Toast vs Square for restaurants (2026): costs, card fees and which to choose

Toast is the better fit for full-service restaurants and bars that need table management, kitchen screens and deep restaurant reporting; Square is the better fit for cafes, food trucks and counter-service spots that want low costs and no contract. Toast costs $0 or $69 a month plus about 2.49% to 3.09% per card payment, and charges about $75 a month for online ordering. Square costs $0, $49 or $149 a month plus 2.4% to 2.6% in person, with online ordering included. Use the calculator to compare them at your sales.

By Frisler Digital · Updated November 15, 2026

Key takeaways

Toast is built only for restaurants and has deeper tools for full-service dining; Square is simpler, cheaper to start and month-to-month.
Toast: $0 (Starter Kit) or $69 a month (Point of Sale), plus about 2.49% to 3.09% and 15 cents per in-person card payment.
Square: $0, $49 or $149 a month, plus 2.4% to 2.6% and 15 cents in person and 2.9% to 3.3% plus 30 cents online.
Online ordering is included with Square but costs about $75 a month extra on Toast.
At most volumes the card rates differ by only a few cents per check. Add-ons, hardware and contract terms decide the real cost.

Toast vs Square monthly cost calculator

Enter your card sales. We add the software fee and card processing for each plan, using published US rates.

In-person card sales a month ($)

Online order sales a month ($)

Average check ($)

Estimates from published rates as of November 2026. Toast rates are often quoted per restaurant, so your offer may differ. Toast includes its $75 online ordering add-on when you enter online sales. Excludes hardware, extra terminals, KDS screens and add-ons like loyalty and payroll.

Toast vs Square at a glance (US, November 2026)

	Toast	Square for Restaurants
Monthly software	$0 Starter Kit, $69 Point of Sale, custom for larger groups	$0 Free, $49 Plus, $149 Premium per location
In-person card rate	About 3.09% + 15c (Starter Kit), 2.49% + 15c (Point of Sale)	2.6% + 15c (Free), 2.5% + 15c (Plus), 2.4% + 15c (Premium)
Online card rate	About 3.5% + 15c	3.3% + 30c (Free), 2.9% + 30c (Plus, Premium)
Online ordering	Add-on, about $75 a month	Included
Hardware	Toast’s own restaurant hardware	Works on iPad or Square hardware
Contract	Often quoted per restaurant, may include a longer term	Month-to-month
Best for	Full-service restaurants, bars, multi-location groups	Cafes, bakeries, food trucks, counter service

Rates from Toast and Square pricing pages as reported in 2026 by NerdWallet, Fit Small Business and Merchant Insiders. Toast rates are often customised; get a written quote.

Where Toast is stronger

Full-service tools: coursing, seat numbers, table maps, server handhelds at the table and kitchen display screens built in.
Restaurant-only focus: menu engineering, tip pooling and labour reports designed around restaurant shifts.
Growth: payroll, loyalty, gift cards, marketing and delivery app integrations from one vendor, and good multi-location reporting.

Where Square is stronger

Low cost to start: a free plan, month-to-month terms and no special hardware.
Online ordering included: a branded ordering page and website builder at no extra monthly cost.
Simplicity: staff learn it fast, and it handles counter service, pop-ups and catering well.
Transparent pricing: published rates, so you know the cost before you talk to sales.

Questions to ask before you sign

What is the exact card rate in person, online and for keyed-in cards, and for Amex?
How long is the contract, and what does it cost to leave early?
Is the hardware bought, leased or financed, and who owns it if I leave?
Which add-ons will I need (online ordering, kitchen screens, loyalty, payroll), and what does each cost a month?
Does it connect to my reservation system, delivery apps and accounting software?

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Common questions

Short, direct answers.

Is Toast or Square better for a restaurant?

Toast suits full-service restaurants and bars that need coursing, table management, kitchen screens and deep restaurant reporting. Square suits cafes, bakeries, food trucks and counter-service spots that want low costs, no contract and the option to run on an iPad.

Is Square cheaper than Toast?

Usually, for small and counter-service restaurants. Square has a free plan, month-to-month terms and works on iPads you may already own. Toast’s paid plan has a lower in-person card rate, so at high card volume its processing can cost less, but add-ons and hardware usually close the gap.

How much does Toast cost per month?

Toast’s Starter Kit is $0 a month with higher pay-as-you-go card rates (about 3.09% plus 15 cents in person). The Point of Sale plan is $69 a month with about 2.49% plus 15 cents. Online ordering is an add-on of about $75 a month, and online orders are processed at about 3.5% plus 15 cents.

How much does Square for Restaurants cost?

Square Free is $0 a month with 2.6% plus 15 cents in person and 3.3% plus 30 cents online. Square Plus is $49 a month (2.5% plus 15 cents in person, 2.9% plus 30 cents online), and Premium is $149 a month (2.4% plus 15 cents in person).

Does Toast require a contract?

Toast’s offers are often quoted per restaurant and may include a longer commitment, especially when hardware is financed. Read the term and early-termination clause before you sign. Square is month-to-month.

Can I switch POS later?

Yes, but plan for it. Export your menu, item modifiers and customer list, check whether your online ordering and reservation tools connect to the new POS, and switch on a quiet day.

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