Selecting the right Point of Sale (POS) system remains one of the most critical decisions for business owners in today’s fast-paced marketplace. ShopKeep and Toast represent two industry-leading POS solutions that have evolved significantly, each catering to distinct business needs with specialized features, competitive pricing structures, and unique operational capabilities. ShopKeep, now part of the Lightspeed family, has established itself as a versatile solution for retail businesses, serving over 25,000 small businesses across the USA and Canada with its flexible, inventory-focused approach. Meanwhile, Toast has solidified its position as the restaurant industry’s preferred POS system, capturing an impressive 21.50% market share and becoming the go-to choice for food service establishments ranging from quick-service to full-service restaurants. The competition between these platforms has intensified in 2025, with both systems introducing enhanced features, improved integrations, and more competitive pricing to attract growing businesses looking for reliable, scalable solutions.
ShopKeep delivers a comprehensive retail-focused platform that excels in inventory management, offering unlimited item tracking, automated reorder points, and sophisticated raw goods tracking for businesses requiring ingredient-level control. The system’s strength lies in its intuitive register functionality, enabling rapid checkout processes with customizable modifier options, flexible split tender capabilities, and dynamic discount applications. ShopKeep’s real-time analytics suite provides business owners with immediate insights into sales performance, inventory levels, and employee productivity through both desktop interfaces and the mobile ShopKeep Pocket app. The platform’s versatility shines through its ability to handle diverse retail categories, from apparel and accessories to event management and wholesale operations, making it adaptable to various business models beyond traditional retail.
Toast distinguishes itself through purpose-built restaurant functionality that addresses the complex workflows of food service operations. The system’s specialized features include advanced table management systems, sophisticated coursing capabilities, integrated kitchen display systems, and comprehensive tableside ordering tools that streamline restaurant service. Toast’s menu management system accommodates complex modifications, time-specific pricing for happy hour promotions, and detailed ingredient tracking that helps restaurants optimize food costs and menu engineering. The platform’s reporting suite focuses specifically on restaurant metrics such as table turn times, comprehensive tip reporting, server performance analytics, and food cost management—insights that generic POS systems cannot provide with the same depth and accuracy.
The fundamental difference between these platforms becomes clear when examining their core design philosophy: ShopKeep prioritizes flexibility and adaptability across multiple retail verticals, while Toast delivers deep, specialized functionality specifically engineered for restaurant operations. This distinction influences everything from user interface design to integration capabilities, making the choice between them largely dependent on whether your business requires broad retail functionality or specialized food service features.
ShopKeep’s transparent pricing structure starts at $49 per month when billed annually for its Basic plan, which includes one register and features like contactless payments, unlimited transactions, advanced reporting, unlimited inventory management, and support for unlimited employees. The Essential plan, priced at $79 per month annually, adds valuable integrations including QuickBooks accounting synchronization, gift card functionality, and a mobile reporting app that keeps owners connected to their business performance. For businesses planning expansion, the Advanced plan at $179 per month annually provides unlimited registers, priority customer support, and includes a free hardware bundle that significantly reduces initial setup costs.
Toast operates on a more complex pricing model that begins with a free Starter plan designed for restaurants needing just one or two terminals, though this option comes with limited features and higher payment processing rates of 2.99% + $0.15 per transaction. Their Standard plan starts at $69 per month with an upfront hardware investment of $799, offering reduced processing rates of 2.49% + $0.15 per transaction. The Essentials package at $165 monthly includes comprehensive digital ordering features for delivery and takeout services, while Toast also provides custom enterprise pricing for larger operations managing multiple locations.
When evaluating total cost of ownership, businesses must consider several factors beyond monthly subscription fees. ShopKeep allows integration with various payment processors for a gateway fee, providing flexibility for businesses with established processing relationships, while Toast requires using their proprietary payment processing system. Hardware costs also vary significantly, with Toast’s restaurant-grade equipment commanding premium prices compared to ShopKeep’s iPad-based approach that offers more budget-friendly options. The decision ultimately depends on balancing monthly operational costs against the specific features and processing rates that align with your business volume and transaction patterns.
ShopKeep demonstrates remarkable flexibility in hardware requirements, supporting both iOS and Android devices to accommodate diverse business preferences and existing equipment investments. The system operates on sixth-generation or higher iPads, iPad Minis, or iPad Pros, allowing businesses to leverage existing tablets if they meet technical specifications. ShopKeep’s peripheral ecosystem includes Bluetooth and wired connectivity options for credit card readers, receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners. Hardware bundles typically range from $800 to $1,500, making them accessible for small businesses operating with limited capital while still providing professional-grade functionality.
