Pricing Start free trial

Head to head · prices checked October 17, 2026

SmartPOS vs Toast: which fits your shop?

Toast is a restaurant-only POS with its own hardware, payments and add-ons for online ordering, payroll and marketing. Here is how it compares with SmartPOS on price, payments, trade features, languages and countries, including where Toast is the better choice.

Toast · list prices (USD)

Starter kit (higher processing)$0/mo
Point of Sale plan$69/mo
Card processingabout 2.49% + 15¢ on the paid plan

Sources: CostBench: Toast vs Clover pricing 2026; Katalyst: restaurant POS pricing in 2026. Third-party reported figures; check Toast's own site.

SmartPOS · published prices

POS Essentials$29AED 99Rs 2,999/mo
POS Growth (trade modules)$59AED 199Rs 5,999/mo
Card processingyour own processor

Per location. Prices for your selected country; see pricing.

The short verdict

Best known for full-service and quick-service restaurants that want one restaurant-specialist vendor. SmartPOS is the better fit if you want to keep your own card processor, need your trade's features in one plan, sell in the UAE or Pakistan, or need staff and receipts in languages like Arabic, Urdu or Vietnamese. If none of those apply and you are happy with Toast, stay.

Side by side

SmartPOS compared with Toast
TopicToastSmartPOS
Who it is forRestaurants onlyRestaurants, plus 20 other trade editions
PaymentsUses Toast paymentsWorks with your own card processor; no payment lock-in
Pricing modelFree starter kit with higher processing, or a paid plan; add-ons extraPublished per-location plans; trade modules in POS Growth
CountriesMainly US, Canada, UK and IrelandSold in the USA, UAE and Pakistan, priced in USD, AED and PKR
LanguagesMainly English, with Spanish optionsInterface and receipts in your language, including Arabic and Urdu right to left
Website + CRMOnline ordering and marketing as add-onsPOS + managed website + GoHighLevel snapshot on one bill

Where Toast is stronger

  • Deep restaurant features built over many years
  • Kitchen display system and restaurant hardware built for kitchens
  • Online ordering, payroll and team tools from the same vendor

Stay with Toast if…

  • You run a busy restaurant and want a restaurant-only specialist
  • You use Toast payroll and team tools
  • You are happy on Toast payments and your agreement length

Choose SmartPOS if…

  • You want to choose your own processor
  • You also run a bakery, cafe or market alongside the restaurant
  • Your kitchen staff need Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic or Urdu
  • You sell in the UAE or Pakistan

If you switch

Editions to look at instead of Toast

Already decided to leave Toast? Read the alternative guide · How switching works · Savings calculator

FAQ · 6

SmartPOS vs Toast: questions

  1. 01Is SmartPOS as good as Toast for restaurants?

    Toast is a restaurant specialist with deep features and its own kitchen hardware. SmartPOS covers tables, courses, modifiers, kitchen tickets, tips, bookings and a QR menu, with your own processor and more languages. Book a demo and run a real service on it before deciding.

  2. 02Can I keep my Toast hardware?

    Toast hardware is built for Toast software. SmartPOS runs on standard tablets and PCs, with standard receipt and kitchen printers.

  3. 03Is SmartPOS cheaper than Toast?

    Compare your whole monthly bill: software, add-ons and processing. SmartPOS publishes per-location prices and processing stays with your own processor; the savings calculator does the maths.

  4. 04Does SmartPOS have a kitchen display?

    Yes. Kitchen orders show on a screen or print by station, with timers.

  5. 05Does SmartPOS do online ordering?

    Every plan includes an online store built from your menu; the bundle adds a managed website and CRM.

  6. 06Can SmartPOS run my restaurant in Dubai?

    Yes. Prices in AED include VAT and the interface runs in Arabic and English.

Compare it on your own counter, free for 14 days.

Run SmartPOS next to Toast on a spare tablet before you decide. No card, no contract.

Start free trial Book a demo

14-day free trial · no card · no contract

Start free trial