Toast vs POS Nation

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Our analysts compared Toast vs POS Nation based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Toast is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed to streamline operations for restaurants and businesses in the hospitality industry. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including order processing, inventory management, employee scheduling, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Toast caters to businesses of all sizes, from independent cafes to multi-location restaurant chains. One of its key strengths lies in its ease of use and intuitive interface, making it suitable for both tech-savvy and non-technical users. Additionally, Toast boasts robust reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and staff performance. Integration with third-party delivery services and online ordering platforms further enhances its functionality. While Toast offers a free basic plan with limited features, paid subscriptions are required to access its full potential. Pricing varies depending on the number of users, terminals, and desired functionalities. Compared to similar POS systems, Toast generally falls within the mid-range price bracket, offering a good balance between affordability and feature richness. However, user reviews highlight that its pricing structure can become complex for businesses with intricate needs.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Robust reporting tools
  • Third-party integrations
  • Scalable for all businesses
  • Free basic plan option
Cons
  • Mid-range pricing complexity
  • Limited customization options
  • Occasional technical issues
  • Long customer support wait times
  • Not ideal for complex inventory
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POS Nation provides solutions to help businesses handle sales, inventory, marketing, reporting and more. It offers advanced hardware solutions like cash drawers, chip card readers, barcode scanners, touch PCs and receipt printers. Users can track inventory by departments and categories, and establish reorder points for low-stock items. It maintains records of purchase orders and previous sales.
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$69/Terminal, Monthly, Freemium
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$99 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Smooth Onboarding: Simplify the training process with access to a knowledge base in Toast University that offers informative videos and interactive tutorials. 
  • Tech-Enabled: Allow dine-in guests to order and pay from their own devices. Save time and expedite processes by accepting payments for orders made using the in-store kiosk, on the app or in the restaurant with the Order & Pay tool. 
  • Ideal for the Enterprise: Improve capabilities and enhance the performance of the new business with Starter Kit. Place orders in less than 15 minutes and customize with preferred hardware and software solutions available at flat-rate pricing. 
  • Profitable: Integrate with third-party software providers, including Grubhub and OpenTable, to expand the customer base and boost sales. 
  • Accessible: Save efforts and complete time-sensitive tasks by storing information for multiple outlets, viewing data by location, updating menus, accessing employee activity, monitoring performance reports and more with remote and offline accessibility. 
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  • Pay Flexibly: Access and implement service through multiple subscription plan options. 30-day money back guarantee with no contract required. 
  • Process Secure Payments: Accept multiple payment options through Merchant Services, a secure, in-house payment processor that provides rate comparisons and assists with merchant services applications. 
  • Gain Valuable Insights: Monitor and analyze business performance using over 55 prebuilt, comprehensive reports. Customize reports based on unique needs and integrate with programs like Excel. 
  • Engage Customers: Forecast customer trends based on purchase history, preferences and other data. Initiate and publish marketing campaigns and promotions. 
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  • Online Ordering: Allow guests to order food online for takeout and delivery, schedule orders in advance, access the online menu and make contactless payments. Receive new orders directly in the restaurant’s point of sale system, customize the online ordering page, access customer insights and request guest feedback to modify services. 
  • Gift Cards and Rewards: Boost customer influx and increase revenue by selling modern e-Gift Cards. Allow users to text or email cards for in-store and online purchases. Check card balance and schedule gift cards in advance to build relationships with customers. Sell customized physical gift cards and review detailed reports on gift card sales. 
  • Expedited Delivery: Create an on-demand delivery network with local drivers at a single per-order fee. Simplify the process with real-time order tracking and advance scheduling, online payment options and review restaurant services based on customer behavior with reporting and analytics. 
  • Email Marketing: Improve communication and drive customer retention with emails. Run targeted promotions, increase revenue, automate outreach and campaigns, create custom email lists, run A/B tests to refine communication, and send customized messages to deepen brand loyalty. 
  • Self-help Services: Accelerate the online ordering experience with self-help kiosks. Leverage quick restaurant service, reduce wait times and increase staff productivity. Offer a personalized dining experience with order add-ons, SMS notifications and real-time menu updates. 
  • Workspace Management: Facilitate efficient team regulation with a centralized labor management system. Log and track work hours, monitor timesheets, calculate tips, ensure paycheck accuracy with automated wage recording, register new staff electronically and more. Get insight into employee performance with detailed reports and analytics. 
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  • Inventory Management: Streamline product movement on an integrated inventory management platform. Track items, manage purchase orders, update vendor information, replenish stock, adjust data and more on a single platform. 
  • Customer Engagement: Create loyalty programs, run marketing campaigns, promote sales, offer discounts and more. Make intelligent business decisions based on buyer behavior, buying patterns and service expectations. 
  • Employee Monitoring: Create a consolidated labor management system to ensure team coordination, efficient workflows and transparency. Track employee work hours and breaks, schedule advance shifts, process payroll, assign jobs and grant role-based permissions. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Strategically improve business with extensive insights from the dashboard. Access and monitor reports, payment statements, purchase patterns, payroll summaries, marketing statistics, employee performance and other crucial business metrics through graphs and charts. 
  • Checkouts and Payments: Enable customers to pay using virtual and contactless payment methods and use discounts instantly. Employ barcode scanners, set promotion dates, verify IDs, create item-based departments and more to expedite payment processing and reduce wait times. 
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Product Ranking

