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Compare Aloha vs Epos Now: pricing, features, pros, cons, and which is right for your business.

Aloha vs Epos Now

Updated October 2026 · Restaurant POS Software software comparison

Aloha

Aloha

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Feature-deep restaurant POS from NCR Voyix for full-service and multi-location operators

★ 3.7 224 reviews
Epos Now

Epos Now

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Low-cost iPad and tablet restaurant POS with in-house flat-rate card processing

★ 4.6 26 reviews

At a Glance

Criteria Aloha Epos Now
Overall Rating ★ 3.7
224 reviews
★ 4.6
26 reviews
Starting Price Contact vendor Contact vendor
Pricing Model Quote Only Quote Only
Free Trial No No
Deployment cloud, hybrid, mobile cloud, mobile
Best For Smb, Mid Market, Enterprise Freelancer, Smb

Strengths & Weaknesses

Aloha
Epos Now
Pros
✓Deep full-service workflows — complex modifiers, multi-tier check splitting, multiple revenue centers, check transfers
✓Low upfront cost — the hardware bundle headline (around $349) undercuts restaurant-native rivals
✓Centralized menu management publishes one menu across POS, online, kiosk, and delivery, pushed across locations
✓Transparent flat card processing at 2.6% + 10¢ with free refunds and no long-term processing contract
✓Reporting and multi-location management are a genuine strength for enterprise and multi-unit operators
✓Runs on your own iPad or Epos Now tablet kit — not locked to fully proprietary hardware
✓Processor-flexible heritage — historically less locked-in than closed-loop POS like Toast or SpotOn
✓Ingredient-level inventory with automated purchase orders and low-stock alerts
✓Built-in redundancy keeps in-store operations running through connectivity drops (cloud-to-edge)
✓KDS groups tickets by course and order type to speed the line during a rush
✓Long track record and large installed base, now backed by NCR Voyix, a public company
✓In-house payments plus accounting, loyalty and reservation integrations in one platform
Cons
✗Payment-processing friction — payout timing and processor issues are the top recurring complaint
✗Reporting depth is the dominant gap — basics are covered but data-driven operators outgrow it
✗Customer and tech support draw steady criticism for slow, hard-to-resolve responses, especially post-sale
✗Fees draw recurring complaints even with the flat published processing rate
✗Complexity and a dated UI make it steep to learn and feel legacy next to newer cloud POS
✗Integrations can bring gaps or friction connecting some third-party tools
✗Fee friction cited by reviewers across cost and add-ons
✗The mobile app experience is a repeated gripe in reviews
✗Runs on NCR Voyix purpose-built hardware rather than off-the-shelf iPads
✗Software subscription is sold by quote with no public monthly price
✗Quote-only — no public software, processing, or hardware pricing to compare up front
✗General retail-and-hospitality platform — restaurant workflows are broader but shallower than restaurant-only rivals

Who uses restaurant software — and what each person does with it

🧑‍🍳 Owner / GM

Watches sales, food cost, labor and prime cost across shifts and locations on one dashboard — sees which menu items and dayparts actually make money.

📋 Floor manager

Builds the schedule against forecasted sales, approves shift swaps, seats the floor and clears the waitlist, and pulls the daily close from the POS.

🍽️ Server / FOH

Fires orders from the POS or a handheld, splits and adjusts checks, takes payment tableside, and the kitchen sees the ticket instantly on the KDS.

👨‍🍳 Kitchen / BOH

Works tickets on the kitchen display with station routing and timers, marks items 86'd, and depletes inventory automatically as dishes sell.

The flow the software runs end to end: guest orders (dine-in, online or delivery) → ticket fires to the KDS → items depleted from inventory → payment captured at the POS → sales, food and labor cost post to reporting and accounting → schedule and purchasing adjust to the numbers. Each stage hands off to the next without re-keying.

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose Aloha if…
  • Your team fits the smb or mid market or enterprise profile
  • Your preferred deployment is cloud or hybrid or mobile
  • Deep full-service workflows — complex modifiers, multi-tier check splitting, multiple revenue centers, check transfers
Choose Epos Now if…
  • Your team fits the freelancer or smb profile
  • You prioritise peer-verified quality — higher rating (4.6 vs 3.7)
  • Your preferred deployment is cloud or mobile
  • Low upfront cost — the hardware bundle headline (around $349) undercuts restaurant-native rivals

Our Verdict

Epos Now
Epos Now edges ahead with a higher overall rating (★ 4.6 vs ★ 3.7) and stronger review volume (26 vs 224 verified reviews) .

Aloha targets smb/mid_market/enterprise businesses with quote only pricing . Its strongest selling points include deep full-service workflows — complex modifiers, multi-tier check splitting, multiple revenue centers, check transfers and centralized menu management publishes one menu across pos, online, kiosk, and delivery, pushed across locations.

Epos Now targets freelancer/smb businesses with quote only pricing . Its key advantages include low upfront cost — the hardware bundle headline (around $349) undercuts restaurant-native rivals and transparent flat card processing at 2.6% + 10¢ with free refunds and no long-term processing contract.

Both tools are reviewed independently — see the full reviews below to dig into integrations, implementation timelines, and user sentiment.

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