Toast POS: A Solid Choice for Restaurants
Toast is one of the most popular restaurant POS systems for a reason. Strong online ordering, solid reporting, and an all-in-one platform that handles everything from payments to payroll.
✓ Built specifically for restaurants
✓ Online ordering with no commissions
✓ Payroll, scheduling, and team management built in
✓ 24/7 support included
What Toast Does Well
Toast has become popular for good reasons. Here’s where it shines.
Online Ordering
No commissions on orders placed through your Toast online ordering site. Dynamic throttling lets you control order flow during busy times.
Payroll & Team Management
Toast Payroll integrates directly with your POS. Scheduling, tip management, and labor cost tracking all in one place.
Reporting
Detailed sales reports, labor cost analysis, and menu performance data. Real-time dashboards accessible from anywhere.
Delivery Integrations
Connects with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Orders flow directly into your kitchen without juggling tablets.
Kitchen Display System
Digital ticket management with routing, timing, and alerts. Helps keep the kitchen organized during rushes.
Loyalty & Marketing
Built-in loyalty programs and email marketing. Customers can track rewards through the Toast app.
Toast Pricing
Toast offers several pricing tiers. Your actual cost depends on hardware, add-ons, and processing volume.
Starter Kit
$0/mo
Pay-as-you-go
No upfront hardware cost. Higher processing fees (3.09% – 3.69%). Good for low-volume locations.
Point of Sale
$69/mo
Most popular
Hardware purchased upfront. Lower processing (2.49% + $0.15). Core POS features included.
Essentials
$165/mo
+ online ordering
Everything in POS plus Toast Online Ordering and Toast Delivery Services.
Hardware costs $494 – $1,034+ depending on your setup. Add-ons like payroll, loyalty, and marketing cost extra.
Free Starter Kit Available
New restaurants with 1-2 terminals can get Toast hardware at no upfront cost.
What You Should Know
Toast is a solid system, but there are a few things to consider before signing.
Proprietary Hardware
Toast only works on Toast hardware. You can’t use your own tablets or devices. If you switch systems later, that hardware won’t transfer.
Locked-In Payment Processing
You have to use Toast for payment processing. No third-party processors allowed. Rates vary based on your plan and volume.
Contract Length
Most Toast plans require a 1-3 year contract. Early termination fees apply if you cancel before the term ends.
Add-Ons Stack Up
The base price looks reasonable, but loyalty, marketing, payroll, and other features are separate subscriptions. Your actual monthly cost could be significantly higher than the starting price.
Is Toast Right for You?
Toast works well for some restaurants, but not all. Here’s a quick guide.
Good Fit
✓ Full-service restaurants
✓ Heavy online ordering volume
✓ Need payroll integration
✓ Multi-location operations
✓ Want one vendor for everything
Maybe Not
✗ Small cafes or food trucks on tight budgets
✗ Retail stores (not restaurant-focused)
✗ Want to use your own payment processor
✗ Prefer month-to-month flexibility
✗ Already have hardware you want to keep
Looking for free hardware and the option to eliminate processing fees? Check out SkyTab. Need no-contract flexibility for a smaller operation? Square might be a better fit.
Toast POS FAQ
Is Toast POS really free?
Toast offers a free Starter Kit for new restaurants with 1-2 terminals, which includes hardware at no upfront cost. However, you pay higher processing fees (3.09% – 3.69% per transaction) and are locked into a contract. The paid plans ($69/mo+) have lower processing rates but require upfront hardware purchases.
Does Toast require a contract?
Yes. Most Toast plans require a 1-3 year contract. If you cancel early, you’ll pay early termination fees. The free Starter Kit has longer contract terms than paid plans. Read the agreement carefully before signing.
Can I use my own payment processor with Toast?
No. Toast requires you to use their integrated payment processing. You cannot bring your own processor or shop for better rates elsewhere. Processing rates range from 2.49% + $0.15 on paid plans to 3.69% + $0.15 on the free Starter Kit.
Does Toast work for retail stores?
No. Toast is designed specifically for restaurants and food service businesses. It lacks retail-specific features like advanced inventory management, barcode scanning workflows, and retail reporting. Retail stores should look at Square, Shopify POS, or Lightspeed instead.
Can I use my own tablet with Toast?
No. Toast uses proprietary hardware only. You must purchase or lease Toast terminals, handhelds, and kitchen displays. Your existing iPads or Android tablets won’t work. If you switch away from Toast later, the hardware cannot be repurposed.
Not Sure if Toast is Right for You?
Tell us about your restaurant and we’ll help you compare options. No pressure, just honest recommendations based on what you actually need.