Hostme
Hostme is a modern restaurant management system that provides automated waitlists, online reservations, and table management tools to help you streamline front-of-house operations and improve guest experiences.
Toast
Toast is an all-in-one point of sale and restaurant management platform designed to help you streamline operations, increase sales, and create better guest experiences through integrated technology.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Hostme | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Website | hostmeapp.com | toasttab.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $59/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2014 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., USA | Boston, USA |
Overview
Hostme
Hostme is an all-in-one front-of-house solution designed to help you manage your restaurant's flow without the high commissions of traditional booking platforms. You can handle everything from online reservations and digital waitlists to table assignments and server rotation from a single interface. The platform eliminates the need for bulky pagers by sending automated SMS notifications directly to your guests' phones when their table is ready.
Beyond simple bookings, you can manage deposits, track guest preferences, and implement loyalty programs to keep customers coming back. It works across any device, allowing your hosts to move freely while staying connected to the floor plan. Whether you run a small bistro or a high-volume eatery, you can customize the system to match your specific seating capacity and operational rules.
Toast
Toast is a comprehensive restaurant management platform that centralizes your entire operation into one system. You can handle everything from front-of-house point of sale transactions to back-of-house kitchen displays and inventory tracking. Whether you run a small cafe, a busy full-service restaurant, or a multi-location franchise, you can customize the hardware and software to fit your specific service model and workflow.
You can manage your staff with integrated payroll and scheduling tools while building guest loyalty through built-in marketing and rewards programs. The platform also enables you to expand your reach with online ordering and delivery integration, ensuring you never miss a sale. By putting all your data in one place, you can make faster, more informed decisions to grow your business and improve your bottom line.
Overview
Hostme Features
- Advanced Table Management Design your digital floor plan and assign tables instantly to optimize your seating capacity and turn tables faster.
- Online Reservations Accept bookings 24/7 through your website or social media without paying per-cover fees to third-party platforms.
- Digital Waitlist Quote accurate wait times and send automated SMS alerts to guests so they can wait wherever they like.
- Server Rotation Balance workloads automatically by tracking covers per server to ensure fair distribution and better service quality.
- Guest CRM & Loyalty Store guest preferences, dietary restrictions, and visit history to provide a personalized dining experience every time.
- Event Management Organize special events and sell tickets or take deposits directly through the system to secure your revenue.
Toast Features
- Point of Sale. Process orders and payments quickly with durable hardware designed to withstand the heat and spills of a busy kitchen.
- Kitchen Display System. Connect your front and back of house instantly so your kitchen staff can manage tickets and prep times efficiently.
- Online Ordering. Take orders directly through your own website and skip the high commissions of third-party delivery apps.
- Inventory Management. Track your food costs in real-time and manage your stock levels to reduce waste and improve your margins.
- Payroll & Team Management. Simplify your administrative work by syncing timesheets directly with payroll and managing employee benefits in one place.
- Guest Loyalty Programs. Create custom rewards and email marketing campaigns to keep your customers coming back and increase their lifetime value.
Pricing Comparison
Hostme Pricing
- Unlimited reservations
- Digital waitlist
- Table management
- Guest database
- Basic reporting
- Web & social media booking
- Everything in Piccolo, plus:
- Server rotation
- Advanced reporting
- POS integration
- Customizable guest surveys
- Deposits and prepayments
Toast Pricing
- 1 terminal included
- Cloud-based POS software
- Payment processing integration
- Customer engagement tools
- Real-time reporting
- Standard support
- Everything in Quick Start, plus:
- Advanced POS functionality
- Table management
- Menu management
- Kitchen display system access
- Multi-location management
Pros & Cons
Hostme
Pros
- No per-cover fees saves significant monthly costs
- Intuitive interface is easy for new hosts to learn
- Highly customizable floor plans and reservation rules
- Reliable SMS notifications reduce no-show rates
Cons
- Initial setup of complex floor plans takes time
- Occasional sync delays with certain POS integrations
- Advanced reporting only available on higher tiers
Toast
Pros
- Intuitive interface makes training new staff quick and easy
- Reliable offline mode keeps you taking orders during internet outages
- Hardware is specifically built for heavy restaurant use
- Seamless integration between online ordering and the kitchen
Cons
- Requires use of Toast for payment processing
- Contract terms can be long and difficult to exit
- Customer support response times vary during peak hours