Software · head to head
Heartland Restaurant vs TouchBistro

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; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
- They diverge on capability: Heartland Restaurant covers POS system, TouchBistro covers iPad POS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Heartland Restaurant and TouchBistro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Heartland Restaurant | TouchBistro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $89/month | $69/month |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, iPad, Android | iPad |
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
Identical on both: 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 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.
Heartland Restaurant
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
TouchBistro
- 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
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
Heartland Restaurant
$89/month- Basic$89/month
- POS
- Payment processing
- Professional$149/month
- Advanced features
- Payroll integration
TouchBistro
$69/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Heartland Restaurant if
- You need pos system.
- You work on Web, iPad, Android.
- You also want payment processing.
Choose TouchBistro if
- You need ipad pos.
- You work on iPad.
- You also want table management.
Questions people ask
- Is Heartland Restaurant or TouchBistro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Heartland Restaurant starts at $89/month and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Heartland Restaurant or TouchBistro?
- Heartland Restaurant starts at $89/month and TouchBistro at $69/month.
- Does Heartland Restaurant or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
- Heartland Restaurant runs on Web, iPad, Android. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
- 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 TouchBistro cannot?
- Heartland Restaurant covers POS system, Payment processing, Payroll, Customer engagement. TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling. Both handle QuickBooks, Ios 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.
SourceTouchBistro: 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.
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.
SourceTouchBistro: 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.
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.
SourceTouchBistro: 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.
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.
SourceTouchBistro: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Heartland Restaurant
More on TouchBistro
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