Toast vs TouchBistro – Top Restaurant POS Systems Compared
Written by
Daniel Zvi
Choosing the right POS system is crucial for restaurant owners aiming to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and boost overall efficiency. Among the top contenders in the market are Toast POS and TouchBistro POS, both offering robust features tailored to meet the unique needs of the restaurant industry.
This article provides an in-depth comparison of these two popular POS systems, highlighting their key features, pricing structures, and overall performance to help you make an informed decision for your restaurant. Whether you're looking to upgrade your existing system or invest in a new one, this guide will provide valuable insights into which POS solution best aligns with your business needs.
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Restaurants & food trucks
Overview of Toast POS
Key Features
Toast POS is a comprehensive point-of-sale system designed specifically for the restaurant industry. Here are some of its standout features:
- Order Management: Streamlines order-taking and kitchen communication, reducing errors and enhancing efficiency.
- Menu Customization: Allows for easy menu updates and modifications, including special offers and seasonal items.
- Inventory Management: Tracks inventory in real-time, helping to reduce waste and manage stock levels effectively.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Collects customer data to personalize marketing efforts and enhance customer loyalty.
- Reporting and Analytics: This service provides detailed reports on sales, employee performance, and customer preferences, enabling data-driven decisions.
- Online Ordering and Delivery: Integrates seamlessly with online ordering platforms, facilitating takeout and delivery services.
- Loyalty Programs: Supports custom loyalty programs to reward repeat customers and encourage brand loyalty.
- Employee Management: Includes features for scheduling, time tracking, and performance monitoring.
- Mobile Order & Pay: Allows guests to skip the line, order, and pay seamlessly from their mobile devices, increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Kitchen Display System (KDS): Digital screens display orders directly in the kitchen, reducing errors and speeding up order preparation.
These features make Toast POS a versatile and powerful tool for managing restaurant operations efficiently and effectively.
Pricing Structure
Toast POS offers flexible pricing plans designed to meet the needs of different types of restaurants. The pricing is typically customized based on the specific requirements of each restaurant, but here’s a general outline:
- Starter Kit: This kit is ideal for small restaurants. It starts at $0 monthly and offers pay-as-you-go hardware and software options.
- Essentials Plan: This plan offers additional features, such as online ordering and gift cards, starting at $69 per month.
- Growth Plan: Includes advanced features like loyalty programs and marketing tools, with pricing starting at approximately $165 per month.
- Custom Plan: This plan is for larger restaurants with more complex needs. It offers fully tailored solutions and pricing based on specific requirements.
Additional costs may include hardware purchases, payment processing fees, and optional add-ons for extra features.
Hardware Options
Toast POS provides a range of hardware options to suit different restaurant environments. The hardware is designed to be durable and reliable, suitable for the fast-paced nature of the restaurant industry:
- Toast Terminals: Robust and versatile POS terminals with touchscreen interfaces designed to withstand heavy use.
- Toast Go Handhelds: Portable devices that allow servers to take orders and process payments tableside, enhancing efficiency and customer service.
- Kitchen Display Systems (KDS): Digital screens that display orders directly in the kitchen, reducing errors and speeding up order preparation.
- Printers: High-speed receipt and kitchen printers compatible with Toast POS systems.
- Cash Drawers: Secure and durable cash drawers integrated with the POS system.
- Payment Devices: These include EMV card readers, contactless payment options, and mobile payment processing devices.
Toast POS also offers various bundles and financing options to help restaurants invest in the hardware they need without significant upfront costs.
Overview of TouchBistro POS
Key Features
TouchBistro POS is an all-in-one restaurant management system that enhances efficiency, profitability, and the overall guest experience. Here are some of its key features:
- Order Management: Allows efficient order-taking and kitchen communication, reducing errors and improving service speed.
- Menu Management: Offers easy creation and management of menus, including specific items for different times of the day and availability for dine-in or online ordering.
- Tableside Ordering: Enables servers to take orders and process payments directly at the table using mobile devices, speeding up service and reducing errors.
- Floor Plan & Table Management: Customizes and manages the restaurant floor plan, tracks table turnover, and optimizes seating arrangements.
- Staff Management: Provides tools for scheduling, tracking employee performance, and optimizing labor costs.
- Reporting & Analytics: Offers over 50 reports that provide insights into sales trends, staff performance, and overall business metrics.
- Customer Engagement: Includes features like loyalty programs, gift cards, and marketing tools to enhance customer retention and engagement.
