CartFlow

CartFlow is back-office software for food trucks, market stalls, coffee carts, caterers, and other mobile food businesses. It organizes event applications and bookings alongside staffing, packing lists, logistics, and event records. CartFlow is not a point-of-sale system; it connects with the POS an operator already uses. Its reporting shows profitability by event, product, and venue, including year-over-year comparisons. Inventory tools track live stock, flag low supplies, and record usage for each event. Sales, stock adjustments, and event notes can be recorded without a signal and sync when a device reconnects. The software runs in a browser on phones, tablets, and laptops, and can be added to a phone home screen without an app store. Listed integrations include Square, SumUp, Zettle, Shopify POS, Lightspeed Retail, Clover, Toast, Loyverse, Xero, Zapier, HNRY via Zapier, and Stripe. The free plan limits users to three events and 20 sales records per month. Pro is listed at NZ$39 per month, while Business is NZ$79 per month.

CartFlow focuses on event operations, inventory, and profitability reporting for mobile food businesses, while relying on an existing POS. Compare its free-plan limits with the listed Pro and Business plans when selecting a fit.

CartFlow may suit mobile food operators managing event logistics and inventory across locations. It is for businesses that want back-office tools connected to an existing POS rather than a new POS system.

CartFlow is back-office software for mobile food businesses that connects to the POS an operator already uses. It is best suited to food trucks, market stalls and caterers managing frequent events; the free plan offers a useful small-scale starting point, while growing operations will need to weigh its paid limits and team features.

Overview

CartFlow brings event planning, inventory and profitability reporting into one workspace. It can track applications, bookings, staff, packing lists, logistics and event records, then report profitability by event, product and venue with year-over-year comparisons. That combination is relevant to operators who need to understand which events and products pay off, not just record sales.

It is not a POS. CartFlow connects with an existing sales system, so it is a poor fit for someone seeking a standalone checkout product. Its browser-based interface runs on phones, tablets and laptops, and the homepage says it can be added to a phone home screen without an app store. Sales, stock adjustments and event notes can also be recorded offline and synced after the device reconnects—a practical advantage at venues with unreliable signal.

Key features

Events, stock and reporting

Event applications, bookings, staff coordination and packing logistics sit alongside event records, reducing the need to keep those operational details in separate tools. Live stock counts, low-stock alerts and per-event stock usage can help operators prepare for each booking and see what was consumed. Profitability reporting by event, product and venue, including year-over-year comparisons, gives the workflow a business-planning dimension beyond event administration.

Connections and safeguards

Available integrations include Square, SumUp, Zettle, Shopify POS, Lightspeed Retail, Clover, Toast, Loyverse, Xero, Zapier, HNRY via Zapier and Stripe. Xero requires Business, while CSV import and export require Pro; OAuth POS connections may also require account credentials to be configured in the app. Those plan gates matter if accounting or data portability is central to the workflow.

CartFlow describes safeguards including row-level database security, per-workspace data isolation, private file storage with signed URLs, server-side authorization and HTTPS/TLS transport. It says it does not sell personal information or use business data to train third-party AI models. Its security description is not an independent audit or certification, so organizations requiring certified assurance should account for that distinction.

Pricing

CartFlow is freemium. Its published plans are priced in NZD, with Free at no cost, Pro at NZ$39 a month, billed NZ$39/mo, and Business at NZ$79 a month, billed NZ$79/mo. The pricing summary also says paid plans start at $29/mo, but the named plan prices are the clearest basis for comparing tiers.

Free is a sensible way for a solo operator with occasional events to assess the workflow, but its monthly event and sales caps—and small product, recipe and stock allowances—will constrain regular use. Pro removes those core quotas and adds five custom event fields, making it the logical step for an individual or small operation that has outgrown the free caps. Business is the fit for teams that need role-based seats, unlimited custom fields, priority support or Xero access; dedicated onboarding is also included. Team seats are a Business feature, so operators needing roles should not assume Pro covers that need.

Platforms

CartFlow supports Android, iOS and web. Because it runs in a browser across phones, tablets and laptops and can be installed to a phone home screen, it does not require an app-store installation for mobile access. Offline recording is useful for field work, though syncing depends on the device reconnecting.

Who it's for

CartFlow is most compelling for food trucks, market stalls, coffee carts, caterers and other mobile food businesses that already use a POS and want tighter control over event logistics, stock and profitability. Its event-level stock usage and profitability views suit operators comparing venues or menus. It is less suited to a new business looking for checkout hardware or a POS, and the free tier may be too restrictive once event volume or inventory grows.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Event logistics, inventory and profitability reporting share one back-office workflow, connecting planning with what each event consumes and earns.
• Pro: Offline sales, stock adjustments and event notes can sync later, which helps when signal is unavailable at a venue.
• Pro: The free plan supports trying the system without a paid commitment, and Pro removes the core event, sales and inventory quotas.
• Con: CartFlow is not a POS, so it only fits operators who already have a sales system to connect.
• Con: Free caps are tight for active businesses, including three events and 20 sales records per month.
• Con: Xero is gated to Business and CSV import/export to Pro; the security practices are not independently audited or certified.

Alternatives

For a broader catering CRM workflow, BanquetsCRM offers a free Core CRM plan covering events, leads, customers, invoices, venues, menus and team management, plus a free trial. Choose it when those CRM and invoicing functions are the priority.

Catertoo is worth comparing for a free plan with up to three monthly events, unlimited users and clients, proposals, e-signatures and a menu builder. It may suit teams focused on client proposals and menu-building rather than CartFlow’s stated event profitability and stock tracking.

Eventifood offers a free Pro Max PAYG plan with a 3.0% platform fee plus Stripe processing, along with Pro features, bookkeeping and bookings diary. Consider it if that fee-based model and those capabilities better suit your operation.

Total Party Planner has paid plans for one, two or three users; choose it if you are looking for a paid alternative structured around those seat counts.

Caiter is another paid catering option, with a free trial and a Start plan that includes up to 50 proposals per month, three users, and charges for extra users and proposals. It may be a better match when proposal volume and user-based pricing are the deciding factors.

Caterease offers paid modules including guest rooms management, prospect management, document building, web inquiries and banquet rooms. Consider it if those specific modules are a better fit for your needs.

CaterZen is a paid option whose Pro plan includes unlimited users, transactions, menus/items and orders/events. It is worth considering if those broad operating allowances are more important than CartFlow’s free entry tier.

Curate is another paid alternative; consider it if you want to compare a product with an annual subscription option.

For more options, browse Event Catering Software or Food Truck POS Software.

Verdict

CartFlow is a strong fit for mobile food operators who already have a POS and want event planning, stock control and profitability reporting in one back-office tool. Its offline recording and free entry plan make it approachable, but the free caps are modest and meaningful team and integration features sit behind Business. Choose it for operational visibility across events; look elsewhere if you need checkout software or a broader paid system centered on another workflow.