Toast vs Square for restaurants: price, hardware and terms
Toast is built for restaurants and quotes card processing in a sales conversation. Square serves restaurants, shops and services from one account and publishes its card rates. That one difference shapes the comparison: with Square you can price the whole month yourself, with Toast you need a written quote first. Figures below come from each company’s US pages as of October 9, 2026. POS Review is VoVi-owned; this page compares two other providers.
Published by VOVI POS, INC. We have a commercial interest in VoVi. Research-based assessment; no hands-on test or independent customer score is implied.
Your side-by-side comparison
US public plans as checked October 9, 2026. Regional editions differ. “Confirm” identifies an evidence gap, not an absent feature. Swipe the table or use the mobile cards.
| What matters | VoVi | Square | Shopify POS | Clover | Lightspeed Retail | Toast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software starting point | $25 Light / $39 Pro per location; 30-day Pro trialVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | $0 Free; $49 Plus; $149 PremiumSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | $39 Basic/account, monthly billing; +$89 Pro/location, annual billingBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Quote by package and sellerClover · seller package · US Provider source · | $89 Basic, annual billingRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Eligible $0 Starter; POS from $69Starter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Typical buying focus | Retail software valueVoVi · US Editorial check · | Simple selling and paymentsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Connected ecommerce and retailBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Hardware and merchant-service bundleClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Advanced retail inventoryRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Restaurant operationsStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Payment setup | External terminal with your own processor; $0 Pro with VoVi Payments coming soon (US)VoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square processingSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Shopify Payments / supported alternativesBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Seller merchant agreementClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Lightspeed Payments termsRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Toast processing termsStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| US card-present pricing reference | Request written quoteVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Free 2.6% + $0.15Square Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Basic 2.6% + $0.10Basic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Request written quoteClover · seller package · US Provider source · | 2.6% + $0.10Retail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Request written quoteStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Inventory / variants | Retail inventory and variantsVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Confirm exact tier for advanced workflowsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Admin inventory; test Stocky transitionBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | App and package dependentClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Strong retail inventory focusRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Restaurant/menu focusStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Online store | Verify required integrationVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square Online; plan differencesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Core Shopify strengthBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | App/partner configurationClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Ecommerce plan and integration checkRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Restaurant ordering optionsStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Hardware | Compatible device; separate external card terminalVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square hardware and compatible devicesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Supported Shopify payment hardwareBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Clover hardware familyClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Compatible retail hardwareRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Toast restaurant hardwareStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Kitchen / table service | Demonstrate requirements before choosingVoVi · US Editorial check · | Restaurant-specific products and tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Not the primary retail focusBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Restaurant configurations availableClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Separate restaurant product; not this Retail reviewRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Core focus; verify required modulesStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Multiple locations | Light $25 / Pro $39 per location; separate country accountsVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Software tiers per locationSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Basic/account; Pro per locationBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Location/package quotesClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Extra location quote requiredRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Location/package quotesStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Outside the US | Local Light/Pro prices in supported countries; see vovipos.com/pricingVoVi · Country-specific Owner terms + product source · | Country-specific service/payment availabilitySquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific Provider source · | Country-specific payments and hardwareBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific Provider source · | Local seller and platform availabilityClover · seller package · Country-specific Provider source · | Local retail edition and written quoteRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific Provider source · | Local restaurant edition and availabilityStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific Provider source · |
| Account currency | One country and currency per accountVoVi · Country-specific Owner terms + product source · | Local account rulesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific Provider source · | Store and payment-country rulesBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific Provider source · | Seller/account rulesClover · seller package · Country-specific Provider source · | Edition/account configurationRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific Provider source · | Local account configurationStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific Provider source · |
| Before signing | Test support, exports and processor conditionsVoVi · US Editorial check · | Confirm paid feature entitlementsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Confirm Pro, subscriptions and inventory workflowBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Check reseller contract and equipment ownershipClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Confirm annual terms, registers and locationsRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Confirm processing, hardware and module totalsStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Practical tradeoff | Smaller, newer company; validate operational depthVoVi · US Editorial check · | Advanced needs can move you to paid tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Added store features can raise software costBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Seller terms make quotes hard to generalizeClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Higher software budget and configuration workRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Restaurant fit; quote may add modulesStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
VoVi
- Software starting point
- $25 Light / $39 Pro per location; 30-day Pro trialVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Typical buying focus
- Retail software valueVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- External terminal with your own processor; $0 Pro with VoVi Payments coming soon (US)VoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Inventory / variants
- Retail inventory and variantsVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Online store
- Verify required integrationVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Hardware
- Compatible device; separate external card terminalVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Kitchen / table service
- Demonstrate requirements before choosingVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Light $25 / Pro $39 per location; separate country accountsVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Outside the US
- Local Light/Pro prices in supported countries; see vovipos.com/pricingVoVi · Country-specific
Owner terms + product source · - Account currency
- One country and currency per accountVoVi · Country-specific
Owner terms + product source · - Before signing
- Test support, exports and processor conditionsVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Smaller, newer company; validate operational depthVoVi · US
Editorial check ·
Square
- Software starting point
