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Homebase vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale Comparison

Last updated:

Homebase

4.4(118 reviews)

Starting at $0 / location / month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing…

Toast

3.9(1,029 reviews)

Starting at $90 /month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Toast is a versatile POS platform designed specifically for restaurants. It streamlines operations, enhances customer service, and boosts revenue. This comprehensive solution combines online ordering, loyalty and gift ca…

SumUp

4.4(9,413 reviews)

Starting at $0 /month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card payments online, in-app, and i…

Square Point of Sale

4.5(518 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer purchases, and collect feedback f…

Homebase leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 118 reviews.

Homebase vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — at a glance

FeatureHomebaseToastSumUpSquare Point of Sale
Rating4.4 / 53.9 / 54.4 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews1181,0299,413518
Starting price$0 / location / month$90 /month$0 /monthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No No No
Free version No No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryEmployee Scheduling SoftwarePOS SoftwarePOS SoftwarePOS Software
Integrations11+ apps8+ apps8+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Browser Based (Cloud)SaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep)Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2SOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUnited States, CanadaGlobalGlobalUS

Key differences between Homebase and Toast

  • Pricing: Homebase starts at $0 / location / month, while Toast starts at $90 /month.
  • Free trial: Homebase offers a free trial; Toast does not.
  • User satisfaction: Homebase scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
  • Deployment: Homebase supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Browser Based (Cloud); Toast supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Homebase vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Employee Scheduling Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Homebase

Best for simple, streamlined scheduling and payroll in small to mid-sized teams.

Choose if
  • You manage retail, hospitality, or food service teams with up to 500 employees.
  • You need an easy-to-use platform for shift scheduling, time tracking, and payroll integration.
  • You want built-in team communication tools like chat boards to improve collaboration.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly advanced schedule customization beyond basic features.
  • You have complex scheduling needs that demand a more intuitive and flexible interface.

Toast

Best for restaurants needing an integrated, scalable POS with labor management.

Choose if
  • You operate a full-service or quick-service restaurant or bar needing unified hardware and payments.
  • You require labor scheduling and analytics tied directly to real-time sales data for cost control.
  • You manage multiple locations or franchises needing centralized POS management and scalability.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your restaurant requires highly customized or non-standard POS workflows beyond Toast’s flexibility.
  • You prioritize flawless payment processing and top-tier customer support without risk of glitches.

SumUp

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Square Point of Sale

Best for small to mid-sized retail and food businesses needing simple POS.

Choose if
  • You want an easy-to-use POS with quick transaction processing.
  • You need integrated inventory management and sales reporting.
  • You require mobile device compatibility and hardware like Square Terminal.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business is a large enterprise needing extensive customization.
  • You require complex, multi-location inventory management capabilities.

Homebase: Best for simple, streamlined scheduling and payroll in small to mid-sized teams. Toast: Best for restaurants needing an integrated, scalable POS with labor management.

Description

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, ... Read More about Homebase

Toast is a versatile POS platform designed specifically for restaurants. It streamlines operations, enhances customer service, and boosts revenue. This comprehensive solution combines ... Read More about Toast

SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card ... Read More about SumUp

Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer ... Read More about Square Point of Sale

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $0 , monthly
  • Starts from $90 , monthly
  • Starts from $0 , monthly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.7/10

9.8/10

Not Available

9.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.41

(118)

3.88

(1029)

4.39

(9413)

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
Small BusinessMedium Business
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Homebase

  • Streamlined Communication: Homebase allows smooth communication among team members, letting managers send updates and receive feedback in real-time. Keeping everyone on the same page is easier.
  • Efficient Scheduling: With Homebase, scheduling shifts is easy. The intuitive interface lets you create schedules quickly, reducing the headache of manual planning. Your team will appreciate the clarity and predictability in their work hours.
  • Time Tracking Made Simple: Say goodbye to manual time sheets! Homebase offers reliable time tracking features that help you monitor employee hours accurately, maintain compliance, and simplify payroll processing.

Toast

  • Scales effectively for growing brands: Toast supports multi-location management, centralized menu updates, and location-level reporting. This makes it a strong option for restaurants planning to expand from a single location to multi-unit or franchise operations.
  • Labor management tied to real sales data: Toast connects scheduling, time tracking, and labor analytics to actual sales performance. Managers can forecast staffing needs more accurately and adjust schedules to control labor costs while maintaining service quality.
  • Fully integrated payments and hardware: With Toast Payments and native hardware, restaurants benefit from a unified checkout experience. Transactions, tips, and reports are automatically linked to orders, simplifying reconciliation and reducing end-of-day errors.

SumUp

No key benefits available yet.

Best fit

Best fit

Homebase

  • 1 to 500 employees
  • Retail, Hospitality, Food Service, Healthcare, and Construction
  • Managers, Shift Leaders, HR Personnel, and Business Owners

Toast

  • 500+
  • Restaurants, Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR), Full-Service Restaurants, Cafés & Bakeries, Bars & Breweries, Food Trucks, Hospitality
  • Restaurant Owner, General Manager, Operations Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager, Director of Operations, Franchise Owner

SumUp

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Homebase

  • Users may seek alternatives to Homebase if they require more advanced scheduling features or integrations with other software, as some businesses have unique operational needs that Homebase may not fully address.
  • Companies with larger teams or more complex workforce management requirements might find that Homebase lacks scalability, prompting them to explore solutions that better accommodate growth and diverse employee roles.
  • Businesses prioritizing robust reporting and analytics tools may look for alternatives, as Homebase’s reporting capabilities might not meet the depth of insight required for informed decision-making.

