Buying guide
Choosing restaurant software: what to compare beyond the monthly price
Questions to ask any vendor—including us—about scope, billing basis, add-ons, contracts and how your data gets in.
By 86operations · Published · 5 min read
Restaurant tools overlap and specialize. A POS, a scheduling tool, an accounting platform and an operations workspace can all claim to “run your restaurant.” Comparing them by price alone usually compares different things.
Questions to ask every vendor
- Billing basis: per location, per user, per employee, or flat? Monthly or annual?
- Which features are add-ons, and what do they cost?
- Are there setup, onboarding, hardware or cancellation fees? Is there a contract term?
- How does data get in—manual entry, file import, or an API connection? Who pays for the API access?
- What does each role see? Can you limit financial data?
- What security controls are in place, and which certifications (if any) does the vendor hold?
Decide what each tool is for
Most restaurants keep a POS for orders and payments, a payroll provider to pay staff, and accounting software for the books. 86’d works alongside those: it’s where managers record and run the day, close out tips, cost recipes and see what needs attention.
Pricing and features change. Confirm current details with each provider before you buy.
Compare side by side
Our comparison pages list each vendor’s published pricing with a source link and the date we checked it.