Toast POS vs Lightspeed Restaurant

Restroworks

SpotOn

Epos Now

Restroworks powers 25,000+ restaurants worldwide with a cloud-based platform combining POS, inventory, kitchen automation, kiosks, and analytics, helping restaurant brands streamline operations, gain real-time insights, and scale efficiently.

SpotOn Restaurant is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) solution designed to help small to medium businesses in the hospitality industry streamline online payments, tableside orders, and fraud protection. The labor management module lets users handle employee hours, gratuities, shifts, and more.

Epos Now is a leading global cloud-based point-of-sale and payment system that specializes in helping US retail and hospitality businesses trade efficiently.

Thanks to a selection of tools, and an extensive app store, users can create bespoke systems that make running a business simple.

Owner

This isn’t our first major issue, and every time it takes a while to get it fixed. If you have a restaurant that does decent volume, I would suggest getting a more dependable POS with a customer service that can actually help and not just provide lip service.

General manager

We lost over £20,000 in the first month of using the system, due to complete negligence by toast staff in supporting us with basic issues, and set up of the toast system.

Director of Training

A one of the longest running TOAST users, almost 10 years, I love it because it's functional, easy to use and customize, if you know the program. If you don't have a TOAST expert on your internal team, it can be challenging as customer service is poor and they don't have operational experience that relates when you are trying to resolve an issue.

General Manager

Customer service is always top notch and the amount of mistakes in restaurant has decreased dramatically.

Toast POS solution is a cloud-based restaurant management platform for restaurant owners to reduce staff & operational costs and improve customer experience

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting Integration

Activity Dashboard

AI Copilot

Alerts/Notifications

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Billing & Invoicing

Built-in Accounting

Cash Management

Commission Management

Contact Management

Credit Card Processing

Customer Accounts

Customer Management

Customizable Branding

Customizable Reports

Data Import/Export

Delivery Estimate

Delivery Management

Discount Management

eCommerce Management

Electronic Payments

Electronic Signature

Email Marketing

Employee Management

Food Delivery Dispatching

For Bakeries

For Bars/Clubs

For Food Trucks

For Restaurants

For Retail

Gift Card Management

Inventory Control

Inventory Management

Inventory Optimization

Inventory Tracking

IoT Integration

Item Management

Kitchen/Menu Management

Loyalty Program

Menu Builder

Mobile Access

Mobile Payments

Multi-Location

Online Ordering

Online Payments

Order Entry

Ordering Automation

Order Management

Order Scheduling

Order Tracking

Payment Processing

Point of Sale (POS)

Point of Sale (POS) Integration

Pricing Management

Product Identification

Promotions Management

Real-Time Analytics

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-Time Reporting

Receipt Management

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Reservations Management

Restaurant POS

Retail Inventory Management

Returns Management

Returns Tracking

Sales Reports

Separate Checks

SMS Messaging

Split Checks

Staff Management

Status Tracking

Table Management

Third-Party Integrations

Tips Management

Transaction History

Wait List Management

Website Personalization

By industry, Toast POS reviewers are most commonly professionals in restaurants (52%). The most frequent use case for Toast POS cited by reviewers is restaurant POS (82% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Reviewers appreciate Toast POS's reasonable and flexible pricing, often finding it more affordable than competitors. However, some reviewers feel that costs rise quickly with add-ons, and they report concerns about unexpected overall expenses.

Value for money

The Toast POS integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: 7shifts (an employee scheduling product rated 4.4 out of 5 for its integration with Toast POS), Sling (an employee scheduling product, 4.3), and OpenTable (a reservations product, 4.8).

Integrations

Toast POS is a restaurant POS solution with key features that include reporting and analytics, order entry, order management, payment processing, sales reports, online ordering, and more.

Toast POS

Web-based

Windows

Android

Linux

Square Point of Sale

Clover

Revel Systems

Aloha Cloud

TouchBistro

Aloha EPOS

Maitre'D

CAKE POS

Lightspeed Restaurant

Lavu

Squirrel POS

Square for Retail

Lightspeed Retail

Starter Kit

Point of Sale

Build Your Own

Limited email and receipt functionality

Operations Director

Further, I recently had a support issue that I had to call and email about for 3 weeks straight every day in which they continued to offer no support and today told me they refused to send me to the integrations department because the problem I was experiencing was not a toast problem.

