Toast POS Review 2025: Complete Guide, Pricing & Expert Analysis
Our Verdict: Toast is the best restaurant-specific POS system in 2025. Built exclusively for food service, it offers unmatched features for table management, kitchen operations, and online ordering. The free starter plan makes it accessible to new restaurants, while enterprise features satisfy the largest chains.
Toast POS at a Glance
- Best For: Restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, catering
- Price: $0 – $165+/month
- Processing: 2.49% + $0.15 (Starter) to negotiable
- Contract: 2-year standard, negotiable
- Hardware: Proprietary Android terminals
What is Toast POS?
Toast is a restaurant management platform launched in 2012 in Boston. Unlike general-purpose POS systems, Toast was built from day one specifically for restaurants. It went public in 2021 and now serves over 100,000 restaurant locations.
The platform combines point of sale, online ordering, delivery management, payroll, and marketing into a unified restaurant operating system.
Toast POS Pricing in 2025
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Kit | $0 | New restaurants, limited budget |
| Point of Sale | $69 | Growing restaurants |
| Build Your Own | Custom | Multi-location, enterprise |
Add-On Modules
- Toast Online Ordering: Included or flat-rate option
- Toast Payroll: $40/month + $6/employee
- Toast Team Management: $30/month/location
- Toast Marketing: $75/month
- Toast Scheduling: Included with Team Management
Payment Processing
- Starter Kit: 2.99% + $0.15 (in-person)
- Point of Sale: 2.49% + $0.15 (in-person)
- Enterprise: Negotiable rates
- Online: 3.5% (standard) or flat-rate options
Hardware
- Toast Flex (terminal): $0 – $799
- Toast Go 2 (handheld): $409
- Kitchen Display System: $499
- Guest Self-Service Kiosk: $999
Key Features
Point of Sale
- Intuitive order entry
- Course and seat management
- Menu modifiers and combos
- Split checks and multiple payment types
- Quick service and full service modes
- Offline mode capabilities
Table Management
- Visual floor plan
- Table status tracking
- Wait time estimates
- Reservation integration
- Guest notifications
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
- Digital ticket routing
- Cook time tracking
- All-day counts
- Bump bar or touch screen
- Multiple prep stations
Online Ordering
- Toast TakeOut (commission-free)
- Branded ordering website
- Order scheduling
- Menu synced with POS
- Delivery and pickup options
Delivery Management
- Integration with DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
- Toast Delivery Services
- Order throttling
- Centralized order management
- Driver dispatch
Team Management
- Scheduling and shifts
- Time clock with punch in/out
- Tip pooling and distribution
- Performance tracking
- Labor cost vs sales reporting
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Restaurant-built: Every feature designed for food service
- Free starter plan: No upfront cost option
- Hardware durability: Spill and grease resistant
- Online ordering: Toast TakeOut is excellent
- Integration depth: All features work together seamlessly
- 24/7 support: Restaurant-specialized support team
- Handheld ordering: Toast Go is excellent for tableside
What Could Be Better
- Proprietary hardware: Must use Toast devices
- Processing lock-in: Must use Toast Payments
- Contract length: 2-year standard commitment
- Add-on costs: Features add up quickly
- Not for retail: Restaurant-only platform
Who Should Use Toast?
Ideal For:
- Full-service restaurants
- Quick-service restaurants
- Bars and nightclubs
- Cafes and coffee shops
- Food trucks
- Catering operations
- Multi-location restaurant groups
Consider Alternatives If:
- You run a retail business (not restaurants)
- You want to avoid proprietary hardware
- You need to use your own payment processor
- You prefer month-to-month contracts
Toast vs Competitors
- Toast vs Square – For flexibility comparison
- Toast vs Lightspeed – Restaurant leaders
- Revel vs Toast – Enterprise comparison
- TouchBistro vs Toast – iPad vs Android
Customer Support
- Phone: 24/7/365 for all customers
- Chat: Available through Dashboard
- Email: Ticket-based support
- Toast Central: Extensive knowledge base
- Onboarding: Dedicated implementation team
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toast free?
Toast offers a Starter Kit at $0/month, but with higher processing rates (2.99% + $0.15). Most growing restaurants benefit from paid plans with lower rates.
Can I use my own payment processor?
No, Toast requires using Toast Payments. This simplifies setup but limits flexibility. High-volume restaurants can negotiate rates.
Is Toast good for food trucks?
Yes, Toast Go handheld devices are popular with food trucks. Offline mode works well when cellular connectivity is spotty.
How long is the Toast contract?
Standard contracts are 2 years with hardware financing. Some flexibility exists for cash purchases or enterprise deals.
Does Toast integrate with accounting software?
Yes, Toast integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and Restaurant365. Daily sales data syncs automatically.
Our Bottom Line
Toast is the gold standard for restaurant POS in 2025. Its purpose-built features, durable hardware, and integrated online ordering make it the top choice for serious restaurant operators. The Starter Kit removes barriers for new restaurants, while enterprise features satisfy the largest chains.
If you run a restaurant and want a platform designed specifically for your industry, Toast should be at the top of your list.
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