Toast POS vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Toast POS and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Wave wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.6/10).
| Scored on | Toast POS | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Starter Software Fee | $0/mo | — |
| Standard Software Fee | $165/mo | — |
| Payment Processing | Varies by quote | — |
| Hardware Starter Kit | From $0 + higher rates | — |
| Starter Plan | — | $0/mo |
| Pro Plan | — | $16/mo |
| CC Processing (Visa/MC) | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| CC Processing (Amex) | — | 3.4% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% ($1 min) |
| Payroll (Tax Service) | — | $40 + $6/employee |
Toast POS in one paragraph
Toast is the industry standard for a reason, offering the best-in-class workflow for staff despite its high-cost, locked-in processing ecosystem.
Skip it if: Skip it if you are a low-volume business or want the freedom to shop for the cheapest payment processing rates.
Wave in one paragraph
Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Toast POS or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.6/10). Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Who should skip Toast POS?
Skip it if you are a low-volume business or want the freedom to shop for the cheapest payment processing rates.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.