71% of reviewers feel negative about Toast’s email and receipt capabilities. Some users report difficulties reaching support via email, with responses often delayed or misdirected. Reviewers indicate that emailing receipts is cumbersome, especially for pre-approval or catering needs, as receipts can only be sent after transactions are completed. They say account and communication issues are not easily resolved through email, leading to prolonged problems. Some reviewers feel the lack of efficient email support and receipt management complicates business operations.

High and unpredictable fees

The billing and invoicing is somewhat troublesome. When Toast charges you for things that you don't subscribe to it took me months to get it fixed while still having to pay for things we did not sign up for or use.

91% of reviewers feel negative about Toast’s fees and charges. Some users report frustration with unexpected charges, high processing fees, and hidden costs that accumulate over time. Reviewers indicate that refunds for incorrect charges are difficult to obtain and often require repeated follow-ups. They say monthly costs can be much higher than anticipated, especially with additional fees for modules, equipment, and chargebacks. Some reviewers feel the pricing structure lacks transparency, leading to dissatisfaction and financial strain for their businesses.

Long waits and unresolved issues

Partner

Now both of those people have been (apparently) laid off.    When we called support the last time, the recording warned that there were 33 people ahead of us in line.   

80% of reviewers feel negative about Toast’s phone support. Some users report experiencing long hold times, frequent transfers, and delayed callbacks when seeking assistance. Reviewers indicate that support representatives often provide generic responses or lack the knowledge to resolve complex issues. They say follow-up is inconsistent, with many calls and messages going unanswered. Some reviewers feel that critical problems during busy hours are not addressed promptly, leading to operational disruptions and frustration.

Unreliable credit card processing

For example, when credit card processing goes down, which happens often with them for some reason, you then have to key in cards (which Toast then charges  higher merchant fees to do this) and then you have to get to the store and either wait until your slow or closed to fix the issue for the next day.

64% of reviewers feel negative about Toast’s credit card processing. Some users report frequent issues with card readers malfunctioning, system outages, and difficulties reconciling deposits. Reviewers indicate that promised processing rates are not always honored, resulting in higher-than-expected fees. They say technical problems with credit card transactions disrupt service and require manual intervention. Some reviewers feel the lack of flexibility and support for credit card processing adds unnecessary complexity and cost to their operations.

Frequent glitches and slow resolutions

Owner/ Manager

I also have have pretty incompetent people not able to troubleshoot with me over the phone and I am on the phone with an issue no less than an hour, which really makes it difficult for me to do my job considering I have one screen and I need to be present for my customers.

owner

UNRELIABLE!!!!no one in TOAST can troubleshoot because system has gotten too complex and no documentation exists.

78% of reviewers feel negative about Toast’s bugs and issues. Some users report recurring glitches, crashes, and operational errors that disrupt daily business activities. Reviewers indicate that resolving technical problems often takes an extended period, with support sometimes unable to provide effective solutions. They say critical issues may persist for months, requiring repeated explanations and follow-ups. Some reviewers feel the system’s complexity contributes to instability, making troubleshooting and maintenance challenging.

Intuitive and efficient navigation

The interfaces are very simple and easy to learn and navigate.

91% of reviewers feel positive about Toast’s navigation. Reviewers appreciate the intuitive layout, clear organization, and user-friendly interfaces that allow them to quickly access reports, complete orders, and manage business tasks. Some users report that the search bar and easy-to-read screens help them find information efficiently, even during busy periods. They say the navigation is more streamlined compared to other POS systems, making daily operations smoother. Some reviewers find that customizing the interface directly from the POS device adds to their efficiency, reducing the need for back-office visits.

Robust and evolving feature set

Overall features allow for a lot of flexibility and customization

83% of reviewers feel positive about Toast’s features. Reviewers appreciate the wide range of functionalities, from detailed reporting to constant updates that add new capabilities. Some users say the system’s flexibility and customization options allow them to tailor the software to their specific needs. They find that the all-in-one POS solution streamlines transactions and business management. Some reviewers value the commitment to continuous improvement, noting that new features are regularly introduced to address user feedback and evolving industry requirements.

