POS
KitchenRush vs Toast
Toast is a cloud-based, restaurant-specific point-of-sale (POS) platform that bundles POS software and proprietary hardware with payment processing, plus an ecosystem of add-ons like online ordering, kitchen display, email/SMS marketing, loyalty, payroll and scheduling, and inventory. It is one of the most widely used restaurant operating platforms in the US and serves everything from independent cafes to large multi-location, full-service restaurants.
| KitchenRush | Toast | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Independent restaurants and small local groups that want marketing, a website, and commission-free ordering without replacing their register | Restaurants of all sizes, with depth especially suited to full-service and larger or multi-location operations that want a single POS-centric system |
| Primary focus | An all-in-one restaurant operating system centered on getting and keeping customers (website, ordering, marketing) | A restaurant-specific POS and payments platform with operations add-ons built around it |
| Online ordering & commissions | Commission-free online ordering for pickup, delivery, and catering, included as a core feature | Offers its own first-party online ordering positioned as commission-free; payment processing fees still apply, and it is designed to run on Toast hardware and payment processing (see notes) |
| Website | Branded restaurant website included, with ordering and local SEO built in | Offers a restaurant website builder that syncs menu and online ordering with the POS |
| Marketing & social | AI-assisted social media, ad management, Google Business posting, email/SMS, customer messaging, and local SEO built into the platform | Built-in email/SMS marketing and loyalty tied to POS guest data; social media is supported more as guidance than a managed, AI-assisted service (see notes) |
| POS & hardware | Not a POS/hardware company; complements your existing register rather than replacing it | Proprietary POS terminals, handhelds, and KDS hardware are central to the platform |
| Setup effort | 'Set up for you,' typically live within about 48 hours, and manageable from your phone | More involved setup typical of a full POS deployment; many owners report a longer rollout (see notes) |
| Pricing model | Subscription pricing published at kitchenrush.app/pricing | Tiered software subscriptions plus payment processing, hardware costs, and optional add-ons; total cost depends on configuration (see notes) |
| Support | Done-for-you setup with ongoing support | 24/7 support included on every plan; third-party reviews on support consistency are mixed (see notes) |
Where Toast is strong
- Deep, restaurant-purpose-built POS: order entry, table management, split checks, coursing, and tableside handhelds designed for full-service and high-volume operations
- All-in-one operations suite that ties POS to payments, KDS, online ordering, marketing, loyalty, payroll/scheduling, and inventory in one system
- Purpose-built hardware (terminals, handhelds, KDS screens, Toast Router with offline/cellular backup) engineered for the rigor of a busy kitchen
- Large integration ecosystem (200+ partners) and a mature platform with broad third-party delivery connections
- Integrated guest data: because loyalty and marketing live inside the POS, guest visits, spend, and order history sync automatically
- 24/7 customer support included on every plan, and proven scale across many locations and large chains
Where KitchenRush fits better
- Built for independent restaurants and small local groups specifically, rather than optimized for large full-service chains
- Complements your existing register instead of requiring you to rip-and-replace it with proprietary POS hardware
- Commission-free online ordering for pickup, delivery, and catering as a core part of the platform
- An all-in-one growth stack beyond ordering: branded website, AI-assisted social media and marketing, ad management, Google Business posting, email/SMS marketing, customer messaging, and local SEO
- 'Set up for you' onboarding, typically live within about 48 hours, and run day-to-day from your phone
- Subscription pricing you can see on the pricing page, without committing to POS hardware purchases to get online ordering and marketing
Frequently asked questions
Is KitchenRush a replacement for Toast's POS?
No. KitchenRush is not primarily a POS or hardware company. It complements the register you already use rather than replacing it. Toast, by contrast, is a full POS and payments platform built around its own hardware. If your main goal is a new restaurant POS, Toast is squarely in that category; if your main goal is a website, commission-free online ordering, and marketing on top of your current setup, KitchenRush is built for that.
Does KitchenRush charge commissions on online orders?
No. KitchenRush includes commission-free online ordering for pickup, delivery, and catering as a core part of the platform. Toast positions its own first-party online ordering as commission-free as well, but it is designed to run on Toast hardware and Toast payment processing, and standard payment processing fees still apply. Always confirm current terms on each company's pricing page.
Which is better for an independent restaurant?
It depends on what you need most. Toast is a mature, deep POS platform with strong tools for full-service and larger or multi-location restaurants. KitchenRush is built specifically for independent restaurants and small local groups that want a branded website, commission-free ordering, and AI-assisted marketing, set up for them and run from a phone, without committing to new POS hardware.
How fast can I get started with KitchenRush?
KitchenRush uses a 'set up for you' onboarding and restaurants are typically live within about 48 hours, then manage everything from their phone. A full POS rollout like Toast's is generally a more involved deployment.
What does KitchenRush cost?
KitchenRush uses subscription pricing, listed at kitchenrush.app/pricing. Toast's total cost typically combines a software subscription, payment processing, hardware, and optional add-ons, so the final number depends on your configuration. Check each provider's current pricing directly.
Comparison reflects publicly available information about Toast and may change — see Toast’s site for current details. Looking at other options? Browse all comparisons.