10 Best Restaurant Inventory Software of 2024

The 10 Best Restaurant Inventory Softwares of 2024

1. Connecteam — Best all-in-one restaurant inventory software

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   Start for free

   

   Connecteam is my top pick for restaurant inventory management software.

   Why I chose Connecteam: Connecteam offers a complete employee and business management app that helps streamline the inventory process. It also includes tools for creating employee schedules, task management, and communication so you can handle all of these processes in one place.

   Let’s take a closer look at how Connecteam can help your restaurant thrive:

   Create customizable forms and checklists for simplified inventory management

   With Connecteam, restaurant owners and chefs can create their own inventory forms and checklists with the digital forms feature. Then, as they take inventory, kitchen staff can mark off par levels as well as when items are low or expired. I love that Connecteam is also a complete task management app so you can attach customized forms or checklists to individual tasks. 

   Employees will see what inventory responsibilities are assigned to them as soon as they clock in for work right on their phones. Managers also receive automated notifications when they complete a task and can send push notifications with reminders and messages. 

   Drag-and-drop employee scheduler makes it easy to know who’s doing inventory when

   Connecteam’s robust employee scheduling app is one of the best on the market. With Connecteam, you can view time-off requests and scheduling preferences directly on the platform, preventing scheduling conflicts.

   This ensures you know who’s working when and can plan inventory accordingly. You can also include important notes and documents with each shift so employees have all the relevant information they need to do their jobs, no matter where they are.

   Connecteam also comes with employee scheduling templates to simplify the process even further and immediate notifications as soon as the schedule is published.

   Log inventory hours with the employee time clock

   Connecteam’s employee time clock allows your staff to clock in and out of work, right from their mobile devices with just a tap. You can specify which jobs team members are clocking in for to more effectively measure how long inventory takes to complete. 

   For example, if one of your chefs is responsible for both inventory and food prep during a shift, they can specify which job they are working in the app and the time clock will automatically calculate how many hours they worked for each. You can also include different hourly wages for each job, and the app automatically calculates the total amount for you.

   This reduces the headache of keeping track of hours manually, and everything is automated and clearly displayed in the app for you. 

   In-app chat and a company newsfeed streamline communication

   Keeping your entire culinary team connected is incredibly simple with Connecteam. 

   Using the online team chat feature, you can have one-on-one chats or create group chats with anyone on your team. You can also easily access everyone’s contact information with the company employee directory. 

   

   The app also gives users direct access to important information for conducting inventory, such as guides, checklists, and procedures. If you need to reorder an item on the fly or are 86ed on a product, it’s easy to message a teammate immediately to get it done.

   Create your own training materials so kitchen staff know how to properly take inventory

   Another thing I love about this app is that you can use it as employee training software. This is a great feature because it means you can create your own training materials on how to properly conduct inventory and maintain hygiene and food safety standards. 

   

   Upload these materials to the app and your kitchen staff can access them right from their phones for easy and accessible learning. They can also reference them whenever they need to refresh their memory.

   Manage payroll, employee timesheets, and HR matters from one place

   Connecteam automatically logs hours from the employee time clock and then creates timesheets for payroll that you can easily edit, as needed. Then, you can export timesheets directly to one of the app’s multiple integrations, like Gusto, Quickbooks Online, Paychex, and Xero. 

   Another great HR-related feature the team documents feature. Here, you can upload and store all of your important employees’ documents, like applications, tax forms, ServSafe certificates, and more. You can also assign user permissions to them so only authorized staff members can access them. 

   Handle all aspects of employee management from one place

   Besides assisting with inventory management, Connecteam includes many more tools and features to manage restaurant operations and team management. The app also comes with an employee time clock, time off management features, and a real time GPS tracker so no one gets paid when they’re not actually working, helping you save money on labor cost.

   Connecteam’s paid plan starts at just $29 per month for up to 30 users, and small businesses with fewer than 10 users can access the app completely free.  

   

   The amount of innovation, customer service, and absolute quality in their product is the reason we will never leave Connecteam.

   President at Greenwalt Hospitality

   

   Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Try Connecteam here!

