Free · No Statement Needed

Pricing Model Comparison

Toast's payments, and what's bundled into them.

Toast bundles its POS system with its own required payment processing. Here's how that bundle is typically structured, and how to know what you'd pay standalone.

Bundled POS + required processing

How it works

Toast's POS software is tightly bundled with its own payment processing — you generally can't run Toast hardware with an outside processor. That bundling is Toast's business model: the POS software revenue and the payments revenue are the same product, which is different from a restaurant choosing its POS and its processor independently.

Bundled processing tied to required hardware and software is a structurally different negotiation than standalone interchange-plus, where the processing decision and the POS decision are separate and each has to compete on its own merits. When POS and processing are bundled, there's no competitive pressure on the processing side specifically — you're not choosing your processor, you're accepting whichever one your POS requires.

When it makes sense

If you specifically want Toast's POS features and view the payments bundle as the cost of admission, that's a legitimate tradeoff — the software may be worth it for your operation.

When it typically costs more

If you're evaluating purely on processing cost, a bundled required processor rarely wins a head-to-head against interchange-plus pricing chosen independently, because it never had to compete for that specific business.

Common questions

Can I use Toast POS with a different processor?
Generally no — Toast's hardware and software are built around its own payment processing, which is part of the bundled model. This is worth knowing before committing to the hardware, since switching processors later would mean switching POS systems too.
Is bundled POS-and-payments pricing more expensive than standalone?
Typically, yes, because the processing side of a bundle doesn't have to compete independently for your business. The POS software value may still make the bundle worthwhile — that's a separate question from whether the processing rate itself is competitive.
How do I know what I'd pay with standalone interchange-plus processing?
Use our free calculator with your current volume and fees — it estimates standalone interchange-plus cost for a business like yours, anonymously.

See the real number for your business.

Free, anonymous calculator — compare what you're paying now against interchange-plus pricing. No statement needed.

Check my fees — free

100% anonymous · Nobody will call you

Related comparisons

Square

This page describes publicly known pricing structures and models for general informational and comparison purposes. It does not state any competitor's current specific pricing, which varies and changes over time. Confirm current pricing directly with any provider before making a decision.