Flat-rate, not bundled
Toast bundles POS hardware, software, and processing into a custom quote. Vertex is $9.99–$39.99/mo with Stripe pass-through pricing. No annual contracts, no hidden processing markups.
Vertex Ordering vs Toast
Toast is a great POS. Vertex is the whole platform.
If you only need a restaurant POS, Toast is solid. If you want POS plus a no-code storefront, subscriptions, automations, and your own customer database — without paying for each module separately — Vertex is built for you.
Why teams switch
Automations built in
Toast has limited workflow capabilities. Vertex includes a 9,000+ app automation canvas with 16 native event triggers and 6 write-back actions — at no extra cost.
Storefront builder included
Toast's online ordering is bolted to their POS. Vertex includes a drag-and-drop storefront builder, custom domains via Cloudflare, and full SEO controls.
Subscriptions for restaurants
Toast doesn't ship a native subscription module. Vertex offers weekly/monthly/quarterly subscription plans for coffee clubs, meal plans, and recurring catering.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Vertex Ordering | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Point of sale | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online ordering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen display system | Via partner integrations | Native (paid add-on) |
| Storefront builder (no-code) | ✓ | — |
| Custom domains with auto-SSL | Starter and up | Enterprise tier only |
| Subscription billing | Starter and up | — |
| Workflow automation (9,000+ apps) | Starter and up | Limited Zapier integration |
| Loyalty program | ✓ | Paid add-on |
| Payments processor | Stripe (pass-through) | Toast Payments (bundled rate) |
| Hardware required | No — bring your own | Yes (Toast terminals) |
| Contract length | Month-to-month | Typically 2-3 years |
| API access | Public REST + webhooks | Enterprise tier |
Pricing at a glance
Vertex Ordering
- Starter $9.99/mo
- Growth $19.99/mo
- Scale $39.99/mo
Includes storefront, POS, bookings, subscriptions, automations, loyalty. Stripe pass-through processing.
Toast
- Entry $0/mo + processing
- Mid $69+/mo
- Top Custom (Enterprise)
Toast's $0 entry plan requires bundled Toast Payments at premium processing rates. Vertex passes Stripe rates straight through (~2.9% + 30¢).
Vertex Ordering is the right call when…
- Restaurants that want online ordering + subscriptions + automations alongside POS
- Operators who don't want to be locked into specific POS hardware
- Teams comfortable using Stripe directly for payments
- Anyone planning to layer membership / coffee club / catering subscriptions
Stick with Toast when…
- Single-location restaurants where POS is the primary need and online ordering is secondary
- Restaurants wanting deeply integrated kitchen display + handheld terminals
- Operators willing to commit to multi-year contracts in exchange for hardware support
No platform is right for every business. We'd rather you pick the right one than churn out in 6 months.
Common questions
Can I migrate from Toast to Vertex?
Yes. Menu data, customer lists, and order history can be exported from Toast as CSV and imported into Vertex. Stripe handles the payments side, so you'll need to disconnect Toast Payments and connect Stripe. Migration usually takes 2-4 hours for a single-location restaurant.
Does Vertex have a KDS (kitchen display system)?
Not natively yet. Most Vertex restaurant tenants use a tablet running our admin's Orders tab as a lightweight KDS, or integrate with a third-party KDS via our automation layer.
What about payment processing rates?
Vertex doesn't process payments — Stripe does, via Stripe Connect on your account. You get Stripe's standard rates (currently 2.9% + 30¢ for online, lower for in-person). Toast bundles processing into their pricing, which can be higher or lower depending on your volume.
Do I need to buy specific hardware?
No. Vertex runs on any iPad, tablet, or PC with a browser. You can use any cash drawer, receipt printer, or barcode scanner Stripe Terminal supports — or none at all.
See it for yourself.
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