The restaurant technology landscape has never been more competitive or fast-changing. Choosing the best point-of-sale system can make a noticeable difference in how your restaurant operates daily and how it grows in the long run. Toast and Upserve (now Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series) are two of the most recognized names, each offering compelling features with key differences that might sway your decision.
Today’s POS systems are much more than glorified cash registers; they serve as the digital heart of the restaurant, driving everything from payments and scheduling to inventory and customer engagement. Having the right platform can drive operational efficiency gains of 20% or more and unlock new profit areas. Understanding how Toast and Upserve stack up can clarify which path best fits your needs, whether you’re opening your doors for the first time or ready to upgrade an aging setup.
Many restaurant leaders are left with fundamental questions about platform capabilities, pricing, and flexibility. This guide will walk you through what each system offers—from cost models and hardware to integrations, support, and standout features—to help you pick an option that truly supports your restaurant’s unique rhythm.
Budgeting for technology goes beyond monthly fees; you’ll also need to consider hardware, payment processing, and flexibility for future growth. Toast POS offers a tiered structure starting with a free basic plan for essential point-of-sale needs, with their paid plans beginning at $69 per month per location. Their higher plans introduce online ordering, advanced reporting, and dedicated account management, but require you to use Toast’s own payment service at 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction. There isn’t a way to swap in a third-party payment processor—something to weigh as your volume grows.
Upserve, now branded as Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, starts at a slightly higher price, with entry plans near $89 per month. Like Toast, they require you to use their payments service, but the fees are broadly comparable. Moving to their Professional and Enterprise levels adds sophisticated menu analytics and advanced integrations, as well as expanded reporting options. Be aware: attempting to use an external payment processor with Upserve incurs a steep monthly penalty.
Upfront costs can add up quickly. Both platforms sell hardware bundles that include touchscreens, terminals, printers, and display screens. Toast’s durable Android-based devices are purpose-built for demanding kitchen and dining settings. Upserve’s support for both iOS and Android creates more flexibility in hardware selection and potential savings if you already own compatible tablets.
Key budgeting factors to weigh:
Tracking total cost of ownership—by combining monthly fees, hardware, and transaction costs—can show where value truly lies for your restaurant’s needs.
Both Toast and Upserve are built for busy restaurants, but each system brings its own focus and flavor. Toast delivers robust table and check management, with visual floor plans and easy split-check tools that allow servers to move quickly during rushes. Their reporting dashboard keeps labor and menu performance front and center, helping you optimize in real time.
Upserve’s core features are equally strong, but tilt towards data—such as menu performance analytics and powerful guest insights. Their split bill tools are highly flexible, and their kitchen display system (KDS) reduces errors and missed orders by replacing old ticket printers.
Both platforms also provide DNA-deep inventory management and staff scheduling, but Toast offers more options in its lower pricing tiers, while Upserve’s deeper insights appear in higher-level plans. This reflects a broader philosophy: Toast doubles down on operational efficiency, whereas Upserve invests more in menu intelligence and understanding your guest base.
Essential features for restaurant operations:
These core tools are designed to keep your operations running smoothly while growing sales and profitability.
Hardware can make or break the shift, especially during peak hours or high-stress services. Toast’s exclusive use of Android-based POS devices allows for more control over both hardware and software reliability. Their spill-resistant, rugged tablets and handhelds fit into both front-of-house and kitchen stations, and the uniformity simplifies training.
Upserve stands out by playing nicely with both iOS and Android devices, letting some restaurants save by reusing current tablets and choosing from a broader range of hardware. Their handheld units feature at-table payments with EMV support for greater security and faster transactions.
Both systems offer all the peripherals you’d expect—like cash drawers, printers, and guest displays. Deciding which keeps your service moving? Think about long-term support and the cost to expand or replace devices as your concept scales.
Choosing your hardware ecosystem will impact training, repairs, and your ability to scale or add new devices down the road.
No point-of-sale system exists in a vacuum. Toast boasts a rich integration ecosystem with 100+ third-party partners across online ordering, reservations, accounting, inventory, and loyalty. Their open API supports custom connections, though some restaurants note initial setup can involve troubleshooting. Toast’s built-in solutions for delivery and loyalty are tightly integrated with their core platform, reducing glitches.
Upserve’s integrations shine brightest in analytics and marketing, where their business intelligence partnerships give you access to deeper customer and sales data. Upserve connects naturally with big names like OpenTable, Grubhub, and QuickBooks. Their system stands out for robust data synchronization, especially when tying guest insights across tools.
Top integration considerations when comparing POS systems:
Both companies expand their list of partners consistently, but if integration speed and direct connections to your current stack matter most, Toast’s aggressive pace and kitchen management focus may give it a small edge.
A POS system should speed up operations—not slow down your team. Toast is praised for its intuitive, colorful design, which makes essential actions visible at a glance. Servers adapt quickly, and back-of-house tasks like menu updates and employee management are cleanly organized, minimizing confusion.
Upserve, designed with input from industry veterans, builds workflows that mirror the rhythms of traditional food service. New hires can train directly in the environment without risking live data, and mobile interfaces are designed for speed on any screen size.
Both offer deep customization, from menu layouts and modifiers to reporting dashboards. While most front-of-house staff get comfortable within hours, managers will want to invest extra training to unlock the full potential.
