Gusto vs Toast POS: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Toast POS — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Gusto wins on our scorecard (7.9/10 vs 7.7/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | Toast POS |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 6 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 9 | 9 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Starter Kit | — | $0/mo (plus higher processing) |
| Standard POS Plan | — | $69/mo |
| Processing Fee | — | Varies (typically 2.49% + $0.15) |
| Installation | — | Starts at $499 |
Gusto in one paragraph
Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Skip it if: You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Toast POS in one paragraph
The most powerful restaurant-specific POS on the market, provided you can handle being locked into their ecosystem.
Skip it if: You run a low-volume retail shop or a seasonal business that can't justify high monthly software fees during the off-season.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or Toast POS?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.7/10). Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Who should skip Gusto?
You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Who should skip Toast POS?
You run a low-volume retail shop or a seasonal business that can't justify high monthly software fees during the off-season.