TouchBistro vs Toast: Price, Features & What’s Best in 2023
With more than a decade of hospitality experience, Mary has worked in some of the most celebrated restaurants in the world. Her expertise is featured across Fit Small Business in restaurant, retail, and starting a business content.
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
Toast and TouchBistro are excellent point-of-sale (POS) systems designed especially for restaurants. Our POS experts score these systems multiple times a year across dozens of restaurant-specific criteria for our restaurant POS rankings. Both are great choices, but TouchBistro tends to be a more templatized, user-friendly system while Toast is more customizable and offers much broader features that micro-operations (like food trucks) may not use.
In a nutshell:
- TouchBistro: Best for smaller operations, restaurants with simple inventories, and those preferring iPads
- Toast: Best for growing restaurants of all types, especially those wanting expansive online ordering, delivery, and workforce management tools
TouchBistro vs Toast at a Glance
 |  | |
Our rating | 3.47 out of 5 | 4.31 out of 5 |
Best for | Small restaurants, food trucks, iPad users | Growing restaurants, fast food, delivery |
Monthly fees | From $69 per terminal | $0*–$165+ |
Processing fees | Varies by processor | From 2.49% + 15 cents |
Contract length | 1 year | 2 years |
Restaurant features | Very good | Excellent |
Integrations/extensions | Good | Very good (restaurant-focused) |
Ease of use | Excellent | Excellent |
Customer support | 24/7 year-round via phone, email, or online chat, resource library | 24/7 year-round via phone, email, or online chat, Toast University, resource library |
Real-world user score** | 4.18 | 4.19 |
*Toast’s Starter Plan comes with a higher payment processing fee.
**User scores are averaged from multiple third-party user review sites.
We’ve been impressed with both Toast and TouchBistro for many years. You’ll find them on several of our best POS lists:
- Best Restaurant POS Systems
- Best POS Systems for Small Business
- Best Delivery POS Systems
- Best Food Truck POS Systems
- Best Bakery POS System
- Best Quick Service Restaurant POS Systems
- Best Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) for Restaurants
- Best Bar & Nightclub POS System
Alternatives to TouchBistro & Toast
If you want a different combination of hardware and payment options—an iPad POS with additional payment processing options or a smaller-scale POS with non-iPad hardware—the systems below will be a better fit for you.
Best for | Software pricing | Hardware terminals | Available processors | Our review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and detailed reporting | $69–$399+ | iPads | Lightspeed Payments, BridgePay, Cayan, and WorldPay | |
 | High-volume or multilocation restaurants | $99 per terminal per month | iPads | Revel Advantage, triPOS, FreedomPay, First Data, Heartland, TSYS, Worldpay, Chase Paymentech, Elavon | |
 | Cafes and coffee shops; ease of use | $0–$60+ | iPads or Square Registers and Terminals | Square Payments | |
All three of the systems listed above operate on iPads, though Square for Restaurants also uses Square-designed registers and terminals.
If you feel that either Toast or TouchBistro will be your best fit, though, read on to see how they performed across our scoring criteria. Let’s start with the most basic difference: each system’s price.
TouchBistro vs Toast Pricing
TouchBistro outscored Toast due to more favorable contract terms, earning a 3 out of 5 in this category to Toast’s 2 out of 5. TouchBistro’s contracts are only one year (Toast’s requires two years), and it supports three payment processors (Toast users are locked into Toast Payments).
But if you look past Toast’s contract terms, the system may be less expensive for you. Toast offers a free baseline POS subscription while TouchBistro doesn’t even offer a free trial. Toast users also have several options to pay as they go for hardware and additional software.
| | |
Our score | 3 out of 5 | 2 out of 5 |
Monthly subscription fees |
|
|
Contract length | 1 year | 2 years |
In-person/advanced support installation fee | Custom | $250+ |
In-person transaction fee | Interchange-plus (TouchBistro) or third party | Pay-as-you-go: 2.99% + 15 cents Standard: 2.49% + 15 cents |
Online transaction fee | Interchange-plus (TouchBistro) or third party | Undisclosed |
Digital ordering | $50 per month | Additional 0.4% per transaction or $75 per month |
Loyalty program | $99 per month | $50 per month (or included in digital ordering plan) |
Reservations | $229 per month | Via integration |
Gift cards | $25 per month | $50 per month or included in digital ordering plan |
Marketing | $99 per month | $75 per month (or included in digital ordering plan) |
Inactivity fee | None | $85 per month after 90 days (waived with pay-as-you-go plan) |
* Custom quotes are available, with potentially lower per-terminal fees.
TouchBistro’s add-on pricing is easy to understand. Its fees are monthly flat rate prices, so it is easy to budget for. And they clearly list most of their add-on fees on their website.
Toast users have the option to pay for add-ons as they go with higher payment processing fees, or to opt for monthly flat-rate pricing. Its number of pricing options can make budgeting a little confusing; it can be hard to tell which arrangement is better for your business. Though if you do a high sales volume, the upfront pricing is a better deal in the long run. Still, it’s hard to argue with $0 upfront.
