Square vs Toast: Which POS Is Best for Restaurants in 2026?

Square is usually the better starting point for a small café, food truck, or counter-service restaurant that wants transparent pricing, flexible hardware, and no long-term contract. Toast is usually the stronger choice for a full-service, multi-station, or multi-location operation that needs restaurant-specific workflows, integrated ordering and delivery, and tighter operational controls. The cheaper system depends on your card mix, transaction count, hardware, kitchen screens, online-ordering volume, labor tools, integrations, and the commercial terms in your Toast quote—not on the subscription fee alone.

Square publishes plan prices you can check before contacting sales. Toast publishes a comparison starting point but prices processing, implementation, and hardware according to the package and installation requirements. Use the figures below to narrow the choice, then compare a written, restaurant-specific total-cost quote.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register...		Buy on Amazon
2		Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register...		Buy on Amazon
3		Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with...	$399.99	Buy on Amazon
4		HENGCMM Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register...	$368.99	Buy on Amazon

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Square and Toast at a glance

This table is a screening tool, not a substitute for a quote. Square’s public prices are easier to verify; Toast’s final commercial package can include hardware, implementation, payment terms, and add-ons that are not represented by the headline plan.

Published subscription and processing prices

Square restaurant plans

Square’s current restaurant pricing page lists three per-location software plans:

#1 Best Overall

Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

• Windows 11 PROFESSIONAL POS TERMINAL - Equipped with Intel Core i5 High-Performance CPU, 4 GB Memory, and 128 GB Hard Disk. It also offers versatile connectivity options, including two serial ports, four USB ports, an HDMI output, an audio input, a DC 12V power input, and an Ethernet port.
• SLEEK & COMPACT DESIGN - Volcora POS Terminal is designed to take up as little space as possible so you can focus on better utilization of the counter space. Our sleek yet heavy-duty metal base ensures the terminal is well-stabled while taking orders with style. Suitable for any business such as retail stores, quick service restaurants, dine-in restaurants, cafes, bars, and more.
• WIDE TOUCHSCREEN - The 15.6" capacitive LCD touchscreen, combined with a 1366x768 high-resolution display, makes it easy to read and touch with minimal effort. Our POS Terminals can also withstand over 15000 hours of screen time with little to no quality sacrifice.
• IN THE BOX - Volcora 15.6" Single Screen Windows 11 Professional POS Terminal, Power Adapter, Registration Card, and User Manual.
• LIFETIME WARRANTY & SUPPORT - Simply unbox, and set up your POS terminal like a Windows tablet with ease. We do understand that additional support might be needed for non-tech-savvy users and our US Based Customer Service team is committed to help. Plus, all Volcora products come with a limited lifetime warranty so you can purchase with peace of mind.

Buy on Amazon

These are Square’s published figures for its current restaurant pricing page, accessed in 2026. The per-transaction component means your effective rate changes with average ticket size: a restaurant processing many small checks pays more in fixed cents per dollar of sales than one processing the same volume in fewer, larger checks.

Toast’s published comparison and quote process

A Square comparison table dated September 4, 2024 lists Toast Standard at $69 per location per month. The same table lists Toast in-person processing at 2.49% + $0.15 for major card networks and 3.29% + $0.15 for American Express, with online processing at 3.5% + $0.15. Those figures are a dated comparison snapshot, not a universal Toast offer. Toast says processing rates are customized for each restaurant and recommends requesting a personalized quote.

Toast identifies hardware and implementation as the main upfront costs. Package choice and installation needs change the amount. Its Starter Package includes a Pay-as-You-Go option intended to reduce upfront hardware and installation costs, but the lower initial payment does not by itself establish a lower lifetime cost.

Why the dated Square comparison can differ from the live Square page

The September 4, 2024 comparison lists Square Plus at $49, 2.5% + $0.15 in person, and 2.9% + $0.30 online. Square’s current page still lists Plus at $49 and those same Plus rates, while also showing the Free and Premium plans and their different rates. Verify the live Square page and your account terms before signing because pricing pages and eligibility can change.

Illustrative fee math

Use your actual number of card transactions when modeling costs. For illustration only, assume $30,000 in monthly in-person card sales across 1,000 transactions, with no special pricing:

The Toast rows use the September 4, 2024 comparison figures and should not be treated as a current quote. The example excludes online orders, refunds, chargebacks, taxes, tips, negotiated rates, and any non-card tender. Add the relevant monthly subscription and device costs to compare total cost.

