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Restaurants · head to head

TouchBistro vs When I Work

TouchBistro logo

TouchBistro

Restaurants

All-in-one POS built for restaurants

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
When I Work logo

When I Work

Restaurants

Scheduling and time tracking made simple

From
$2.5/user/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option; When I Work aPI key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • They diverge on capability: TouchBistro covers iPad POS, When I Work covers Shift scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TouchBistro and When I Work actually diverge.

Attributes where TouchBistro and When I Work differ
AttributeTouchBistroWhen I Work
Starting price$69/month$2.5/user/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiPadWeb, Ios, Android

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants), founded (2010).

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 TouchBistro

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

Only in When I Work

  • Shift scheduling
  • Time clock
  • Team messaging
  • Availability management
  • Shift swapping
  • Mobile apps
  • ADP
  • Gusto

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

TouchBistro

  • Point of Salenot When I Work
  • Order Managementnot When I Work
  • Inventory Controlnot When I Work
  • Staff Schedulingnot When I Work

When I Work

  • Scheduling hourly shift workers across locationsnot TouchBistro
  • Time clock and timesheet capture for payrollnot TouchBistro
  • Handling shift swaps, availability and time off requestsnot TouchBistro

Where each one falls short

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

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

When I Work

  • API key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • Scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting require the Pro plan at $5 per user per month
  • There is no free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
  • Enterprise arrangements are priced by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

TouchBistro

$69/month

No published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.

When I Work

$2.5/user/month
  • Standard$2.5/user/month
    • Scheduling
    • Messaging
  • Advanced$6/user/month
    • Time clock
    • Labor forecasting

Which should you pick?

Choose TouchBistro if

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

Choose When I Work if

  • You need shift scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time clock.
When I Work review

Questions people ask

Is TouchBistro or When I Work better?
Neither clearly leads. TouchBistro starts at $69/month and When I Work at $2.5/user/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TouchBistro or When I Work?
TouchBistro starts at $69/month and When I Work at $2.5/user/month.
Does TouchBistro or When I Work run on more platforms?
TouchBistro runs on iPad. When I Work runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is TouchBistro best used for?
TouchBistro is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what When I Work is typically brought in for.
What can TouchBistro do that When I Work cannot?
TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling. When I Work covers Shift scheduling, Time clock, Team messaging, Availability management. Both handle QuickBooks, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
When I Work: What is the pricing structure?

Plans start at $2.50 per user per month, billed in user tiers of five, with pricing that scales flexibly with team size.

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
When I Work: Are there long-term contracts required?

No long-term contracts, no hidden surprises, and no enterprise-only paywalls. The platform scales as your business grows without binding agreements.

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
When I Work: Is there a free trial available?

Try When I Work free for 14 days with full access to all core features. No credit card is required for the trial period.

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
When I Work: Can I adjust or cancel my plan anytime?

You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time and adjust your plan at any time or use hibernation options during seasonal downtime.

Source
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