11 Best Jolt Alternatives You Need in 2025

Restaurants these days? They’re struggling, plain and simple. Rising costs, shrinking margins, staffing nightmares.

it’s a daily grind that’s breaking the backs of operators everywhere. If you think software like Jolt is the easy fix, think again. Sure, it’s powerful, but it’s also complicated, expensive, and not made for the average mom-and-pop or small chain trying to survive.

So why waste time wrestling with a tool that feels like it’s built for giants? There are smarter, leaner, and way more user-friendly alternatives that won’t drain your budget or your patience. Today, we’re cutting through the noise to find the real MVPs in restaurant software solutions that actually help you get stuff done without the headache.

No fluff. Just practical tools to help your restaurant run smoother.

What is Jolt?

Jolt is an operational efficiency and accountability platform for different industries. In the context of food businesses and restaurants, the program can be used for the same aforementioned purpose through different built-in features.

So, we can say that it's a digital operations platform, designed to save restaurant businesses money, hassle, and the overall chaos of getting things done on time!

Why Choose a Jolt Alternative In The First Place?

Even though Jolt is a good piece of software for operators with dozens of locations and tens of millions in revenue, it’s hard to do that well while also satisfying the needs of the regular players: your favorite pizza place downtown, that cute new sushi spot that just opened a new location or even a small fleet of food trucks outside your office.

Experienced and tech-savvy operators who can manage set-up might feel right at home with Jolt; others have expressed their challenges around navigation and occasional glitches. 

There isn’t an option to test the platform for yourself, either. If you want to experience the Jolt software hands-on, you’ve got to schedule a meeting with their team. 

Not the worst situation (and certainly not the only company to do that), but it could be seen as a turn-off for some buyers.

But then again, that’s just surface-level limitations or setbacks of using Jolt. According to existing customer reviews and our research, we found out that even though Jolt is a nifty software, it can be a little too overwhelming. 

First-time users have reportedly mentioned that the program’s features don’t really help non-tech-savvy people. You can see these features, the sub-level options, and stuff like that, but if you aren’t familiar with complex programs like Jolt, you’re going to have a steep learning curve.

In a nutshell, it’s the information overload aspect, and the fact that the interface seems a little dull in terms of visuals seems to be a drag.

Best Jolt Alternatives For Businesses In 2025

Here's a quick look at some of the software that you can potentially use as a substitute for Jolt. This'll give you a better idea of what each platform is capable of delivering and how your business model eventually fits in the equation.

Furthermore, we have also discussed different aspects of the Jolt software for restaurants. This is to fill you in on the program's benefits and setbacks.

Let's get started.

1. Xenia: Overall, the Best Jolt Alternative

Xenia is our top pick for the best Jolt alternative on the market today.

It’s user-friendly and affordable for businesses of all sizes. Xenia is built to help operations leaders, whether running a single-location café or a multi-unit franchise, save time, reduce daily workload, and run smoother operations.

While Jolt focuses primarily on checklists, Xenia goes much further. It streamlines everything from opening routines and food safety checks to shift handovers, equipment maintenance, and compliance, being the only frontline operations execution platform you need. 

You can build workflows and checklists from scratch or start with one of 500+ pre-built templates. Every task is automatically assigned, timestamped, and tracked, providing real-time visibility and accountability without micromanagement.

Xenia also offers detailed audit trails for inspections and SOPs, making compliance reporting a breeze. No more chasing paper trails or lost signatures.

For equipment management, operators can log assets, automate maintenance schedules, and scan QR codes for instant access to repair history and upcoming service, reducing downtime and unexpected failures.

All data flows into live dashboards, giving operators instant insights into team performance, recurring issues, and on-the-ground execution. It’s everything you need to run a tight ship, without the chaos.

Xenia’s Standout Features Compared to Jolt

• Task Management - Assign, manage, and track work done in real-time. Increase productivity, streamline communication, and get better visibility into what your team is really doing.  

• Temperature Monitoring - Pair integrated temperature sensors or Bluetooth probes to make sure inventory doesn’t spoil and your assets are operable. Receive notifications the moment a freezer gets too warm based on user-defined parameters.‍
• Templates - Create checklists, SOPs, and more. Smart logic allows you to automatically generate corrective actions and resolve issues in record time.‍

• Corrective Actions - Optimize inspections with instant tasks created from a failed inspection step. View corrective task data in checklist submissions for easy auditing and accountability.
• SOP & Document Management - Use Xenia’s powerful AI assistant to create new SOPs and policies in seconds. Store training policies, safety documents, or any other kind of file you could think of in a secure cloud-based hub and share them with your team at the click of a button.