Rank #2

Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” & 11.6" Dual Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

• Windows 11 PROFESSIONAL POS TERMINAL - Equipped with Intel Core i5 High-Performance CPU, 4 GB Memory, and 128 GB Hard Disk. It also offers versatile connectivity options, including two serial ports, four USB ports, an HDMI output, an audio input, a DC 12V power input, and an Ethernet port.
• SLEEK & COMPACT DESIGN - Volcora POS Terminal is designed to take up as little space as possible so you can focus on better utilization of the counter space. Our sleek yet heavy-duty metal base ensures the terminal is well-stabled while taking orders with style. Suitable for any business such as retail stores, quick service restaurants, dine-in restaurants, cafes, bars, and more.
• DUAL WIDE TOUCHSCREEN - Terminal comes with one 15.6" capacitive LCD touchscreen and one 11.6” capacitive LCD touchscreen for customer display, combined with 1366x768 high-resolution, makes it easy to read and touch with minimal effort. Our POS Terminals can also withstand over 15000 hours of screen time with little to no quality sacrifice.
• IN THE BOX - Volcora 15.6" & 11.6” Dual-TouchScreen Windows 11 Professional POS Terminal, Power Adapter, Registration Card, and User Manual.
• LIFETIME WARRANTY & SUPPORT - Simply unbox, and set up your POS terminal like a Windows tablet with ease. We do understand that additional support might be needed for non-tech-savvy users and our US Based Customer Service team is committed to help. Plus, all Volcora products come with a limited lifetime warranty so you can purchase with peace of mind.

Buy on Amazon

Hardware, installation, and kitchen devices

Square’s hardware choices

Square advertises hardware options starting at $59 and lists Square Register at $799 in the September 4, 2024 comparison table. Square’s broader purchasing flexibility can matter when you already own compatible consumer tablets or want to add stations gradually. Confirm compatibility, warranty coverage, and whether a specific device supports the features you need before buying.

Kitchen Display System pricing is separate from the restaurant software subscription: Square lists $30 per KDS device on Plus and $20 per KDS device on Premium. A kitchen with three screens therefore needs to include either $90 or $60 per month in its software model, before any stands, networking, or installation costs.

Toast’s purpose-built package

Toast describes restaurant-grade equipment such as spill-resistant terminals and drop-tested handhelds. The comparison table lists a Countertop Starter Kit at $1,024 and a customer-facing display at an additional $225. Toast says the actual package and installation requirements determine upfront costs, and its services may only be used on approved compatible hardware.

Approved hardware can simplify support and create a consistent deployment, but it reduces the ability to substitute an inexpensive device. Ask for an itemized list covering terminals, handhelds, printers, KDS screens, stands, cash drawers, routers, installation, shipping, replacement terms, and taxes.

Hardware questions to resolve before signing

• How many cashier, bar, host, server, expo, and kitchen positions need a device at the busiest time?
• Which stations need printers in addition to KDS screens?
• Are customer-facing displays, kiosks, and handhelds included or extra?
• Who owns the equipment if you cancel, and what happens to leased or financed devices?
• What is the replacement process for a failed terminal during service?
• Does the quoted installation include menu programming, networking, staff training, and an on-site cutover?

Restaurant workflows that separate the systems

Course management and modifiers

Toast’s comparison says every Toast plan offers customizable course management. That matters when a server must send drinks, appetizers, entrées, and desserts in a controlled sequence or hold a course until the kitchen is ready. The same comparison says Square requires Premium for basic course-management features. Confirm exactly which course, modifier, split-check, and fire/hold controls are included in the plan you are considering.

Reservations, waitlists, and table maps

Toast Tables combines waitlists, reservations, and table management in one restaurant workflow. Square’s comparison says restaurant reservations require third-party integrations and Premium. If your host stand needs a live floor plan, quoted wait times, deposits, and reservation-to-table conversion, price the required Square integration and its support separately rather than assuming the base POS includes it.

Rank #3

Sale

Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” & 11.6" Dual Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

• Windows 11 PROFESSIONAL POS TERMINAL - Equipped with Intel Core i5 High-Performance CPU, 4 GB Memory, and 128 GB Hard Disk. Built-in WIFI, Audio, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and Ethernet ports for all kinds of connectivity. Windows 11 Professional for a wide range of POS applications of your choice.
• SLEEK & COMPACT DESIGN - Volcora POS Terminal is designed to take up as little space as possible so you can focus on better utilization of the counter space. Our sleek yet heavy-duty metal base ensures the terminal is well-stabled while taking orders with style. Suitable for any business such as retail stores, quick service restaurants, dine-in restaurants, cafes, bars, and more.
• DUAL WIDE TOUCHSCREEN - Terminal comes with one 15.6" capacitive LCD touchscreen and one 11.6” capacitive LCD touchscreen for customer display, combined with 1366x768 high-resolution, makes it easy to read and touch with minimal effort. Our POS Terminals can also withstand over 15000 hours of screen time with little to no quality sacrifice.
• IN THE BOX - Volcora 15.6" & 11.6” Dual-TouchScreen Windows 11 Professional POS Terminal, Power Adapter, Registration Card, and User Manual.
• LIFETIME WARRANTY & SUPPORT - Simply unbox, and set up your POS terminal like a Windows tablet with ease. We do understand that additional support might be needed for non-tech-savvy users and our US Based Customer Service team is committed to help. Plus, all Volcora products come with a limited lifetime warranty so you can purchase with peace of mind.

