Toast Reviews & Pricing

by Toast | Founded 2011, Boston, MA

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Overview Pricing Benefits Reviews Features

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What is Toast?

Industry Specialties: Restaurant, Food Service

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

PRICE

COMPANY SIZE

DEPLOYMENT

PLATFORM

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User Sentiment

Based on 451 reviews:

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Product Screenshots and Videos

Toast Pricing

Based on our most recent analysis, Toast pricing starts at $69 (Per Terminal, Monthly, Freemium).

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Starting From: $69
Pricing Model: Per Terminal, Monthly, Freemium
Free Trial: Yes, Request for Free

Training Resources

Toast is supported with the following types of training:

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars

Support

The following support services are available for Toast:

Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Help Desk
Knowledge Base
Tickets
Training
24/7 Live Support

Toast Benefits and Insights

Why use Toast?

Key differentiators & advantages of Toast

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.

Industry Expertise

While Toast caters to restaurants of all sizes, its deep domain expertise shines in mid-size to large establishments with multiple locations. Toast understands the specific challenges facing these businesses, offering features like centralized inventory management, multi-store reporting, and enterprise-grade security specifically tailored to their needs. They actively partner with industry associations and regularly publish resources focused on trends and best practices, demonstrating a strong commitment to staying ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving restaurant landscape.

Toast Reviews

Average customer reviews & user sentiment summary for Toast:

451 reviews

86%

of users would recommend this product

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Based on an aggregate of Toast reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst.

Pros

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.

Cons

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.

Researcher's Summary:

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.

Key Features

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.

Approach to Common Challenges

Slow order processing and long wait times: Toast's intuitive interface, kitchen display systems, mobile ordering capabilities, and split-ticketing features enable efficient order management, reducing wait times and boosting customer satisfaction.
Inaccurate inventory tracking and food waste: Toast's inventory management system tracks ingredients in real-time, sends alerts for low stock levels, and auto-generates purchase orders to prevent shortages and reduce waste.
Manual labor-intensive scheduling and payroll: Toast's employee management features streamline scheduling, time-tracking, and payroll processes, saving time and ensuring compliance with labor regulations.
Limited customer insights and engagement: Toast's CRM tools collect customer data, enable targeted marketing campaigns, loyalty programs, and generate feedback surveys, fostering customer loyalty and repeat business.
Difficulties in managing multiple locations: Toast's centralized platform offers multi-store reporting, remote access, standardized menus, and inventory management across locations, simplifying operations for multi-unit businesses.

Cost Of Ownership

Frequently asked questions regarding Toast pricing include:

Q: What are the upfront costs associated with Toast?
A: Upfront costs primarily involve hardware purchases, such as terminals, credit card readers, printers, and kitchen display systems. Toast offers various hardware bundles starting around $800, with financing options available. Installation and training fees may also apply.
Q: How does Toast's monthly subscription model work?
A: Toast utilizes a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, meaning you pay a monthly subscription fee for access to the software and ongoing support. Plans start at $69 per terminal per month and scale with added features and terminals.
Q: What are the payment processing fees associated with Toast?
A: Toast integrates with its own payment processor, charging a transaction fee of 2.49% + 15¢ for purchases made with hardware bought upfront or 2.99% + 15¢ for those using hardware financing. These rates are competitive within the industry.

Limitations

At the time of this review, these are the limitations according to user feedback:

Incompatible with Apple devices.
Slow customer support channels.
Pricing information is unclear.

Suite Support

The product offers subscription packages with different pricing and features for the Point of Sale and Digital Ordering Solutions.

Email: Not mentioned on the website.

Phone: +1 (617) 682-0225.

Training: Visit the resource center for short video clips, e-books and articles.

Tickets: Log in to submit a ticket.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions regarding Toast include:

Q: How easy is it to set up and use Toast?
A: Toast is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, making it relatively easy to set up and learn even for users with limited technical experience. Comprehensive training resources and ongoing support ensure a smooth adoption process.
Q: Does Toast integrate with other business tools I already use?
A: Yes, Toast boasts a large library of third-party integrations with accounting software, delivery services, online ordering platforms, and marketing tools. This allows seamless data flow and streamlined operations between various platforms.
Q: How secure is Toast for storing customer data and financial information?
A: Toast takes security seriously and employs industry-standard security measures like data encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. They comply with PCI-DSS standards, ensuring safe handling of sensitive customer and financial information.
Q: How well does Toast's customer support respond to inquiries and resolve issues?
A: User experiences with Toast's customer support vary. While some praise their responsiveness and helpfulness, others report occasional long wait times and difficulty resolving complex technical issues. Consider evaluating individual experiences and available support plans before making a decision.
Q: Is Toast suitable for my specific business type and size?
A: Toast offers various plans and features catering to businesses of all sizes, from independent cafes to multi-location restaurant chains. However, its strength lies in mid-size to large establishments with multiple locations. Carefully evaluate your specific needs and desired functionalities to determine if Toast aligns with your business model.