E-commerce Software
Toast
Restaurant-specific POS with a $0/mo software tier offset by higher processing rates.
Small businessMedium businessNorth AmericaEurope
Last reviewed Jul 17, 2026 · Pricing verified Jul 17, 2026
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DEV-TOP · horizontalOur take
Best for restaurants that want deep, purpose-built restaurant features (KDS, online ordering, payroll) rather than a generic retail POS adapted for food service — the '$0/mo' framing hides real hardware and processing costs that dominate the actual monthly bill.
Choose this if...
- Full-service and quick-service restaurants needing kitchen display and online ordering built in
- Restaurant groups wanting payroll/team management bundled with POS
Look elsewhere if...
- You're not a food-service business — Toast is purpose-built for restaurants, not general retail
- You want to avoid financing/purchasing proprietary hardware
Visit Toast
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Pricing
Verified Jul 17, 2026 against Toast's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Kit | Free | — | $0/mo software fee; processing at ~3.09% + 15¢ in-person, ~3.50% + 15¢ online; hardware and onboarding billed separately |
| Point of Sale / Build Your Own (custom quote) | — | — | Quoted per terminal — a monthly software subscription in exchange for lower processing rates than the Starter Kit; exact figures require a sales quote |
Free tier reality
The Starter Kit plan carries no monthly software fee, but that's offset by the highest processing rates Toast offers (~3.09%+15¢ in-person, ~3.50%+15¢ online). Most established restaurants instead choose a custom-quoted subscription plan with lower processing rates, and Toast requires purchasing or financing terminal hardware regardless of which plan you pick — hardware/onboarding costs are never included in the '$0/mo' figure.
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DEV-MID · rectanglePros
- Deep restaurant-specific features (KDS, online ordering, delivery integrations) beyond generic POS
- $0/mo software option removes the upfront subscription barrier
- Restaurant-focused payroll/team tools reduce need for separate HR software
Cons
- Higher processing rates on the free software tier can cost more than a paid plan at real volume
- Hardware and onboarding costs are billed separately and not reflected in the '$0/mo' headline
- Full pricing for anything beyond the Starter Kit requires a sales quote, not self-serve
Key features
- Restaurant-specific POS with kitchen display system integration
- Built-in online ordering and delivery integration
- Restaurant-focused payroll and team management add-ons
- $0/mo software option with higher processing rates
- Purpose-built restaurant hardware (terminals, handhelds, kiosks)
Integrations
- VERIFY
Platforms
- web
- ios
- android
Regional fit
Primarily US and Canada, with UK and Ireland availability — VERIFY current full country list.
- North America
- Europe
Best for
Try free first
Not ready for Toast? Start with our free tools — come back when you outgrow them.
Alternatives
Shopify
Pick this instead if: New and growing D2C brands that want the largest app/theme ecosystem and least platform risk
Square Point of Sale
Pick this instead if: Small retailers and food businesses wanting an all-in-one POS + payments + hardware bundle
WooCommerce
Pick this instead if: Existing WordPress sites that want to add a store without switching platforms
Wix eCommerce
Pick this instead if: Small businesses and freelancers building their first store without hiring a developer
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DEV-BOTTOM · horizontalWas this review of Toast helpful?
Toast FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Toast free?
Yes, there's a free tier. The Starter Kit plan carries no monthly software fee, but that's offset by the highest processing rates Toast offers (~3.09%+15¢ in-person, ~3.50%+15¢ online). Most established restaurants instead choose a custom-quoted subscription plan with lower processing rates, and Toast requires purchasing or financing terminal hardware regardless of which plan you pick — hardware/onboarding costs are never included in the '$0/mo' figure.
How much does Toast cost?
Free. We verify pricing directly against Toast's own pricing page — see the pricing table above for the full breakdown of plans, and check the verified date before making a decision, since software pricing changes often.
Who is Toast best for?
Full-service and quick-service restaurants needing kitchen display and online ordering built in Restaurant groups wanting payroll/team management bundled with POS
Who should avoid Toast?
You're not a food-service business — Toast is purpose-built for restaurants, not general retail You want to avoid financing/purchasing proprietary hardware
Does Toast work well outside the US?
Primarily US and Canada, with UK and Ireland availability — VERIFY current full country list.
What are the best alternatives to Toast?
Worth comparing: Shopify, Square Point of Sale, WooCommerce, Wix eCommerce. See the Alternatives section above for why you might pick one of these instead.