Toast vs Epos Now: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

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.

7.4(7,200 reviews)

Cloud POS for retail and hospitality with one-time hardware purchase option and 300+ integrations. From $39/mo or $349 upfront.

Aspect	Toast	Epos Now
Best For	Full-service restaurants that need kitchen display systems and tableside ordering	Budget-conscious businesses that want to own their POS hardware outright with a one-time purchase
Pricing Model	Freemium	Subscription
Starting Price	Free	$39/mo
Deployment	cloud	cloud
Platforms	WEB, ANDROID	WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS
Rating	8.4/10	7.4/10

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

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

One-time hardware purchase at $349 for a complete system is the most affordable full countertop POS setup
Payment processor flexibility lets you choose and negotiate rates instead of being locked into one provider
300+ integrations through the AppStore connect to major accounting, e-commerce, and marketing tools
Software pricing at $39/month undercuts Lightspeed ($89/mo) and Vend ($69/mo) significantly
Strong presence in UK and Europe with local support, multi-currency, and VAT handling

User interface feels dated and less polished compared to Square, Shopify POS, or even Clover
US customer support gets mixed reviews, with UK-based customers generally reporting better experiences
Reporting and analytics lack the depth of Lightspeed for data-driven inventory decisions
The hardware, while affordable, uses generic touchscreens that feel cheap compared to Clover or Toast terminals
Brand recognition is lower in the US market, which can mean fewer local service partners and resellers

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
Toast	freemium	Free0
Epos Now	subscription	$39/mo

Choose Toast if...

Full-service restaurants that need kitchen display systems and tableside ordering

Choose Epos Now if...

Budget-conscious businesses that want to own their POS hardware outright with a one-time purchase

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.