PlateSense vs Spec
PlateSense
platesense.aiSpec
specapp.comSide by side
| Figure | PlateSense | Spec |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $59/mo | $83.25/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Restaurant Inventory Management Software | 7.9 (#10) | 8.6 (#2) |
| Integrations | The site describes invoice submission by upload or email forwarding and mentions Sysco in an example; it does not identify a named POS integration on the pages reviewed. | The account sign-up page offers Google, Facebook, and Apple sign-in options. |
| Inventory | It tracks ingredient stock, purchase and count history, average inventory cost and latest delivery cost. | Its product library stores information about the food and beverage products a business carries. |
| Support | Support is available at [email protected], and the company says it aims to respond within a few hours during business days. | The terms direct feedback, technical support requests, and other app communications to [email protected]. |
Plans
Spec
- Free PlanFree
- Spec Pro$99 a month
- Spec Pro (annual)$999 a year
- Spec Pro annual$999 a year
In their own words
PlateSense
PlateSense is restaurant inventory and recipe-costing software that uses supplier invoices to update food costs. It extracts invoice items, quantities, units and prices, and sends entries needing a decision for review before they affect inventory. Kitchens can track ingredient stock, purchase and count history, average inventory cost and latest delivery cost. Reusable prep recipes and menu build sheets link ingredient costs to dish food cost and contribution margin, recalculating as costs change. Its assistant, Sage, answers questions about invoices, ingredients and recipe costs and can help users navigate the app. The free plan reads 15 invoices per month automatically and includes inventory, recipes, menu costing, price alerts and Sage. PlateSense Pro costs $59 a month, billed per location, and includes unlimited invoices, inventory, recipes and menu items for a team on one account. New kitchens get a 30-day trial with everything included and no card; afterward the account pauses while its data remains available. PlateSense runs on Android, iOS and the web, with invoice submission by upload or email forwarding. It does not currently compare expected ingredient usage from sales with actual usage.
Spec
Spec is an inventory management platform for food and beverage programs at bars and restaurants. Its product library stores information about what a business carries, while recipe tools calculate ingredient, labor and sub-recipe costs. Users can assemble menus from products and recipes and analyze pricing effectiveness. Spec can draft text or email orders and divide bulk orders by vendor. Staff can use the mobile app to view recipes, product details and training materials. The Pro plan adds digitized invoices, product price alerts and invoice reports. Spec offers a free plan at free, limited to 30 ingredient costings, 30 labor costings, 30 sub-recipes and 10 menus, with no stock counts. Spec Pro costs $99 a month or $999 a year and includes unlimited costing and menus, stock counts, multiple inventory locations, and invoice and price-change reporting. A 30-day trial is listed. The platform supports Android, iOS and web. Businesses can email an inventory spreadsheet for ingestion by Spec’s team.