When comparing Toast vs PayPal Zettle, 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, PayPal Zettle, rated 4.2/5, provides Small businesses wanting pay-per-transaction model. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: Toast vs PayPal Zettle
| Feature | Toast | PayPal Zettle |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | $29 (card reader) + 2.29% per transaction |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Transaction-based |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes | Small businesses wanting pay-per-transaction model |
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
PayPal Zettle Overview
PayPal Zettle is a mobile POS system with card readers and simple POS software. Features no monthly fees on the basic plan, integration with PayPal, and affordable hardware options.
PayPal Zettle is offered by PayPal (founded 2010) based in Stockholm, Sweden. The system focuses on Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.
Key Features:
- Mobile POS
- Card Reader
- Inventory Management
- Reporting
- Digital Receipts
- PayPal Integration
Feature Comparison
Toast Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
PayPal Zettle Features:
- Mobile POS
- Card Reader
- Inventory Management
- Reporting
- Digital Receipts
When comparing features, Toast stands out with Restaurant-specific features, while PayPal Zettle differentiates itself with No monthly fees. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Toast | PayPal Zettle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | $29 (card reader) + 2.29% per transaction |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Transaction-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Budget |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
PayPal Zettle is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. 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
PayPal Zettle
Pros:
- No monthly fees
- PayPal integration
- Affordable hardware
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Processing fees on every transaction
- Limited advanced features
- Basic reporting
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 PayPal Zettle?
PayPal Zettle is ideal for Small businesses wanting pay-per-transaction model. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.
However, PayPal Zettle may not be the best fit for High-volume operations where processing fees add up.
Our Recommendation
Both Toast and PayPal Zettle 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 PayPal Zettle if you’re Small businesses wanting pay-per-transaction model. Toast has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.2). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.