Clover vs Toast

Clover publishes quick-service restaurant bundles and rates; Toast publishes a software starting price and says processing fees apply without listing them. This comparison uses each provider's own pricing pages, checked on 2026-10-15.

Quick verdict

Choose Clover if…

You want published quick-service restaurant rates and bundle prices before you talk to sales.
You want hardware priced as a purchase or a 36-month subscription, both listed.
You are comfortable with a subscription that Clover says is non-cancelable.

Choose Toast if…

You want a platform sold specifically for restaurants, with Toast Care included on every software subscription and listed as 24/7/365.
You want payroll and scheduling tools bundled into the platform.
You are comfortable getting a quote, because Toast does not list its processing rates.

Side by side, from published data

Feature	Clover	Toast
Quick-service bundles	Starter $135/mo for 36 months or $849 + $89.95/mo; Standard $185/mo for 36 months or $1,899 + $89.95/mo; Advanced $245/mo for 36 months or $2,648 + $109.90/mo	Starting at $69/month
In-person card rate	2.3% + $0.10	Check current pricing on Toast's site
Keyed-in card rate	3.5% + $0.10	Check current pricing on Toast's site
Faster payout	1.75%	Not listed on the pricing page
Inactivity fee	None listed on the quick-service pricing page	$85/mo inactivity fee may apply
Contract terms	A quick-service offer "requires a 3-year contract"; subscriptions are non-cancelable	No contract terms listed on the pricing page; ask for the agreement
Overall score	6.5/10	5.6/10

Limitations to know about

Clover: limitations

A quick-service offer footnote says it "requires a 3-year contract", and Clover says subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds. Source

Toast: limitations

"$85/mo inactivity fee may apply" and processing rates are not published on the pricing page; it is sold through a demo or quote. Source

Scores from our methodology

Scores come from a public checklist applied equally to both providers. They measure what each publishes, not product quality, and a high score does not mean it fits your business. Read the methodology.

Clover

Score breakdown: Overall score 6.5/10

Category	Weight	Score	Evidence
Pricing transparency	30%	10/10	4 of 4 checks
Total cost for a typical small business	25%	4.6/10	$135 → 4.6
Features	20%	6.7/10	4 of 6 checks
Contract and fee fairness	15%	6.7/10	2 of 3 checks
Support and reputation signals	10%	0/10	0 of 2 checks

Cost input: Lowest recurring monthly price shown for an entry system on the provider's pricing page (software plan or subscription bundle; one-time hardware purchases and processing fees excluded): $135

Toast

Score breakdown: Overall score 5.6/10

Category	Weight	Score	Evidence
Pricing transparency	30%	5/10	2 of 4 checks
Total cost for a typical small business	25%	7.2/10	$69 → 7.2
Features	20%	6.7/10	4 of 6 checks
Contract and fee fairness	15%	0/10	0 of 3 checks
Support and reputation signals	10%	10/10	2 of 2 checks

The checklist behind the scores

Software or plan prices are published
Card processing rates are published
Hardware prices are published
Amounts for extra fees (add-ons, inactivity, instant payout) are published
Menu management or floor plans
Online ordering or an online store
Staff, scheduling or labor tools
Reporting or analytics
Offline mode
Integrated card payments
No long-term contract is stated
A free plan, free trial or $0 starting price exists
Hardware can be bought outright or subscribed to
24/7 support is stated
A phone number is published on the page

Cost: Lowest recurring monthly price shown for an entry system on the provider's pricing page (software plan or subscription bundle; one-time hardware purchases and processing fees excluded). Each $25 subtracts one point from 10 (floor 0).

Where to go next

Go to Clover

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Clover or Toast?

We can compare only part: Clover publishes rates and bundle prices, while Toast publishes a starting software price and no processing rates. Get a written quote from Toast and compare your effective rate.

Does Clover require a contract?

A Clover quick-service offer footnote says it requires a 3-year contract, and Clover says subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds.

Can Toast charge when I am inactive?

Toast's page says an $85 a month inactivity fee may apply.

Is Toast only for restaurants?

Toast's pages list both restaurant and retail systems; this comparison covers its restaurant pricing.

How current is this comparison?

We read both pricing pages on 2026-10-15.

Related tools and guides

Sources

Clover: quick-service restaurant pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
Toast: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)

Last updated: October 15, 2026 · Prices verified: October 15, 2026