If price is your priority, choose TouchBistro when you prefer a shorter contract and want options for payment processing. Choose Toast when you want to get started for $0 upfront or pay-as-you-go with your processing fees.
Hardware
TouchBistro and Toast operate on very different hardware. Toast operates on industry-grade, Toast-designed touch-screen tablets and peripherals. TouchBistro, on the other hand, relies on iPads for POS terminals, KDS screens, customer-facing displays, and tableside order and payment devices. Toast offers a wider range of hardware options, though. If you want self-service kiosks and digital ordering displays, Toast is the only option.
| | |
Baseline Countertop Terminal |  Custom-quoted |  $799 + $69 per month; or $0 with 2.99% +15 cents processing fee |
Handheld Terminal |  Hardware fees only; custom-quoted |  $609 + $69 per month; or $0 with 2.99% + 15 cents processing fee |
KDS Screen |  Custom-quoted |  $499 + $25 per month |
Self-service Kiosk | ✕ |  $999 plus $99 per month; or $0 with 2.99% plus 15 cents processing fee |
Toast offers easy payment plans and pay-as-you-go options for up to two terminals. TouchBistro requires custom quotes for its hardware, with no pay-as-you-go options. TouchBistro also does not support self-ordering kiosks. So, if kiosks are a must-have, Toast is a better bet.
If hardware is important to you, choose TouchBistro when you want to use iPads for all your terminal needs. Choose Toast when you need self-service kiosks or industry-grade hardware.
Payments
TouchBistro has the edge over Toast for payment processing. TouchBistro has interchange-plus payment processing fees and lets you choose your own payment processor from the built-in TB Payments, TSYS, or Square. So, you can shop for the best rates, which may save you money.
| | |
Payment types | Credit, debit, check | Credit, debit, check, mobile wallets, and automated clearing house (ACH) |
In-person processing rates | Varies by processor (TB Payments, TSYS, Square) | 2.49%–2.99% + 15 cents |
Pre-authorized bar tabs | ✓ | ✓ |
Quick Response (QR) codes | ✓ | ✓ |
Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Online payments | ✓ | ✓ |
Offline payments | ✓ | ✓ |
Toast only supports the built-in Toast Payments, with rates starting at 2.49% + 15 cents per transaction for customers to pay upfront for hardware. High-volume restaurants can also request a custom rate quote, which will likely be lower. Though, with Toast, you can pay for additional software and hardware purchases by agreeing to higher processing fees, which can help small restaurants get advanced tools with no money down.
If payment processing is a major concern, choose TouchBistro when you want to shop for processing rates. Choose Toast when you want built-in payments or want to use processing fees to pay for additional services.
TouchBistro vs Toast General Features
Toast scored higher than TouchBistro in this category because it includes more customizable reports and much more expansive workforce management tools. TouchBistro’s reports are mostly templatized, and some are only available on the POS, the back-office dashboard, or as PDFs.
TouchBistro also acts as a time clock to record your employees’ hours, but it falls well short of Toast’s full-spectrum employee management, which includes automated tip pool calculations, scheduling, and even onboarding paperwork.
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Our score | 3.44 out of 5 | 4.13 out of 5 |
Reporting | Templated | Customizable; advanced |
Inventory | ✓ | Via integration |
Order modifications | ✓ | ✓ |
Course management | ✓ | ✓ |
Scheduling | Via integration | ✓ |
Time clock | ✓ | ✓ |
Time off management | Via integration | ✓ |
Since our last update:
Toast discontinued the excellent, built-in Toast Inventory. Instead, Toast offers direct integration with xtraCHEF by Toast, a complete inventory, vendor management, and purchase order management tool. Pricing is custom-quoted by Toast.
TouchBistro includes real-time, ingredient-level inventory tracking in the baseline POS. Toast no longer includes this. Toast users have the option to add on the xtraCHEF by Toast app to their POS for a custom-quoted fee.
This is where things get a little nuanced; if you plan to track your inventory in real time, Toast’s inventory tool is functionally a lot stronger and easier to use. But, it costs more. TouchBistro includes ingredient-level inventory, but the module needs a lot of manual updating to stay current and is a little clunky to use.
If general POS functionality is your highest priority, choose TouchBistro when you need a simple system with few bells and whistles, and basic inventory and reporting are enough. Choose Toast when you need customizable reports, robust workforce management, and user-friendly inventory management.
TouchBistro vs Toast Niche POS Features
Toast has many, many more advanced features than TouchBistro. Most of them are optional add-ons and come with additional monthly fees (or higher transaction fees). If you need automated tip pool management, a system that alerts you of local labor law conflicts when you are creating employee schedules, Toast is your best option.