   Key Features

   • Simplified task management

   • In-app communication

   • Customizable forms and checklists

   • Drag-and-drop employee scheduler

   • Automated timesheets for payroll

   • Mobile employee training

   Pros

   • All-in-one software solution

   • Excellent customer service

   • Affordable and scalable

   • Extremely attractive and simple user interface

   Cons

   • More third-party integrations still in development

   Pricing

   Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users

   Try Connecteam for free, no credit card required

   Get started for free
2. 

   MarketMan — Good for automating tasks

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Marketman offers several key features and benefits that streamline restaurant operations.

   Why I chose MarketMan: Its real-time inventory tracking system ensures accurate and up-to-date visibility of par levels, helping to reduce waste and control costs. The software also simplifies order management and vendor communication, enabling efficient reordering and maintaining optimal inventory levels. 

   Another significant feature is its integration capabilities, which allow it to seamlessly connect with POS systems and accounting software, ensuring a cohesive flow of data across different business areas.

   Learn more about MarketMan

   Key Features

   • Expense tracking
   • Purchasing and ordering management
   • Recipe database
   • Recipe costing tool

   Pros

   • Simple to track inventory
   • Well-integrated features

   Cons

   • Does not convert units of measurement
   • Cannot make payments directly from software

   Pricing

   Starts at $149/location/month + $200 set-up fee Trial: No Free Plan: No

3. 

   TouchBistro — Good for detailed reporting

   Available on

   • Web
   • Windows
   • Mac

   

   TouchBistro stands out as a versatile restaurant management software, especially for its efficient inventory control features.

   Why I chose TouchBistro: It allows restaurants to maintain accurate stock levels, minimizing waste and optimizing cost management. The software’s intuitive interface streamlines the ordering process, enabling quick adjustments to inventory and seamless communication with suppliers. 

   Additionally, TouchBistro’s detailed reporting tools provide valuable insights into inventory trends and usage patterns, assisting restaurants in making data-driven decisions to enhance operational efficiency and profitability.

   Learn more about TouchBistro

   Key Features

   • Integrated POS system
   • Inventory management tools
   • Reservation system
   • Reporting and analytics

   Pros

   • User-friendly interface
   • Customizable and flexible to use

   Cons

   • Limited offline functionality
   • Expensive solution

   Pricing

   Starts at $169/month, for a single license Trial: No Free Plan: No

4. 

   Lightspeed Restaurant — Good for automating reordering

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Lightspeed Restaurant stands out for its robust and user-friendly features which makes restaurant management much more efficient. 

   Why I chose Lightspeed Restaurant: Its superior inventory management system is a key highlight. The software’s automation of inventory tasks, such as reordering and stock adjustments, helps minimize errors. 

   Another notable feature is its seamless integration with point-of-sale (POS) systems, which ensures smooth transaction processing and accurate data collection, helping improve service efficiency and customer satisfaction.

   Learn more about Lightspeed Restaurant

   Key Features

   • Customer relationship management
   • Online ordering system
   • Track customer behavior
   • Helps automate inventory tracking

   Pros

   • Lots of integrations
   • Good customer service

   Cons

   • POS system doesn’t allow partial refunds
   • Expensive solution

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: Yes Free Plan: No

5. 

   Square for Restaurants — Good for controlling costs

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Square for Restaurants is a POS system that helps you manage your restaurant and makes ordering and receiving products simple.

   Why I chose Square for Restaurants: The platform seamlessly integrates sales data and inventory management, providing insights into which food items are popular and which are underperforming, helping chefs more effectively menu plan and control costs. Inventory updates also show when inventory is low so you can place orders without counting items by hand or overspending on unneeded items. 

   I also like Square’s user-friendly interface and that is is incredibly simple to update inventory, so restaurant staff can easily manage par levels and order supplies correctly.

   Learn more about Square for Restaurants

   Key Features

   • Robust POS system
   • Online ordering, delivery, and banking integrations
   • Real-time inventory tracking
   • Data and reporting

   Pros

   • Easily add new revenue streams
   • Customizable for all restaurant types

   Cons

   • Need to buy additional hardware to use
   • Fees can add up

   Pricing

   Starts at $60/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes

6. 

   xtraCHEF by Toast — Good for invoice automation

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   xtraCHEF by Toast modernizes restaurant inventory management with its automated, accurate, and user-friendly software.

