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Toast Review
Table of Contents
- Toast's durable, spill-proof hardware options and accessories can help streamline your operations.
- The cloud-based software is easy to use and implement, so your staff can adapt quickly.
- Toast has numerous restaurant-specific features, including tableside ordering, online ordering, detailed reporting and menu management.
- If you run a larger restaurant, you'll have to contact Toast for a custom price quote — and costs could get expensive.
- You must use Toast's payment processing services.
- Toast requires long-term contracts, and there's a fee for canceling early.
If you’re looking for a point-of-sale (POS) system with spill-resistant hardware that complements your restaurant’s decor, Toast is a top contender. It works well for restaurants of all sizes, offering a wide range of hardware and robust restaurant-focused software. Thanks to its free plan, Toast is especially appealing for new or small establishments that want a system they can grow with, and its straightforward setup means you don’t need advanced technical skills to get started.
Toast Editor's Rating:
9.3 / 10
- Pricing
- 10/10
- Free trial
- 8/10
- Integrations
- 10/10
- Invoicing and bill pay
- 7.5/10
- Mobile app
- 9/10
Why Toast Is Best for Hardware
We selected Toast as the best POS system for hardware because the vendor’s offerings are durable yet stylish enough to blend in at any restaurant. Restaurant owners and managers can choose from various options, including handheld devices, counter displays and self-service POS kiosks.
We also like that Toast’s hardware is spill-proof and can withstand high temperatures, so it will hold up well in fast-paced restaurant environments. The displays can be mounted anywhere in the kitchen, giving back-of-house staff excellent visibility and helping them provide guests with seamless, excellent service.
Whether you run a food truck, cafe or sit-down restaurant, you’ll be able to get the hardware you need with Toast. You can purchase the devices that best suit your restaurant’s size and type and further customize your POS system with accessories like flip stands, wall mounts and printers. We also appreciate that all Toast POS devices let customers make contactless payments, including NFC mobile payments.
Toast’s software allows you to manage the entire restaurant, including the kitchen, and refine your menus with customizable modifier options. Thanks to its free plan, it’s a great choice for new or very small restaurants to get started with a platform they can grow into. Additionally, Toast is exceptionally easy to set up and implement.
Usability
Toast’s POS system is easy for staff to learn and operate, thanks to its restaurant-grade, spill-proof hardware and intuitive software. Hardware options include POS terminals, kiosks, handheld devices, guest-facing monitors and kitchen display screens, giving restaurants of all sizes flexible ways to manage orders and payments.
We especially like the Toast Go 2 handheld device, which accepts contactless, swipe and dip payments and has a battery life up to twice as long as iPad POS systems. This durable and portable device helps servers take orders and process payments anywhere, reducing wait times and improving table turnover.
Toast’s software works hand in hand with its hardware to support both front- and back-of-house operations. Its order management tools notify staff when dishes are ready, and ingredient-level tracking helps you avoid running out of key items. The menu management tool lets you update offerings from any device and control availability with item countdowns, which is a huge plus for new restaurants still refining their menus.
Toast Features
All-in-one POS system | Toast’s POS system includes restaurant-grade hardware, cloud-based software and payment processing features. |
|---|---|
Digital ordering | Toast offers online ordering, delivery and takeout options. |
Order and pay | Toast Mobile Order & Pay allows guests to browse the menu on their devices and place orders right from the table. |
Inventory management | xtraCHEF, Toast’s inventory management system, breaks down items at the ingredient level and monitors costs across all recipes. |
Marketing | Toast’s marketing suite includes email marketing, customer loyalty and online reservation features. |
All-in-One POS System
We were impressed that Toast’s all-in-one POS system includes restaurant-grade hardware, cloud-based software and integrated payment processing. We like that its hardware is designed to support a fast-paced restaurant environment and blend with any restaurant theme or decor.
Because Toast has its own payment processing, you don’t have to look to outside vendors for credit card processing or other services. If you have a newer operation, this makes it easy to get everything in one place without dealing with multiple providers.
Toast’s cloud-based software includes the following features:
- Tableside service: Staff can use handheld devices to take tableside orders, receive notifications when an order is ready and collect payments directly at the table.
- Menu management: Toast allows you to manage and update your online menu from anywhere. You can edit an item’s availability, add countdowns for limited-time items and include promotions.
- Analytics and reporting: Toast’s POS reports let you monitor sales over time and identify areas for improvement in your restaurant.
Digital Ordering
Toast also provides online ordering, contactless delivery and takeout features. These services can enhance the customer experience, boost profit margins and increase your restaurant’s revenue.
Here are some of Toast’s digital ordering features that stood out the most to us:
- Online ordering: Toast’s online ordering system lets you set up a dedicated landing page customers can access on any device. They can browse your menu, pre-order meals and purchase gift cards. The tool is fully integrated, so menu updates in the POS automatically appear online.
- Toast TakeOut: The Toast TakeOut mobile app allows customers to place orders and choose pickup or delivery. We like that Toast TakeOut is a commission-free service, unlike most third-party takeout apps.
- Delivery: Toast partners with DoorDash to provide Toast Delivery Services, eliminating the need for your own fleet of drivers. This feature works seamlessly with Toast TakeOut.
