Switching from Toast: What Restaurant Owners Should Know

First, Let's Be Clear

Toast is a solid POS system. Many restaurants run successfully on it. This isn't about Toast being bad - it's about whether DirectOrders might be better for your specific situation.

What Toast Does Well

• Integrated POS and payment processing
• Hardware ecosystem (terminals, KDS, handhelds)
• Large market presence and stability
• Restaurant-specific features built over years

Where Restaurants Struggle with Toast

Based on conversations with hundreds of restaurant owners:

1. Online Ordering Costs Add Up

According to Toast's Starter Kit pricing, online ordering payment processing ranges from 3.39% + $0.15 to 3.69% + $0.15 per order depending on features included. Plus a $75/month Digital Ordering add-on fee. On $30K monthly online orders, that could be ~$1,100-1,200/month in processing fees alone.

2. Processing Rate Lock-In

Toast's payment processing is bundled. Rates start reasonable but can creep up, and switching processors isn't simple.

3. Limited AI Features

Toast's phone ordering and AI capabilities lag behind specialized platforms.

4. Payout Timing

Standard payouts take 2-3 business days. Faster payouts cost extra.

According to G2 reviews, Toast users frequently cite payment processing and online ordering costs as common concerns.

What DirectOrders Offers Instead

Based on publicly available pricing from each platform:

Can You Use Both?

Yes. Many restaurants use Toast for POS and in-restaurant operations, while using DirectOrders for:

• Online ordering (to avoid Toast's fees)
• AI phone ordering
• Multi-channel presence (Google, ChatGPT, Instagram)

Orders from DirectOrders can integrate with Toast's kitchen display system.

The Migration Process

If you decide to switch online ordering to DirectOrders:

Week 1: Setup

• Import your menu
• Configure your branded site
• Set up payment processing

Week 2: Integration

• Connect to kitchen systems
• Test order flow
• Train staff

Week 3: Launch

• Redirect online ordering traffic
• Update Google Business profile
• Begin customer migration

Cost Comparison Example

Restaurant doing $50K/month in online orders (approximately 1,250 orders at $40 avg):

Toast Online Ordering (estimated based on [published Starter Kit rates](https://pos.toasttab.com/pricing)):

• Processing fees (3.39% + $0.15): ~$1,883/month
• Digital Ordering add-on: $75/month
• Monthly software cost: ~$1,958/month
• Annual cost: ~$23,500

DirectOrders Pro + Voice:

• Monthly fee: $349/month
• Transaction fees: $0
• Annual cost: $4,188

Potential annual savings: ~$19,000 (actual savings depend on your Toast plan and negotiated rates)

Note: Toast pricing varies based on plan tier, volume, and negotiated terms. Many restaurants on Core plans ($69/mo) have lower processing rates (2.49% + $0.15). Contact Toast directly for your specific pricing.

When Toast May Be the Right Choice

Toast may work well for you if:

• You want an integrated POS and online ordering in one system
• You value their hardware ecosystem (terminals, KDS, handhelds)
• You have negotiated favorable processing rates on a Core plan
• You prefer a single vendor for all restaurant tech
• You're comfortable with multi-year contracts

When DirectOrders May Be Worth Considering

DirectOrders may be a better fit if:

• You want zero transaction fees on online orders
• AI phone ordering and chatbot integration matter to you
• You want to be optimized for ChatGPT/AI search discovery
• Same-day payouts would help your cash flow
• You prefer month-to-month flexibility with no early termination fees
• You already have a POS and just need better online ordering

Want to see the numbers for your restaurant? [Book a demo](https://www.directorders.com/demo) and we'll calculate your potential savings.