If the advanced tool you need is built-in reservations, you may prefer TouchBistro.
| | |
Our score | 2.29 out of 5 | 4.58 out of 5 |
Payroll processing | Via integration | Add-on |
Reservations | Add-on | Via integration |
In-house delivery management | ✓ | ✓ |
Maps-based driver dispatch | ✕ | ✓ |
Work with delivery services | ✓ | ✓ |
Throttle orders | ✓ | ✓ |
Social sales | ✓ | ✓ |
SMS texting to customers | ✓ | ✓ |
Automated Tip Pool Management | ✕ | ✓ |
When it comes to online ordering, TouchBistro and Toast are closely aligned—in fact, both make it to our list of the top delivery POS systems. Both have an online ordering system that handles pickup or delivery and lets people order from your website or social media pages.
With either system, you can add wait times to throttle orders, so your kitchen staff doesn’t get overwhelmed. The information integrates with your marketing and loyalty programs (if you have them). Though Toast’s driver management tools are more robust, with map-based driver dispatch.
Both systems integrate with delivery systems through third-party apps. Toast has 11 integrations. Some are direct, such as Grubhub or DoorDash, and some are aggregators, like ItsaCheckmate. TouchBistro, meanwhile, only uses the aggregators Deliverect and Ordermark, which come with extra monthly fees.
If advanced POS features are your top priority, choose TouchBistro when you need built-in reservations and basic online ordering. Choose Toast when you need comprehensive delivery management, maps-based driver dispatch, and complex tip management tools.
TouchBistro vs Toast Ease of Use
If you want an easy-to-use POS software for your restaurant, you can’t go wrong with either solution. Both have excellent user interfaces for your waitstaff and administrators. Toast may take longer to set up than TouchBistro, but that depends on the complexity of your menu and inventory.
| | |
Our score | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
Onboarding help | Self or Professional (fee) | Self or Professional (fee) |
Store/restaurant setup | Easy and quick (few hours) | Good (can take weeks) |
Live support | 24/7 year-round via phone, email, or online chat | 24/7 year-round via phone, email, or online chat |
Online help articles | ✓ | ✓ |
Video tutorials | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced training | ✕ | Toast University |
Website setup | ✓ | ✓ |
Personal assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
User ease of use score* | 4.2 | 4.2 |
*We looked to third-party-user-review sites like Capterra, taking into account only the scores in the ease-of-use category.
Real-world users give these systems a tie when looking at ease of use. Both earned a 4.2 out of 5 just on customer support. This is an excellent score for SaaS in general and above average for restaurant POS systems.
We give kudos to both Toast and TouchBistro for having 24/7 year-round live help via phone, email, or online chat. Their help sections are thorough and include illustrations and videos. Both services go beyond how to use the software with white papers on many aspects of restaurant management.
Toast provides some additional help, such as with online setup. TouchBistro offers personal help remotely, while Toast has in-person assistance and training available for a fee. Toast also offers many training modules in Spanish and English.
If ease of use is your deciding factor, choose TouchBistro when you need a quick setup. Choose Toast when you need in-person training and Spanish-language training materials.
TouchBistro vs Toast Expert Score
Both TouchBistro and Toast are excellent, user-friendly POS systems. In general, though, TouchBistro is better for simpler restaurant operations. Those with a small footprint, like a food truck or a high-volume counter-service restaurant, will love this iPad-based system.
Toast offers a ton of standout features for every possible restaurant type. The four distinct subscription options ensure that large operations have everything they need, while small guys don’t pay for tools they won’t use.
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Our score | 4.69 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
Are you still undecided? If neither of these systems seems like a fit and you’re still looking for the best POS for your restaurant, take the quiz below to see our expert recommendation. You won’t need to enter any personal information, and your results will appear on this page:
Find the Best POS System for Your Restaurant
Methodology
We grade these systems multiple times a year—as we do with all restaurant POS systems—across more than 20 criteria that are important to small, independent restaurants. Click through below to see the full criteria.
10%
Pricing
30%
General POS Features
30%
Niche POS Functions
15%
Ease of Use
15%
Expert Score
10% of Overall Score
We look for systems that offer a baseline subscription below $75 per month and offer built-in payment processing along with third-party processing options. Systems that offer free baseline subscriptions, free trials, and contract lengths that are one year or less get extra points.
30% of Overall Score
We look for all the functionality a restaurant needs for check, order, and menu management. We also rate reporting and integrations. We give the highest points to systems that include fundamentals like ingredient-level inventory in the baseline POS without additional charges.
30% of Overall Score
This is where we rate standout features like online ordering, delivery management, loyalty, tipping tools, and bar and kitchen features.
15% of Overall Score
We rate customer service type (live phone, chat, or email) and hours. We also look for installation support and offline payment processing.
15% of Overall Score
We rate each system’s standout features, value for money, and popularity with restaurants. We also consider our experience testing the software.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
When it comes to Toast vs TouchBistro, Toast is overall a more complete software and better suited for larger restaurants, like sit-down eateries with large menus or with a bar or lounge attached. TouchBistro, meanwhile, is a little simpler and faster to set up, but is by no means meager in its features. It’s a great choice for smaller restaurants, food trucks, and those who don’t need extensive inventory and like the convenience of an iPad-run software.
