Square POS vs Toast POS: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Square POS and Toast POS — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Toast POS wins on our scorecard (7.7/10 vs 7.3/10).
| Scored on | Square POS | Toast POS |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 7 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 6 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 8 | 9 |
| Standard Processing (Swiped) | 2.6% + $0.10 | — |
| Keyed-in Transactions | 3.5% + $0.15 | — |
| Monthly Software Fee (Basic) | $0 | — |
| Square for Restaurants Plus | $60/mo per location | — |
| Starter Kit | — | $0/mo (plus higher processing) |
| Standard POS Plan | — | $69/mo |
| Processing Fee | — | Varies (typically 2.49% + $0.15) |
| Installation | — | Starts at $499 |
Square POS in one paragraph
Square POS is the gold standard for startups and small retailers who want a zero-cost entry point into professional sales tracking, provided they can handle the risk of automated account holds.
Skip it if: Skip it if you process high-ticket items (over $5,000 per sale) or have a high-risk business model that could trigger frequent automated account freezes.
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, Square POS or Toast POS?
On our five-axis scorecard, Toast POS scores higher (7.7/10 vs 7.3/10). The most powerful restaurant-specific POS on the market, provided you can handle being locked into their ecosystem.
Who should skip Square POS?
Skip it if you process high-ticket items (over $5,000 per sale) or have a high-risk business model that could trigger frequent automated account freezes.
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.