Software · head to head
Heartland Restaurant vs Toast POS
Heartland Restaurant
Software
Complete restaurant management ecosystem
- From
- $89/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Heartland Restaurant high processing fees and early termination penalties increase total cost of ownership; Toast POS free tier limited to one or two terminals
- They diverge on capability: Heartland Restaurant covers POS system, Toast POS covers Cloud POS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Heartland Restaurant and Toast POS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Heartland Restaurant | Toast POS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $89/month | On request |
| Platforms | Web, iPad, Android | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Heartland Restaurant
- POS system
- Payment processing
- Payroll
- Customer engagement
- Gift cards
- Reporting
- Heartland Payroll
- Delivery platforms
Only in Toast POS
- Cloud POS
- Menu management
- Real-time reporting
- Inventory tracking
- Employee management
- Online ordering
- DoorDash
- Grubhub
Both cover
- QuickBooks
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Heartland Restaurant
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Toast POS
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Heartland Restaurant
- High processing fees and early termination penalties increase total cost of ownership
- Lack of customization compared to open-source POS systems
- Data migration to Heartland has been reported as problematic by users
- Pricing details are not transparent, making budgeting difficult for prospective customers
Toast POS
- Free tier limited to one or two terminals
- Setup fees and hardware requirements for paid plans
- Mobile ordering requires additional configuration
- Reporting and analytics features limited on entry-level plans
Pricing, plan by plan
Heartland Restaurant
$89/month- Basic$89/month
- POS
- Payment processing
- Professional$149/month
- Advanced features
- Payroll integration
Toast POS
On request- Starter KitFree
- Cloud-based POS
- Order management
- Reporting
- Point of Sale$69/month
- Menu management
- Reporting & analytics
- 24/7 support
- Build Your Own$165/month
- Online ordering
- Delivery
- Marketing
Which should you pick?
Choose Heartland Restaurant if
- You need pos system.
- You work on Web, iPad, Android.
- You also want payment processing.
Choose Toast POS if
- You need cloud pos.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want menu management.
Questions people ask
- Is Heartland Restaurant or Toast POS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Heartland Restaurant starts at $89/month and Toast POS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Heartland Restaurant or Toast POS?
- Heartland Restaurant starts at $89/month and Toast POS at On request.
- Does Heartland Restaurant or Toast POS run on more platforms?
- Heartland Restaurant runs on Web, iPad, Android. Toast POS runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Heartland Restaurant best used for?
- Heartland Restaurant is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can Heartland Restaurant do that Toast POS cannot?
- Heartland Restaurant covers POS system, Payment processing, Payroll, Customer engagement. Toast POS covers Cloud POS, Menu management, Real-time reporting, Inventory tracking. Both handle QuickBooks, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Heartland Restaurant: Does Heartland Restaurant work with multiple locations?
Yes, Heartland Restaurant is designed for multi-location operations with the Complete plan targeting restaurants with more complex requirements across multiple sites.
SourceToast POS: Does Toast POS have a free tier?
Yes. Toast's Starter Kit is free and designed for small restaurants with one or two terminals. It includes cloud-based POS, payment processing, order and table management, real-time reporting, and 24/7 customer support.
SourceHeartland Restaurant: What payment methods does Heartland accept?
Heartland includes integrated payment processing and accepts all popular payment methods, but specific details are available on their pricing and features pages.
SourceToast POS: What integrations does Toast POS support?
Toast integrates with payment processors, online ordering platforms, delivery services, accounting software, and customer data platforms for comprehensive restaurant operations management.
SourceHeartland Restaurant: What hardware options does Heartland Restaurant offer?
Heartland provides touchscreen terminals ranging from $1,295 to $1,895, handheld devices at $695, and supporting equipment like printers ($275-$375) and cash drawers.
SourceHeartland Restaurant: Can Heartland Restaurant integrate with other business systems?
Yes, Heartland offers a developer-friendly API that enables custom integrations with various third-party systems.
Source