Orders route through Toast POS
Digital orders flow straight into the same Toast system that runs the floor, with real-time menu and 86ing sync. For a kitchen already on Toast, there is no second screen to manage.
Toast online ordering - updated 2026-05-24
Toast online ordering: pricing, how it works, and alternatives
Toast online ordering is genuinely strong - if you run Toast as your full POS. The catch is exactly that: it requires Toast POS. Here is how it works, what it really costs, and when a direct-ordering layer on your existing POS is the better move.
One-minute answer
- Toast Online Ordering is built into Toast POS - it routes digital orders to the kitchen in real time and feeds Local by Toast for discovery.
- It is commission-free per order, but not free: expect roughly a $75/mo add-on on top of Toast POS (~$69/mo), plus online card processing around 3.50% + 15¢.
- The real constraint is the POS requirement - using Toast online ordering means running Toast as your point of sale.
- If your Square or Clover POS already works, Orderitto adds branded commission-free ordering on top without a full POS migration.
Why direct ordering matters
The numbers behind the decision
Toast online ordering, like Orderitto, exists to pull orders off commission-heavy marketplaces and onto a channel the restaurant controls. Each figure below is cited to its public source.
Quote-based
Toast lists Online Ordering inside its Digital Storefront suite and positions direct online ordering as commission-free with flat delivery fees, but package pricing should be confirmed with Toast.
Source: Toast Online Ordering · 202613-30%
DoorDash's marketplace take rate from restaurants ranges from 13% on basic plans to 30% on Premier plans, before promotional add-ons.
Source: DoorDash Merchant Pricing (public site) · 202615-30%
Uber Eats charges restaurants 15-30% commission per delivery order depending on plan tier (Basic, Plus, Premium).
Source: Uber Eats Merchant Pricing · 20263-5%
The average independent restaurant runs on a 3-5% net profit margin. Giving 25-30% of online order revenue to a third-party app erases the margin entirely on those orders.
Source: National Restaurant Association Operations Report · 202460%
60% of consumers say they order delivery or takeout at least once a week, and digital channels now account for the majority of off-premise restaurant transactions.
Source: National Restaurant Association State of the Restaurant Industry Report · 20252.9% + $0.30
Stripe's standard online card processing fee is 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction — the platform-agnostic baseline cost of accepting card payments online.
Source: Stripe Pricing · 2026How it works
Toast online ordering is part of the POS
Unlike a standalone ordering layer, Toast Online Ordering is wired into Toast POS. That tight integration is the strength and the constraint at the same time.
Local by Toast adds discovery
Local by Toast is a consumer app where diners discover and order from nearby Toast restaurants. That is a real advantage a pure ordering layer does not have - genuine new-customer reach.
Commission-free, not cost-free
Toast does not charge a per-order percentage on direct online orders, but you pay the monthly online ordering software fee plus card processing on every order. Commission-free is about the percentage, not the total bill.
It requires Toast POS
Because online ordering is part of the platform, you must run Toast as your point of sale to use it. For a restaurant on Square or Clover, that is a full POS migration, not just an ordering upgrade.
Honest comparison
Toast online ordering vs a direct-ordering layer
Where Toast wins: deep POS integration and built-in discovery. Where a layer like Orderitto wins: no POS migration, flat fees, and a branded app you own. “Partial” means supported with limits.
| Feature | Orderitto | Toast Online Ordering |
|---|---|---|
Requires replacing your POS Toast online ordering runs on Toast POS; Orderitto sits on top of your existing POS | ||
Works with existing Square / Clover POS | ||
Per-order platform commission (direct) | 0% | 0% (commission-free) |
Typical monthly software cost Third-party-cited Toast figures; confirm with a Toast quote | $149-$249/mo flat | ~$75/mo add-on + POS (~$69/mo) |
Online payment processing | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) | ~3.50% + 15¢ (cited) |
Branded native iOS + Android app Toast offers branded mobile app on higher Digital Storefront tiers; Orderitto ships it under your name | Partial | |
Built-in consumer discovery Local by Toast is a genuine discovery surface - a real Toast advantage | ||
Deep POS-to-kitchen integration | Partial | |
Setup timeline | 10-14 days | Full POS implementation |
Customer data ownership | Partial |
When each one wins
Match the tool to your real situation
Choose Toast online ordering when
You want or already run Toast as your full POS, you value deep kitchen integration and table management, you are high-volume or multi-location, and you want Local by Toast discovery built in.
Choose a direct-ordering layer when
Your current Square or Clover POS works, you only need to upgrade the ordering channel, you want a branded native app under your own name, and you want flat-fee economics without a migration.
The migration cost is the deciding factor
Switching POS to get online ordering means rebuilding menus, retraining staff, replacing hardware, and re-testing kitchen routing. If the POS is not the problem, do not move it just to fix ordering.
Get the real number in writing
Toast pricing varies by package, hardware, and processing terms. Before comparing, request the complete monthly software cost, online ordering add-on, hardware, implementation, and processing rate from Toast.
Keep comparing before you choose
Frequently asked questions
How does Toast online ordering work?
Toast Online Ordering is the back-end inside Toast POS that receives and routes digital orders straight to the kitchen, with real-time menu sync. Diners can order from your Toast-built ordering page, from Google Search and Maps, and through Local by Toast, the consumer discovery app. Because it is part of the Toast platform, it requires Toast POS to run.
How much does Toast online ordering cost?
Toast positions direct online ordering as commission-free, but it is not free. Third-party guides commonly cite an online ordering add-on around $75/month on top of the Toast POS subscription (often around $69/month), which puts software near $144/month before hardware. Payment processing applies on top, with online card rates commonly cited around 3.50% + 15¢. Confirm your exact package, hardware, and processing terms in a Toast quote.
Is Toast online ordering commission-free?
Yes on the per-order commission - Toast does not take a percentage of each direct online order the way a delivery marketplace does. You still pay the monthly software fee for the ordering tools plus card processing on every order. Commission-free means no per-order percentage to Toast, not zero cost.
Does Toast online ordering require Toast POS?
Yes. Toast Online Ordering is built into the Toast platform and uses Toast POS for real-time menus and order routing. To use it you have to run Toast as your point of sale, which means a full POS migration if you currently use Square, Clover, or another system.
What is the best alternative to Toast online ordering?
If you do not want to replace your POS, a dedicated direct-ordering layer is the cleaner path. Orderitto adds branded web, iOS, and Android ordering with zero per-order platform commission and integrates with your existing Square or Clover POS - so you get commission-free direct ordering without migrating the whole restaurant onto a new system.
Toast online ordering vs Orderitto: which should I choose?
Choose Toast online ordering if you also want or already run Toast as your full POS and value deep POS-to-kitchen integration. Choose Orderitto if your current POS works and you only need to upgrade the ordering channel: you get a branded native app, flat-fee pricing, customer-data ownership, and no POS migration risk.
Is Toast online ordering good for small restaurants?
Toast is strongest for high-volume, full-service, and multi-location restaurants that need deep POS, table management, and kitchen integration. Smaller single-location restaurants that mainly need a branded ordering channel can often get there faster and cheaper with a direct-ordering layer on top of their existing POS, without committing to a full Toast migration.
Want commission-free ordering without switching POS?
See how branded direct ordering on top of your existing Square or Clover setup compares to migrating onto Toast.
Sources checked
- Toast Online OrderingChecked for POS integration, commission-free language, Local by Toast, and Google ordering.
- Toast PricingChecked for POS subscription tiers, hardware, and support terms.
- Orderitto PricingChecked for flat-fee plans, Square/Clover integration, and branded app positioning.