Interface touchpoints that improve operations:
These usability details often make the difference between seamless service and a frustrating bottleneck, especially during a dinner rush.
Online ordering is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for sustained revenue and guest engagement. Toast’s native online ordering and delivery management keep all digital and in-person sales centralized. Restaurants keep more revenue, thanks to zero commission for direct online orders, and customer experience stays smooth with up-to-the-minute menu syncing.
Toast goes further with tools to manage your own drivers, set delivery zones, and route orders efficiently using driver assignment and route optimization. For hybrid models, integrations with third-party delivery giants eliminate fragmented workflows.
Upserve follows suit with commission-free online ordering, menu syncing, and flexible pickup management. They rely more on external integrations for advanced features like driver management, which may be a positive for operators already committed to specific third-party ecosystems.
Must-have digital ordering features:
Consider your digital growth strategy when evaluating which POS offers the depth or flexibility you need for modern dining trends.
Restaurants are discovering that AI for restaurants can unlock huge operational gains—including capturing every call, streamlining takeout, and turning missed connections into sales. Loman’s AI phone agent acts as a true 24/7 front-line team member, handling reservations and phone orders any time, even when your staff is busy or the doors are closed.
Loman specializes in seamless POS integration with leading providers like Square, Toast, and Clover, making it ideal whether you’re a single-location eatery or a growing multi-location brand. Because it’s trained on your specific menus, policies, and local preferences, callers get relevant answers fast—reducing hold times, improving accuracy, and driving revenue from the very first interaction.
What makes Loman’s solution stand out?
Compared to generalist platforms like Toast and Upserve—which offer strong overall management features—Loman focuses on optimizing phone and digital guest communication. Restaurants using Loman enjoy not just fewer missed orders, but a tangible reduction in labor stress and greater customer satisfaction thanks to the system’s natural, human-like responses and data-driven suggestions.
Not all restaurant analytics are created equal. Upserve has made a name for itself in the realm of business intelligence, giving operators a detailed look at which menu items bring guests back and contribute to higher profit margins. The platform delves into individual guest trends and staff performance, highlighting which team members are customer favorites or upsell champions.
Toast also offers robust reporting across sales, labor, and menu performance. Their dashboards can be customized and compared by location, crucial for chains or groups with multiple sites. Toast tends to focus a bit more on operational metrics, helping owners address costs and process improvements rapidly.
Both brands make it easy to track metrics remotely via mobile apps—an essential for managers who need to stay connected off-site. Upserve’s app delivers real-time data and even weather insights, while Toast brings strong shift summaries and daily digests for continuous improvement.
Data features that help restaurants thrive:
Choosing a system with analytics that match your concept’s strengths can be a difference-maker for long-term growth.
POS issues can disrupt service and erode trust. Toast offers 24/7 support across phone, email, and chat, and has invested heavily in cutting wait times and improving case resolution. Their training includes hands-on sessions and a deep knowledge base for both managers and staff, backed by a dedicated customer success approach for higher-tier users.
Upserve is equally responsive, specializing in restaurant-centric support for operations of all kinds. Their team is known for helpful, actionable advice—especially when it comes to squeezing the most from their advanced analytics. Upserve’s training library includes videos and step-by-step guides, with tailored support for integrating analytics into everyday management.
Your experience may vary at peak hours, but both companies have invested in expanded staffing and offer premium support tiers for multisite or enterprise groups. If you’re jumping from a legacy system, thorough training and transition support are available—though advanced support usually comes with an added cost.
Restaurant technology must support your workflow, whether you’re scaling fast or refining guest service at a single location. Toast stands out for operational efficiency, streamlined hardware systems, and tightly integrated delivery solutions, making it a solid fit for fast-casual, quick-service, and multi-unit brands needing rock-solid reliability.
Upserve distinguishes itself with best-in-class analytics and guest intelligence tools—perfect for full-service restaurants or operators prioritizing data-driven guest experience and loyalty. Its cross-platform hardware compatibility can save on upfront costs and make upgrades easier over time.
Consider these factors as you decide:
Both Toast and Upserve surpass legacy POS systems, and both continue to evolve—introducing new integrations and features with each release. Smart operators will take advantage of demo opportunities, speak with peers in similar segments, and assess workflows before making a big technology decision.
Savvy restaurants know that reliable technology is a competitive edge. Whether you favor Toast’s durable, all-in-one approach or the flexible, insight-driven design of Upserve, investing in a modern POS means you’re paving the way for higher efficiency, improved profits, and happier guests.
Layering in a tool like Loman’s AI phone agent can drive even stronger results—ensuring you never miss out on a sale while freeing staff for higher-value guest service. With seamless POS integration, lightning-fast setup, and scalability for any business size, Loman positions your restaurant to thrive in a crowded market.
If you’re looking to make service smoother, capture every guest interaction, and unlock data that powers smarter decisions, combining the right POS with AI-driven guest communication makes all the difference. No matter which system you choose, embracing these modern tools is a recipe for growth.
Implementing Loman alongside Toast or Upserve takes less than a day and instantly relieves staff of call volume, supports multi-unit scaling, and ensures every customer gets a timely, accurate response—perfect for restaurants aiming for efficiency, higher sales, and hospitality excellence.
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