Toast POS Pricing 2026: Complete Cost Breakdown & Hidden Fees Revealed

Choosing a POS system is one of the most expensive decisions you'll make for your restaurant. Toast is one of the biggest names in the industry, but their pricing isn't always transparent. Before you sign that contract, you need to know exactly what you're paying for.

TL;DR: Toast Pricing at a Glance

Toast's Starter Kit is "free" but comes with higher payment processing fees (2.99% + 15¢). Their Point of Sale plan is $69/month with 2.49% + 15¢ processing. The Build Your Own plan starts at $110/month for advanced features. But here's what Toast won't tell you upfront: hardware costs ($799-$1,500+), installation fees ($250+), and payment processing can add $500-2,000+ monthly to your actual bill. If you're looking for transparent, predictable pricing without getting locked into expensive hardware, RestauNax offers a complete restaurant management platform starting at $0/month with 0% commission on orders—including features Toast charges extra for.

Why You Should Care About POS Pricing

Your POS system isn't just a cash register—it's the central nervous system of your restaurant. The average restaurant spends $3,000-$10,000 in the first year on their POS system when you factor in hardware, software, installation, and processing fees. Making the wrong choice can cost you thousands in unnecessary fees every year.

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RestauNax: The Toast Alternative Worth Considering

Before diving deep into Toast's pricing, let's address the elephant in the room: you might not need to pay Toast prices at all.

RestauNax was built specifically for restaurants that are tired of:

• 💸 High monthly software fees
• 💸 Expensive proprietary hardware
• 💸 Hidden payment processing markups
• 💸 Long-term contracts with cancellation fees
• 💸 Paying extra for features that should be included

RestauNax vs Toast: Quick Comparison

Ready to see the difference? Start your free RestauNax trial →

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Toast POS Pricing Plans Explained

Toast offers three main pricing tiers. Let's break down each one:

1. Starter Kit (Pay-as-you-go) — "Free"

Monthly Cost: $0/month Best For: Very small restaurants, food trucks, pop-ups

What's Included:

• Cloud-based POS
• Menu management
• Basic reporting
• 1 terminal
• Customer support

The Catch:

• Payment processing: 2.99% + 15¢ (significantly higher than standard)
• Limited to starter hardware kit
• No online ordering included
• No loyalty programs
• Minimal customization

Real Cost Example: Processing $30,000/month in card sales:

• 2.99% + 15¢ = ~$1,047/month in processing fees
• Compare to industry standard 2.5% = $750/month
• Extra cost: ~$297/month ($3,564/year)

2. Point of Sale — $69/month

Monthly Cost: $69/month Best For: Single-location restaurants wanting more features

What's Included:

• Everything in Starter, plus:
• Lower processing rates (2.49% + 15¢)
• Multi-location management
• API access
• Advanced employee management

Additional Costs:

• Hardware: $799-$1,500+
• Installation: $250-$500
• Additional terminals: $50-$80/month each

Real Cost Example: Single location with 2 terminals, processing $50,000/month:

• Software: $69 + $50 = $119/month
• Processing: $1,295/month (2.49% + 15¢)
• Monthly total: ~$1,414 (not including hardware amortization)

3. Build Your Own — $110+/month

Monthly Cost: $110+/month (varies by features) Best For: Full-service restaurants needing advanced features

What's Included:

• Everything in Point of Sale, plus:
• Online ordering
• Toast Delivery Services
• Toast Payroll
• Advanced analytics
• Scheduling
• Inventory management

The Real Cost: This is where Toast pricing gets complicated. Each module adds to your bill:

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Toast Hardware Costs: The Expensive Reality

Unlike many modern POS systems, Toast requires proprietary hardware. You can't just use an iPad or Android tablet you already own.

Toast Hardware Pricing

Typical Restaurant Setup Costs

Small Restaurant (Quick Service):

• 1 Toast Flex terminal: $899
• 1 Toast Tap: $169
• Receipt printer: $249
• Hardware Total: ~$1,317

Mid-Size Restaurant (Full Service):

• 2 Toast Flex terminals: $1,798
• 2 Toast Go handhelds: $1,218
• Kitchen display: $599
• Receipt printer: $249
• Hardware Total: ~$3,864

Large Restaurant:

• 3 Toast Flex terminals: $2,697
• 4 Toast Go handhelds: $2,436
• 2 Kitchen displays: $1,198
• Guest display: $349
• 2 Receipt printers: $498
• Hardware Total: ~$7,178

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Hidden Costs Toast Doesn't Advertise

1. Payment Processing Markups

Toast's payment processing rates (2.49-2.99% + 15¢) are higher than what you'd pay with a competitive processor like Stripe (2.6% + 10¢) or Square (2.6% + 10¢).

