When comparing Toast vs Chowbus, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to restaurant point-of-sale technology. Toast, rated 4.5/5, offers Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. Meanwhile, Chowbus, rated 4.2/5, provides Asian restaurants needing specialized POS. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: Toast vs Chowbus
| Feature | Toast | Chowbus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Restaurant |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Contact for pricing |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Best For | Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes | Asian restaurants needing specialized POS |
Toast Overview
Toast is a restaurant-specific point-of-sale and management system built exclusively for the food service industry. It offers hardware and software solutions for dine-in, takeout, and delivery operations.
Toast is offered by Toast, Inc. (founded 2012) based in Boston, MA. The system focuses on Full-service restaurants, Quick service, Bars, Cafes, Food trucks.
Key Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
- Payroll integration
Chowbus Overview
Chowbus POS is a restaurant management platform designed specifically for Asian restaurants. Features include multilingual support, online ordering integration, and specialized menu management for Asian cuisine.
Chowbus is offered by Chowbus Inc. (founded 2016) based in Chicago, IL. The system focuses on Asian Cuisine Restaurants.
Key Features:
- POS System
- Online Ordering
- Multilingual Support
- Menu Management
- Kitchen Display
- Payment Processing
Feature Comparison
Toast Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
Chowbus Features:
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- Online Ordering
- Multilingual Support
- Menu Management
- Kitchen Display
When comparing features, Toast stands out with Restaurant-specific features, while Chowbus differentiates itself with Asian restaurant expertise. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Toast | Chowbus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
Toast offers a free version, which is great for testing or small operations. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Toast
Pros:
- Built specifically for restaurants
- Robust reporting
- Excellent kitchen management
- Strong online ordering
- Good hardware durability
Cons:
- 2-year contracts typical
- Can be expensive with add-ons
- Limited to restaurant industry
Chowbus
Pros:
- Asian restaurant specialization
- Multilingual interface
- Online ordering integration
- Cultural understanding
Cons:
- Niche market focus
- Limited to certain cuisines
- Less mainstream support
Who Should Choose Toast?
Toast is ideal for Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. The system is particularly well-suited for Full-service restaurants, Quick service, Bars, Cafes, Food trucks.
However, Toast may not be the best fit for Non-restaurant businesses.
Who Should Choose Chowbus?
Chowbus is ideal for Asian restaurants needing specialized POS. The system is particularly well-suited for Asian Cuisine Restaurants.
However, Chowbus may not be the best fit for Western cuisine restaurants.
Our Recommendation
Both Toast and Chowbus are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Toast if you’re Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. Choose Chowbus if you’re Asian restaurants needing specialized POS. Toast has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.2). Also, choose Toast if you want to start with a free version. We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.
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