Toast takes a specialized approach with proprietary Android-based hardware designed specifically for demanding restaurant environments. Their equipment is engineered to withstand kitchen conditions including spills, heat exposure, and intensive daily usage that would typically damage consumer-grade devices. Toast offers multiple hardware configurations ranging from standard terminals and handheld devices for tableside ordering to self-service kiosks and integrated kitchen display systems. Installation costs typically begin around $499 but can increase substantially based on setup complexity and the number of terminals required for comprehensive restaurant coverage.
Both systems provide robust offline functionality, ensuring business continuity during internet disruptions. ShopKeep offers offline credit card processing capabilities when paired with Clover devices and ShopKeep payments, while Toast maintains full operational capability during connectivity issues. The choice between these hardware approaches often depends on whether businesses prioritize cost flexibility and device compatibility (ShopKeep) or specialized durability and integrated restaurant functionality (Toast).
Modern restaurants face unprecedented challenges with staffing shortages, increased call volumes, and the constant pressure to provide exceptional customer service while managing operational costs. Traditional POS systems handle transactions and basic management, but they cannot address one of the most critical pain points: managing the constant stream of phone calls that interrupt service and often go unanswered during busy periods. This is where specialized AI for restaurants like Loman transforms operations by acting as a dedicated 24/7 phone agent that seamlessly integrates with existing restaurant systems.
Loman’s sophisticated AI technology handles unlimited simultaneous calls, taking orders, booking reservations, answering menu questions, and managing customer inquiries without ever putting callers on hold. The system integrates seamlessly with popular POS platforms including Square, Toast, and Clover, ensuring that orders flow directly into existing workflows without disrupting kitchen operations or requiring additional staff training. Unlike traditional POS systems that focus primarily on transaction processing, Loman addresses the human element of restaurant service by ensuring every customer call converts to revenue rather than being missed due to busy staff or inadequate phone coverage. This specialized approach complements both ShopKeep and Toast by handling the critical customer communication layer that these POS systems cannot address, making it an essential addition for restaurants serious about maximizing revenue and improving customer satisfaction while reducing the operational burden on front-of-house staff.
ShopKeep has built a strong reputation for customer service excellence, consistently earning recognition through multiple Stevie Awards for sales and customer service achievements over recent years. The company provides comprehensive 24/7 support through multiple channels including email, text messaging, web inquiries, and live chat functionality. This round-the-clock availability particularly benefits businesses operating outside standard hours, such as bars, nightclubs, and retail stores with extended weekend hours. ShopKeep maintains an extensive knowledge base featuring tutorial articles and instructional videos that enable users to resolve common issues independently, reducing dependency on direct support interactions while minimizing potential downtime.
Toast offers similarly comprehensive 24/7 technical assistance, recognizing that restaurant operations often experience their highest volume during evenings and weekends when traditional support might be unavailable. Their support package includes hands-on training materials and an extensive online knowledge base specifically tailored to restaurant operations. Toast’s onboarding process stands out for its thoroughness, offering both remote and on-site installation options with comprehensive staff training to ensure effective system utilization from day one. The company provides specialized restaurant industry expertise that helps address unique food service challenges that general POS support teams might not fully understand.
User feedback for both platforms presents mixed reviews regarding support quality, which reflects industry-wide challenges in maintaining consistently excellent customer service. Some ShopKeep users report extended wait times for phone support, though email and chat channels typically provide more responsive assistance. Toast receives similar feedback patterns, but users frequently praise their specialized restaurant industry knowledge and understanding of food service operational challenges. When evaluating support options, businesses should consider their operational hours, internal technical expertise, and how critical immediate support availability is to their daily operations.
ShopKeep has established itself as a flexible POS solution particularly well-suited for diverse retail environments, with inventory management capabilities that make it ideal for boutiques, clothing stores, gift shops, and specialty retailers requiring sophisticated product tracking. The system efficiently manages variant tracking including sizes, colors, and styles, making it perfect for apparel businesses with complex inventory requirements. Market data shows ShopKeep serves various retail categories including apparel stores, accessory boutiques, and general retail operations, demonstrating its adaptability across different business models. Beyond traditional retail, ShopKeep finds applications in event management, wholesale operations, and hospitality settings, showcasing its versatility for businesses that don’t fit standard POS categories.
