TL;DR
For a typical quán ăn, iPOS's full hardware + software bundle is overkill and the per-device pricing punishes you for adding stations. The lighter alternative is LOOP Free for one outlet, with the same AI core and PEKO bundled, upgrade only when you open outlet two.
iPOS Alternatives for Quán Ăn: Vietnam 2026
Last updated:
PEKO ecosystem
LOOP runs the venue. PEKO brings the customer back. Two products, one company.
PEKO, the AI customer-retention platform (heypeko.com) from the same company as LOOP. PEKO handles retention; LOOP handles operations.
| LOOP, operations | PEKO, retention |
|---|---|
| Inventory & recipes | Churn prediction |
| Shift & staff management | Automated win-back |
| Table layout | Member portal |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | Loyalty tiers |
| E-invoice (TT78) | Receipt OCR enrolment |
| Aggregator queue (GrabFood / ShopeeFood / Be) |
LOOP and PEKO each work on their own. Run both and the data syncs into one single AI brain, so nothing is entered twice. PEKO is not a POS and does not replace one; it also runs alongside any other POS.
PEKO loyalty: no app download for customers; they snap the receipt to earn points, and it works with the POS you already use. Free up to 300 members.
Choose LOOP if
- ✓You run 2+ outlets and want one operator who can speak commands instead of clicking.
- ✓You want AI demand forecasting per item per hour, not gut-feel.
- ✓You're on SEA payment rails (VietQR, PromptPay, QRIS, DuitNow, PayNow, QR Ph).
- ✓You're already on PEKO loyalty (or planning to). PEKO customers get 50% off LOOP POS paid plans.
Choose iPOS (quán ăn) if
You want the largest VN field service network and don't need AI.
| Feature | LOOP POS | iPOS (quán ăn) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No | LOOP Free (1 outlet) | Not published |
| Pricing model | Per-device (penalises growth) | Flat per outlet, unlimited devices | Not published |
| Hardware lock-in | Often yes | BYO Android tablet/printer | Not published |
| AI assistant (Vietnamese) | No | Yes | Not published |
| Diner loyalty app | No | PEKO bundled | Not published |
Not ready to switch POS? Keep iPOS and add PEKO
- Receipt Scan loyalty: customers snap the receipt, so it works with iPOS without any integration. No app download for customers.
- Group Check-In: every guest at the table joins, not just the payer.
- AI Agent: win-back, birthday and rebooking campaigns from one message.
PEKO is free up to 300 members and works with the POS you already use.
See PEKO for iPOS on heypeko.com →
Free POS with loyalty in Vietnam
How POS prices and loyalty compare across vendors: 2026 POS Price Index
Why teams pick LOOP
- LOOP Free covers a single quán ăn at zero cost.
- Bring your own Android tablet, no hardware lock-in.
- PEKO bundled even on free tier.
When neither is right
- You run one outlet with a fixed menu and only need receipts, a free tier from either vendor is enough, and paying for a mid tier changes nothing.
- You need something neither LOOP POS nor iPOS (quán ăn) publishes support for (full payroll, table timers), buy that tool separately and keep the till simple.
- Your format is still changing, settle the business model first; switching POS twice costs more than waiting.
Frequently asked
- What does LOOP Free include?
- Core POS for one outlet, 50 AI prompts/month, VietQR, HĐĐT, basic reports, PEKO diner-app integration. Email support.
- Can I keep iPOS and still run loyalty?
- Yes. PEKO works alongside iPOS with no integration: customers scan the receipt to earn points. LOOP is only needed if you also want a free AI POS.
- Does LOOP include loyalty?
- LOOP handles operations. For loyalty and AI-driven customer retention, PEKO is the sibling product from the same company: no app download for customers, they snap the receipt to earn points, and it works with the POS you already use: LOOP or any other. PEKO is free up to 300 members.
- Can PEKO handle inventory and staff scheduling?
- No. PEKO is the retention layer. LOOP covers inventory, recipes, shifts, table management and kitchen display in the same ecosystem.
Sources
- iPOS website (no public price list) , checked
- LOOP POS pricing , checked
Disclosure: LOOP POS is our own product. Competitor details come from each vendor's published material on the dates listed; where a vendor publishes nothing the cell reads “not published” and we make no claim.
