The verdict
Toast takes it, 3–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Toast takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Square if…
- • You want Square's edge on how long you are locked in and what customers say on trustpilot
Choose Toast if…
- • You want Toast's edge on who picks up when the till is down and what it costs to get a card reader
Round by round
- Round 1Who picks up when the till is downToast winsSquare5/10
weekday hours on the free plan
Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm PT on the free plan
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 support
Source: posusa.com ↗
Toast8/1024/7 support
Toast Care is included in every software subscription, by phone or web messaging
Source: pos.toasttab.com ↗
Toast wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How long you are locked inSquare winsToast5/10
2 to 3 years
auto-renewing, with early termination fees; the low end is used
- 2 to 3 years, against No contract
Source: posusa.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotSquare winsToast5/10
2.7 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,489 reviews on Trustpilot
- 2.7 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What it costs to get a card readerToast winsSquare5/10
Reader from $59
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- Reader from $59, against $0 upfront for first device
Source: squareup.com ↗
Toast8/10$0 upfront for first device
Starter Kit (Pay-as-you-Go), restaurant
Source: pos.toasttab.com ↗
Toast wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 5What the top plan costsToast winsSquare5/10
Premium $149/mo
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- Premium $149/mo, against Point of Sale from $69/mo
Source: squareup.com ↗
Toast wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What the software costsTieSquare7/10
$0/mo (Square Free)
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
Source: squareup.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- in-person card sale
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 support
- Reader from $59, against $0 upfront for first device
- Premium $149/mo, against Point of Sale from $69/mo
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 phone support
- 2 to 3 years, against No contract
- 2.7 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
- 2-year agreement (Pay-as-you-Go), against Cancel anytime
- 2 to 3 years, against 12 months