Toast was purpose-built for food service operations, with specialized features designed for different restaurant types ranging from quick-service establishments to full-service dining experiences. The system excels in environments requiring complex menu modifications, tableside ordering capabilities, integrated kitchen display systems, and comprehensive delivery management tools. Toast particularly shines in sit-down pizzerias, full-service restaurants, and establishments operating combination dine-in and takeout services. The platform’s restaurant-specific reporting provides insights into menu performance analytics, table turn optimization, and server efficiency metrics that generic POS systems cannot match in depth or relevance.
The decision between these platforms typically comes down to business type and operational focus. Retail operations generally benefit more from ShopKeep’s inventory-centric approach and flexible configuration options, while restaurants find greater value in Toast’s specialized food service workflows and restaurant-specific features. For hybrid businesses like cafés with retail components, the choice depends on which aspect represents the core revenue driver and operational complexity of the business.
ShopKeep offers comprehensive e-commerce capabilities that enable businesses to establish robust online presences and accept orders through their websites seamlessly. The Essential package includes integrated e-commerce store functionality and online ordering options, creating unified experiences between physical and digital sales channels. The system automatically synchronizes inventory between online and in-store operations, preventing overselling situations and maintaining accurate stock levels across all channels. ShopKeep facilitates social media selling through platforms like Instagram and Facebook, while also integrating with established e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce for businesses with existing online operations.
Toast has made significant investments in online ordering capabilities, particularly relevant in the post-pandemic restaurant landscape where digital ordering has become essential rather than optional. Their Digital Ordering package includes comprehensive tools for website ordering, takeout management, and delivery services, with automatically generated branded online ordering pages that incur no additional fees for direct orders. The Toast TakeOut consumer-facing mobile app allows customers to discover restaurants, place orders, and pay without the commission fees typically associated with third-party delivery platforms, helping restaurants maintain higher profit margins on digital orders.
Both systems offer delivery management capabilities, though Toast’s restaurant-focused approach provides more comprehensive solutions for establishments with dedicated delivery operations. Toast’s Delivery Services network connects restaurants with local delivery drivers while integrating with major third-party platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats to consolidate orders into unified workflows. For retail businesses with significant online sales components, ShopKeep’s e-commerce integration typically proves more comprehensive, while restaurants focusing on takeout and delivery operations benefit more from Toast’s specialized digital ordering ecosystem.
ShopKeep’s reporting and analytics suite provides comprehensive business intelligence through real-time data visualization specifically designed for retail operations. Business owners can access detailed sales reports filtered by date ranges, departments, individual employees, and numerous other variables that matter to retail success. The inventory value reporting feature shows total current stock worth, facilitating better financial planning and informed inventory management decisions. ShopKeep offers specialized customer behavior analytics, enabling businesses to identify top customers and track purchasing patterns for targeted marketing efforts. The ShopKeep Pocket mobile app extends these analytics to smartphones, providing on-the-go access to critical business metrics even when owners are away from their stores.
Toast’s analytics platform specializes in restaurant-specific metrics that extend far beyond standard sales reporting to address the unique challenges of food service operations. Restaurant owners can track detailed food costs, recipe profitability analysis, and comprehensive menu engineering statistics to optimize their offerings and improve profit margins. The labor reporting tools provide insights into staff productivity and scheduling efficiency, helping managers control one of restaurants’ largest expense categories. Toast’s customizable dashboard highlights the most critical metrics for each business type, with automated daily email summaries of key performance indicators that keep management informed of operational trends.
Both platforms excel at providing actionable data, but their focus reflects their respective industry specializations. ShopKeep emphasizes inventory management and retail performance metrics that help store owners optimize product mix and customer engagement, while Toast concentrates on food cost management, menu performance analysis, and service efficiency metrics crucial for restaurant profitability. The choice between reporting systems should align with which metrics are most critical for your specific business operations and decision-making processes.
ShopKeep offers a robust integration network that connects with essential business tools across multiple operational categories. For accounting management, ShopKeep integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online, eliminating manual data entry and streamlining financial reporting processes. Marketing capabilities expand through MailChimp integration, enabling targeted email campaigns based on customer purchase history and behavior patterns. The platform supports e-commerce growth through BigCommerce integration, allowing unified management of both physical and online sales channels. ShopKeep provides flexibility with payment processors, supporting relationships with Global Payments, First Data, Elavon, TSYS, and Heartland for businesses with established processing partnerships.
