Summary:  

  • Menu built by Clover (Toast asks merchant to built their own with a spreadsheet)
  • Advanced features included at no additional charge:  
    • Third party integrations, online ordering, gift card
    • Homebase timeclock, timesheets, scheduling, employee app
  • No contracts, transparent hardware, SaaS, and fixed processing costs.
  • Clean user interface, efficient use of screen
    • Receipt pane occupies 25% of screen
    • Category list scrollable, 10 visible at a time
    • Items on Station scrollable, 24 visible at a time



Clover vs Toast:  


Advantages:

Clover

  • Menu built for merchant by Clover (Toast asks merchant to built their own with a spreadsheet)
  • Many advanced features included with Clover at no additional charge
    • Third party integrations, online ordering, gift card
    • Homebase timeclock, timesheets, scheduling, employee app
  • No contracts, transparent hardware, SaaS, and fixed processing costs.

Toast

  • System includes a managed Cisco router (extended range device install is up to the merchant)
  • Sub-Modifiers & Sub-categories (Clover expects to roll these features out Q1-2026)
  • Appears to heavily discount hardware (but makes it up with processing fees)



User Interface Differences:


Clover:  Clean user interface.

  • Receipt pane on left (occupies 25% of screen)
  • Category list down the center (scrollable, 10 visible at a time)
  • Items on the right (scrollable, 24 visible at a time)




Toast:  Inefficient use of screen area.

  • Receipt pane on left (occupies 33% of screen)
  • Entire column allotted to menus
  • Categories across the top (pan right/left, 3.5 visible at a time)
  • Items shown below category name (pan right/left, 8 visible at a time

Note:  Categories with more than 8 items consume another column, further limiting view.




Toast Go wastes screen on previously ordered items rather than the future orders / needs of the patron.

Clover provides nearly 90% of the screen to present sales items by placing ordered items into a 'Cart' on a new screen.  This allows immediate access to 10 items before scrolling.  Toast screens are busy with tiny buttons.



System Cost Comparison:

          Clover v Toast.pdf


Highlights:

  • Toast charges $69 per terminal per month (including their Go handheld)
  • Clover Charges $89 for the first device, $19.95 for each additional device (Clover GO App excluded)


  • Toast charges $90/month for their self-order kiosk running on a POS terminal
  • Clover charges $35/month for their purpose built 24" portrait kiosk (optional floor stand)


  • Toast charges $50/month for gift cards (no matter how many are issued)
  • Clover only charges when gift are issued.  Inactive months $0.00, slow months only what they issue



Toast Has Poor Customer Support:  Trustpilot