#5

among all
POS Software

#90

among all
POS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 67 100 100 68 85 76 93 88 52 54 85 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 451 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 218 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

Toast has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 451 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

POS Nation has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 218 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.7 (27)
1.0 (1)
4.4 (144)
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4.6 (121)
4.2 (270)
4.6 (96)
4.3 (10)
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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Toast and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Customer and Loyalty Management and POS Hardware.

Customer and Loyalty Management Award
POS Hardware Award

POS Nation stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise Toast's easy-to-learn and navigate interface, with clear menus, large buttons, and simple workflows, making it accessible for staff of all technical levels.
Robust reporting: Toast's comprehensive reporting tools provide valuable insights into sales, inventory, labor costs, customer behavior, and more, empowering data-driven decision-making.
Mobile flexibility: Staff can take orders, process payments, and manage tables directly from tablets or smartphones, enhancing tableside service and flexibility during busy periods.
Reliable payment processing: Users commend Toast's integrated payment processing for its speed, reliability, and security, ensuring smooth transactions and minimizing downtime.
Scalability for growth: Toast's ability to accommodate multiple locations, expanding menus, and growing staff needs makes it a popular choice for businesses with expansion plans.
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Usability: The product is user-friendly, easy to install and intuitive, according to 95% of users who mentioned this element.
Reporting: According to 80% of users who reviewed this aspect, the reporting module is comprehensive, flexible and easy to understand.
Customer Support: 100% of users who mentioned this said the support team is knowledgeable, quick to respond and friendly.
Inventory Management: Regarding this feature, 65% of users said it’s effective in managing inventory.
Pricing: According to 80% of users who mentioned cost, the software is economical.
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Pricing complexity: Users express frustration with Toast's tiered pricing structure, which can become confusing and expensive, especially for businesses with multiple locations or add-on features.
Limited customization: Some users find Toast's customization options for menus, reporting, and workflows to be somewhat restrictive, hindering their ability to tailor the system to unique business processes.
Technical glitches: Users occasionally report software glitches, hardware issues, or slow performance during peak hours, leading to temporary disruptions in operations.
Customer support wait times: While Toast offers 24/7 support, users sometimes experience long wait times for phone assistance or delayed responses to inquiries, causing frustration when urgent issues arise.
Inventory management limitations: Users with complex inventory needs, such as multiple suppliers or intricate recipe tracking, find Toast's inventory management capabilities to be somewhat basic and lacking in advanced features.
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Features: The amount of features is overwhelming, according to 85% of users who reviewed this aspect.
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Toast garners praise for its user-friendly interface, robust reporting, and mobile capabilities, making it a popular choice for restaurants of various sizes. Users appreciate its intuitive design, which simplifies training and streamlines daily operations compared to competitors like Square and Lightspeed POS. Toast's extensive reporting, often highlighted as superior to competitors, empowers data-driven decision-making by offering detailed insights into sales, labor, and customer behavior. Additionally, the ability to manage orders and payments tableside using mobile devices sets Toast apart, enhancing staff flexibility and customer service during peak hours. However, concerns arise regarding Toast's pricing structure, customization options, and technical glitches. The multi-tiered pricing, perceived as more complex than competitors, can become expensive for businesses with specific needs or multiple locations. While Toast offers various features, users sometimes find them less customizable than those in competitors like Revel Systems, restricting their ability to tailor the system to their unique workflows. Occasional technical issues and reported long wait times for customer support raise concerns about reliability compared to competitors known for their robust technical support, such as Micros. Ultimately, Toast's strengths in user-friendliness, reporting, and mobility resonate with many users, but its pricing complexity, limited customization, and potential technical issues demand careful consideration. Deciding factors often boil down to individual business needs, budget constraints, and desired level of customization. Weighing Toast's strengths against its potential drawbacks alongside competitor offerings becomes crucial for making an informed decision.

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POS Nation offers a solution for retailers that streamlines tasks like payment processing, checkouts, marketing, CRM and inventory management. It provides a user-friendly suite of employee and customer support options. Users can effectively manage inventory, process credit card transactions, run marketing campaigns, generate insightful reports, access customer information and customize the system to meet industry-specific needs. However, users reported some downsides, including bugs in the software, limited filters for inventory management and an overwhelming amount of features. Overall, POS Nation provides comprehensive and low-cost solutions well-suited for many retail businesses.

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