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Software · head to head

Toast POS vs TouchBistro

Toast POS logo

Toast POS

Software

All-in-one restaurant management platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TouchBistro logo

TouchBistro

Software

All-in-one POS built for restaurants

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Toast POS free tier limited to one or two terminals; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Toast POS covers Cloud POS, TouchBistro covers iPad POS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Toast POS and TouchBistro actually diverge.

Attributes where Toast POS and TouchBistro differ
AttributeToast POSTouchBistro
Starting priceOn request$69/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiPad
Founded20112010

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 Toast POS

  • Cloud POS
  • Real-time reporting
  • Employee management
  • Online ordering
  • DoorDash
  • Grubhub
  • Uber Eats
  • Web support

Only in TouchBistro

  • iPad POS
  • Table management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Customer relationship management
  • 7shifts
  • MarketMan

Both cover

  • Menu management
  • Inventory tracking
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Toast POS

  • 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.

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

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

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

TouchBistro

$69/month

No published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Toast POS if

  • You need cloud pos.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want real-time reporting.
Toast POS review

Choose TouchBistro if

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

Questions people ask

Is Toast POS or TouchBistro better?
Neither clearly leads. Toast POS starts at On request and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Toast POS or TouchBistro?
Toast POS starts at On request and TouchBistro at $69/month.
Does Toast POS or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
Toast POS runs on Web, Ios, Android. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
What is Toast POS best used for?
Toast POS is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
What can Toast POS do that TouchBistro cannot?
Toast POS covers Cloud POS, Real-time reporting, Employee management, Online ordering. TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Staff scheduling, Customer relationship management. Both handle Menu management, Inventory tracking, QuickBooks, Xero.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Toast 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.

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
Toast 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.

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
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
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
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