Streamlined employee management

80% of reviewers feel positive about Toast’s employee management. Users think the system is easy to use for both managers and staff, making onboarding and training new employees straightforward. Some reviewers find it simple to track labor, enter new employees, and generate necessary reports. They say the intuitive interface is accessible for employees of all ages and experience levels. Reviewers appreciate that employee processes are efficient, reducing the time and effort required for day-to-day management and ensuring smooth business operations.

Night Auditor

The company I work for uses Toast POS to charge guests to their room number; sometimes the systems don't communicate and tabs are left unpaid.

Founder

I would say the only thing about Toast that I don't like is their pricing for implementing integrations. Because even when the integration is necessary, myself or my consulting clients have a hard time justifying the additional spend over necessary expenses.

I enjoy that the system will lock out after a period of time of not using it; prevents theft and guest information being leaked.

Marketing Executive

Handhelds device for contactless payment is the winner as customer don't have to head to cashier to make payment and can pay the meal from the comfort of the table.

Event sales coordinator

The pros is a lot of the sales summaries can be located online which makes it easy to look up specific bills etc.

Payroll Manager

Als that when viewing an individual check on back end, it is not full screen

Manager

They make  changes  to  reports but the legacy reports  gave better information.    

Treasurer

This process took more than two months and included email, telephone, and service tickets. When our payments to TOAST stopped due to this problem, we got more attention.

Admin

Toast sold a gift card for a restaurant that was no longer in business.

WAITRESS

Sometimes most of the aggravations come from managers not updating the information.

Catering Coordintor

They give options to utilize the service in ways that best benefit our business & how we personally operate.

Loan servicing representative

Overall I love using the Toast Pos application to check out at restaurants.

Further to this, I have been trying to contact several members of the toast team so we can send the system and hardware back (as we certainly won’t be using it again) and, surprise!

Overall it speeds profitability through short training, consistent operation, while allowing for quick transaction.

HR Manager

Support calls can take a long time to get to the right department and have someone know how to fix the issue.

They have no customer service for users.  

What I like least about toast POS is that there can be issues with the payment.

The software runs efficiently and the layout is very organized.

The team couldn't deal with troubleshooting terminals on the telephone with support and serving customers at the same time.

Food and Beverage Manager

We have a hard time integrating with InforHMS and sometimes the integration with Resy malfunctions.

Food & Beverage Personnel, Rental/Repir Technician

With over fifteen years of customer service experience covering all types of industries imaginable, the Toast POS software stands out when regraded by it's ease of integration, system set-up and navigation, customization and guest interaction interface.

Chef Manager

I've used it in a few different kitchens to manage the menu and track sales.

I think there is a slight lag from when we get updates & when they actually take place.

The major problem, and the reason for the one star review, is the absolutely disgraceful customer service and support!

Co Owner

I got inspired by their facebook advertising but now I will request all the small business owners not to get inspired by that promises which they can’t fulfill.

Simple and easy to integrate into my workplace's numerous departments, Toast POS offers a user friendly platform to build an inventory into with the option to edit the information therein whenever required, even in real time when alterations are needed to complete a guest's order.

I order  product the messed up my order and charge me and have another the send me and charge me for the sand me label after three day sen the product back after milion call and email and no supervisor to talk and if you do he can Resolve anything and not get my credit back till after 28 days this is the most Ridiculous thing I ever hear you lost me as a customer and you'r not supporting Restarant business

Owner Chef

I've been using toast for seven + years, and the big reason I stick with them, is they are always adding new features.

The system is very capable,except for some issues with payment terminals that were eventually resolved.

TOAST central database has lots of e-learning and resources at your fingertips.

Toast POS is reliable, user-friendly, and well-suited for restaurant operations.

All the payment is securely process by Toast payment processing.

Toast POS vs Lightspeed Restaurant Comparison (2026)

Toast POS

Lightspeed Restaurant

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives