If tickets and refunds already work
Keep the POS stable and fix the ordering channel. A branded web and app layer can improve repeat orders without forcing staff to relearn the entire restaurant stack.
Toast vs Clover - updated 2026-06-19
Toast vs Clover for restaurants: POS switch or ordering fix?
Toast and Clover are both credible restaurant POS choices. The real decision is whether your POS is actually broken, or whether you only need a branded direct-ordering layer that works with the system you already have.
Fast operator answer
- Toast is the restaurant-specific POS choice when the restaurant wants Toast hardware, Toast POS, and tightly integrated online ordering.
- Clover is the flexible POS choice when hardware choice, reseller/payment setup, and small-to-medium restaurant fit matter.
- Toast's pricing page says pricing starts at $0/month, but hardware, implementation, delivery, and payment terms still need to be compared in the actual quote.
- Toast online ordering is commission-free direct ordering, but it is still part of Toast POS; if the restaurant is already on Clover, this can become a full migration.
- Orderitto is the direct-ordering layer when the POS works but online ordering, loyalty, customer ownership, or branded apps need to improve.
Decision shortcut
Do not turn an ordering problem into a POS migration
Most Toast vs Clover searches mix two different decisions. Split them before you sign a contract.
If the POS is the bottleneck
Compare Toast and Clover as operating systems, not just websites. Ask about hardware cost, payment terms, offline mode, support hours, menu routing, and contract length.
If commission is the real problem
Marketplace fees will not be solved by a POS logo alone. You need a direct-ordering plan that moves repeat guests away from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
If you need the lowest-risk next step
Improve direct ordering first, measure orders and demo requests, then decide whether a full POS replacement is still needed.
The numbers behind the decision
Why direct ordering beats marketplace dependence
The reason restaurants research Toast vs Clover at all is usually to take back control of online orders from commission-heavy third-party apps. Every 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 · 202615-30%
DoorDash's marketplace delivery commission ranges from 15% on Basic to 30% on Premier; pickup is listed separately at 6%.
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 · 2026Decision matrix
Compare the operating choice, not only the POS logo
A Toast vs Clover decision changes hardware, payments, menu workflow, staff training, and online ordering. If the current POS already works, the lower-risk move can be a direct-ordering layer instead of a POS migration.
| Feature | Orderitto | Toast | Clover |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary job | Branded direct ordering layer | Restaurant POS ecosystem | Flexible POS and payments ecosystem |
Best fit | Restaurants keeping a working POS | Full-service, quick-service, and larger operators | Small/medium fast-casual, QSR, retail crossover |
Replaces the POS Orderitto sits beside the POS. Toast and Clover are POS decisions. | |||
Published entry price Toast and Clover exact costs depend on package, hardware, implementation, processing, and contract terms. | $149/mo + $799 setup | Starts at $0/mo; hardware + implementation vary | $14.95/mo cited by Owner.com; $135/mo hospitality plan cited by Tech.co |
Per-order platform commission on direct orders | 0% | Commission-free ordering language; processing and delivery fees still apply | Confirm plan and provider terms |
Online ordering model | Restaurant-branded web and app ordering | Integrated Toast POS online ordering | Clover restaurant online ordering capabilities |
Hardware dependency | No POS hardware replacement required | Toast hardware ecosystem | Clover hardware ecosystem |
Restaurant-specific depth | Ordering, loyalty, menu, analytics | Deep restaurant POS and operations | Flexible restaurant and retail tools |
Support / offline mode from checked sources | Plan support on Orderitto pricing | 24/7 support and offline mode | Not detailed in checked Clover source |
Processing comparison cited by Tech.co Third-party comparison data can change; confirm current provider rates before signing. | Stripe processing applies | 2.49% + 15 cents | 2.3% + 10 cents |
Which is cheaper?
