Square vs Toast
Both sell a restaurant POS that food trucks use, and both start at no monthly fee. Square publishes every rate on its pricing page; Toast publishes plan prices but not its card rates, so you need a quote to compare the cost of a sale.
Pricing
- Square Free:$0/mo; in person 2.6% + 15¢, online 3.3% + 30¢(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
- Square Plus:$49/mo per location; in person 2.5% + 15¢, online 2.9% + 30¢(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
- Square Premium:$149/mo per location; in person 2.4% + 15¢, online 2.9% + 30¢(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
- Toast Starter Kit (1 location, up to 2 terminals, hardware kit with no upfront cost):Starting at $0/mo(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
- Toast Point of Sale (choose your own hardware):Starting at $69/mo(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
- Toast card processing:Not published on the pricing page(source, checked Oct 24, 2026)
Side by side
| Feature | Square | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan Square for Restaurants pricing, Toast pricing, checked Oct 24, 2026 | Square Free, $0/mo | Starter Kit, starting at $0/mo, for 1 location and up to 2 terminals |
| Paid plans Square for Restaurants pricing, Toast pricing, checked Oct 24, 2026 | Plus $49/mo and Premium $149/mo per location | Point of Sale starting at $69/mo; Build Your Own is custom priced |
| In-person card rate Square for Restaurants pricing, Toast pricing, checked Oct 24, 2026 | 2.6% + 15¢ on Free, down to 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium | Not published; the Point of Sale plan is described as flat-rate processing |
| Hardware Square for Restaurants pricing, Toast pricing, checked Oct 24, 2026 | Hardware from $59 | Starter Kit includes a terminal or handheld kit with no upfront cost |
| Offline payments Square for Restaurants pricing, Toast pricing, checked Oct 24, 2026 | Offline payments, processed when you reconnect (declined if not within 24 hours) | Offline mode keeps taking orders and card payments until you reconnect |
Which to pick
If you need to know your rate before you sign: Square
Every plan’s card rate is on its pricing page. Toast’s rates take a sales quote.
If you need hardware with nothing up front: Toast
The Starter Kit comes with a terminal or handheld kit and no upfront hardware cost.
If you need no monthly fee at low volume: Square
Square Free has no monthly fee and published rates, so a slow month costs only the swipes.
If you need preorders for a stop and pickup time: Hotplate, or Truck Preorder when it opens
Hotplate sells preorder drops with no monthly fee. Truck Preorder opens in wave 2.
Get early access to Truck Preorder