$399.99

Buy on Amazon

Kitchen routing and service stations

Toast’s restaurant platform is designed around routing orders to stations, handheld ordering, kiosks, printers, and KDS devices. Its SEC annual report lists fixed terminals, handheld POS devices, self-service kiosks, KDS, kitchen printers, menu management, and multi-location controls among its products. Square can support menus, orders, payments, tables, and online selling, but complex routing should be demonstrated with your real menu: modifiers, allergen notes, half-and-half items, timed courses, bar-only drinks, and expo changes.

Online ordering and delivery

Both systems can connect restaurant sales to online ordering, but the cost model differs. Square’s current online processing figures are 3.3% + $0.30 on Free and 2.9% + $0.30 on Plus and Premium. The dated Toast comparison lists 3.5% + $0.15 online processing. Ask each provider whether the quoted online rate covers first-party ordering only, marketplace orders, delivery dispatch, service fees, refunds, and customer data ownership.

Labor, loyalty, and marketing

Toast’s SEC filing includes marketing and loyalty products, while Square offers loyalty and website tools. Square reports 53% more spending by Square Loyalty customers based on a 2022 comparison of average spending data, and a 36% lift in revenue using Square Websites based on a comparison of Square operators during the six months before versus after their first Square Websites transaction in 2023. Toast reports a 57% lift in Toast Loyalty signups among customers using Toast Tables. These are vendor-reported comparisons with different populations and methods, not independent head-to-head tests; use them as product claims to verify in a demo, not as guaranteed results.

Offline operation and internet outages

Toast behavior

Toast says its offline mode activates automatically and covers the entire operation, including Kitchen Display Systems. That design is valuable for restaurants that cannot stop taking orders when a broadband connection fails. Clarify what can be accepted offline, how card authorization is queued, how long queued transactions can remain pending, and what happens if power is lost before reconnection.

Square behavior

Square supports offline mode, but its comparison states that offline mode does not extend to KDS. A restaurant using Square should therefore plan for a kitchen fallback—such as printed tickets, a designated expediter screen, or a documented manual process—if the network fails. Ask Square to demonstrate the exact offline workflow for your devices and confirm which payments, refunds, tips, and online orders are unavailable until service returns.

Outage test before launch

1. Record the normal order path from server or cashier to kitchen and payment.
2. Disconnect the internet during a controlled training period.
3. Place dine-in, takeout, and modifier-heavy orders; verify which devices continue to work.
4. Confirm how kitchen staff receive tickets and how managers identify offline transactions.
5. Reconnect the network and reconcile orders, tips, refunds, and duplicate tickets.
6. Write the fallback procedure where every shift can find it.

Which system fits each restaurant type?

Small café or food truck

Square is generally the more practical first evaluation when the menu is compact, service is counter-based, and the owner wants to start at $0 software per location. The ability to add inexpensive hardware and avoid a long-term contract can preserve cash while the operation establishes sales volume. Check whether you need Premium-only course or reservation functions before choosing Free or Plus.

Rank #4

HENGCMM Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Dual Touch Screen 15.6", 8GB RAM 128GB SSD, Built-in 58mm Thermal Printer

• CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN: The touch screen cash register features a 15.6-inch HD screen that clearly displays customer information. This all-in-one cash register features dual HD displays (1366×768 resolution) for fast response, making it suitable for high-frequency business applications
• HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONFIGURATION: i5 dual-core CPU, 8GB RAM + 128GB SSD, dual-band Wi-Fi, speakers, Windows support, multiple languages, and compatibility with various cash register software (not included), providing a smooth checkout experience
• MULTI-FUNCTIONAL INTERFACES: 6 USB ports, 1 100Mbps Ethernet port, 1 VGA port, 1 serial port, 2 audio jacks, and a wealth of other functional interfaces. Easily connect to peripherals such as receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash registers, and payment devices
• USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN: The built-in 58mm large gear printer takes up minimal space, is easily removable, and prints quickly and clearly. The screen rotates at multiple angles to accommodate various working postures. It's secure and stable, and can be used even without an internet connection
• VERSATILE: The touch screen POS cash register provides a convenient ordering and payment solution for a variety of retail formats, enabling efficient transaction processing and inventory management, whether you're a convenience store, a busy restaurant, or a supermarket

$368.99

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Fast-casual or counter-service restaurant

Compare Square Plus with the actual Toast package. Square’s $49 monthly plan may be attractive when online selling, basic kitchen production, and straightforward payments cover the workflow. Toast may justify its higher software and hardware commitment when you need purpose-built terminals, kiosks, integrated delivery, or more elaborate station routing.

Full-service dining room

Toast deserves the first detailed demonstration when coursing, handheld server ordering, reservations, table management, and kitchen coordination drive service. Square can handle a full-service operation only if the required course, reservation, integration, and kitchen processes are available in the selected plan and connected products; price those dependencies rather than assuming the Free or Plus tier is equivalent.

Multi-location group

Toast’s SEC filing specifically lists multi-location management and menu management, and Toast says it serves more than 180,000 locations. Those scale signals do not guarantee a fit, but they make Toast worth evaluating for centralized menus, permissions, reporting, and deployment. Square can be suitable when locations have simpler operations and the organization values transparent per-location pricing. Require a live demonstration of consolidated reporting, inter-location menu changes, pricing overrides, and employee access.

How to compare total cost of ownership

Build a 12-month model for each option. Keep one-time purchases, recurring fees, and variable processing in separate lines so a low subscription price cannot hide expensive payment or hardware terms.

1. Count locations and devices. List every terminal, handheld, KDS screen, printer, kiosk, customer display, cash drawer, and backup device.
2. Enter software fees. For Square, start with $0, $49, or $149 per location per month and add KDS charges of $30 per device on Plus or $20 per device on Premium. For Toast, enter the quoted plan, add-ons, and implementation schedule.
3. Model payment volume by channel. Separate in-person, online, card-network mix, average ticket, transaction count, refunds, and chargebacks. Fixed cents per transaction can materially change results for small checks.
4. Add hardware and installation. Include purchase, lease, financing, shipping, setup, networking, replacement, and customer-facing displays. Use the $799 Square Register and the $1,024 Toast Countertop Starter Kit plus $225 display only as dated comparison anchors, not current guaranteed prices.
5. Price integrations and labor tools. Include reservations, payroll, scheduling, loyalty, accounting, delivery, gift cards, and any required third-party connector.
6. Apply contract terms. Record minimum term, auto-renewal, early-termination exposure, equipment return, payment-rate changes, and ownership of customer data.
7. Test peak and outage operations. A system that is cheaper on paper can cost more if it requires extra kitchen labor, duplicate entry, or manual recovery during service.

Support, contracts, and implementation

Support availability

Toast states that Toast Care is included with every software subscription at no additional cost and is available 24/7/365 by phone or web messaging. Ask what support tier applies to hardware replacement, payment disputes, menu changes, and on-site emergencies. Square’s no-long-term-contract statement addresses commitment length, not the response time or scope of every support interaction, so obtain those service details in writing.

Implementation plan

Require a launch schedule that names the person responsible for menu import, modifier testing, tax configuration, printer and KDS routing, payment settlement, employee permissions, and staff training. Run a rehearsal with realistic orders before the first paid service. Keep the previous system or a paper fallback available until you have reconciled at least one complete service and settlement cycle.

Questions for the Toast quote

• What is the exact monthly software charge per location and per module?
• Which processing rates apply to each card network and sales channel?
• Are rates fixed for the contract term, and can they change after renewal?
• What hardware is required, and is it purchased, leased, or financed?
• What implementation, training, installation, and support charges are one-time?
• What are the contract term, renewal rules, and early-termination costs?

Questions for the Square setup

• Which capabilities require Plus or Premium rather than Free?
• What is the monthly cost of every KDS, kiosk, or additional device?
• Which reservation, delivery, payroll, or accounting functions require third-party integrations?
• How will the kitchen operate when Square offline mode cannot reach KDS?
• Which hardware is supported, and who handles replacement or warranty claims?

A practical decision rule

Choose Square first if your operation can run with straightforward ordering and payments, you want to verify prices without a sales process, and hardware flexibility or contract avoidance is important. Choose Toast first if service depends on coursing, reservations, handhelds, kiosks, integrated delivery, detailed kitchen routing, or centralized multi-location controls, and you are prepared to evaluate approved hardware and a customized commercial agreement.

For a close decision, send both vendors the same menu, location count, monthly in-person and online volume, average ticket, transaction count, device list, staffing model, reservation needs, and outage requirements. Compare the resulting 12-month total, workflow demonstration, and contract—not just the $49 Square Plus figure or the $69 Toast Standard figure shown in a dated comparison.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

Bestseller No. 2

Volcora Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” & 11.6" Dual Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

SaleBestseller No. 3

Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Windows 11 Professional, 15.6” & 11.6" Dual Touch Screen, White, Hardware Only

$399.99

Bestseller No. 4

HENGCMM Retail and Restaurant POS Terminal Machine for Small Business, Point of Sale Cash Register with Dual Touch Screen 15.6", 8GB RAM 128GB SSD, Built-in 58mm Thermal Printer

$368.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

payment processingpoint of saleRestaurant POSrestaurant technologySquareToast