Order and Pay
We were impressed by Toast’s Mobile Order & Pay, a mobile ordering feature that lets customers browse your menu, place an order and pay directly from their table. This feature is convenient for guests and gives servers greater flexibility.
Waitstaff can focus on upselling and delivering a higher quality of service instead of dealing with repetitive tasks like processing payments and closing out checks. You can also use Order & Pay to collect valuable customer data.
Inventory Management
Restaurants tend to have low profit margins, but POS inventory management functions can help minimize waste and ensure you have the correct amount of ingredients on hand. That’s what makes xtraCHEF, Toast’s inventory management system, so helpful. It breaks down everything on your menu at the ingredient level and lets you track pricing changes for each item.
After you place an initial inventory order, Toast creates an order guide based on what’s on hand and your restaurant’s needs. You can set up recurring orders and send them directly to your suppliers.
Marketing
Toast’s marketing suite helps restaurants of all sizes improve customer loyalty and drive repeat business. It includes the following:
- Email marketing tools: Its fully integrated email marketing tool lets you build an email list, create automated campaigns and send weekly email newsletters. You can also track open rates, click-through rates and revenue performance to see how successful your campaigns are.
- Loyalty tools: Toast’s customer loyalty program incentivizes your best customers to keep coming back. You can create a customizable loyalty program and promote it in-store and online. You can also offer physical gift cards or let customers email or text gift cards to friends and family.
- Toast Tables: Toast Tables, also part of Toast’s marketing suite, is a fully integrated waitlist and reservation solution that lets you accept bookings and optimize table turnover. Customers can reserve a table directly from your website or from Google, and provide real-time updates if they’re running late or adding guests. You can then send them a text alert once their table is ready.
You can also use these tools to gather valuable customer data, like visit history, favorite dishes and special requests. This information can help you fine-tune future marketing campaigns.
Toast Costs
Toast offers competitive, straightforward pricing along with an easy-to-use system for running your entire restaurant. The platform includes all the features you’d expect from one of the best restaurant POS systems, such as taking orders, managing your menu and monitoring performance. We especially like its free Starter Kit plan, which is ideal for new or very small restaurants that want to launch a POS system without committing to a large upfront investment.
Here’s a look at Toast’s pricing plans:
Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
Starter Kit | $0 |
|
Point of Sale | $69 per month | Everything in the Starter Kit, plus:
|
Build Your Own | Custom pricing | Everything in Point of Sale, plus:
|
Paid add-ons include Toast Mobile Order & Pay, various integrations, a digital storefront, marketing and payroll suites, scheduling and communication tools, and supplier and accounting suites. You’ll need to contact Toast directly for add-on pricing.
Toast Setup
We like that setting up a POS system with Toast is straightforward. After signing your contract, a Toast Onboarding Consultant will reach out to schedule a 30-minute kick-off call. During the call, you’ll review the onboarding process and set a timeline for implementing the POS system. Your consultant will confirm your hardware list, and it typically takes seven to 14 days for your hardware to arrive.
Once your hardware is delivered, the Toast team will build your menu and configure your software. We also appreciate that Toast provides training for you and your staff, so everyone feels confident using the system independently.
Toast Customer Service
Toast’s customer service options are on par with many competitors we reviewed. As a Toast customer, you can access 24/7 support by phone, email or live chat. We like that these support channels are available to all customers, regardless of plan tier. The company also offers training videos, free tools and templates, and troubleshooting assistance.
Toast Drawbacks
Toast is a great choice for restaurants, but the following considerations may affect your decision:
- No third-party payment processing: Toast’s biggest drawback is that you must use its payment processing services and can’t opt for a third-party payment processor. This means businesses must accept whatever fees Toast charges, which might be higher than those of other providers. If you prefer a POS that allows third-party payment processing, check out our review of Epos Now.
- No iOS devices: While Toast’s hardware is excellent, some restaurant owners may prefer an iPad-based POS system. If that’s your preference, read our review of TouchBistro, which operates via iPads.
- Can’t use existing hardware: Toast is compatible with some third-party hardware, but the system is designed to work with Toast’s proprietary devices. Some business owners may want to save costs and use their existing hardware. If this is your preference, read our review of Lightspeed. This vendor has an extensive list of compatible hardware.
Methodology
When researching the best POS systems for hardware, we looked at durability, available accessories, hardware variety, and overall design and aesthetics. Additionally, we evaluated crucial POS features restaurants need, including digital and mobile ordering and stellar customer service. When evaluating Toast, we compared the platform’s offerings and services to more than a dozen other POS systems. Our research helped us determine where Toast stands out among competitors and where improvements are needed.
We also attended an hour-long demo with the Toast team, during which we learned how the software works. We were impressed by how simple the POS system is to use and appreciated that the company is constantly improving its software to make it more functional for its customers.
Toast FAQs
Overall Value
We recommend Toast for …
- Restaurants of all sizes looking for an all-in-one POS system.
- Restaurants that need durable, attractive hardware.
- Restaurants that want to offer online ordering, tableside ordering and delivery.
We don’t recommend Toast for …
- Restaurants that want to use a third-party payment processor.
- Businesses that aren’t in the restaurant industry.
- Restaurants that want an iPad-based POS system or that want to use existing hardware.
