Toast pricing and alternatives for restaurants
Toast is built for restaurants and bundles processing with its POS. Here's how its published plans are structured, what the processing rate means at real volume, and what to compare.
Toast's published pricing
As published on Toast's website, checked October 2026. Rates change; confirm current pricing with Toast.
| Starter Kit (pay-as-you-go) | $0/mo software; 3.09% + 15¢ per card sale on the Basic package (higher on upgraded packages), as published in October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Point of Sale plan | From $69/mo; 2.49% + 15¢ in person; 3.50% + 15¢ for Amex and card-not-present |
| Agreement | Software sold on a multi-year agreement per Toast's published terms |
| Processing | Toast POS uses Toast's own processing |
What that rate costs at real volume
Processing cost only, using the Toast Starter Kit Basic rate (3.09% + 15¢) and a $40 average ticket. Monthly software, hardware and other fees are not included.
| Monthly card sales | Transactions | Est. monthly fees | Est. annual fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 250 | $346.50 | $4,158 |
| $30,000 | 750 | $1,039.50 | $12,474 |
| $75,000 | 1,875 | $2,598.75 | $31,185 |
Simple arithmetic on published rates, for illustration. Your effective rate depends on your card mix, ticket size and how cards are taken. Try your own numbers in the processing fee calculator.
When Toast is a good fit
- You run a restaurant and want a restaurant-specific POS with a large feature set
- You want POS, payroll and online ordering from one vendor
- You're comfortable with a multi-year software agreement
When it's worth comparing
- You want to compare processing priced separately from software
- You want a cash discount or dual pricing program
- You'd prefer month-to-month terms where available
How to compare fairly
A rate on a pricing page is only part of the cost. To compare Toast with any merchant account, including one through us, line up the same things side by side:
- Effective rate: total fees divided by total card sales, from a real statement.
- Monthly fees: software, gateway, PCI, statement and account fees.
- Hardware: purchase, subscription or included with an agreement, and who owns it.
- Terms: agreement length, early termination fees and whether equipment is locked to the provider.
- Pricing options: flat rate, interchange-plus or a cash discount program.
If Toast comes out ahead for your business, stay. If it doesn't, we'll show you exactly why.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Toast with a different processor?
Toast's POS works with Toast's own payment processing.
Is the pay-as-you-go plan cheaper?
It avoids upfront hardware and software cost but carries a higher per-transaction rate. At higher volume, the difference adds up quickly. Run the numbers in our fee calculator.
What should a new restaurant compare?
Total monthly cost (software, hardware and processing), agreement length, early termination terms and support. See our new business guide.
Square is a trademark of Block, Inc. Clover is a trademark of Fiserv, Inc. or its affiliates. Toast is a trademark of Toast, Inc. Stripe is a trademark of Stripe, Inc. Cedarline Payments is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of these companies. Names are used only to identify the products being compared. Rates are as published on each company's website when checked in October 2026; they change, and your actual pricing may differ. Always confirm current pricing directly with the provider.
Other comparisons
See how your Toast costs compare
Send a recent statement. We'll calculate your effective rate and show options side by side, including staying where you are.