ShopKeep vs Toast: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
ShopKeep
Simple iPad POS for small retail and quick-service restaurants, now part of Lightspeed. Free plan available with payment processing.
Toast
8.4(31,200 reviews)
Restaurant-focused POS with kitchen displays, online ordering, and tableside payments. Free Starter plan; paid plans from $69/mo.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | ShopKeep | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required | Full-service restaurants that need kitchen display systems and tableside ordering |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | IOS | WEB, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
Pros & Cons
ShopKeep
Pros
- Simple and intuitive iPad POS that retail and food service staff can learn in under an hour
- Free basic plan with payment processing means zero upfront software cost for small businesses
- BackOffice mobile dashboard lets owners monitor sales and inventory remotely from their phone
- Proven reliability — the core system has been stable for years without major outages
- Part of the Lightspeed family provides a migration path to more advanced features when needed
Cons
- Product is in maintenance mode with no significant new features since the Lightspeed acquisition
- Migration to Lightspeed is inevitable — investing in ShopKeep as a new user makes little strategic sense
- Integration ecosystem is stagnating with fewer new app partnerships being added
- Limited to iPad — no Android, no web-based register option for flexibility
- Pricing and future roadmap are unclear, creating uncertainty for long-term planning
Toast
Pros
- Purpose-built for restaurants with kitchen display systems, coursing, and auto-86 functionality
- Built-in online ordering eliminates expensive third-party delivery commissions of 15-30%
- Tableside ordering with Toast Go handhelds speeds up service and increases table turnover
- Free Starter plan lets small restaurants get started without upfront software costs
- Comprehensive payroll and team management tools designed specifically for restaurant staff
Cons
- Proprietary hardware is mandatory — you cannot run Toast on an iPad or any third-party device
- Early termination fees can reach $5,000-10,000+ if you try to leave your contract early
- Customer support quality is inconsistent — some reps are great, others clearly read from scripts
- The system depends heavily on internet connectivity and offline mode has significant limitations
- Hardware costs for a full restaurant setup can hit $2,500-4,000 before you serve your first customer
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| ShopKeep | freemium | Free0 |
| Toast | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose ShopKeep if...
Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required
Choose Toast if...
Full-service restaurants that need kitchen display systems and tableside ordering
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.