Toast

  • Toast tightly integrates POS software, payments, and hardware. While this simplifies setup, some operators prefer greater flexibility to choose payment processors, third-party tools, or custom integrations. Alternatives can offer more freedom to build a personalized tech stack.
  • Toast is purpose-built for restaurants, which can be limiting for businesses that blend retail, catering, events, or merchandise sales. Hybrid concepts may choose more flexible POS platforms that handle both food service and retail workflows in a single system.
  • Some restaurants don’t require advanced features like labor forecasting, detailed reporting, or delivery marketplace integrations. Concepts with limited menus, counter service only, or predictable traffic may prefer simpler POS tools that focus on fast ordering and payments without added operational complexity.

SumUp

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Homebase, Toast, SumUp and Square Point of Sale Compare on Features?

Total Features

32 Features

14 Features

14 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Homebase, Toast, SumUp and Square Point of Sale on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • $0 , monthly
          • $90 , monthly
          • $0 , monthly
          • Not Available

          Pricing Plans

          • Basic

            $0

            / location / month

            • Basic scheduling

            • Basic time tracking

            • Point-of-sale integration

            Show more +

          • Essentials

            $25

            /location/month

            • Everything in Basic and:

            • Advanced Scheduling

            • Advanced Time Tracking

            Show more +

          • Plus

            $60

            / location / month

            • Everything in Essentials and

            • Hiring

            • PTO & time-off controls

            Show more +

          • Browse all pricing plans
          • Point of Sale

            $90

            /month

            • Cloud-based point of sale

            • Custom hardware configuration

          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          Homebase pricing
          Toast pricing
          SumUp pricingSquare Point of Sale pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✗ No
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✗ No
          ✓ Yes

          ISO 27001

          ✗ No

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🇺🇸 United States🇨🇦 Canada
          🌐 Global

          Homebase vs Toast vs SumUp User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          4.5

          (based on 518 reviews)

          Rating Distribution

          85

          35

          5

          3

          3

          726

          170

          73

          65

          209

          7627

          626

          216

          191

          1389

          0

          0

          0

          0

          0

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of scheduling, communication features, and payroll integration, tempered by some interface usability concerns.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Streamlined scheduling
          • Effective team communication

          Common complaints

          • Limited free version features
          • Confusing interface for complex scheduling

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall positive sentiment highlights Toast's innovative features and scalability, tempered by concerns over customer service and occasional system glitches.

          What buyers like

          • Feature-rich POS functionality
          • Scalability for multi-location operations
          • Integrated payment and hardware solutions

          Common complaints

          • Customer service responsiveness
          • Payment processing reliability

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is positive across 10049 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

          What buyers like

          • Easy integration with accounting and eCommerce platforms
          • Supports both in-person and online payments
          • No monthly subscription required

          Common complaints

          • May not suit complex restaurant or enterprise setups
          • Limited advanced POS features (e.g., detailed inventory, loyalty)

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyers generally appreciate Square POS for its ease of use and hardware integration but note limitations in advanced features and pricing clarity.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Hardware integration
          • Inventory management

          Common complaints

          • Limited advanced features
          • Pricing transparency

          Pros and Cons

          • Streamlines scheduling processes with easy shift management

          • Centralized platform for time tracking, shift swapping, and covers

          • Facilitates team communication via chat boards and messaging

          • Limited customization options in the free version

          • App interface can be confusing for new users or complex schedules

          • Comprehensive POS system with advanced features including integrated payments and hardware

          • Labor management tied directly to real sales data for accurate staffing and cost control

          • Scales effectively for multi-location and franchise operations with centralized management

          • Reported system glitches causing double charges and payment processing issues

          • Inconsistent customer service experiences with long wait times and unresolved issues

          • Supports multiple payment methods seamlessly.

          • Offers 24/7 access to financial data.

          • Cost-effective for small businesses.

          • May not scale well for larger businesses.

          • Transaction fees can add up.

          • User-friendly interface enabling quick transaction processing

          • Integrated inventory management and sales reporting

          • Mobile device compatibility and hardware options like Square Terminal

          • Limited advanced customization for complex business needs

          • Pricing details are not fully transparent and may require sales consultation

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Used Homebase, Toast, SumUp, or Square Point of Sale? Tell buyers what actually differs.

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          Antique Taco

          Antique Taco

          Woodhouse

          Woodhouse

          Souvla

          Souvla

          Buffalo Wild Wings

          Buffalo Wild Wings

          The Melting Pot

          The Melting Pot

          Maple Leaf

          Maple Leaf

          DHL

          DHL

          FLiXBUS

          FLiXBUS

          No Customers information available.

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Monthly Schedule

          4 Screenshots

          Toast Payroll and Team Management

          3 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          4 Videos

          video-0

          4 Videos

          Expand your shortlist

          Add another option to compare side by side

          Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, Homebase or Toast?
          Homebase edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do Homebase and Toast offer a free trial?
          Homebase offers a free trial. Toast does not.
          What is the starting price of Homebase vs Toast?
          Homebase starts at $0 / location / month. Toast starts at $90 /month.
          What are the top alternatives to Homebase?
          Top alternatives to Homebase include OpenTimeClock, Time Clock Wizard, Sling, TrackSmart Scheduling, Shiftworkz.
          What are the top alternatives to Toast?
          Top alternatives to Toast include SumUp, Square Point of Sale, ShopKeep, Lightspeed Retail, SlickPOS.