Toast vs Square
Square is an excellent general-purpose POS that happens to have restaurant features. Toast is a restaurant operating system that only does restaurants. For quick service and simple operations, Square is great and cheaper. For full-service restaurants, Toast's depth is worth the cost.
Our Verdict
Toast wins for serious restaurants. The kitchen workflow, tableside ordering, and restaurant-specific reporting justify the higher cost. Square wins for coffee shops, counter service, and restaurants where simplicity beats features.
Best for:
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toast | Square | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Restaurants only | Any business | Toast |
| Free plan | Yes (limited) | Yes (robust) | Square |
| Kitchen display | Excellent, included | Good, extra cost | Toast |
| Online ordering | Commission-free, integrated | Good, integrated | Toast |
| Table management | Excellent | Basic | Toast |
| Hardware durability | Restaurant-grade | Consumer-grade | Toast |
| Non-restaurant use | Not possible | Excellent | Square |
| Ease of use | Easy (for restaurants) | Very easy (for anyone) | Square |
Toast
Pros
- ✓Restaurant-native features
- ✓Spill-resistant hardware
- ✓Kitchen workflow optimization
- ✓Strong online ordering
Cons
- ✗Restaurant only
- ✗Locked to Toast processing
- ✗More expensive at scale
- ✗Complex for simple operations
Square
Pros
- ✓Free to start
- ✓Works for any business type
- ✓Dead simple
- ✓Great ecosystem
Cons
- ✗Restaurant features are add-ons
- ✗Hardware less durable
- ✗Less specialized workflows
- ✗Table management is basic
In-Depth Analysis
Kitchen Operations
This is where Toast pulls away. Kitchen display routing by station, automatic coursing, real-time communication—Toast thought through every kitchen workflow. Square's KDS works but feels like an afterthought. For high-volume kitchens, this efficiency gap costs you labor.
The Hardware Factor
Toast hardware is built for restaurant abuse—spills, grease, heat, drops. Square hardware is consumer electronics in a commercial environment. Toast Go handhelds survive shifts; iPad in a case might not. Factor replacement costs into your comparison.
Total Cost Reality
Square looks cheaper but add up what restaurants actually need: KDS ($20/mo), table management (Plus at $60/mo), team management, etc. Toast's all-in pricing often ends up similar while giving you hardware designed to last. Don't compare base prices—compare fully-equipped costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Square for my food truck, then switch to Toast for a restaurant?
Yes, that's a smart progression. Square is perfect for food truck simplicity. When you open a brick-and-mortar with full kitchen, Toast's investment makes sense. You won't migrate data easily, but menu rebuild is manageable.
Which has better support?
Toast has restaurant-specialized support—they understand 86'd items and ticket times. Square support is good but generalist. For restaurant-specific problems at 7pm on a Friday, Toast's expertise matters.