Toast POS vs Xero: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Toast POS and Xero — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Toast POS wins on our scorecard (7.6/10 vs 7.1/10).
| Scored on | Toast POS | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 7 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Starter Software Fee | $0/mo | — |
| Standard Software Fee | $165/mo | — |
| Payment Processing | Varies by quote | — |
| Hardware Starter Kit | From $0 + higher rates | — |
| Early Plan | — | $15/mo |
| Growing Plan | — | $42/mo |
| Established Plan | — | $78/mo |
| Gusto Payroll Add-on | — | Varies |
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.
Xero in one paragraph
Xero is a powerful, sleek alternative to QuickBooks that excels for businesses with international needs, provided you don't mind the lack of phone support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Toast POS or Xero?
On our five-axis scorecard, Toast POS scores higher (7.6/10 vs 7.1/10). Toast is the industry standard for a reason, offering the best-in-class workflow for staff despite its high-cost, locked-in processing ecosystem.
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 Xero?
Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.