Shopify POS vs Toast POS vs Square: Complete Restaurant Comparison

Choosing a restaurant POS system is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your business. The right system streamlines operations, improves customer experience, and boosts profitability. The wrong one costs you time, money, and headaches.

In this comprehensive comparison, we'll analyze the three most popular restaurant POS solutions: Shopify POS with Flip POS, Toast POS, and Square for Restaurants. By the end, you'll know exactly which system fits your needs.

Quick Overview: Three Leading Restaurant POS Systems

Here's a quick snapshot before we dive deep:

Shopify POS with Flip POS

Best for: Restaurants wanting flexibility, scalability, and e-commerce integration
Starting price: $114/month (Shopify POS $89 + Flip POS $25)
Key strength: Unified online and offline operations with powerful customization

Toast POS

Best for: Full-service restaurants needing all-in-one solutions
Starting price: $69/month + hardware costs
Key strength: Restaurant-specific features built natively

Square for Restaurants

Best for: Small cafes and quick-service restaurants on a budget
Starting price: Free (pay-per-transaction)
Key strength: Low upfront costs and easy setup

Pricing Comparison: Total Cost of Ownership

Restaurant POS pricing isn't just the monthly software fee. Let's break down the true total cost for each system:

Shopify POS + Flip POS Pricing

• Software: $89/month (Shopify POS Pro) + $25/month (Flip POS first location)
• Additional locations: $20/month each (Flip POS)
• Payment processing: 2.4% + 0¢ per transaction (Shopify Payments)
• Hardware: Bring your own devices (tablets, card readers from $49)
• Setup fees: None
• Contract: Month-to-month, cancel anytime

Total first-year cost (1 location, $50K annual sales): ~$2,568

Toast POS Pricing

• Software: $69-$165/month per terminal (varies by plan)
• Payment processing: 2.49% + 15¢ per transaction (Toast Payments required)
• Hardware: $799-$1,699 upfront OR $0 with long-term contract
• Setup fees: $499 (often waived with contract)
• Contract: Typically 3-year commitment

Total first-year cost (1 location, $50K annual sales): ~$3,500-$5,000

Square for Restaurants Pricing

• Software: Free (basic) or $60/month per location (Restaurant Plus)
• Payment processing: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
• Hardware: Card reader from $49, full kits $300-$800
• Setup fees: None
• Contract: Month-to-month

Total first-year cost (1 location, $50K annual sales): ~$2,100-$3,000

Feature Comparison: What Each System Offers

Feature	Shopify + Flip	Toast	Square
Table Management	✅ Full	✅ Full	✅ Basic
Kitchen Display System	✅ Unlimited	✅ Included	❌ Third-party
Online Ordering	✅ Native	✅ Included	✅ Included
Menu Modifiers	✅ Unlimited	✅ Unlimited	✅ Limited
Inventory Management	✅ Advanced	✅ Advanced	✅ Basic
Offline Mode	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Multi-Location	✅ Unlimited	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
E-commerce Integration	✅ Native	❌ Limited	✅ Basic
Employee Management	✅ Included	✅ Advanced	✅ Basic
Custom Hardware	✅ Any device	❌ Toast only	⚠️ Square preferred

Shopify POS + Flip POS: Detailed Analysis

What is Shopify POS with Flip POS?

Shopify POS is Shopify's point-of-sale solution, originally designed for retail. Flip POS is a Shopify app that adds complete restaurant functionality: table management, kitchen displays, menu modifiers, and specialized workflows for food service.

Together, they create a powerful restaurant management system built on Shopify's reliable e-commerce infrastructure.

✅ Shopify + Flip POS Pros

1. Unified Online & Offline Operations

The biggest advantage of Shopify is seamless integration between dine-in, takeout, delivery, and online orders. One inventory system, one menu, one dashboard. Perfect for restaurants with both physical and online presence.

2. No Hardware Lock-In

Use any iPad, Android tablet, or computer. Flip POS works on any device with a web browser. No expensive proprietary hardware required. Reuse existing devices or buy affordable tablets.