- $0 Free; $49 Plus; $149 PremiumSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Simple selling and paymentsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Square processingSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Free 2.6% + $0.15Square Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Confirm exact tier for advanced workflowsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Square Online; plan differencesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Square hardware and compatible devicesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Restaurant-specific products and tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Software tiers per locationSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Country-specific service/payment availabilitySquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Local account rulesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm paid feature entitlementsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Advanced needs can move you to paid tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check ·
Shopify POS
- Software starting point
- $39 Basic/account, monthly billing; +$89 Pro/location, annual billingBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Connected ecommerce and retailBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Shopify Payments / supported alternativesBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Basic 2.6% + $0.10Basic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Admin inventory; test Stocky transitionBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Core Shopify strengthBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Supported Shopify payment hardwareBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Not the primary retail focusBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Basic/account; Pro per locationBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Country-specific payments and hardwareBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Store and payment-country rulesBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm Pro, subscriptions and inventory workflowBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Added store features can raise software costBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check ·
Clover
- Software starting point
- Quote by package and sellerClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Hardware and merchant-service bundleClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Seller merchant agreementClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- App and package dependentClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Online store
- App/partner configurationClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Clover hardware familyClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Restaurant configurations availableClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Location/package quotesClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local seller and platform availabilityClover · seller package · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Seller/account rulesClover · seller package · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Check reseller contract and equipment ownershipClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Seller terms make quotes hard to generalizeClover · seller package · US
Editorial check ·
Lightspeed Retail
- Software starting point
- $89 Basic, annual billingRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Advanced retail inventoryRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Lightspeed Payments termsRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- 2.6% + $0.10Retail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Strong retail inventory focusRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Ecommerce plan and integration checkRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Compatible retail hardwareRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Separate restaurant product; not this Retail reviewRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Extra location quote requiredRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local retail edition and written quoteRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Edition/account configurationRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm annual terms, registers and locationsRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Higher software budget and configuration workRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check ·
Toast
- Software starting point
- Eligible $0 Starter; POS from $69Starter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Restaurant operationsStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Toast processing termsStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Restaurant/menu focusStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Restaurant ordering optionsStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Toast restaurant hardwareStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Core focus; verify required modulesStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Location/package quotesStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local restaurant edition and availabilityStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Local account configurationStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm processing, hardware and module totalsStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Restaurant fit; quote may add modulesStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check ·
Sources and current verification notes · Country compatibility
Who each one fits
Toast fits a full-service or busy counter-service restaurant that wants restaurant-grade hardware, kitchen workflows and one vendor for all of it. Toast says its support, Toast Care, is included in every subscription and open 24/7 by phone or web messaging.
Square fits a café, food truck or small restaurant that wants to start without a sales call, see every rate up front and keep the option to leave. It also suits a business that mixes food with retail or appointments under one account.
Software plans
Toast lists three US plans. Starter Kit starts at US$0 a month for one location with up to two terminals. Point of Sale starts at US$69 a month. Build Your Own is custom-priced; Toast also advertises a POS + Payroll bundle for new restaurants from US$69/month plus US$9 per employee. Toast’s footnote says plan pricing includes the first terminal’s subscription and additional devices cost extra.
Square’s plans are Free at US$0, Plus at US$49 and Premium at US$149 per location per month. Kitchen screens cost extra on Square: the KDS app is not available on Free and costs US$30 a month per device on Plus or US$20 on Premium.
| Toast | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Starter Kit from US$0/mo (1 location, up to 2 terminals) | Free, US$0/mo per location |
| Main paid plan | Point of Sale from US$69/mo | Plus US$49/mo; Premium US$149/mo per location |
| Staff pricing | Build Your Own: custom-priced (POS + Payroll bundle from US$69/mo + US$9 per employee) | No per-employee charge on the plan page |
| Kitchen display | Ask for the device price in your quote | KDS app US$30/mo per device (Plus), US$20 (Premium) |
| In-person card rate | Not published on the pricing page; quoted | 2.6% / 2.5% / 2.4% + 15¢ by plan |
| Hardware | Toast-approved devices only | Square devices from US$59; Register US$899 |
Card processing: published vs quoted
Square publishes its rates: 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium. Online orders and invoices are 3.3% + 30¢ on Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on the paid plans. Keyed-in cards are 3.5% + 15¢.
Toast’s pricing page does not list a card rate. It describes Toast as a payment facilitator that partners with processors, and says the Pay-as-You-Go option lowers upfront costs through an all-in-one platform rate. Ask for that rate in writing, along with the rates for online orders and keyed-in cards, before you compare the two.
Hardware rules and financing
Toast says its service only runs on Toast-approved hardware. New US small and midsize customers who sign an initial order by December 31, 2026 get 60% off the hardware in that first order. Its Easy Pay option is a 180-day lease repaid by withholding 0.75% of daily card sales once you are live, or 1.75% before go-live, with any remaining balance taken by bank debit at the end.
Square sells its own devices at listed prices: US$59 for the contactless and chip reader, US$299 for Terminal, US$399 for Handheld and US$899 for the second-generation Register. A café can open with one Terminal and add a KDS screen later at the per-device app price above.
How to decide
Ask Toast for a written quote with the card rate, every device line, the term length and the cost to leave early. Then build the same month in Square with its published rates and the KDS or Kiosk fees you would actually pay. Compare both totals over the same period, hardware included.
If the Toast quote wins on cost and you need its kitchen depth, it is a strong choice for a restaurant. If the totals are close, Square’s published pricing and month-to-month terms make it the easier one to walk away from later.
Sources & verification
Provider details can change. Confirm your written quote and local requirements before signing.
- Toast US pricing: plans, footnotes and FAQ (checked October 9, 2026)
- Toast payment options and Easy Pay lease terms (checked October 9, 2026)
- Toast hardware 60% off promotion terms (checked October 9, 2026)
- Square pricing: plans, KDS and Kiosk app fees (checked October 9, 2026)
- Square fees by plan and payment type (checked October 9, 2026)
- Square hardware prices (checked October 9, 2026)