Toast vs Rain POS

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Our analysts compared Toast vs Rain POS 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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Rain POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed for businesses of all sizes, from independent retailers to multi-outlet chains. It offers features like inventory management, customer relationship management, employee management, and reporting tools. Rain POS is praised for its ease of use, affordability, and scalability. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, mobile accessibility, and integrations with popular accounting and marketing software. Compared to similar POS systems, Rain POS stands out for its competitive pricing, which typically falls within the $50-$200 per month range, depending on the number of users and features needed. However, some users mention limitations in advanced reporting and customization options compared to more expensive competitors.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Mobile accessible
  • Integrations
  • Scalable
Cons
  • Limited reporting
  • Limited customization
  • Basic marketing tools
  • Support wait times
  • Few industry-specific features
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$69/Terminal, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
$49 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
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Medium 
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Large 
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Small 
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Medium 
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Large 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
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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  • Save Time: Automate in-store and online inventory syncs, customer-specific marketing tools, and data entry to save time on annual tasks. 
  • Streamline E-commerce: Sync your web inventory with the POS, use interactive tools and elements to customize pages, and process secure checkouts to create an exceptional experience for customers and simplify business processes. 
  • Boost Engagement: Keep customers coming back for more with the right messaging and marketing tactics to improve retention and revenue. Use automated email and text marketing, Facebook and Google review invites, and targeted strategies to attract new users. 
  • Enhance Services: Add fuel to business performance and deliver excellent service with an advanced point-of-sale solution that offers comprehensive inventory management, powerful reporting tools, and online and in-store rewards tracking. 
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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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  • Cloud-based POS: Centralize inventory, automate backups, manage customer data and track service updates through a centralized point of sale. Send text messages to customers, access purchase history, sync inventory data to the system and deliver exceptional customer service with an all-in-one retail system. 
  • Online Booking: Register and pay for classes virtually. Save a seat without walk-in hassles. Eliminate lost revenue from no-shows for unpaid bookings and ensure that the slots fill as per availability. 
  • E-commerce: With the help of an integrated POS and website, in-store and online inventory status remains the same. View and shop online, make payments, and check order status from a single touchpoint on the web or mobile phones. Manage calendars, receive payments, upload files, send forms and fulfill other critical content management functionalities with an integrated eCommerce platform. 
  • Customer Marketing: Keep customers coming back and grow the user base with practical branding tools like targeted emails, business updates, advertising campaigns and daily reminders. Send notifications to clients about important events and access reviews to understand customer behavior. 
  • Integrations: Regulate the workflow and manage multiple service channels across the workforce with smart integrations powered by intuitive APIs. 
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Product Ranking

#5

among all
POS Software

#158

among all
POS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

79
76
67
17
100
93
100
74
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Customer and Loyalty Management
Employee Management
POS Hardware
Integration and Extensibility
Reporting and Insights
Inventory Management
Customer and Loyalty Management
Reporting and Insights
Types of POS

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Toast
Rain POS
+ Add Product + Add Product
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 17 93 74 95 75 78 50 88 78 83 87 0 25 50 75 100
67%
0%
33%
17%
0%
83%
100%
0%
0%
90%
0%
10%
100%
0%
0%
60%
20%
20%
67%
0%
33%
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
71%
0%
29%
78%
0%
22%
78%
0%
22%
90%
0%
10%
20%
0%
80%
88%
0%
12%
88%
0%
12%
50%
0%
50%
70%
0%
30%
44%
0%
56%
78%
0%
22%
75%
0%
25%
88%
0%
12%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
80%
0%
20%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 451 reviews
Great User Sentiment 159 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.

89%
of users recommend this product

Rain POS has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 159 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.7 (27)
n/a
4.4 (144)
4.0 (17)
n/a
4.83 (71)
4.2 (270)
4.2 (71)
4.3 (10)
n/a

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

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Rain POS and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Store Management.

Store Management 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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User-Friendly: The software is easy to understand and robust, according to 95% of users.
Customer Support: According to 100% of users who reviewed this pro, support executives are knowledgeable and responsive.
Inventory Management: About 80% of users who mentioned this pro said it is easy to sync offline and online inventory, update items, and serialize products.
Integration: Regarding this feature, approximately 70% of users said that it provides seamless integrations across business activities.
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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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Reporting limitations: Some users find the built-in reporting features too basic for in-depth analysis, lacking customizable options and advanced visualizations.
Customization restrictions: The ability to tailor the system's appearance and functionality to match specific business workflows is somewhat limited compared to competitors.
Basic marketing tools: While offering email marketing integrations, Rain POS lacks built-in features for advanced campaigns, loyalty programs, or customer segmentation.
Inconsistent customer support: User experiences with support vary, with some reporting delays, limited technical expertise, or difficulty reaching knowledgeable representatives.
Few industry-specific features: While highlighting expertise in specialty sectors, Rain POS lacks a wide range of features tailored to unique needs of industries like restaurants, salons, or healthcare.
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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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Rain POS garners praise for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and scalability, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. Users appreciate its mobile accessibility, integrations with popular software, and cloud-based setup. However, some find its reporting and customization options limited compared to competitors like Square or Shopify POS. While Rain POS boasts strengths in specific industries like music stores and boutiques, users in other sectors might miss industry-tailored features. A key differentiator is Rain POS's focus on customer relationships. Users value its customer profile management, targeted marketing tools, and loyalty program integrations. However, some find these features basic compared to dedicated marketing platforms. Additionally, inconsistent customer support experiences raise concerns for some users. Ultimately, Rain POS seems like a solid choice for businesses seeking a user-friendly, affordable POS with good customer relationship management tools. However, if in-depth reporting, advanced customization, or industry-specific features are crucial, exploring competitors might be necessary. Weighing your specific needs against Rain POS's strengths and weaknesses will help you make an informed decision.

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Screenshots

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