- Reservations: Manages reservations seamlessly, helping optimize seating and improve the guest experience.
- Online Ordering: This option supports online ordering directly through the restaurant's website, helping to boost sales without third-party commissions.
Pricing Structure
TouchBistro POS offers flexible pricing plans to cater to different types of restaurants. Here’s a general overview:
- Basic Plan: This plan starts at $69 per month and includes the core POS functionalities essential for running a restaurant.
- Custom Solutions: Restaurants can extend the capabilities of their POS by selecting specific front-of-house, back-of-house, and guest engagement solutions tailored to their needs. This includes:
- Kitchen Display System (KDS): Enhances kitchen operations by providing clear, real-time order displays.
- Profit Management: Tools to track and manage profitability, helping optimize revenue and reduce costs
- Customer Engagement Solutions: Features like loyalty programs, gift cards, and marketing tools to boost customer retention and sales.
- Reservations: Efficiently manage reservations and enhance the dining experience.
- Online Ordering: Facilitates commission-free online ordering to increase sales.
- Marketing and Gift Cards: Allows for creating and managing marketing campaigns and issuing gift cards to promote customer loyalty and increase sales.
Additional costs may include hardware purchases and optional add-ons for advanced features.
Hardware Options
TouchBistro POS provides a range of hardware options designed to withstand the demands of a busy restaurant environment:
- iPad-Based Terminals: Durable and easy-to-use iPad terminals that serve as the primary interface for order-taking and payment processing.
- Kitchen Display System (KDS): Digital screens streamlining kitchen operations by displaying orders clearly and reducing communication errors.
- Mobile POS Devices: Handheld devices that allow servers to take orders and process payments tableside, improving service speed and accuracy.
- Printers and Cash Drawers: High-speed receipt and kitchen printers, along with secure cash drawers, integrated with the POS system.
- Customer Facing Displays: Screens that enhance the ordering experience by allowing customers to see and confirm their orders.
These hardware options are designed to be robust and reliable, ensuring smooth operations even during peak hours.
Key Similarities Between Toast POS and TouchBistro POS
Cloud-Based Systems
Toast POS and TouchBistro POS are cloud-based systems, meaning your data is stored in the cloud on remote servers. This allows for remote access to your information over the internet, ensuring you can manage your restaurant's operations from anywhere. Both systems also offer built-in offline modes, allowing staff to continue using the POS even if the internet goes out, ensuring continuous service and order processing.
Core POS Features
Toast and TouchBistro share several core POS features essential for restaurant operations:
- Menu Management: Both systems allow for easy menu creation and management, including updating menu items and setting availability for different service times.
- Staff Management: Each system offers tools for scheduling, tracking employee performance, and managing labor costs.
- Floor Plan & Table Management: Both POS systems enable customization and management of the restaurant floor plan, tracking table turnover, and optimizing seating arrangements.
- Tableside Ordering: Both systems support mobile devices for tableside ordering and payment processing, which speeds up service and reduces errors.
Payment Processing
Both Toast and TouchBistro provide integrated payment processing solutions. They support various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and gift cards. This integration ensures secure and efficient transactions, enhancing the customer experience.
Reporting and Analytics
Toast and TouchBistro offer comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities. They provide insights into key business metrics such as sales, labor costs, and inventory levels. These reports help restaurant managers make informed, data-driven decisions to improve operations and profitability.
Customer Engagement Tools
Both systems include features designed to enhance customer engagement and loyalty:
- Loyalty Programs: Toast and TouchBistro support loyalty programs that reward repeat customers, encouraging them to return.
- Marketing Tools: Each system offers marketing tools to help restaurants engage with customers through targeted campaigns and promotions.
Integration with Third-Party Solutions
Toast and TouchBistro integrate with various third-party solutions, including accounting software, online ordering platforms, and delivery services. This flexibility allows restaurants to customize their POS system to meet their specific operational needs.
By offering these shared features, both Toast POS and TouchBistro POS provide robust, flexible solutions that cater to the needs of modern restaurants, helping them streamline operations and enhance the dining experience for customers.
Key Differences Between Toast POS and TouchBistro POS
Operating System
- Toast POS: Runs on an Android operating system, offering flexibility and customizable solutions. However, Android systems can have a steeper learning curve and are more susceptible to security breaches.
- TouchBistro POS: Utilizes Apple's iOS, known for its closed platform, which makes it less prone to viruses and offers seamless updates across devices. The consistency and user-friendly nature of iOS make it easier for staff familiar with Apple products to use.
