SeroPOS vs Toast
Toast is built only for restaurants and comes with its own hardware and payment processing. SeroPOS covers restaurants too, but it runs on devices you already own and lets you pick the card terminal provider.
vs Toast in SeroPOS
Reuse your hardware
Run SeroPOS on Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, Android tablets and phones you already have.
Choose your processor
Connect Global Payments, Moneris or Gravity Payments terminals instead of a bundled processor.
KDS Mode built in
Turn a tablet or PC into a kitchen display with station filters, all-day totals and recall.
Kiosk in Standard
Kiosk Mode lets customers order and pay by card on a tablet or PC, included in the Standard plan.
Retail Mode too
Switch a till to Retail Mode with shop wording if you also run a market or retail counter.
Published plans
Standard at $30 a month and Pro at $50 a month, with a 14-day trial and no card.
| Capability | SeroPOS | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Restaurants and retail, with a Retail Mode | Restaurants only |
| Devices | Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, Android tablets, iPhones and Android phones, plus the Global Payments T650P handheld | Toast's own Android-based hardware, as of 2026 |
| Card processing | Global Payments, Moneris (Canada) and Gravity Payments (US) terminals; send us a statement and we'll quote a rate | Toast payment processing, generally required |
| Kitchen display | KDS Mode turns a tablet or PC into a kitchen display, included in paid plans | Kitchen display system available |
| Self-order kiosk | Kiosk Mode for self-order on a tablet or PC, card payment only, included in Standard | Kiosks available |
| Floor plan | Floor plan designer on the Pro plan | Table and floor management included |
| Offline selling | Sales are saved on the device and uploaded when the connection returns; kitchen tickets still print | Offline mode available for core functions |
| Online ordering | QR menu and online ordering per location, as an add-on module | Online ordering and delivery tools available |
| Accounting | QuickBooks Desktop (Canadian and US editions) and QuickBooks Online for Canadian companies, on Pro | Integrations with accounting apps |
| Pricing | Standard $30/mo and Pro $50/mo, 14-day free trial with no card | Several plans plus hardware and processing; see Toast's site |
Competitor details reflect their public information as of 2026 and may change; check their site for current plans and pricing.
SeroPOS and Toast at a glance
As of 2026, Toast is a restaurant-only platform used widely in the US and also sold in Canada, the UK and Ireland. It generally pairs its software with Toast hardware, built on Android, and Toast payment processing, with a broad set of add-ons for online ordering, marketing, payroll and more.
SeroPOS is a POS app sold on monthly plans for restaurants and shops. It runs on hardware you choose, from a Windows PC to an iPad or the Global Payments T650P handheld, and connects to card terminals from Global Payments, Moneris or Gravity Payments. That separates the till from the merchant account.
Hardware you can reuse
Toast's hardware is designed for restaurant use, and many owners like having one supplier for everything. The trade-off, as of 2026, is that Toast generally expects its own devices, so existing tablets or PCs may not carry over. Ask Toast what applies to your setup.
SeroPOS installs from the app stores on Windows, Mac, iPad, Android and phones. Existing ESC/POS receipt and kitchen printers connect over the network, USB or Bluetooth, and Auto-detect scans your network for them. If you already own tablets or a PC, you may be able to start without buying new hardware.
Kitchen display and kiosk
Toast offers a kitchen display system and kiosks as part of its restaurant platform. SeroPOS has both inside the same app: KDS Mode turns a tablet or PC into a kitchen board with On time, Attention and Late counters, station chips, an All Day panel and a Recall panel for tickets bumped in the last two hours.
Kiosk Mode turns a tablet or PC into a full-screen self-order screen with variations, required and optional modifiers, and card payment on your terminal. It is included in the Standard plan. Kitchen tickets can also be routed to separate printers by category, product or food type. Exiting it needs an Admin or Manager login.
Payments and processing
With Toast, card processing generally runs through Toast's own payment service, as of 2026. With SeroPOS, you connect a terminal from Global Payments, Moneris or Gravity Payments, and tips entered on the terminal come back to the receipt. Each till can have its own terminal, so a bar and a host stand charge separately.
Because the processor is your choice, you can compare offers. Send us a recent statement and we'll quote a rate. SeroPOS also keeps a payment outbox, so an approved card charge is recorded even if the sale didn't save the first time, and a guard warns before a card is charged twice.
Switching from Toast
Most switches start with the product list. Export your items from Toast as a spreadsheet if it lets you, then match the columns to the SeroPOS product template and import it from the back office or the app's Import Products tool. Set categories, tax rates and modifiers first, so imported products land in the right place.
Before your first live day, run the 14-day trial on the devices you plan to use, connect your printer and card terminal, and do a few test sales and a refund. Check the end-of-day report against your test sales. If you need help, the in-app Live Support chat reaches our team from the Admin screen.
Frequently asked questions
Is SeroPOS a good Toast alternative?
It can be if you want to reuse your own tablets or PCs, or choose your own card processor. SeroPOS covers kitchen tickets, a kitchen display, kiosk, tables and floor plans. If you want one supplier for software, hardware and processing, Toast's bundle may suit you better.
Can I use my existing printers with SeroPOS?
Most likely. SeroPOS prints to ESC/POS receipt and kitchen printers over the network, USB or Bluetooth, and can also use Windows printers. The app's Auto-detect scans Bluetooth, USB and your Wi-Fi network for printers. Test yours during the free trial.
Does SeroPOS work in Canada?
Yes. SeroPOS supports Canadian GST, PST, HST and QST setups as tax groups, Moneris and Global Payments terminals, and QuickBooks Desktop Canadian edition and QuickBooks Online for Canadian companies. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial.
How does SeroPOS pricing compare with Toast?
SeroPOS publishes two plans: Standard at $30 a month and Pro at $50 a month, each with a 14-day free trial and no card needed. We don't quote Toast's prices here because they change; check their site for current plans, hardware and processing costs, and compare the total for your setup.
Can I try SeroPOS before I switch?
Yes. Both plans have a 14-day free trial with no card needed, and the trial includes every feature. Download the app on a device you already own, add demo data or import your products from a spreadsheet, and run a few test sales before you change anything at your counter.