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Toast alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll POS systems

Top picks

  • Square POS logo

    Best overall

    Square POS

    Starting price: $49/month per location (Square Plus)

  • Square POS logo

    Best free option

    Square POS

    Starting price: $49/month per location (Square Plus)

Common reasons people leave Toast: card processing is tied to Toast, so you can't shop around for rates, and most pricing needs a sales quote and hardware is a separate cost. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Toast, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Square POS currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Square POS logoSquare POSFree plan + paid$49/month per location (Square Plus)NoiOS, Android, Web7 of 768.8
2Clover logoCloverPaid$16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront (Basic retail system)NoAndroid, iOS, Web8 of 864.8
3Petpooja logoPetpoojaPaid—NoWindows, Android, iOS +15 of 561.8
4TouchBistro logoTouchBistroPaid—NoiOS, Web4 of 442.3
5SpotOn logoSpotOnPaid$55/station per monthNoAndroid, iOS, Web5 of 542.3
  1. Square POS logo

    1. Square POSTop pick

    Best for: Small cafes, food trucks and shops that want a POS with no monthly fee to start

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Toast

    Free starter plan, published pricing and hardware you can buy online without a sales call.

    Pros

    • Free plan with no monthly fee, only processing charges
    • Pricing and hardware are listed openly and sold online
    • Takes offline card payments for up to 24 hours
    • Connects to Square's payroll, banking and online store

    Cons

    • Payments must run through Square's own processing
    • Kitchen display and kiosk software cost extra per device
    • Offline payments that fail later are the seller's loss
    Visit Square POS Compare with ToastDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Square POS a good Toast alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, Square Free at $0/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus plan
    $49/month per location
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    In-person card fee
    2.6% + 15¢ (Free plan)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Offline payments for up to 24 hours
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware
    Sold separately
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $49/month per location (Square Plus)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $149/month per location
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Clover logo

    2. Clover

    Best for: Restaurants and shops that want bank-backed POS hardware with an app market for add-ons

    PaidAndroid, iOS, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Toast

    Works with many banks and processors through resellers, with a broad app market for add-ons.

    Pros

    • Hundreds of third-party apps in the Clover App Market
    • Packages tailored to restaurants, retail and service businesses
    • Virtual Terminal takes payments from a browser with no device
    • Widely sold through banks and retailers, with local support options

    Cons

    • Terms and fees can differ depending on the bank or reseller you buy from
    • Processing fees are charged on top of the monthly software fee
    • Accounts need credit approval before you can start
    Visit Clover Compare with ToastDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Clover a good Toast alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Pricing model
    Monthly software fee plus processing
    Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    App market
    Hundreds of third-party apps
    Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Virtual Terminal
    Yes, browser-based payments
    Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Where to buy
    Clover.com, banks and retailers
    Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront (Basic retail system)
    Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard plan
    $1,899 hardware + $84.95/month (retail)
    Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Advanced plan
    $2,648 hardware + $104.90/month (retail)
    Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
    In-person card fee
    2.3% + 10¢ to 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
    Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Petpooja logo

    3. Petpooja

    Best for: Restaurants in India and nearby markets that take many Zomato and Swiggy orders

    PaidWindows, Android, iOS, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Toast

    The common choice in India and the Gulf, with built-in Zomato and Swiggy order sync.

    Pros

    • Pulls Zomato and Swiggy orders into the same billing screen
    • Runs on Windows, Android and iOS hardware you may already own
    • Wide set of add-ons: KDS, captain app, QR ordering, loyalty
    • Tiers cover single outlets up to large chains with a central kitchen

    Cons

    • No public prices; you have to book a demo for a quote
    • Built around Indian delivery apps and GST, less suited to other markets
    • Many features such as the KDS and loyalty are paid add-ons
    Visit Petpooja Compare with ToastDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Petpooja a good Toast alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    iOS, Windows, Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026petpooja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plans
    Basic, Core, Growth, Scale
    Checked Nov 8, 2026petpooja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Delivery integrations
    Zomato and Swiggy
    Checked Nov 8, 2026petpooja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Reports
    80+ reports
    Checked Nov 8, 2026petpooja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Prayosha Food Services Pvt. Ltd.
    Checked Nov 8, 2026petpooja.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. TouchBistro logo

    4. TouchBistro

    Best for: Full-service restaurants and bars that want an iPad POS with tableside ordering

    PaidiOS, Web

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Toast

    Restaurant-only POS that runs on iPads instead of proprietary Android hardware.