There is no single cheap winner
Toast, Clover, and Orderitto use different cost models. Restaurants should compare monthly software, upfront setup or hardware, card processing, delivery fees, and whether online order volume causes platform cost to rise.
Toast cost shape
Toast's public pricing page says pricing starts at $0/month and notes that upfront costs vary by hardware and implementation. Toast online ordering is positioned as commission-free direct ordering, but delivery services, approved devices, payment terms, and Pro features still need quote-level confirmation.
Clover cost shape
Clover pricing depends on the restaurant plan, hardware, payment provider, and reseller relationship. Owner.com cites a $14.95/month basic subscription, while Tech.co cites a $135/month cheapest hospitality plan. Confirm your live quote.
Processing caveat
Third-party processing comparisons are useful for orientation, but the restaurant's exact card-present, online card, chargeback, batch, and pay-as-you-go terms come from the agreement it signs.
Orderitto cost shape
Orderitto Starter is $799 setup plus $149/month and Pro is $1,299 setup plus $249/month. The tradeoff is flat direct-ordering economics with zero per-order platform commission on direct orders.
When each one wins
Pick based on the restaurant you actually run
Choose Toast when POS depth matters
Toast is strongest when the restaurant wants a purpose-built restaurant POS, restaurant hardware, integrated online ordering, 24/7 support, offline mode, and a broader Toast operating system.
Choose Clover when flexibility matters
Clover is strongest when the restaurant wants flexible devices, a restaurant plan that can fit full-service or quick-service, and the ability to work through merchant-services or reseller relationships.
Choose Orderitto when switching POS is the risk
If Square, Clover, or another POS already prints tickets, handles refunds, and runs the floor correctly, replacing it just to improve online ordering can create avoidable training and migration risk.
Use quotes, not screenshots
Toast and Clover pricing can change by package, hardware, reseller, implementation, delivery, and payment terms. Before signing, request the complete monthly cost, processing rate, hardware cost, contract length, delivery terms, and customer-data rules.
Online ordering
The ordering layer is a separate decision
A lot of Toast vs Clover research is really about online ordering. The POS comparison matters, but the ordering channel determines who owns the repeat customer relationship.
Toast ordering is tied to Toast POS
Toast online ordering uses real-time menus and order flow inside Toast POS, with Google ordering paths, guest data, Online Ordering Pro features, and Toast delivery options. That is useful when Toast is the operating system.
Clover ordering stays in Clover's world
Clover supports online ordering for restaurants, but restaurants still need to verify the exact plan, provider terms, hardware, and processing details for their own setup.
Orderitto is built for branded direct orders
Orderitto is the layer for restaurants that want guests returning through the restaurant's own web and app experience, with loyalty, promos, analytics, and flat platform pricing.
Migration is not free
A POS switch means rebuilding menus, retraining staff, replacing hardware, and testing kitchen routing. If the POS is not broken, solve online ordering without making the whole restaurant relearn the stack.
Keep comparing before you sign
Toast Pricing Explained
Check Toast POS, online ordering, hardware, implementation, delivery, and quote questions.
Toast Online Ordering
Compare Toast online ordering, POS dependency, Pro features, and delivery-service fees.
Clover vs Square
Compare the other common POS choice for restaurants reviewing Clover.
BentoBox Pricing
See how website-first ordering costs compare against a flat direct-ordering layer.
ChowNow Pricing
See the full cost model for ChowNow and how it compares with flat direct ordering.
Online Ordering System Cost
Separate platform fees, processing, delivery fees, and per-order charges.
Restaurant Fee Calculator
Run the fee math before comparing a Toast or Clover quote against direct ordering.
Orderitto Pricing
See flat direct-ordering plans with no Orderitto per-order platform commission.
Frequently asked questions
Are Toast and Clover the same?
No. Toast and Clover are separate restaurant POS platforms. Toast is built specifically for restaurants and is often evaluated by full-service, quick-service, and larger operators. Clover is more flexible across restaurants and retail, with restaurant plans for full-service and quick-service businesses.
