Spanish
Toast built a POS for traditional restaurants. GoTab built a platform around the guest tab. Both are capable systems — here’s how to tell which one fits how your venue actually operates.
| GoTab | Toast | |
|---|---|---|
| Service model | Hybrid: QR ordering, server ordering, kiosks, and mobile pay all feed one persistent tab and one KDS | Traditional terminal-driven POS; QR ordering available but tied to the table |
| Pricing model | Transparent SaaS: $15/mo (Basic), $99/mo (Pro), $229/mo (Sync) | Toast publishes a $0-per-month Starter option and a Point of Sale plan starting at $69 per month, with additional software, processing, hardware and feature costs depending on the package. |
| Hardware | Open - runs on iOS or Android devices you already own, or lease through Easy Pay. Note: minimum hardware and operating system specifications apply. | Proprietary Toast hardware required |
| Contracts | 2-year standard terms, transparent, with flexible options available | Multi-year contracts are standard in the POS industry — review your agreement’s renewal and termination terms |
| QR ordering | A persistent tab can connect staff ordering and guest mobile ordering across multiple rounds, service zones and experiences during the same visit. | Mobile Order & Pay allows guests to place additional orders from a table-specific experience. |
| Multi-vendor support | Native: built for food halls, with per-vendor routing and revenue splits | Not a native capability; typically requires separate transactions per vendor |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | Multi-state item tracking, smart batching, zone-based routing, two-way guest texting | Ticket display with color-coded aging and station routing |
| Integrations | Open API; native QuickBooks Online sync at no extra cost | Broad marketplace; some integrations (e.g., QuickBooks) require a paid add-on |
| Offline mode | OPServer keeps the full system running across devices during an outage | Toast offers offline ordering, printing and payment capabilities. Without local sync, order data is stored on individual devices and does not synchronize across terminals until connectivity returns. Eligible configurations can use Toast’s local-sync functionality. |
| Loyalty & marketing | Guest marketing and relationship-management capabilities available through Fishbowl, a GoTab company. | Available as separate paid modules |
GoTab’s software starts at $15/month (Basic), compared to Toast’s plans starting at $0–$69+/month per location plus required payment processing. Total cost depends on your transaction volume, hardware needs, and which add-ons each platform requires — request a demo for a quote based on your venue.
Toast’s QR ordering (Mobile Order & Pay) is tied to the table where the guest scanned, and guests can’t edit an order after submitting it. GoTab’s QR ordering opens a persistent tab that travels with the guest across zones and stays open until they choose to close it.
Yes. GoTab runs on any iOS, Android, or Windows tablet or phone you already own. Toast requires its own proprietary hardware.
Yes — this is a core, purpose-built use case for GoTab, including per-vendor order routing and automated revenue splits across vendors. Toast does not have a native multi-vendor solution.
GoTab’s OPServer keeps the full system — POS, KDS, and ordering — running across all connected devices during an outage, with no manual switching required.
GoTab y Toast son excelentes opciones en su búsqueda de un nuevo punto de venta. Realmente se reduce al tipo de operación que ejecuta, las características que necesita y cuál de estas soluciones lo posiciona mejor para hacer crecer su negocio.
¡GoTab funciona fantásticamente para nosotros! Hace exactamente lo que necesitamos, mete a la gente, se pone un trago en la mano, y los pone en camino; estamos muy contentos por ello. Estar frente a una gran sala de conciertos significa que necesitamos servir a los invitados de manera rápida y eficiente; ¡GoTab hace eso por nosotros!
Propietario, Craftworx Taproom
Ready to experience GoTab for yourself? Sign up for a free demo and learn about our special offers that make switching your POS easier.