Toast has developed an extensive ecosystem of third-party integrations specifically tailored to restaurant operations and workflows. The platform connects with specialized restaurant technologies including accounting software like DAVO Sales Tax, inventory management systems, employee scheduling tools, and major delivery platforms. Toast’s open API enables custom integrations with specialized restaurant management software for unique operational requirements. Integration with reservation platforms like OpenTable creates seamless guest information flow, while connections with food delivery marketplaces consolidate third-party orders into unified workflows. However, Toast requires using their proprietary payment processing system, which may limit flexibility for businesses with established processing relationships.
When evaluating integration capabilities, businesses should assess their existing technology stack and future expansion plans. Retail operations using ShopKeep benefit from payment processor flexibility and retail-focused integrations that support omnichannel commerce strategies. Restaurants choosing Toast gain access to a comprehensive ecosystem of restaurant-specific technologies designed to work cohesively within food service operational workflows, though with less flexibility in payment processing arrangements.
ShopKeep has earned recognition for its intuitive, user-friendly interface that minimizes training time for new employees—a significant advantage for businesses experiencing high staff turnover rates. The register screen features a clean, customizable layout that can be tailored to specific business needs, with color-coding options and logical product organization for quick access during busy periods. The back-office management interface maintains this simplicity with logical navigation and clear data visualization that doesn’t overwhelm users with unnecessary complexity. Implementation typically ranges from several hours to a couple of days, depending on inventory complexity and customization requirements. New users benefit from a comprehensive startup wizard that guides them through essential configuration steps including inventory setup, employee account creation, and basic system settings.
Toast provides an equally intuitive interface specifically designed for restaurant workflows, incorporating additional features tailored to food service operations without sacrificing ease of use. The system guides new restaurants through comprehensive setup processes including menu creation, table mapping, and kitchen configuration during implementation. Toast’s training resources include extensive video tutorials, detailed documentation, and optional on-site training for staff members. Implementation timelines vary based on restaurant complexity, typically ranging from one to two weeks for complete deployment including staff training and system testing.
User reviews consistently highlight both platforms’ ease of use, with employees generally requiring minimal training to achieve proficiency in daily operations. ShopKeep users particularly appreciate the straightforward inventory management system and uncomplicated sales processes that reduce transaction time. Toast users value restaurant-specific workflows that align with service patterns they already understand, reducing the learning curve for experienced food service staff. When considering implementation, businesses should evaluate not just initial setup processes but ongoing maintenance requirements, particularly around menu changes, inventory updates, and staff training for new features as they’re released through regular software updates.
The choice between ShopKeep and Toast ultimately depends on aligning system capabilities with your business type, operational requirements, and growth objectives. ShopKeep excels as a versatile retail solution offering comprehensive inventory management, straightforward operations, and flexible payment processing options that make it ideal for boutique retailers, specialty shops, and small food service establishments that don’t require complex restaurant-specific features. Its accessible pricing structure and extensive customization options provide excellent value for small to medium-sized businesses seeking reliable, scalable POS functionality without unnecessary complexity.
Toast stands out as a purpose-built restaurant management system delivering specialized features like table management, kitchen display integration, and comprehensive delivery management that address the unique challenges of food service operations. Its restaurant-grade hardware withstands demanding kitchen environments while providing industry-specific reporting that focuses on metrics crucial to restaurant profitability and operational efficiency. For full-service restaurants, quick-service establishments, and multi-location restaurant groups, Toast delivers functionality that generic POS systems cannot match in depth or relevance to daily operations.
When making this critical decision, request demonstrations of both systems focusing on workflows most critical to your operations. Evaluate total cost of ownership including monthly fees, payment processing rates, hardware investments, and implementation costs rather than just comparing basic subscription prices. Consider your growth trajectory and whether you’ll need features like multi-location management, advanced reporting, or specialized integrations as your business expands. Both platforms offer quality solutions within their respective specialties, but selecting the system that best matches your primary business model will yield the greatest operational benefits and return on investment. For restaurants seeking to maximize efficiency and never miss customer calls, consider how solutions like Loman’s 24/7 AI phone agent can complement either POS system by handling the critical customer communication layer that drives revenue and improves satisfaction. Whether you choose ShopKeep’s retail versatility or Toast’s restaurant specialization, implementing the right POS system with supporting technologies creates the foundation for sustainable business growth and operational excellence.
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