Xenia's Pricing

• Free Forever: For up to five people with unlimited and unrestricted access to all the basic features.
• Starter: $79 per month for the first 15 users with access to all the core features.
• Premium (Best Value): $159 per month for the first 15 users with access to all the basic, core, and advanced features.‍
• Custom: Do you need anything exclusive to your organization? Contact for tailored pricing.

2. Vennfnb

Vennfnb is an exciting new startup. 

They claim to be the only restaurant operations system that can unite your front office with your back office in order to get control over cost and inventory.

They boast over 100,000 invoices processed, and some customers have even used the software to handle over $6 million worth of invoices.

Key Features

• Automatic PDFs sent right to suppliers
• Invoice and order reconciliation
• Centralized recipe tracking, tied to inventory
• Pay suppliers directly from the software or integrate with Xero for easy accounting

Pricing

• Plan 1: Unlimited locations for ~$220/month
• Plan 2: Per location pricing at ~$36/month
• A 2-month free trial is available on all plans

3. BarSight

Built by BarSight Restaurant Systems, this is another option for those looking for an alternative to Jolt scheduling. 

If your business is experiencing challenges around scheduling through the weekend, shifts extending overnight, and being able to assign multiple roles to cross-trained employees, BarSight has you covered.

Fit for the fast-paced culture of the hospitality industry, this is a proper solution to combine scheduling and accounting in one.

Key Features

• Quick schedule creation and publishing
• An efficient employee management system
• Streamlined payroll processing
• Real-time expense tracking
• Multi-role assignment for staff
  

Pricing

• Multiple tiers; pricing for a comprehensive package begins at $60/month for up to 6 locations.
• A 30-day free trial is available

4. Soft Restaurant

Launched in 2001 by parent company National Soft, Soft Restaurant is a Mexican restaurant management software company. 

They drive growth through thousands of locations in Latin America, making it a prime choice for those who prefer to do business in en Español. Just as with any other software on this list, Soft Restaurant doesn’t do it all. 

There doesn’t seem to be integrations for temperature sensors, nor am I aware of the full extent of their multi-language support.

Key Features

• Inventory control and management
• Detailed sales analytics insights
• Access across multiple platforms
• QR menus add-on available
• Online ordering system included

Pricing:

Contact the vendor for pricing

5. Vita Mojo

Vita Mojo has created a space for itself as a relevant alternative in the competitive space. Vita Mojo is a restaurant tech company that provides a platform for restaurants. 

Vita Mojo's platform helps operators personalize and customize their dining experiences. 

The platform includes features such as digital menu customization, allergen information, calorie counting, and the ability to make ingredient substitutions to accommodate dietary preferences and restrictions - they call this the VMOS, or Vita Mojo Operating System.

From our research, this is a great Jolt alternative for those bigger players.

Key Features

• Integrates with third-party delivery
• Robust POS system included
• Comprehensive menu management tools
• Kiosk and digital experience control

Pricing

• Please contact vendor for more details

6. Truffle Systems

One system to power your restaurant? Some may say that’s too good to be true, but Truffle claims they have the answer to having multiple apps in your stores. 

Ordering, fulfillment, and pickup & delivery are the three main focus areas of their platform. Their focus seems to be on enhancing customer experience through direct, consumer-facing areas like order pickup and contactless food lockers. 

If you’re not a very tech-forward brand, it might be best to skip this one, but if you want to be on the cutting edge of fully contactless cuisine, give it a shot.

Key Features

• Self-service order pickup is enabled
• Seamless online order pickup
• Dedicated cloud kitchen software
• Comprehensive order management tools

Pricing

• Software begins at $ 89.99/month for a limited set of features. Hardware (i.e., pickup lockers) sold separately.

7. Polygon by Redcat

This Australian company calls itself the hospitality IT platform. Given their numerous products, I’m inclined to agree; ordering, delivering, loyalty & marketing, operations & hardware, and financial reporting are all listed on their site.

