Shopify POS and Toast are both point-of-sale platforms for small and growing businesses, but they suit different priorities. Shopify POS leans toward unified online + in-person selling for commerce-first brands. Toast is built around restaurant-specific pos with deep kitchen and online-ordering tools. The two score closely in our testing, so the decision comes down to fit.
Shopify POS vs Toast at a glance
| Shopify POS | Toast | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Software cost | $39+ per month (Basic plan) | $0–$69+ per month |
| In-person rate | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.49% + 15¢ (quote-based) |
| Commitment | No contract | 3-year contract |
| Best for | Online + in-person businesses | Restaurants (dine-in + online) |
Choose Shopify POS if…
- Ease of use matters most to you
- Pricing matters most to you
- Integrations matters most to you
- You run retail
Choose Toast if…
- Features matters most to you
- You run full-service restaurants
- You run quick-service
Pricing side by side
| Plan | Basic + POS Lite | Retail (POS Pro) | Shopify plan | Starter Kit | Point of Sale | Build Your Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $39/mo (Basic plan) | $89/mo per location add-on | $105/mo | $0 | $69/mo per terminal | Custom |
| In-person rate | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ | Quote-based | Quote-based | Quote-based |
| Online rate | 2.9% + 30¢ | — | 2.7% + 30¢ | — | — | — |
| Keyed rate | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hardware | — | — | — | $0 down (pay-as-you-go) | — | — |
| Commitment | No contract | No contract | No contract | 3-year contract | 3-year contract | 3-year contract |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Shopify POS | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | ||
| Card-present payments | Yes | Yes |
| Offline mode | Partial | Yes |
| Inventory | ||
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase orders | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & analytics | ||
| Sales reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Online ordering | ||
| Menu / modifier management | No | Yes |
| First-party online ordering | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty & marketing | ||
| Loyalty program | Partial | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-location | ||
| Multi-location management | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations & API | ||
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| App marketplace | Yes | Yes |
Our verdict
Shopify POS and Toast are close on our scoring. Match the pricing model and feature strengths above to your business type, and try both if you can before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify POS cheaper than Toast?
Shopify POS software runs $39+ per month (Basic plan) with an in-person rate of 2.6% + 10¢; Toast is $0–$69+ per month at 2.49% + 15¢ (quote-based). Compare the effective rate on a real month of your own card volume, not the headline numbers.
Does Shopify POS or Toast lock you into a contract?
Shopify POS: No contract. Toast: 3-year contract. Confirm the term, auto-renewal window and any early-termination fee in writing before you sign.
Which is better, Shopify POS or Toast?
They score closely. The better choice depends on your industry, card volume and which features you actually use.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell us about your business and we’ll recommend the better fit.