Toast POS

toasttab.com
Point of Sale
Weekend Project

Cloud-based POS system for restaurants and hospitality

How to Replace Toast POS

Overview

Toast is a comprehensive point-of-sale platform designed for restaurants, bars, and hospitality venues. It combines hardware, software, and integrations to streamline operations, payments, and customer management.

Features

41 features across 16 categories

Compliance(4)

Allergen Management

Track and communicate allergen information for customer safety.

Nutrition InformationPremium

Display nutritional data for menu items.

Security and Compliance

PCI-DSS compliance, data encryption, and fraud protection.

Tax Compliance

Automated tax calculation and compliance reporting for different jurisdictions.

Also in: Insider CDP, Airtable, 1Password

Customers(1)

Customer Management

Build and manage customer profiles with purchase history and preferences.

Customization(1)

Receipt Customization

Customize receipts with branding, marketing messages, and compliance information.

Also in: monday.com, Obsidian, Smartsheet

E-commerce(1)

Online OrderingPremium

Integrated online ordering platform for delivery and pickup.

Infrastructure(1)

Cloud Backup

Automatic cloud-based data backup and disaster recovery.

Integration(1)

API AccessPremium

Developer-friendly API for custom integrations and extensions.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Inventory(1)

Inventory Management

Track ingredients and supplies with real-time stock levels and automated alerts.

Kitchen(1)

Kitchen Display System

Digital kitchen displays replace printed tickets for faster order management.

Marketing(5)

Discounts and Promotions

Create and manage discounts, coupons, and promotional campaigns.

Feedback SurveysPremium

Collect customer feedback through digital surveys and ratings.

Loyalty ProgramsPremium

Create and manage customer loyalty and rewards programs.

Marketing AutomationAIPremium

Send targeted email and SMS campaigns based on customer behavior.

Menu EngineeringAIPremium

AI-driven menu optimization based on popularity and profitability.

Operations(11)

Bar ManagementPremium

Specialized features for bars including drink recipes and liquor inventory.

Catering ManagementPremium

Tools for managing catering events and large group orders.

Delivery ManagementPremium

Manage third-party and in-house delivery operations.

Employee SchedulingPremium

Create and publish schedules with shift management and time tracking.

Guest Checks

Split bills, merge checks, and manage complex dining transactions.

Labor ManagementPremium

Schedule staff, track hours, and manage labor costs and compliance.

Mobile POS

Take orders and process payments from tablets and mobile devices.

Multi-location ManagementPremium

Manage multiple restaurant locations from a centralized dashboard.

Staff Management

Employee profiles, permissions, and performance tracking.

Table Management

Optimize seating, track table status, and manage reservations.

Waitlist Management

Manage customer waitlists and estimated wait times.

Orders(1)

Order Management

Manage dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders from a single platform.

Payments(3)

Cash Management

Track cash handling, drawer reconciliation, and cash settlements.

Gift Card ManagementPremium

Sell, redeem, and manage digital and physical gift cards.

Payment Processing

Integrated payment solutions supporting multiple tender types and security compliance.

Reliability(1)

Offline Mode

Continue operations during internet outages with automatic sync.

Reporting(6)

Analytics and InsightsAIPremium

AI-powered analytics provide business insights and performance recommendations.

Custom ReportsPremium

Build and schedule customized reports on business metrics.

Predictive AnalyticsAIPremium

Forecast demand, inventory needs, and staffing requirements.

Real-time Reporting

Access live sales, inventory, and performance dashboards.

Recipe CostingPremium

Calculate food costs and margins based on inventory and recipes.

Table Turnover AnalyticsPremium

Track table efficiency and dining duration metrics.

Setup(2)

Menu Management

Create, update, and customize menus with pricing and availability controls.

Modifiers and Add-ons

Define customizable item options like size, toppings, and preparation methods.

Support(1)

Training and CertificationPremium

Staff training modules and certification programs.

Pricing

Essential

$99/mo
  • Core POS functionality
  • payment processing
  • basic reporting

Professional

Popular
$199/mo
  • All Essential plus inventory
  • labor
  • advanced reporting

Premium

$349/mo
  • All Professional plus multi-location
  • loyalty
  • delivery

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Toast POS

Monthly$99/mo
Yearly$1.2k/yr
5-Year Total$5.9k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $948
SaaS
$1.2k
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $2.8k
SaaS
$3.6k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $4.7k
SaaS
$5.9k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 41 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Toast POS alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 41 features.

Buy Toast POS

Better Value
Monthly cost$990/mo
3-year total$35,640
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Toast POS saves ~$1,320 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 41 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

25 known integrations

DoorDashEmailGmailGoogle My BusinessGrubhubLightspeedMailchimpMarginedgeMarginEdgeOpenTableQuickBooksResySlackSquareSquare OnlineSquare PayrollStripeToast MarketingToast PayrollToast ReservationTwilioUber EatsWorkdayXeroYelp