one actually gets work off your plate?

86 $299/mo · no setup feeRestaurant365 Custom quote (~$469–$749/mo per location) · implementation billed separately (~$3,000–$15,000+)See feature breakdown ↓

Pricing verified July 2026 · Restaurant365 doesn't publish pricing; range is from Capterra and R365's own published cost comparisons. Custom quote required. · source

Where 86 actually differs.

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

Who sets it up

Done for you — AI + a human at your fingertipsvsYou configure with an implementation team (dedicated admin expected)

Time to go live

Same dayvs2–12 weeks depending on scope

Team members

UnlimitedvsUnlimited

Cost updates

Auto via invoices → recipes → booksvsVia accounting workflows

Feature breakdown

See exactly where 86 wins — and where Restaurant365 does.

Pricing & Setup

  • Monthly Cost86: $299 flat per locationRestaurant365: Custom quote (~$469–$749/location per third-party sources)
  • Setup Fee86: $0 (included)Restaurant365: Implementation ~$3,000–$15,000+ by scope
  • Contract86: None — cancel online anytimeRestaurant365: Annual billing cycle
  • Team Members Included86: UnlimitedRestaurant365: Unlimited
  • Annual Cost (per location)86: $2,988Restaurant365: ~$5,628–$8,988 subscription, plus implementation

Core Features

  • Inventory Management86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Photo-Based Counting86: YesRestaurant365: Not listed on their site
  • Daily Prep Lists for the Kitchen86: No more writing the whiteboard — closing counts set the list, cooks check it offRestaurant365: Prep Sheet — printable daily prep guide
  • Invoice Scanning86: No monthly capRestaurant365: Yes
  • Cost updates86: Auto via invoices → recipes → booksRestaurant365: Via accounting workflows
  • Books86: Bank + cards connected — auto-categorized, you review only what's leftRestaurant365: Full accounting suite
  • Payroll Management86: NoRestaurant365: Yes
  • Scheduling86: NoRestaurant365: Yes
  • Recipe Costing86: YesRestaurant365: Yes

Simplicity & Learning

  • Who does the setup86: Done for you — AI + a human at your fingertipsRestaurant365: You configure with an implementation team (dedicated admin expected)
  • Setup Time86: Same dayRestaurant365: 2–12 weeks depending on scope
  • Learning Curve86: Counting is intuitive. Rest is learn-as-you-go.Restaurant365: Steep (review-sourced)
  • In-app support86: Human chat inside the appRestaurant365: Implementation manager + support tiers
  • Best For86: Independents (1–5 locations)Restaurant365: Enterprise restaurant groups

Mobile Experience

  • iOS App86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Android App86: YesRestaurant365: Yes
  • Offline Mode86: Tested in walk-ins — nothing gets lost. It just works.Restaurant365: Not listed on their site; reviewers report crashes and loading hangs

Team Management

  • Count Reminders by Text86: Text + push before the countRestaurant365: Not offered — completion summary after the fact
  • Manager Alerts (Missed Counts)86: YesRestaurant365: No overdue-count reminder on their site
  • Push Notifications86: YesRestaurant365: Yes

Data & Migration

  • Free Data Import86: YesRestaurant365: Varies
Hector Bilbao
“At Zaco’s Tacos, I stopped chasing my bookkeeper for basic answers.”

Hector Bilbao · owner, Zaco’s Tacos · builder of 86 — books, proven at Zaco’s Tacos

The bottom line.

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

Why choose 86

  • Setup is done for you. Send us shelf photos, spreadsheets, POS exports — anything. Our AI builds your account in minutes, a real person is on it with you whenever you want — and you can be 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.
  • Your books stay current. Connect your bank and credit cards — transactions are categorized automatically, you review only what needs you, and the numbers are real-time.
  • One tool, one login. Counting, prep, 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
  • R365 AI intelligence engine across the full P&L (launched 2026)

Best for

Enterprise restaurant groups with a dedicated administrator and many locations.

What the work looks like in 86

86 web dashboard — Place Orders with forecast and vendor progress

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. You can be 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. You can be 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 (~$469–$749/mo per location) plus implementation billed separately (~$3,000–$15,000+).

Have more questions? Email Hector

How to switch from Restaurant365.

Migration is included. Our AI sets up your account in minutes — you can be counting and seeing real food costs the same day.

  1. Step 1

    Export your inventory data from Restaurant365 (Reports → Inventory → Export)

  2. Step 2

    Send the export file to [email protected]

  3. Step 3

    Our AI sets up your 86 account with all your items in minutes — you can be counting the same day

  4. 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.

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.

86 vs MarketMan

Independent restaurants — typically 1–5 locations — that want the whole back office handled in one tool, not just inventory.

Full comparison →86 vs MarginEdge

Independents (1–5 locations) who want invoices, counting, ordering, and books off their plate in the same login.

Full comparison →86 vs WISK AI

Independents (1–5 locations) that run food and beverage, and want the rest of the back office in the same tool.

Full comparison →

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

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  • $299/mo
  • Setup included
  • 30-day guarantee