A café owner recently told me they're paying €180 monthly for Horeko but only use it to track recipe costs. That's like buying a luxury car just to check the speedometer. More focused alternatives exist that deliver the same cost control without the hefty price tag.
Why Horeko isn't always the ideal choice for recipes and food costs
Horeko offers a complete hospitality suite - POS system, inventory, accounting, and recipe management. Sounds perfect, but there's a catch:
- Monthly fees start at €150+
- Requires extensive setup and staff training
- You're funding features that sit unused
- POS functionality takes priority over cost calculations
⚠️ Note:
Most entrepreneurs pick Horeko thinking "it handles everything", then discover they're only touching the POS features. Recipe and cost management? There are sharper tools for that job.
Smarter alternatives for recipes and cost tracking
Want real control over food costs and recipes? These targeted solutions deliver:
KitchenNmbrs - Built for small hospitality operations
- Core strength: Recipes, food costs, HACCP tracking
- Monthly cost: Starting at €24.99
- Perfect for: Independent restaurants, 1-5 locations
- Why it works: Simple interface, mobile access, instant insights
💡 Example:
Restaurant The Tasty Corner wanted pure cost tracking:
- Horeko option: €180/month for full package
- Specialized tools: €29.99/month for recipes + costs
- Annual savings: €1,800
Outcome: Identical insights, dramatically lower investment
Excel or Google Sheets - Zero cost but time-heavy
- Plus side: Free, completely customizable
- Downside: Manual data entry, mistakes happen easily
- Works for: Entrepreneurs who enjoy spreadsheets and have spare time
Apicbase - Designed for larger operations
- Specializes in: Recipe management, purchasing, menu engineering
- Monthly investment: €300+
- Target market: Restaurant chains with 10+ locations
- Strength: Advanced functionality, direct supplier connections
Choosing your ideal solution
💡 Decision framework:
Go with Horeko if:
- You're replacing your POS system anyway
- One unified platform matters most
- €150+ monthly fits comfortably in your budget
Pick specialized software if:
- Food costs and recipes are your main concern
- Your current POS system works fine
- You prefer spending smart over spending big
Annual cost breakdown
For a typical restaurant serving 50 covers daily, yearly expenses look like:
- Horeko full suite: €1,800 - €3,000 annually
- Recipe-focused tools: €300 - €500 annually
- Excel/Sheets: €0 (plus 2-3 hours weekly admin work)
- Apicbase: €3,600+ annually
⚠️ Note:
Monthly fees tell only part of the story. From analyzing actual purchasing data across different restaurant types, saving 3 hours weekly on admin equals 156 hours yearly. At €25 hourly, that's €3,900 worth of your time.
Already locked into Horeko? Options ahead
Stuck in a Horeko contract but barely scratching its surface? You've got options:
- Keep Horeko for POS, add recipe software (€30 monthly extra)
- Plan your switch for contract renewal time
- Actually dig into Horeko's recipe features (they're often ignored)
Compare yourself?
Try KitchenNmbrs free for 7 days
Discover why hospitality entrepreneurs choose KitchenNmbrs. No credit card required.
Start free trial →How do you choose the best alternative to Horeko?
Inventory what you really need
Make a list of features you actually use: POS, recipes, food costs, inventory, accounting. Many entrepreneurs pay for features they never touch.
Calculate your current total costs
Add up: monthly subscription, hardware, training, maintenance and time you spend on the system. Don't forget to include the hours you spend on administration.
Test alternatives with a free trial period
Try KitchenNmbrs free for 3 days to see if it meets your needs for recipes and food costs. Test with your own recipes and check if you get the same insights as with Horeko.
✨ Pro tip
Run a 2-week parallel test with your current system. Input your top 12 menu items and compare cost calculations across 3 different suppliers. You'll quickly see if you can get identical insights for 80% less money.
Was this article helpful?
Frequently asked questions
Can I use specialized recipe software alongside my existing POS system?
Absolutely. Most recipe and cost management tools work independently of your POS setup. You don't need to replace anything - just add focused cost control to your current operations.
What if I've stored recipes in Horeko for years?
You'll need to manually transfer your recipes to new software. Takes some effort upfront, but then you'll have a system laser-focused on cost calculation rather than treating it as an afterthought.
How do I know if I need enterprise-level features like Apicbase?
If you're managing 10+ locations with complex supplier relationships and centralized purchasing, enterprise tools make sense. For independent restaurants or small chains, simpler solutions usually deliver the same cost insights.
Can I cancel my Horeko contract early?
Contract terms vary, but most require you to stick it out until renewal time. Start testing alternatives now so you're ready to make an informed decision when your contract expires.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
Compare for yourself — KitchenNmbrs vs. the rest
There are multiple food cost tools on the market. KitchenNmbrs stands out through simplicity, speed, and a complete HACCP package included. Test it free for 14 days and judge for yourself.
Start free trial →