Integration
Toast + DirectOrders
Toast is the most widely used restaurant-specific POS system in the United States, powering over 100,000 restaurant locations with hardware terminals, kitchen display systems, and integrated payment processing. Toast offers its own online ordering product (Toast Online Ordering), but restaurants using it pay per-order fees and are limited to Toast's ecosystem for marketing, customer data, and delivery. Integrating DirectOrders with Toast means you keep Toast for everything it does well, in-store POS, table management, KDS, and payment processing, while adding a commission-free direct ordering channel that you fully control. Online orders through DirectOrders generate their own customer database, giving you contact information and order history that Toast Online Ordering does not share. This is especially valuable for Toast restaurants that want to reduce marketplace dependency without replacing their POS.
How Toast and DirectOrders work together
Step 1
Keep Toast for in-store POS, tableside ordering, and KDS
Your servers, kitchen, and payment flow stay on Toast exactly as configured.
Step 2
Launch your DirectOrders branded ordering website
Get a professional, fully branded site with your menu, photos, and direct checkout.
Step 3
Online orders print on your existing kitchen printer
DirectOrders routes orders to your Epson printer so tickets look the same as Toast dine-in orders.
Why Toast restaurants add DirectOrders
- Keep Toast POS, KDS, and payment processing for all in-store operations
- Add a commission-free direct ordering website alongside Toast Online Ordering
- Own your customer data from online orders instead of keeping it locked in Toast's ecosystem
- Offer delivery through Uber Direct or DoorDash Drive without marketplace commissions
- Build your own marketing list with emails and phone numbers from every direct order
What Toast does not do (and DirectOrders does)
Toast Online Ordering charges per-order fees
Toast's built-in online ordering adds processing fees to every transaction. DirectOrders replaces that with a flat monthly rate, so your cost stays fixed whether you process 50 or 5,000 orders.
Customer data stays locked in Toast's ecosystem
Toast keeps customer emails, phone numbers, and order history within its platform. DirectOrders gives you full ownership of that data for your own SMS, email, and loyalty campaigns.
No Voice AI for phone orders
Toast does not offer AI phone answering. DirectOrders adds Voice AI that picks up calls, takes orders conversationally, and handles menu questions during rush hours when staff cannot answer.
Limited ordering channels beyond Toast's own site
Toast Online Ordering lives on Toast's ecosystem. DirectOrders distributes your menu across 15+ channels: Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Apple Maps, SMS, and more.
Delivery locked to Toast Delivery Services pricing
Toast Delivery Services charges its own fees. DirectOrders integrates Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive independently, letting you choose the best rate without Toast's markup.
No same-day payouts for online orders
Toast's standard payout schedule means waiting for funds. DirectOrders offers same-day payouts so you can access online order revenue immediately.
Common questions about Toast + DirectOrders
Do I need to replace Toast to use DirectOrders?
No. DirectOrders operates as a separate online ordering channel alongside your Toast POS. Your staff continues using Toast for dine-in orders, payments, and kitchen operations. DirectOrders handles online orders independently.
How is DirectOrders different from Toast Online Ordering?
Toast Online Ordering charges per-order processing fees and keeps customer data within the Toast ecosystem. DirectOrders charges a flat monthly fee with zero per-order commissions, and you own all customer contact information. You can run both simultaneously and compare performance.
Will my Toast KDS show DirectOrders orders?
DirectOrders sends order notifications through its own dashboard and can route orders to your existing Epson kitchen printer. The orders print on the same thermal tickets your kitchen already uses, so staff workflow stays consistent.
Can I use DirectOrders for delivery if I already use Toast Delivery Services?
Yes. DirectOrders integrates with Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive for delivery fulfillment, independent of Toast Delivery Services. You can offer delivery through DirectOrders without any changes to your Toast delivery setup.
I signed a contract with Toast. Can I still add DirectOrders?
Yes. Adding DirectOrders does not violate Toast contracts because it operates as a separate, independent online ordering channel. You are not replacing Toast; you are adding a direct channel alongside it.
Ready to add direct ordering to your Toast setup?
Book a demo to see how DirectOrders works alongside Toast. We will walk you through setup, menu import, and go-live timeline.
Other POS integrations
DirectOrders works alongside all major restaurant POS systems.