When comparing Toast vs Simphony, 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, Simphony, rated 4.2/5, provides Global brands and multi-location operators. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: Toast vs Simphony
| Feature | Toast | Simphony |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Restaurant |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | $1/month per workstation |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business to Enterprise |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Best For | Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes | Global brands and multi-location operators |
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
Simphony Overview
Oracle Simphony is a cloud-based POS platform serving restaurants, hotels, and stadiums in 180 countries. Features 200+ integrations, offline mode, and scalable architecture from single locations to global chains.
Simphony is offered by Oracle (founded 2010) based in Austin, TX. The system focuses on Full Service, Quick Service, Hotels, Stadiums.
Key Features:
- Cloud POS
- Offline Mode
- 200+ Integrations
- Multi-language
- Online Ordering
- Kitchen Display
Feature Comparison
Toast Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
Simphony Features:
- Cloud POS
- Offline Mode
- 200+ Integrations
- Multi-language
- Online Ordering
When comparing features, Toast stands out with Restaurant-specific features, while Simphony differentiates itself with $1/month entry pricing. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Toast | Simphony |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | $1/month per workstation |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Budget to Premium |
| 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
Simphony
Pros:
- Affordable $1/month entry
- 180 country presence
- 200+ integrations
- Enterprise scalability
Cons:
- Complex for small operations
- Advanced features cost more
- Implementation required
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 Simphony?
Simphony is ideal for Global brands and multi-location operators. The system is particularly well-suited for Full Service, Quick Service, Hotels, Stadiums.
However, Simphony may not be the best fit for Very small restaurants wanting simplicity.
Our Recommendation
Both Toast and Simphony 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 Simphony if you’re Global brands and multi-location operators. 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.