# Toast vs Square for restaurants

> Toast vs Square for restaurants side by side: what each POS does, price from each maker, setup, and who each fits.

Source: https://busyworkbots.com/compare/toast-vs-square/
Publisher: BusyWorkBots (run by TimeGentic LLC). Written by the BusyWorkBots Editorial Team: https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/

2 tools side by side: what each one does, who it fits, and what it costs on the maker’s own site. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid.

By [BusyWorkBots Editorial Team](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/)

**Short answer:** Toast and Square both ring up orders, take card payments and run online ordering for restaurants. Square shows a $0/mo plan and Plus at $49/mo per location. Toast did not show a set price when we checked.

Last updated: Oct 25, 2026 · 2 tools · [How we pick](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/)

## About this comparison

Toast rings up orders and takes card payments at your counter, takes online orders and keeps working in offline mode when the internet drops. Our listing rates its setup as needing some work.

Square takes card payments by tap, dip or swipe, runs online ordering for pickup and local delivery, and tracks stock. Our listing rates it easy to set up.

Toast's pricing page says upfront costs are hardware and setup, which vary. Square lists add-ons like its kitchen display app at $30/mo per device.

## The tools

- ### [Toast](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/toast/)

   (~2–4 hrs/wk est.)

  Restaurant POS with online orders and payments.

  Restaurants Check site Needs setup
- ### [Square](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/square/)

   (~2–4 hrs/wk est.)

  POS, payments, and online ordering.

  Shops and restaurants Free plan · Plus $49/mo Easy

## Compare them side by side

Toast vs Square for restaurants: side by side

| Tool | What it does | Best for | Price (maker’s site) | Setup | Time saved | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Toast](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/toast/) | Restaurant POS with online orders and payments. | Restaurants that want one system to ring up orders, take online orders, and take payments. | See site | Needs setup | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~2–4 hrs/wk | [Maker’s page](https://pos.toasttab.com/pricing) |
| [Square](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/square/) | POS, payments, and online ordering. | Shops and restaurants that need simple card payments, a checkout system, and online ordering. | Free plan ($0/mo); Plus $49/mo per location | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~2–4 hrs/wk | [Maker’s page](https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/restaurants/pricing) |

Prices are what each maker’s own pricing page showed on Oct 25, 2026. “See site” means the page did not show a clear price. What it does, setup and hours come from our listing and its source. “Our estimate” is our guess from similar tools, not a measured number. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid products from each maker, and prices change often. None of these links pay us.

## Who each one fits best

- **Toast:** Restaurants that want one system to ring up orders, take online orders, and take payments.
- **Square:** Shops and restaurants that need simple card payments, a checkout system, and online ordering.

From each tool’s page on BusyWorkBots. We don’t pick a winner, and no maker paid to be here.

## Questions people ask

### How much does Toast cost?

When we checked on Oct 25, 2026, Toast's pricing page did not show a set monthly price. It says upfront costs are hardware and setup, which vary by restaurant. Ask Toast for a quote.

### Does Square have a free plan for restaurants?

Square's restaurant pricing page shows a $0/mo plan, Plus at $49/mo per location and Premium at $149/mo per location. Processing fees are listed separately. The directory is free to search. The tools themselves are made and priced by each maker.

### Which one works when the internet goes down?

Our Toast listing and Toast's pricing page both mention an offline mode for orders and card payments.

### How does BusyWorkBots pick these?

Every listing links to a real source, a case study, a builder's post, or the maker's page. Numbers from the company selling the tool are labeled as a maker or vendor claim. We don't test every tool.

## Related lists

- [AI tools for restaurants](https://busyworkbots.com/best/ai-tools-for-restaurants/)
- [AI phone ordering for restaurants](https://busyworkbots.com/best/ai-phone-ordering-for-restaurants/)
- [Best AI bots for booking in Local Shops & Restaurants](https://busyworkbots.com/best/booking-bots-for-local-shops-restaurants/)
- [Hours-saved calculator: a rough estimate for your business](https://busyworkbots.com/tools/hours-saved-calculator/)

[See every bot on BusyWorkBots →](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/)

[More lists by job and industry →](https://busyworkbots.com/best/)