How much does Toast POS cost?
By the Menuthere editorial team · Updated
Toast's Point of Sale plan lists at about $69 a month per terminal, with a free Starter tier that carries higher card-processing rates. On top of the software you pay for hardware, card processing, and add-on modules such as online ordering, so a small full-service place often lands in the low hundreds a month before processing. For commission-free online ordering alone, Menuthere starts at $17 a month with no terminal. Updated October 2026.
- Toast's Point of Sale plan is about $69/month per terminal; the free Starter tier trades a $0 software fee for higher card rates.
- Online ordering is a paid add-on module, not part of the base plan.
- Toast adds an online-order service fee of about $0.99 on online orders over a set amount.
- Hardware (terminals, card readers) and card processing are billed separately, so the all-in total is well above the base plan.
- Menuthere charges 0% commission and starts at $17/month (Lite) with no terminal to buy.
Online ordering without a POS bill
Menuthere gives your restaurant its own ordering website, QR menu and dashboard with 0% commission on every order, built from a photo of your menu. There is no terminal to buy and no per-order cut, so a small place keeps its own orders and margin. Lite and Pro come with a 14-day free trial.
What is Toast's monthly price?
Toast's software is tiered. The Point of Sale plan is listed at about $69 a month per terminal, and there is a free Starter tier that drops the software fee but raises card-processing rates. The headline number is per terminal, so two or three terminals multiply it, and most restaurants also add modules on top. Treat $69/terminal as the starting point, not the all-in cost.
| Toast | Menuthere | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry software | Point of Sale ~$69/mo per terminal (free Starter tier exists) | Lite $17/mo, Pro $39/mo |
| Online ordering | Paid add-on module | Included |
| Hardware needed | Terminals and card readers | None — any phone or browser |
| Online-order surcharge | ~$0.99 over a set amount | None |
| Commission on direct orders | 0% (processing applies) | 0% (gateway fees apply) |
| Own branded app | Available via Toast | Branded App $99/mo |
Is there a cheaper option for online ordering only?
Yes. If your main goal is your own commission-free online ordering rather than a counter POS, a dedicated ordering tool is far cheaper. Menuthere starts at $17 a month (Lite) and $39 a month (Pro), with 0% commission, no terminals and no per-order surcharge. You keep Toast or any till for in-person service if you need one; the two can run side by side. See Is Toast worth it.
Who this is a good fit for
- Small and takeout-first restaurants, cafés and cloud kitchens that mainly want their own online orders, not a hardware till.
- Owners who want a low fixed monthly price and 0% commission on direct orders.
- Places that want to launch this week from a photo of the menu, with no hardware.
Who this is not for
- Busy full-service dine-in restaurants that need a complete hardware POS, kitchen display and payroll in one system — Toast fits that better.
- Owners who specifically want card terminals and all-in-one hardware at the counter.
Common follow-up questions
Is Toast $69 a month all in?
No. About $69/month is the Point of Sale plan per terminal. On top you pay for hardware, card processing, the online ordering module and any other add-ons, plus an online-order service fee of about $0.99 over a set amount.
Does Toast charge commission on online orders?
Toast does not take a percentage commission on your own online orders. You do pay for the online ordering module, card processing and a per-order service fee, so compare the all-in figure against a flat-fee tool.
Is there a free Toast plan?
Toast has a free Starter tier with a $0 software fee but higher card-processing rates and still requires hardware. For no-hardware online ordering, Menuthere has a Free $0 plan for up to 50 orders a month.
What is a cheaper Toast alternative for a small café?
If you mainly want a QR menu and commission-free online orders, Menuthere starts at $17/month with 0% commission and no terminals, and Lite and Pro include a 14-day free trial.
Read next
Sources (3)
- Toast pricing, Toast, read 25 October 2026
- Toast vs Square for restaurants: fees (2026), Chowly, read 25 October 2026
- Menuthere pricing — 0% commission, from $17/mo, Menuthere, read 25 October 2026