Toast vs Clover
POS & Ordering · Features checked on the official websites, Oct 2026.
Verdict
Pick Toast if you want one restaurant-built platform with table service, handhelds, offline mode, payroll and invoice costing all from the same vendor, and you're fine buying approved Toast hardware and add-ons. Pick Clover if you want a published all-in bundle price and card rate before you talk to sales, or you want to buy through your bank or a local reseller. Read the subscription terms first, because Clover hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable and terms vary by seller.
Who it's for
Toast
Full-service and quick-service restaurants and bars that want restaurant-specific depth: handhelds, offline mode, online ordering, payroll and food-cost tools under one vendor.
Clover
Counter-service spots and small restaurants that want published bundle pricing and card rates, or prefer to buy POS through their bank or a local reseller.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Toast | Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model (checked Oct 2026) | Starter Kit from $0/mo (1 location, up to 2 terminals, hardware kit with no upfront cost); Point of Sale from $69/mo with your choice of hardware; Build Your Own is custom-quoted | Full-service restaurant Starter bundle $179/mo for 36 months, or $1,799 for the hardware + $89.95/mo software (Restaurant Growth plan); Standard and Advanced bundles also listed |
| Card processing (checked Oct 2026) | Simple flat rate; the rate isn't published on the pricing page, so get it in writing | Starter full-service bundle: 2.3% + 10¢ in person, 3.5% + 10¢ keyed in (Clover.com pricing) |
| Payroll pricing (checked Oct 2026) | Payroll bundle for new restaurants from $69/mo + $9 per employee/mo | Payroll integrations (optional add-on) |
| Hardware | Approved Toast hardware only; terminals or handhelds | Clover devices (Station Solo/Duo, Mini, Flex handheld, Kiosk, KDS); can't be used with other processors |
| Where you buy it | Direct from Toast | Clover.com or 1,000+ bank and reseller partners (e.g. Citi, PNC, Wells Fargo); terms and termination fees vary by seller |
| Contract / cancellation | Pricing applies to new customers and single locations; extra devices cost more | Hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable (can be paid off, upgraded or bought out) |
| Table management and bill splitting | Yes | Y (table mapping, open tabs with pre-auth, bill splitting) |
| Tableside ordering / handhelds | Y (handheld kits) | Flex handheld; tableside ordering isn't included in the Starter full-service bundle |
| Online ordering | Add-on (Digital Storefront: online ordering, Toast Delivery Services, Local by Toast app) | Y (Clover online menu page, no-fee online ordering in the Starter bundle) |
| Third-party delivery integrations | Y (Toast Third-Party Delivery Integrations) | Y (3rd-party menu integrations) |
| Invoice, recipe costing and inventory | Add-on (xtraCHEF Essentials / Pro) | Cost tracking by item; more via Clover App Market apps |
| Offline mode | Y (orders, tickets and card payments keep working offline) | Not highlighted on the restaurant pricing page |
| Support | 24/7/365 Toast Care by phone or web chat, included | 24/7/365 support |
✓ Yes = advertised on the vendor's official website (checked Oct 2026). "Not highlighted" means we didn't see it on the main product page. It may exist, so confirm with the vendor. Prices shown were read on each vendor's official pricing page (checked Oct 2026) and change often, so confirm current pricing with the vendor before you buy.
Sources
- Toast pricing (pos.toasttab.com/pricing)
- Clover full-service restaurant pricing
- Clover pricing FAQ (subscriptions, resellers, termination fees)
FAQ
Is Toast or Clover better?
Pick Toast if you want one restaurant-built platform with table service, handhelds, offline mode, payroll and invoice costing all from the same vendor, and you're fine buying approved Toast hardware and add-ons. Pick Clover if you want a published all-in bundle price and card rate before you talk to sales, or you want to buy through your bank or a local reseller. Read the subscription terms first, because Clover hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable and terms vary by seller.
Who should choose Toast?
Full-service and quick-service restaurants and bars that want restaurant-specific depth: handhelds, offline mode, online ordering, payroll and food-cost tools under one vendor.
Who should choose Clover?
Counter-service spots and small restaurants that want published bundle pricing and card rates, or prefer to buy POS through their bank or a local reseller.
How much do Toast and Clover cost?
The pricing rows in the table above were read on the official Toast and Clover pricing pages (checked Oct 2026). Prices change often and some plans are quote-based, so confirm on each vendor's official pricing page before you buy.