Hardware Options
- Toast POS: Offers proprietary hardware options including handheld units, customer-facing displays, self-serve kiosks, and kitchen display systems. Users are typically required to purchase Toast hardware, which can limit flexibility and increase costs.
- TouchBistro POS: Uses iPads for its terminals, which can be a cost-effective and familiar option for many users. However, TouchBistro does not support self-ordering kiosks, which might be a drawback for some businesses.
Pricing and Contracts
- Toast POS: Known for its higher pricing, especially for restaurants with complex needs. Toast's pricing structure includes long-term contracts (minimum two years) and automatic price increases. Additional features and hardware often come with extra costs, which can add up.
- TouchBistro POS: Generally more affordable with a simpler pricing structure. TouchBistro offers tiered pricing plans and custom quotes without long-term contracts, providing more cost flexibility and transparency.
Feature Availability and Customization
- Toast POS: Offers a wider range of native features and integrations, including advanced reporting, workforce management, and inventory management through the xtraCHEF app. Toast provides more customizable reports and advanced features, but these often come with additional costs.
- TouchBistro POS: While it includes essential features such as menu management, staff management, and basic reporting, it lacks some of the advanced customization options available in Toast. TouchBistro's inventory management is included in the base POS but requires more manual updates than Toast's more automated solutions.
Regional Availability
- Toast POS: Primarily available in the U.S., with limited features available in Canada, the U.K., and Ireland. This can limit the system's effectiveness for restaurants operating outside the U.S.
- TouchBistro POS: Available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other regions with a more consistent product suite across these markets, making it a better option for international operations.
These key differences highlight each system's strengths and potential drawbacks, helping restaurateurs choose the POS that best suits their specific needs and operational goals.
Ease of Use and Setup
Toast POS
Ease of Use
- User Interface: Toast POS is praised for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, which is designed specifically for restaurant staff. The system's layout is clear and easy to navigate, making it simple for new users to learn and use efficiently. This ease of use is consistently highlighted in reviews from various sources.
- Customization: The Android-based system offers a high level of customization, allowing restaurants to tailor the POS to their specific needs, including menu configurations and table layouts. However, this flexibility can come with a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with Android devices.
Setup - Installation: Toast POS provides professional installation services to ensure the hardware and software are set up correctly. This can be particularly beneficial for restaurants without a dedicated IT team. Some users have noted that while self-installation is possible, it can be complicated and might require assistance from Toast support.
- Training and Onboarding: Toast offers comprehensive training resources, including in-person training, webinars, and a detailed knowledge base. These resources help staff get up to speed quickly and use the system effectively. The initial training typically lasts 30-60 minutes and is often sufficient for new users to master the basic functions.
Support: 24/7 customer support is available to assist with any issues that arise during setup and operation, ensuring minimal downtime and maintaining operational efficiency.
TouchBistro POS
Ease of Use
- User Interface: TouchBistro POS runs on iPads, leveraging the familiar and user-friendly iOS interface. This makes it particularly easy for staff accustomed to Apple products to adapt quickly. The system is designed to be straightforward, with less emphasis on extensive customization than Toast, which can be advantageous for restaurants seeking simplicity and reliability.
- Simplicity: The system's simplicity and ease of use are often praised, making it ideal for restaurants that need a reliable and easy-to-use POS without extensive configuration.
Setup - Installation: TouchBistro POS offers a more DIY approach to installation, with resources available for self-setup. This can be cost-effective but may require more effort from the restaurant’s staff than Toast’s professional installation option.
- Training and Onboarding: TouchBistro provides extensive training materials, including video tutorials, live online training sessions, and detailed documentation. These resources help staff learn the system quickly and use it effectively.
- Support: While TouchBistro offers robust customer support, some users have reported variability in support quality. Utilizing their knowledge base and support resources is crucial for a smoother setup process.
Menu Management and Customization
Toast POS
Toast excels in menu management with its highly customizable features. The system allows restaurant owners to create and modify menus effortlessly, including adjusting prices, adding new items, and setting specific availability for different service times. This flexibility extends to menu groups and subgroups, enabling detailed organization and easy updates. Users appreciate the intuitive interface, which simplifies these processes significantly.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro also offers robust menu management capabilities. It allows for the creation and customization of menus, including special items for different times of the day. TouchBistro's system is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to update menus on the fly. A notable feature is the ability to manage multiple menus and set availability for online or dine-in options.