3. Unlimited Kitchen Displays

Flip POS includes unlimited kitchen display screens at no extra cost. Set up displays for grill, fryer, bar, expo - as many as you need. Each display gets a simple 6-character access code.

4. Powerful Modifiers & Customization

Create unlimited modifier groups with complex rules (required selections, min/max quantities, price adjustments). Assign modifiers to categories or individual items. Perfect for custom orders.

5. Scalability

Start with one location at $114/month, add unlimited locations at $20/month each (Flip POS). No contracts, cancel anytime. Scale up or down as your business changes.

6. E-commerce Ready

Shopify's e-commerce tools are best-in-class. Sell merchandise, gift cards, meal kits, or anything else alongside your restaurant. One platform for everything.

7. App Ecosystem

Access 8,000+ Shopify apps for accounting (QuickBooks), marketing (Mailchimp), loyalty programs, delivery integration, and more. Extend functionality as needed.

❌ Shopify + Flip POS Cons

1. Two Separate Systems

Requires both Shopify POS ($89/mo) and Flip POS ($25/mo). Two bills, two dashboards for some settings. More cost-effective than Toast long-term, but less integrated than a single platform.

2. Setup Requires Configuration

More setup flexibility means more initial configuration. You'll spend 1-2 hours setting up menus, modifiers, and locations. Toast has more hand-holding during setup.

3. No Built-In Payroll

Shopify POS tracks employee hours but doesn't process payroll. You'll need a third-party app or external payroll service. Toast has integrated payroll.

Best For

• Restaurants wanting to sell online and offline
• Multi-location operations needing flexibility
• Tech-savvy owners comfortable with configuration
• Businesses wanting to avoid long-term contracts
• Food trucks needing mobile POS solutions

Toast POS: Detailed Analysis

What is Toast POS?

Toast is a restaurant-specific POS system designed from the ground up for food service. It's an all-in-one solution with hardware, software, payment processing, and support bundled together.

✅ Toast POS Pros

1. Restaurant-Specific Features

Toast was built for restaurants. Table management, kitchen displays, order pacing, course firing - everything restaurants need is included natively.

2. All-in-One Solution

Hardware, software, payments, and support from one vendor. One phone call fixes everything. No finger-pointing between providers.

3. Advanced Reporting

Detailed analytics for labor costs, food costs, sales trends, and more. Toast's reporting is industry-leading for restaurants.

4. Integrated Payroll

Built-in payroll processing, tip management, and HR tools. Saves time and reduces errors compared to external payroll systems.

5. Delivery Integration

Native integration with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub. Orders flow directly into your POS without manual entry.

❌ Toast POS Cons

1. Expensive

$69-$165/month per terminal plus 2.49% + 15¢ per transaction. Hardware costs $799-$1,699 upfront (or bundled with long contract). Among the most expensive restaurant POS options.

2. Hardware Lock-In

Must use Toast-branded hardware. Can't reuse existing iPads or buy cheaper alternatives. Replacing broken hardware is costly.

3. Long Contracts

Toast typically requires 3-year contracts. Early termination fees apply. Less flexibility than month-to-month options.

4. Payment Processing Required

Must use Toast Payments (their payment processor). Can't shop for better rates or use existing processor relationships.

5. Limited E-commerce

Toast Online Ordering exists but is basic. Not designed for selling merchandise, subscriptions, or complex online storefronts.

Best For

• Full-service restaurants needing everything in one package
• High-volume establishments justifying the cost
• Operators wanting white-glove support
• Restaurants comfortable with long-term commitments

Square for Restaurants: Detailed Analysis

What is Square for Restaurants?

Square started as a simple card reader for small businesses and evolved into Square for Restaurants - their food service solution. It's designed for smaller cafes, quick-service, and counter-service restaurants.

✅ Square for Restaurants Pros

1. Low Entry Cost

Free basic plan with pay-per-transaction pricing (2.6% + 10¢). No monthly fees unless you upgrade. Perfect for startups and small cafes on tight budgets.

