Software · head to head
Magento vs Toast
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Magento magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code; Toast starter tier lacks advanced features; most capabilities require paid plans above $69/month
- They diverge on capability: Magento covers Multi-store management, Toast covers Point of sale.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Magento and Toast actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Magento
- Multi-store management
- Advanced product catalog
- Customer segmentation
- Order management system
- Inventory management
- Progressive Web App
- GraphQL API
- Security & compliance
Only in Toast
- Point of sale
- Order management
- Kitchen display system
- Employee scheduling
- Customer management
- Inventory tracking
- Analytics & reporting
- Delivery integration
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Magento
- Magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code
Toast
- Starter tier lacks advanced features; most capabilities require paid plans above $69/month
- No free tier for advanced features like employee scheduling, inventory, or loyalty programs
- Setup and training time required for complex multi-location deployments
- Payment processing tied to Toast ecosystem; limited flexibility for alternative payment processors
- Hardware costs can be substantial for full-featured setups with multiple terminals and kitchen displays
Pricing, plan by plan
Magento
Free- Magento Open SourceFree
- Unlimited products
- Multiple storefronts
- Advanced marketing
- Adobe Commerce$20000/year
- All Open Source features
- 24/7 enterprise support
- Managed cloud hosting
Toast
Free- Starter KitFree
- Cloud-based POS
- Payment processing
- 1-2 terminals
- Point of Sale$69/month
- Custom hardware configurations
- Advanced reporting
- Core POS features
Which should you pick?
Choose Magento if
- You need multi-store management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want advanced product catalog.
Choose Toast if
- You need point of sale.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Tablets, Web browsers.
- You also want order management.
Questions people ask
- Is Magento or Toast better?
- Neither clearly leads. Magento starts at Free and Toast at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Magento or Toast?
- Magento starts at Free and Toast at Free.
- Does Magento or Toast run on more platforms?
- Magento runs on Web. Toast runs on Web, iOS, Android, Tablets, Web browsers.
- Can I use Magento for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Magento do that Toast cannot?
- Magento covers Multi-store management, Advanced product catalog, Customer segmentation, Order management system. Toast covers Point of sale, Order management, Kitchen display system, Employee scheduling.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Toast: What is the cost of Toast POS?
Toast offers a free Starter Kit tier for one or two terminals with POS and payment processing at no upfront cost, though costs are built into payment processing rates. Paid plans start at $69/month for the Point of Sale plan, with Custom tier available via quote for advanced features.
SourceToast: Does Toast include online ordering?
Yes. Toast offers online ordering capabilities where customers can order via QR code while seated (Order & Pay) or through standalone online ordering integrated with the POS for kitchen automation.
SourceToast: Does Toast offer drive-through capabilities?
Yes. In April 2026, Toast launched a drive-thru product supporting voice ordering through integrations, allowing restaurants to automate drive-through workflows.
Source