Toast POS
Toast is an all-in-one restaurant management platform that integrates point of sale, operations, and digital ordering to help you streamline service and increase your bottom line.
Square Online
Square Online is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows you to build a professional website, sell products across multiple channels, and manage your entire business from a single dashboard.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Toast POS | Square Online |
|---|---|---|
| Website | pos.toasttab.com | squareups.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has 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 | 2011 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Boston, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Toast POS
Toast is a dedicated restaurant management system built specifically for the food service industry. You can manage your entire front-of-house and back-of-house operations from a single platform, whether you run a small cafe, a busy full-service restaurant, or a multi-location enterprise. It combines durable hardware with cloud-based software to handle everything from tableside ordering to complex menu management.
You can take control of your business with integrated tools for online ordering, delivery, and contactless payments. The platform also helps you manage your team with built-in payroll and scheduling features, while providing real-time analytics to track your daily sales and labor costs. It is designed to keep your kitchen running smoothly even when the internet goes down with its reliable offline mode.
Square Online
Square Online is a flexible e-commerce solution designed to help you transition from offline sales to a full-featured digital storefront. Whether you run a retail shop, a professional services business, or a busy restaurant, you can build a mobile-optimized website without writing a single line of code. The platform automatically syncs your inventory, orders, and customer data with your Square Point of Sale system, ensuring your physical and digital operations stay perfectly aligned.
You can manage your entire business through a unified dashboard that handles everything from SEO and social media selling to local delivery and in-store pickup. The software scales with your growth, offering a free entry point for new entrepreneurs and advanced features for high-volume sellers. It simplifies the complexities of online commerce by providing built-in payment processing, shipping tools, and automated marketing features in one cohesive package.
Overview
Toast POS Features
- Tableside Ordering Fire orders directly to the kitchen from the table with handheld devices to speed up service and improve order accuracy.
- Menu Management Update your menu across all devices and online channels instantly from any location to keep your offerings current.
- Online Ordering Accept orders directly through your own website and skip the high commission fees of third-party delivery apps.
- Kitchen Display System Connect your front-of-house with the kitchen using digital screens that track prep times and organize tickets efficiently.
- Restaurant Analytics Access detailed reports on your top-selling items and labor costs from your phone to make data-driven decisions.
- Inventory Tracking Monitor your ingredient levels in real-time and identify waste to protect your margins and simplify your ordering process.
Square Online Features
- Visual Site Builder. Create a professional, mobile-responsive website quickly using customizable templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Inventory Syncing. Keep your stock levels accurate across your online store and physical locations with automatic real-time synchronization.
- Omnichannel Selling. Expand your reach by selling products directly through Instagram, Facebook, and Google from your central dashboard.
- Flexible Fulfillment. Offer your customers convenient options like curbside pickup, local delivery, and automated shipping label generation.
- Integrated Payments. Accept all major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay immediately with built-in secure payment processing.
- Restaurant Tools. Manage digital menus, set up QR code ordering, and coordinate kitchen workflows specifically for food service.
Pricing Comparison
Toast POS Pricing
- Cloud-based POS software
- Payment processing
- Real-time reporting
- Standard support
- Menu management
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Advanced reporting
- Multi-location management
- 24/7 customer support
- Customized hardware options
- Employee management tools
Square Online Pricing
- SEO tools
- Social media selling
- Pickup and local delivery
- Sync with Square POS
- Unlimited products
- SSL security included
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Custom domain connection
- Expanded site customization
- Customer accounts
- Personalized product recommendations
- Advanced reporting tools
Pros & Cons
Toast POS
Pros
- Industry-specific features designed specifically for restaurant workflows
- Reliable offline mode keeps you taking orders during outages
- User-friendly interface reduces training time for new staff
- Handheld tablets significantly increase table turnover rates
Cons
- Requires use of Toast's proprietary payment processing
- Hardware costs can be high for large installations
- Long-term contracts may be required for certain tiers
Square Online
Pros
- Seamless integration with existing Square POS hardware
- Extremely easy setup for non-technical business owners
- No monthly fee option is great for startups
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs out of the box
Cons
- Limited design flexibility compared to dedicated builders
- Transaction fees apply to every sale made
- Advanced features require moving to higher tiers