Toast vs Gusto
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Toast and Gusto.
🏆
Verdict: Gusto wins
Gusto scores 4.3/5, edging out Toast at 4.2/5. Best for US small businesses with 5–50 employees that want payroll, taxes and benefits handled in one system by a non-specialist.
Toast Restaurant-POS | Gusto Payroll & HR (VS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 (1 review) | 4.3 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | paid | paid |
| Starting Price | Pricing varies | Pricing varies |
| Best For | US restaurants — from single locations to regional groups — that want one deeply integrated platform for POS, kitchen, ordering, payroll and cost control and can negotiate their processing rate. | Best for US small businesses with 5–50 employees that want payroll, taxes and benefits handled in one system by a non-specialist. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
Toast
Pros
- + Functional depth covers the whole restaurant: in my walkthrough the KDS routing, table management, online ordering and xtraCHEF cost analytics formed one system rather than a bundle of integrations.
- + Restaurant-grade proprietary hardware built for kitchen conditions, with 24/7/365 support and installation/network configuration included (source: Toast pricing comparison chart).
- + Plan entry is flexible: $0/month Starter Kit with no upfront hardware cost for low-volume sites, $69/month Point of Sale with better processing (source: pos.toasttab.com/pricing, at time of writing).
- + Payroll bundle at $69/month + $9/employee/month (promotional, at time of writing) connects scheduling, tips and pay in one system.
- + Offline mode keeps orders moving when the internet drops — a real operational requirement that Toast builds for.
Cons
- - Processing dominates the bill: 2.49% + 15¢ in-person on the POS plan, 3.09%–3.69% + 15¢ on Starter Kit — on $50k/month that is roughly $1,400+/month versus $69 software (POSUSA, October 2026).
- - Real all-in cost for a typical single location is $1,500–$2,500+/month and $3,000–$5,000+/month for full-service or multi-location, per POSUSA's research — well beyond headline pricing.
- - Proprietary hardware: terminals, handhelds and KDS screens must be Toast's, and replacement cost over three years is a real line item.
- - Add-on sprawl (Digital Storefront, Marketing, Payroll, xtraCHEF, Restaurant Management, Retail) each priced separately; the stack you want always costs more than the quote you saw first.
- - Quote-based pricing with sales-rep negotiation and common multi-year contracts — the effective rate you get is the one you negotiate.
Gusto
Pros
- + Full-service payroll with unlimited runs and automatic federal/state/local tax filings included on every paid plan (gusto.com/pricing)
- + Setup wizard and payroll worksheet made my first test run a review-and-approve job, not a calculation job — a first-time employer can configure a 5-person team in under an hour
- + Transparent per-person pricing with a published plan comparison; a 10-person team is $109/month on Simple at time of writing
- + Benefits stack (health, 401(k), HSA/FSA, workers' comp, commuter) is integrated with payroll rather than a separate portal
- + Premium includes payroll migration from a previous provider plus same-day and instant pay — the only plan where the white-glove service exists
Cons
- - US-only: no international payroll or EOR, so any overseas hire needs a second system
- - Base fee distorts value for micro-teams — $79/month effective for 5 people on Simple versus $6.49/person at 100 (peopleopsclub.com)
- - Multi-state payroll, time tracking and configurable PTO are gated to Plus at $80 + $12/person, a 91% monthly jump for a 25-person company over Simple
- - Add-ons can exceed the next tier: Plus-level features bought on Simple ran ~$214/month versus $200 for Plus itself on published rates
- - Priority support is sold separately ($30/month + $3/person per published add-on rates) and compliance alerts sit on Premium only
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Toast or Gusto?▼
Gusto scores higher at 4.3/5 vs 4.2/5 for Toast, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Toast and Gusto?▼
Toast: Toast is a restaurant point-of-sale and management platform covering orders, payments, online ordering, kitchen display and payroll. Gusto: Gusto is payroll and HR software for US small businesses, covering pay runs, tax filing, benefits and onboarding.
Is Toast or Gusto more affordable?▼
Toast starts at €0/mo, Gusto starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.