Product A
Square POS
by Block Inc.
The most popular free POS system for small businesses — start selling in minutes.
Free tier
Visit Square POS →Product B
Toast POS
by Toast Inc.
The #1 restaurant POS platform used by 100,000+ food service businesses.
Free tier
Visit Toast POS →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Square POS | Toast POS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | FreeBetter | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Top Pros | Free software — no monthly fee to get started | Best restaurant-specific features in the category |
| Easiest setup in the category | Rugged hardware built for kitchen environments | |
| Full ecosystem: payroll, banking, online store, loyalty | Strong online ordering and delivery integrations | |
| Top Cons | Payment processing fees can be higher than negotiated merchant accounts | Long-term hardware contracts can be restrictive |
| Advanced restaurant features require Plus plan | Processing locked to Toast Payments on starter plans |
Choose Square POS if you…
- Want: free software — no monthly fee to get started
- Want: easiest setup in the category
- Want: full ecosystem: payroll, banking, online store, loyalty
Choose Toast POS if you…
- Want: best restaurant-specific features in the category
- Want: rugged hardware built for kitchen environments
- Want: strong online ordering and delivery integrations