    Pros

    • Built only for restaurants, with floor plans and tableside ordering
    • Runs on familiar Apple iPads
    • 24/7 support included in the subscription
    • Bundles with $0 upfront hardware available

    Cons

    • Requires iPads; no Android or Windows option
    • Online ordering, reservations and loyalty are paid add-ons
    • Not suited to food trucks, catering or retail
    Visit TouchBistro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is TouchBistro a good Toast alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Essentials bundle
    $99/month with hardware
    Checked Nov 8, 2026touchbistro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware
    Apple iPads
    Checked Nov 8, 2026touchbistro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Support
    24/7 included
    Checked Nov 8, 2026touchbistro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware financing
    Two or more terminals
    Checked Nov 8, 2026touchbistro.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. SpotOn logo

    5. SpotOn

    Best for: US restaurants that want handhelds, reliable offline mode and labor tools in one POS

    PaidAndroid, iOS, Web

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Toast

    Restaurant POS with handhelds, strong offline mode and a $0 per station plan.

    Pros

    • Offline mode keeps stations, KDS and handhelds connected without internet
    • Plans published on the site, including a $0 per station option
    • Scheduling, tip management and payroll prep built in
    • Month-to-month plans without long-term commitment

    Cons

    • Processing runs through SpotOn, at higher rates on the no-fee plan
    • Mainly serves US restaurants
    • Large and multi-concept groups need custom pricing
    Visit SpotOn Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SpotOn a good Toast alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    All-In plan
    $0/station per month + processing
    Checked Nov 8, 2026spoton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    POS essentials plan
    $55/station per month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026spoton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes, automatic
    Checked Nov 8, 2026spoton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Handhelds
    Tableside orders and payments
    Checked Nov 8, 2026spoton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Labor management
    SpotOn Teamwork
    Checked Nov 8, 2026spoton.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Toast alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Square POS logo

Best Toast alternative for most people

Square POS

Free starter plan, published pricing and hardware you can buy online without a sales call.

Square POS logo

Best Toast alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Square POS

Free starter plan, published pricing and hardware you can buy online without a sales call.

Petpooja logo

Best Toast alternative for Windows

Petpooja

The common choice in India and the Gulf, with built-in Zomato and Swiggy order sync.

Clover logo

Best Toast alternative for iPhone and Android

Clover

Works with many banks and processors through resellers, with a broad app market for add-ons.

TouchBistro logo

Best Toast alternative for working in the browser

TouchBistro

Restaurant-only POS that runs on iPads instead of proprietary Android hardware.

Toast alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Toast?

Square POS ranks first right now. Free starter plan, published pricing and hardware you can buy online without a sales call. Clover and Petpooja follow it in our ranking.

Toast vs Square POS: what's the difference?

Toast is a paid product; Square POS is free with paid plans. Both run on Android, iOS and Web.

Is Toast free?

Toast is a paid product.

How much do Toast alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Toast alternatives: Square POS, $49/month per location (Square Plus); Clover, $16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront (Basic retail system); SpotOn, $55/station per month. Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Toast?

Yes. Square POS (free plan + paid) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Toast?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Toast?

The complaints we hear most: card processing is tied to Toast, so you can't shop around for rates; most pricing needs a sales quote and hardware is a separate cost; mainly available in the US and a handful of other countries.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Toast, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.