Order Management and Workflow
Toast POS
Toast provides a comprehensive order management system that streamlines the workflow from order-taking to kitchen communication. Its Kitchen Display System (KDS) helps reduce errors and speeds up service by displaying orders clearly for kitchen staff. The system supports course management and order modifications, ensuring flexibility and accuracy in handling customer requests.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro's order management system is designed to enhance efficiency with features like tableside ordering and a KDS. The system facilitates smooth communication between front-of-house and back-of-house staff, reducing errors and improving service speed. Its intuitive order modification and course management features help maintain order accuracy and customer satisfaction.
Reporting and Analytics
Toast POS
Toast offers a powerful reporting and analytics suite, providing real-time insights into sales, labor costs, and inventory. The system's customizable reports allow managers to tailor data to their needs, helping them make informed decisions. Users appreciate these reports' detailed and flexible nature, which can be exported in various formats for further analysis.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro provides comprehensive reporting capabilities with over 50 types of reports covering key metrics like sales, guest counts, and menu performance. The system's user-friendly analytics dashboard offers insights that help managers optimize operations. While not as customizable as Toast, TouchBistro's reports are detailed and valuable for decision-making.
Customer Support and Training
Toast POS
Toast is known for its extensive customer support and training resources. The company offers 24/7 support, live training sessions, webinars, and a detailed knowledge base. While some users report mixed experiences with support quality, many find the training materials helpful for onboarding new staff and resolving issues quickly.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro provides strong customer support, including live online training, video tutorials, and comprehensive documentation. Although some users have reported variability in support quality, the general consensus is that TouchBistro offers adequate resources to help users get the most out of their system.
Integrations and Add-ons
Toast POS
Toast integrates with various third-party solutions, including accounting software, online ordering platforms, and delivery services. This extensive ecosystem allows restaurants to customize their POS system to meet their specific needs. Toast also offers several native add-ons, such as loyalty programs and advanced inventory management, which can be integrated seamlessly.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro also supports numerous integrations with third-party providers, including accounting systems, reservation platforms, and kitchen display systems. While it may not have as many native add-ons as Toast, TouchBistro's open API allows for custom integrations, providing flexibility and customization options.
Mobile and Tableside Ordering Capabilities
Toast POS
Toast excels in mobile and tableside ordering, offering handheld devices that enable servers to take orders and process payments directly at the table. This feature enhances service speed and accuracy, allowing staff to spend more time with guests and less time at the POS terminal.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro also provides robust tableside ordering capabilities using iPads. This feature improves order accuracy and reduces wait times, as servers can send orders directly to the kitchen from the table. The system's mobile compatibility and ease of use make it a valuable tool for enhancing customer service.
Payment Processing and Flexibility
Toast POS
Toast includes integrated payment processing with multiple payment gateways, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and EMV chip readers. This integration ensures secure and reliable transactions. However, users are locked into Toast's payment processing contracts, which can be lengthy and include potential fee increases.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro partners with leading payment processors, offering flexibility in payment methods, including mobile payments and gift cards. While TouchBistro requires custom quotes for processing rates, it provides a secure and efficient solution without long-term contracts, offering more flexibility for some businesses.
Reliability and Performance
Toast POS
Toast is known for its robust performance and reliability. The cloud-based system ensures data is securely stored and accessible from anywhere.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro's iOS-based system, known for its stability and ease of use, also offers reliable performance. The system's offline mode ensures that operations continue even if the internet goes down. Some users have noted minor issues, but overall, TouchBistro is praised for its dependable performance.
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Final Verdict: Which POS System is Best for Your Restaurant?
Choosing between Toast POS and TouchBistro POS depends largely on your restaurant's specific needs and priorities.
Toast POS
Toast is ideal for restaurants seeking a highly customizable and feature-rich system. Its advanced reporting, extensive integrations, and robust mobile ordering capabilities make it a strong choice for larger establishments or those with complex needs. However, the higher cost and longer-term contracts may be a consideration for some businesses.
TouchBistro POS
TouchBistro, on the other hand, offers a more straightforward and user-friendly solution. Its iOS-based system is easy to use and quick to set up, making it an excellent option for smaller restaurants or those prioritizing simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The flexibility in payment processing and shorter contract terms also provide additional advantages.
Ultimately, the best POS system for your restaurant will depend on your specific operational requirements, budget, and preferences. Both Toast and TouchBistro offer robust solutions tailored to the needs of modern restaurants, so evaluating your unique needs will help you make the best decision.
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