   Why I chose xtraCHEF by Toast: This software helps restaurants track the fluctuating prices of ingredients by using recent purchase prices from invoices to precisely calculate the value of inventory. This helps ensure that the cost of goods sold (COGS) and financial reporting is accurately reflected. ​​

   Additionally, the software streamlines the inventory process by creating a customized order guide after a single inventory session so restaurants can maintain optimal par levels and directly place orders with vendors through its Purchasing & Order Management feature.

   Learn more about xtraCHEF by Toast

   Key Features

   • Automated invoice processing
   • Recipe costing
   • Tracks pricing
   • Simple to navigate

   Pros

   • Integrates with all Toast products
   • Robust reporting

   Cons

   • Users report instances where the network goes out
   • Information can take time to load

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No

7. 

   Restaurant365 — Good for identifying patterns in food waste

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Restaurant365 offers multifaceted inventory management features specifically tailored to the needs of the restaurant industry.

   Why I chose Restaurant365: The software simplifies inventory management by automating item and recipe costing, ensuring that items are efficiently tracked from place to place, and helping to identify patterns in food waste. This automation extends to the control of food costs, where it offers a comparison of actual versus theoretical food costs in real time​.

   In addition to inventory management, Restaurant365 offers hiring, onboarding, scheduling, payroll, and benefits tools.

   Learn more about Restaurant365

   Key Features

   • Inventory tracking
   • Automated inventory options
   • Scheduling tools
   • Onboarding and training functionalities

   Pros

   • Feature-rich
   • Great reporting tools

   Cons

   • Users report the software can be quite buggy
   • Users report experiences of poor customer support

   Pricing

   Starts at $249/month + additional cost for bundling modules Trial: No Free Plan: No

8. 

   Posist — Good for restaurants with multiple locations

   Available on

   • Web

   

   Posist’s integrated platform is made to help restaurants automate processes to improve their bottom-lines.

   Why I chose Posist: The software provides real-time inventory management, allowing restaurants to keep a clear check on inventory and track items, This reduces the time spent on manual inventory tracking and mitigates the risks of theft and wastage​​. Posist also offers alerts for reordering and expiration dates 

   In addition to inventory management, Posist offers tools for both front and back of house, like a POS system, detailed analytics and reporting, online ordering, staff management tools, and more.

   Learn more about Posist

   Key Features

   • Inventory management
   • CRM
   • Online ordering
   • POS system

   Pros

   • Many integrations with other software
   • Good user experience

   Cons

   • Add-ons can get expensive
   • Steep learning curve

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No

9. 

   Crunchtime — Good for sales forecasting

   Available on

   • Web

   

   Crunchtime is designed to help restaurants reduce food costs and run smoother and more efficiently.

   Why I chose Crunchtime: Crunchtime provides you with real-time inventory information so you can stay ahead of your costs. Always know what’s in stock and where each item is located with its end-to-end inventory platform. Crunchtime streamlines every inventory process including inventory counts, reviews, ordering, reconciliation, recipe management, and sales forecasting.

   It also suggests how much to prep based on highly accurate sales forecasts so you can avoid over or under-prepping throughout the day.

   Learn more about Crunchtime

   Key Features

   • Food cost management
   • Food prep forecasting
   • Labor cost management
   • Restaurant courses

   Pros

   • Very scalable
   • Exceptional back office features

   Cons

   • Difficult to set up
   • Expensive for small businesses

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No

10. 

    Craftable — Good for costing out recipes

    Available on

    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android

    

    Craftable is a versatile restaurant inventory management system designed for bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels, offering specialized tools for managing both food and beverage inventories through its two platforms, Foodager and Bevager. 

    Why I chose Craftable: Craftable has lots of integration capabilities with accounting software, including QuickBooks, which makes it a flexible choice for both large and small operations. With menu engineering, recipe costing and price comparison, your kitchen staff can easily adjust their culinary creations to protect your bottom line. 

    Easily manage multiple locations, vendors, and recipes with subrecipes and batches. With Craftable, you get item and modifier POS mapping, automated menu engineering and theoretical cost reporting, and daily operations and prime cost financial information.

    Learn more about Craftable

    Key Features

    • Invoice processing
    • Recipe costing
    • Automated menu engineering
    • Accounting

    Pros

    • Automatic prompting of price increase/decrease
    • Import items into the software in bulk

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve
    • Users report limited sales history

    Pricing

    Starts at $250/month Trial: Yes — 30-day trial Free Plan: No