Is Clover or Toast cheaper?
It depends on what you count. Toast's public pricing page says pricing starts at $0/month, but upfront hardware and implementation costs vary by package and installation. Clover can be sold through reseller and merchant-services relationships, so restaurants should confirm exact software, hardware, processing, delivery, and contract terms before deciding.
Who is Toast's biggest competitor?
For restaurant POS searches, Clover and Square are two of Toast's most common competitors. Clover is usually compared on hardware flexibility and payment-provider flexibility. Square is usually compared on speed, simplicity, and transparent pricing.
Does Toast online ordering require Toast POS?
Toast positions online ordering as integrated with Toast POS, using real-time menus and order flow inside Toast. That can be strong if Toast is already the operating system, but it also means online ordering is tied to the Toast ecosystem and Toast-approved compatible devices.
Can a restaurant add direct online ordering without switching POS?
Yes. Orderitto is not a POS replacement. It is a branded direct-ordering layer for restaurants that want online ordering, loyalty, analytics, and zero per-order platform commission on direct orders while preserving a working POS workflow.
Does Toast or Clover charge commission on direct online orders?
Both Toast and Clover position their own direct online ordering as commission-free, but you still pay card processing on every order, plus any delivery fees, plus the POS subscription itself. The marketplace commission problem comes from third-party apps: DoorDash delivery commission runs 15-30%, Uber Eats runs 15-30%, and Grubhub combines 5-20% marketing commission with delivery fees starting at 10% when you use its drivers. The point of a direct-ordering layer like Orderitto, Toast online ordering, or Clover online ordering is to move repeat customers off those marketplaces and onto a channel the restaurant controls.
Should I pick the POS first or the online ordering first?
If your current POS already prints tickets, handles refunds, and runs the floor correctly, solve online ordering first without forcing a full POS migration. A POS switch means rebuilding menus, retraining staff, replacing hardware, and re-testing kitchen routing. Only treat Toast vs Clover as the primary decision when you genuinely need to replace the point of sale, not just improve the ordering channel.
Should I switch from Clover to Toast just for online ordering?
Usually no. If Clover already works for tickets, refunds, and staff workflow, switching the entire POS just to improve ordering creates avoidable hardware, menu, training, and contract risk. Add or improve the direct-ordering layer first, then revisit POS replacement only if the point of sale itself is the constraint.
What is the lowest-risk Toast vs Clover decision?
Separate the decisions. First decide whether the POS is broken. If it is not, improve direct ordering without a migration. If it is broken, compare Toast and Clover on the full operating stack: hardware, payment terms, offline mode, support, kitchen routing, contract length, and online ordering.
What Toast delivery fees should restaurants check?
If the restaurant plans to use Toast Delivery Services, check the current distance-based delivery fees and local regulatory fees. The checked Toast support page listed Uber Direct starting at $6.99 under six miles and DoorDash Drive at $7.49 within five miles plus $0.50 per mile above five.
Need ordering without a POS migration?
Orderitto gives restaurants branded direct online ordering when the POS works but the ordering channel needs to belong to the restaurant.
Sources checked
- Toast PricingChecked for pricing start, hardware and implementation language, approved-device language, support, and June 10, 2026 update date.
- Toast Online OrderingChecked for POS integration, commission-free ordering language, Order with Google, guest data, and Online Ordering Pro.
- Toast Delivery ServicesChecked for delivery service fees, distance tiers, regulatory fees, and driver-model limits.
- Clover Restaurant POSChecked for restaurant fit, online ordering capabilities, and restaurant plan positioning.
- Owner.com Toast vs CloverChecked for restaurant fit and cited subscription comparisons.
- Tech.co Toast vs CloverUseful for monthly pricing, processing comparisons, and buyer checklist structure.
- Orderitto PricingChecked for Orderitto Starter, Pro, and flat-fee direct-ordering positioning.