Choosing between Toast and Square for your business? Both are popular restaurant solutions, but they serve different needs. Toast starts at $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month and is Restaurant-focused POS and management platform, while Square starts at Free (2.6% + 10¢ per transaction) and is All-in-one payment and business management platform. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: Toast vs Square
| Feature | Toast | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Free (2.6% + 10¢ per transaction) |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes | Small retail shops, food trucks, service businesses, and startups |
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
Square Overview
Square is a comprehensive payment and point-of-sale platform that helps businesses of all sizes accept payments, manage inventory, and grow their business. Known for its iconic card reader and user-friendly interface.
Square is offered by Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.) (founded 2009) based in San Francisco, CA. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Services, Appointments.
Key Features:
- Free POS app
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Customer directory
- Analytics dashboard
- Online ordering
Feature Comparison
Toast Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
Square Features:
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- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Customer directory
- Analytics dashboard
When comparing features, Toast stands out with Restaurant-specific features, while Square 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 | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Free (2.6% + 10¢ per transaction) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Budget |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
Square 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
Square
Pros:
- No monthly fees for basic plan
- Easy setup and use
- Excellent mobile app
- Strong ecosystem of add-ons
- Transparent pricing
Cons:
- Transaction fees can add up
- Limited customization
- Account stability concerns for high-risk businesses
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 Square?
Square is ideal for Small retail shops, food trucks, service businesses, and startups. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Services, Appointments.
However, Square may not be the best fit for Large enterprises needing deep customization.
Our Recommendation
Both Toast and Square 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 Square if you’re Small retail shops, food trucks, service businesses, and startups. Square has a higher user rating (4.7 vs 4.5). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.
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