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Restaurants · head to head

Deputy vs TouchBistro

Deputy logo

Deputy

Restaurants

Workforce management for restaurants

From
$3.5/user/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TouchBistro logo

TouchBistro

Restaurants

All-in-one POS built for restaurants

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Deputy a $30 monthly minimum applies to every plan, so a team of four on the $5 Lite plan pays for six; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Deputy covers AI scheduling, TouchBistro covers iPad POS.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deputy and TouchBistro actually diverge.

Attributes where Deputy and TouchBistro differ
AttributeDeputyTouchBistro
Starting price$3.5/user/month$69/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiPad
Founded20082010

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Deputy

  • AI scheduling
  • Time tracking
  • Demand forecasting
  • Compliance
  • Team communication
  • Performance tracking
  • Toast
  • Square

Only in TouchBistro

  • iPad POS
  • Table management
  • Menu management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Inventory tracking
  • Customer relationship management
  • Xero
  • 7shifts

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Deputy

  • Staff scheduling and shift management for hourly teamsnot TouchBistro
  • Time clocking, timesheets and labour cost trackingnot TouchBistro

TouchBistro

  • Point of Salenot Deputy
  • Order Managementnot Deputy
  • Inventory Controlnot Deputy
  • Staff Schedulingnot Deputy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Deputy

  • A $30 monthly minimum applies to every plan, so a team of four on the $5 Lite plan pays for six
  • Auto scheduling, demand forecasting and labour optimisation all require a plan above Lite
  • SSO and custom access levels are Pro only at $9 per user per month
  • Payroll is an add on at $8 per user per month plus a $49 monthly base fee
  • Messaging and analytics are separately priced add ons at $1.95 and $1.50 per user per month

TouchBistro

  • Requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • Add-on pricing for features like online ordering, reservations, loyalty programs is not transparent and requires custom quotes
  • Limited to iPad hardware, reducing flexibility compared to multi-device systems like Lightspeed or Clover
  • Mandatory use of TouchBistro Payments for new customers reduces payment processor options

Pricing, plan by plan

Deputy

$3.5/user/month
  • Scheduling$3.5/user/month
    • Scheduling
    • Communication
  • Time & Attendance$3.5/user/month
    • Time clock
    • Timesheets
  • Premium$4.9/user/month
    • Full features
    • Reporting

TouchBistro

$69/month

No published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Deputy if

  • You need ai scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time tracking.
Deputy review

Choose TouchBistro if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want table management.
TouchBistro review

Questions people ask

Is Deputy or TouchBistro better?
Neither clearly leads. Deputy starts at $3.5/user/month and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deputy or TouchBistro?
Deputy starts at $3.5/user/month and TouchBistro at $69/month.
Does Deputy or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
Deputy runs on Web, Ios, Android. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
What is Deputy best used for?
Deputy is most often used for staff scheduling and shift management for hourly teams, time clocking, timesheets and labour cost tracking. Of those, staff scheduling and shift management for hourly teams and time clocking, timesheets and labour cost tracking are not what TouchBistro is typically brought in for.
What can Deputy do that TouchBistro cannot?
Deputy covers AI scheduling, Time tracking, Demand forecasting, Compliance. TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling. Both handle QuickBooks, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deputy: How much does Deputy cost per user?

Deputy offers three plans: Lite at $5/user/month, Core at $6.50/user/month, and Pro at $9/user/month. All plans are billed upfront or in monthly installments in USD, excluding taxes.

Source
TouchBistro: Can TouchBistro process payments offline?

Yes. TouchBistro has offline payment capabilities where you can accept payments and store credit card information when offline, with transactions processing once Internet is restored. However, you cannot dip or tap the card in offline mode; you must swipe instead.

Source
Deputy: Is there a minimum monthly charge for Deputy?

Yes, there is a minimum spend of $30 USD/AUD or £20 GBP monthly per invoice, effective September 1, 2025.

Source
TouchBistro: Can I integrate TouchBistro with DoorDash or Uber Eats?

Yes. TouchBistro integrates with delivery platforms through Deliverect and UrbanPiper, which aggregate orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other services directly into your TouchBistro POS, eliminating manual order entry.

Source
Deputy: Can I change plans or cancel anytime with Deputy monthly billing?

Monthly plans allow changes anytime without penalty, effective the first of the current month. You can cancel by paying through the current billing period with no additional penalties.

Source
TouchBistro: What are the minimum hardware requirements for TouchBistro?

TouchBistro runs on Apple iPads and works with compatible printers, cash drawers, and payment terminals. The system leverages iPad hardware you may already own, potentially reducing initial hardware costs compared to dedicated POS systems.

Source
Deputy: What happens if I cancel an annual Deputy plan before 12 months?

Annual plans do not offer refunds if you cancel before 12 months expire. You may cancel before the 12 months expire, but you forfeit any unused prepaid time.

Source
TouchBistro: Do I have to sign a long-term contract with TouchBistro?

Yes. All TouchBistro plans require annual contracts, and the system requires TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase) for payment processing on all new customer accounts.

Source
Deputy: Can I use Deputy without paying for every team member?

All admins and managers count as users and are subject to per-user charges. There is no option to exclude administrative staff from billing.

Source
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