Annual Impact on $500,000 in card sales:

• Toast (2.49% + 15¢): ~$14,250/year
• Industry average (2.4%): ~$12,000/year
• Difference: $2,250/year in extra fees

2. Contract Termination Fees

Toast often requires 2-year contracts with early termination fees:

• Remaining monthly fees owed
• Hardware financing balance
• Potential penalty fees

Can cost $5,000-$15,000+ to exit early

3. Forced Hardware Upgrades

When Toast releases new hardware, your old equipment may lose support, forcing expensive upgrades.

4. "Free" Installation Isn't Always Free

While Toast advertises free installation, complex setups often incur charges:

• Multi-terminal setups: $250-$500
• Network configuration: $150-$300
• Training: Often rushed or inadequate in "free" tier

5. Add-On Feature Costs

Features that should be standard cost extra with Toast:

• Online ordering: $50-$75/month
• Loyalty programs: $50/month
• Marketing tools: $50+/month
• Advanced reporting: varies

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Toast Pricing Calculator: What Will You Actually Pay?

Let's calculate realistic costs for three restaurant scenarios:

Scenario 1: Food Truck / Small QSR

• Monthly card sales: $25,000
• 1 terminal setup

Scenario 2: Casual Restaurant

• Monthly card sales: $75,000
• 2 terminals, online ordering, basic loyalty

Scenario 3: Full-Service Restaurant

• Monthly card sales: $150,000
• 3 terminals, 4 handhelds, full suite

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RestauNax: A Smarter Alternative

After seeing Toast's real costs, you might be wondering: Is there a better way?

RestauNax offers a fundamentally different approach:

What You Get with RestauNax

• ✅ $0/month starter plan — No "gotcha" processing fees
• ✅ 0% commission on all orders
• ✅ AI-powered phone ordering — Answer calls 24/7 automatically
• ✅ Use your own hardware — No $800+ proprietary terminals
• ✅ Choose your payment processor — Get the best rates
• ✅ Month-to-month — No 2-year contracts
• ✅ 26+ free business tools — QR menus, reviews, invoicing, more
• ✅ 100% customer data ownership — Build your marketing list

RestauNax vs Toast: Annual Cost Comparison

For a casual restaurant processing $75,000/month:

*RestauNax lets you choose processors with rates as low as 2.2% **Using existing tablets/devices

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Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use Toast

Toast Might Work For You If:

• ✅ You want an all-in-one solution and don't mind paying for it
• ✅ You prefer proprietary hardware with dedicated support
• ✅ You're okay with 2-year contracts
• ✅ You don't process high card volumes (where processing fees hurt)
• ✅ You have budget for $3,000-$10,000+ in year one

Consider Alternatives (Like RestauNax) If:

• ✅ You want to minimize costs without sacrificing features
• ✅ You already have tablets/devices you'd like to use
• ✅ You want flexibility with payment processors
• ✅ You process high card volumes and fees add up
• ✅ You want AI phone ordering (Toast doesn't offer this)
• ✅ You prefer month-to-month flexibility
• ✅ You want to own your customer data completely

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Toast POS really free?

No. Toast's "Starter Kit" has no monthly fee, but you pay significantly higher payment processing rates (2.99% + 15¢). On $30,000/month in sales, that's ~$300/month more than standard processing rates—so you're paying $3,600/year in hidden fees for a "free" system.

Can I use my own hardware with Toast?

No. Toast requires proprietary hardware starting at $799+ for a basic terminal. This is one of the biggest hidden costs—you can't use iPads or Android tablets you already own.

What are Toast's payment processing fees?

• Starter Kit: 2.99% + 15¢ per transaction
• Point of Sale & Build Your Own: 2.49% + 15¢ per transaction

These rates are higher than many competitors and add up significantly on high-volume restaurants.

Does Toast have contracts?

Toast typically requires 2-year contracts for their paid plans. Early termination can cost thousands in fees. Some restaurants have reported difficulties canceling even after contract periods.

Is Toast worth the cost?

It depends on your priorities. Toast is a solid, feature-rich system—but you're paying premium prices. For many restaurants, more affordable alternatives like RestauNax offer comparable or better features at a fraction of the cost, with more flexibility and no long-term commitments.

What's the best Toast alternative?

RestauNax is the top alternative for restaurants wanting Toast-like features without Toast prices. Key advantages:

• $0/month starter plan
• 0% commission on online orders
• AI phone ordering (Toast doesn't offer this)
• Use any hardware
• Month-to-month flexibility
• 26+ free business tools

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The Bottom Line

Toast is a capable POS system, but it comes with significant costs that aren't always obvious upfront:

• "Free" plans cost more through higher processing fees
• Hardware costs $800-$7,000+ depending on setup
• Add-on features can double your monthly bill
• 2-year contracts lock you in
• Hidden fees add thousands annually

Before signing with Toast, get a complete quote including all hardware, processing fees, and add-ons. Compare that total to alternatives like RestauNax, where transparent pricing and flexible options could save you $5,000-$15,000 or more per year.

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Ready to Save Thousands on Your POS?