A Square vs Toast comparison
What’s the best all-in-one restaurant POS system for you?
For front of house, back of house and everywhere in between.
One flexible solution that helps you deliver great diner experiences, maximise kitchen efficiency, and streamline vendors. All the benefits of working with a trusted, technology-first restaurant partner without any long-term contracts or hidden fees.
How Square compares to Toast*
| Trustpilot scores | Square: 4.0 | Toast: 3.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost comparison | ||
| In person processing fee | 1.75% | Quote Pricing |
| No chargeback fees | Yes |
Fee charged |
| Basic plan cost | Free | £80/mo |
| Advance plan cost | £69/mo | £119/mo |
| Custom pricing | Yes |
Yes |
| Next day transfer as standard | Yes |
No |
| Instant transfer – access funds in minutes (for a fee) | Yes |
No |
| Contract length | No long term contracts – cancel without penalty | 1 - 3 years |
| Restaurant POS Features | ||
| Kitchen display system | Yes |
Yes |
| Open bills | Yes |
Yes |
| Fast order entry | Yes |
Yes |
| Menu management | Yes |
Yes |
| Table management | Yes |
Yes |
| Cash management | Yes |
Yes |
| Order manager | Yes |
Yes |
| Item availability & item counts | Yes |
Yes |
| Seat managment | Yes |
Yes |
| Mobile POS | Yes with Square Terminal | Yes |
| Floor plan customisation | Yes |
Yes |
| Solutions designed for you | ||
| Free online store | Yes |
No |
| Online ordering for Restaurants | Yes |
No |
| Physical and eGift cards | Yes |
Yes |
| Loyalty programme software | Yes |
No |
| Email marketing software | Yes |
No |
| Team management | Yes |
No |
| 25+ APIs for custom online, mobile and in-person workflows | Yes |
No |
| Dedicated 24/7 priority customer support team and phone line. | Available on Paid Plans for Square for Restaurants and for Square Register and Square Terminal users | Yes |
Competitive data on this page was collected as of 20th Jan 2023 and is based on information found on pos.toasttab.com This information is subject to change or update without notice. Square does not make any representations as to the completeness or accuracy of the information on this page.
Sign up for Square for Restaurants.
Why restaurants choose Square over Toast.
Square is the partner that restaurants trust to help them build the business they envision, today and in the future.
Work with a trusted partner.
We believe in transparency — which means no hidden fees or long-term contract lock-in. With Square you always know what you’re paying for, and you can opt in or out at any time based on what your business needs.
Everything you need to grow.
Whatever comes next, handle it with Square. Scaling your restaurant? Easily add locations, launch online ordering and run loyalty programmes. Expanding the team? Train your staff in minutes and manage shifts seamlessly — and do it all straight from your POS.
Keep customers coming back – and serve meals more efficiently
Stay flexible, whether your customers want to order online, in the queue, tableside, self-serve with QR codes or order for pickup. Connect your front of house and back of house, sync all your orders from anywhere and deliver even better hospitality.
Connect to the tools you already use.
Save time by connecting disjointed systems. No more manual data entry or spreadsheets. Integrate with top restaurant tools to solve problems today, make your job easier and grow your business for tomorrow.
Square is on your side.
When comparing Square to Toast, many restaurants are drawn to our fair and flexible pricing and commitment to transparency. We’re in your corner – no long-term contracts, no hidden fees and the flexibility to opt out at any time!
No more hidden fees.
Simplified and transparent pricing across all payment types and software fees. What you see is what you get.
Always know what you’re paying for.
Our restaurants use Square because they want to – Square will not lock you into long-term contracts. Pay monthly for Square subscriptions, opt out at any time, or turn on your services for seasonal business or busy periods.
Better total cost of ownership.
Start with all the essentials you need to run your restaurant for free — just pay a processing rate of 1.75% per in-person transaction. Unlock advanced features with Square for just £69/month per location versus Toast’s £119 for their mid-tier and advanced plans.
We’ve got you covered.
Square provides PCI-compliant payments and never charges you PCI fees. Rest easy knowing that disputes and chargebacks are handled by Square.
Pick the restaurant software plan for you.
Upgrade when you need to. No hidden fees. Cancel any time.
1.75% processing rate for in-person payments.
Free
The basics you need for day-to-day service, including online ordering and POS.
Unlimited countertop POS devices.
Unlimited locations.
M–F, 9:00–17:00 support.
Get started
Plus
Multiple locations? Get advanced features such as coursing and 24/7 support as your operations grow.
Unlimited devices.
24/7 support.
Premium
Get a bespoke plan that scales as you expand your business.
Available if you process more than £200,000 per year.
Other exclusions apply.
Hardware for selling anywhere.
We design and build our hardware in-house, so it all works together seamlessly.
Take payments, print receipts and run your business with a powerful and portable payment terminal.
Take contactless payments anywhere with a card reader that pairs directly with your device.
Turn your iPad into a point of sale and take every kind of payment.
Get an all-in-one POS register with a dedicated customer display that lets you start selling right out of the box.
Resources
How Square works
Square connects all sides of your business with easy-to-use tools designed to give you time to focus on what you do best.
Business types
Square business software offers solutions that are essential for all business types, no matter what shape or size.
Compare Square
Learn more about how Square stacks up against other payment providers and business solution tools.