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Head-to-head · Restaurant Payment Processing Software

SpotOn Payment Processing vs Toast

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score SpotOn Payment Processing #6 in Restaurant Payment Processing Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit SpotOn
Toast #7 in Restaurant Payment Processing Software 8.5/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Toast

SpotOn Payment Processing leads on 1 check, Toast on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSpotOn Payment Processing · 8.6/10
  • Free planonly SpotOn Payment Processing
  • Most featuresSpotOn Payment Processing · 5 of 5

SpotOn Payment Processing scores higher on our rubric for restaurant payment processing software: 8.6 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

SpotOn Payment Processing offers free plan; Toast doesn't.

SpotOn Payment Processing is the better fit for restaurants seeking free software with reporting. Toast is the better fit for restaurants wanting payments plus a broad POS suite.

  • SpotOn Payment Processing fits best

    Restaurants seeking free software with reporting

  • Toast fits best

    Restaurants wanting payments plus a broad POS suite

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Side by side

Feature SpotOn Payment Processing 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Toast 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.5
Ranking #6 in Restaurant Payment Processing Software #7 in Restaurant Payment Processing Software
Best for Restaurants seeking free software with reporting Restaurants wanting payments plus a broad POS suite
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $55/unit/mo —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Phone, Docs · 24/7 Phone, Live chat · 24/7
Integrations 10 integrations 200+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features SpotOn Payment Processing 5/5 · Toast 0/5
Card-present payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Online payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Tableside payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Mobile payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Reconciliation tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Pricing model Flat_rate Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free POS software and hardware with reporting
  • Supports card-present, online, contactless, and tableside payments
  • Rapid funding transfers in under 30 minutes
  • Free Starter Kit includes cloud POS and one terminal
  • Supports ordering, reservations, table service, and kitchen display
  • Adds inventory, scheduling, reporting, and multi-location management
Cons
  • All-In has processing minimums
  • All-In requires a minimum two-year term
  • Processing fees are separate from advertised software fees
  • Hardware, implementation, add-ons, and processing can affect total cost
  • Starter Kit includes one terminal
  • Build Your Own pricing is not shown
Our verdict

SpotOn Payment Processing is restaurant-focused payment software integrated with SpotOn POS. It supports card-present, keyed, online, contactless, tableside, and mobile QR-code pay-at-table payments. Restaurants also get ordering, table…

Read the review →

Toast combines cloud-based point of sale, payment processing, restaurant hardware, online ordering, reservations, table service, inventory, reporting, and staff management. It is designed for U.S. restaurants ranging from single-location…

Read the review →
  1. SpotOn Payment ProcessingRestaurant Payment Processing Software 8.6Free plan
  2. ToastRestaurant Payment Processing Software 8.5Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SpotOn Payment Processing — where it wins

    • Free POS software and hardware with reporting
    • Supports card-present, online, contactless, and tableside payments
    • Rapid funding transfers in under 30 minutes

    Where it doesn't

    • All-In has processing minimums
    • All-In requires a minimum two-year term
    • Processing fees are separate from advertised software fees

  • Toast — where it wins

    • Free Starter Kit includes cloud POS and one terminal
    • Supports ordering, reservations, table service, and kitchen display
    • Adds inventory, scheduling, reporting, and multi-location management

    Where it doesn't

    • Hardware, implementation, add-ons, and processing can affect total cost
    • Starter Kit includes one terminal
    • Build Your Own pricing is not shown
  • SpotOn Payment Processing8.6/10 · Free plan

    A free restaurant POS and payments option with reporting and a $55 paid tier.

    Visit SpotOnFull verdict →
  • Toast8.5/10 · Paid

    Payments and POS with ordering, reservations, inventory, and multi-location tools.

    Visit ToastFull verdict →

More comparisons

All restaurant payment processing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update