2. Easy Setup

Incredibly easy to set up - start taking orders in 15 minutes. Minimal training required. Great for non-technical users.

3. No Contracts

Month-to-month pricing, cancel anytime. No commitment, no early termination fees.

4. Integrated Ecosystem

Square offers payroll, marketing tools, e-commerce, and more. Everything works together seamlessly if you use Square for everything.

5. Hardware Flexibility

Works with iPads and Square's own affordable hardware. Not as locked-in as Toast.

❌ Square for Restaurants Cons

1. Limited Restaurant Features

Table management is basic. No built-in kitchen display system (requires third-party apps). Modifier capabilities are limited compared to Shopify or Toast.

2. Higher Processing Fees

2.6% + 10¢ per transaction is higher than Shopify Payments (2.4%) or negotiated rates with other processors. Adds up on high volumes.

3. Scalability Concerns

Works great for 1-2 locations, but gets expensive and clunky for larger operations. Not built for enterprise restaurant groups.

4. Support Quality

Support is hit-or-miss. Email-based for free users, phone support requires paid plans. Can be slow during busy times.

5. Feature Limitations

Advanced features (course management, complex modifier logic, multi-station KDS) require expensive add-ons or aren't available at all.

Best For

• Cafes and coffee shops with simple menus
• Quick-service and counter-service restaurants
• Startups with limited capital
• Single-location operations
• Businesses prioritizing ease over advanced features

The Verdict: Which POS is Right for You?

Choose Shopify POS + Flip POS if you want:

• ✅ Unified online and offline operations
• ✅ Flexibility to use any hardware
• ✅ No long-term contracts
• ✅ Unlimited kitchen displays included
• ✅ Powerful menu modifiers and customization
• ✅ E-commerce capabilities for selling beyond food
• ✅ Scalability from 1 to unlimited locations

Best for: Multi-location restaurants, food trucks, restaurants with online ordering, tech-savvy operators

Choose Toast POS if you want:

• ✅ All-in-one solution from one vendor
• ✅ Advanced restaurant analytics
• ✅ Integrated payroll and HR
• ✅ White-glove support
• ✅ Don't mind higher costs for convenience

Best for: Full-service restaurants, high-volume operations, businesses wanting everything included

Choose Square for Restaurants if you want:

• ✅ Lowest upfront costs
• ✅ Easiest setup
• ✅ Simple, no-frills solution
• ✅ No monthly fees (basic plan)

Best for: Cafes, coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, startups on a budget

Final Recommendation

For most restaurants in 2025, Shopify POS with Flip POS offers the best balance of features, flexibility, and value. You get:

• Complete restaurant features (table management, KDS, modifiers)
• Powerful e-commerce integration
• No hardware lock-in or long contracts
• Transparent, predictable pricing
• Ability to scale from 1 to 100+ locations

While Toast excels for full-service restaurants with big budgets, and Square works for simple cafes, Shopify + Flip POS provides the most flexibility for growing restaurant businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Toast or Square to Shopify POS?

Yes! You can import your menu and products to Shopify, then set up Flip POS. Most restaurants complete the transition in 1-2 days. We can help with data migration.

Does Shopify POS work for food trucks?

Absolutely. Shopify POS works offline and Flip POS is perfect for mobile operations. Many food trucks use it for multi-location management (tracking different event locations).

Which system has the best kitchen display?

Flip POS includes unlimited kitchen displays on any device (even old iPads). Toast's KDS is also excellent but limited by proprietary hardware. Square requires third-party KDS apps.

What about customer support?

Toast offers phone support 24/7. Shopify has 24/7 support, and Flip POS provides email support (4-hour response time) plus live chat. Square support varies by plan.

Can I use my existing payment processor?

Shopify POS supports Shopify Payments and major third-party processors. Toast requires Toast Payments. Square requires Square payments.

Still have questions? Contact us for personalized recommendations based on your restaurant's specific needs.