Despite having several in-house products, their integrations are nothing to laugh at either.

Whether it’s for accounting, rostering, or reservations, they could have you covered (no guarantees - make sure to check with them first!)

With less of a focus on measuring work productivity or quality compliance, this seems to be another solid Jolt alternative for established players who have a very specific set of requirements.

Key Features

• Customer loyalty platform management
• An efficient electronic POS system
• Streamlined kitchen management tools
• Dynamic digital media boards

Pricing

• Not provided - please reach out to their team for a quote.

8. SmartLynx by Sabertooth

SmartLynx serves a multitude of markets - quick service, fast casual, table service, fine dining, cafeterias, and more. 

A “total restaurant operations platform,” they provide back-of-house software to help maximize profitability. How do they do that, exactly? Great question.

Controls, visibility, and accountability are their method. By combining inventory management with labor scheduling and business intelligence, the platform gives users a 360-degree view of their back-of-house operations. 

With mobile-friendly applications and always available support, SmartLynx might be a dark horse in the best Jolt alternative race.

Key Features

• Comprehensive reporting and analytics
• Efficient inventory management system
• Optimized labor scheduling tools
• Bank deposit reconciliation process

Pricing

• Not provided - please reach out to their team for a quote.

9. Fimble.io

Speaking of robust Jolt alternatives with affordability on the side, we’ve got Fimble, a comprehensive F&B system for restaurants (and bars, cafes, and whatever else you can think of that serve food).

There’s no shortage of what Fimble.io can do, according to their website. Web ordering, order management, delivery, and a handful of other categories are all included under their features. 

Their visually enticing and functional system helps companies boost digital sales, with a focus on quality, precision, and performance throughout all of their services.

Key Features

• Targeted marketing capabilities included
• In-depth analytics for insights
• Inventory management made easy
• Tailored custom solutions are available

Pricing

• Basic: $69/store/month + $700 implementation fee
• Advanced: $99/store/month + $1000 implementation fee
• Professional: $199/store/month + $1800 implementation fee

10. Connecteam

Streamline F&B business management with Connecteam. Scheduling, time tracking, in-app communication, staff training, and other features are just a few of the tremendous capabilities it provides to manage all your restaurant operations.

With Connecteam's integrated GPS, you can create virtual boundaries around job sites called geofences. This way, workers can only punch in and out when they are in the right location.

Key Features

• Digital Checklists and Task Management 
• Drag-and-drop Scheduler
• Employee Training Tools 
• Built-in time Tracking with GPS Capabilities

Pricing

• Small Business Plan: Free for up to 10 users, includes full feature access
• Paid Plans: Basic $29/mo, Advanced $49/mo, Expert $99/mo (first 30 users; extra user fees apply)‍
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with full features plus premium support and security

11. HotSchedules by Fourth

The scheduling features of HotSchedules are impressive and are an important aspect of restaurant management. 

The app allows your employees to see their calendars, request time off, unsubscribe from shifts they don't want, and take up available shifts from colleagues. 

Additionally, it gives you a simple method to create timetables and monitor who is working at any given moment via a single dashboard.

Team communication, labor forecasts, reporting, and end-of-shift surveys are all part of HotSchedules' toolbox.

Key Features

• Employee scheduling and shift management
• Time off request handling
• Built-in team communication tools
• Labor forecasting and reporting
• End-of-shift survey collection

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing.

Conclusion

These unique challenges of each restaurateur, be it scheduling your staff or figuring out which piece of restaurant software is right for you, can be daunting and require a personalized approach. 

As we’ve seen, there is no shortage of options when it comes to digitizing your restaurant’s operations. 

Could we tell you, unequivocally, what is going to work for you and your team? 

If you take one thing from this article, I hope it's the confidence to answer that question with a resounding “no.” 

Technology will help solve these problems, but it takes more than purchasing an app to run a great restaurant. The solution that works for you should satisfy these requirements:

• User-friendly
• Affordable
• Feature-rich (including, at least, a template builder, task management system, and temperature monitoring)

We hope this was as enjoyable to read as it was to talk about the best and free online Jolt alternatives out there.

Thanks again for tuning in and we look forward to sharing more of this restaurant software expertise with you again soon.

Ready to see which software fits your restaurant best? Contact the providers today to get personalized pricing and schedule a free demo tailored to your needs.