Shift4 Payments vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale Comparison
Shift4 Payments
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Shift4 Payments is a revolutionary merchant account payment processing solution. From our patented online technology that displays your shopping cart directly on a mobile phone or computer to the dynamic web-based report…
Toast
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
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
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…
Toast leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across -1 reviews.
Shift4 Payments vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — at a glance
| Feature | Shift4 Payments | Toast | SumUp | Square Point of Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 2.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Reviews | 26 | — | 4 | 518 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $90 /month | $0 /month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | No | No | No | No |
| Free version | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payment Processing Software | POS Software | POS Software | POS Software |
| Integrations | — | 8+ apps | 8+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | 24/7 (Live rep) | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2 | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | Global | Global | Global | US |
Key differences between Shift4 Payments and Toast
- Pricing: Toast starts at $90 /month. Shift4 Payments pricing is not publicly listed.
- User satisfaction: Toast scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Shift4 Payments supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Toast supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Compare Shift4 Payments vs Toast vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payment Processing 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.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Best for restaurants needing an integrated, scalable POS with labor management.
- 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.
- 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.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Best for small to mid-sized retail and food businesses needing simple POS.
- 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.
- Your business is a large enterprise needing extensive customization.
- You require complex, multi-location inventory management capabilities.
Shift4 Payments typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Toast tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Shift4 Payments is a revolutionary merchant account payment processing solution. From our patented online technology that displays your shopping cart directly on a mobile phone or computer ... Read More about Shift4 Payments | 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 |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | Not Available | 9.8/10 | Not Available | 9.2/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||||
Best Company Size | — | Small BusinessMedium Business | — | 1-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | 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.
Key strengths
No key benefits available yet.
- 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.
No key benefits available yet.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
No best-fit guidance available yet.
- 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
No best-fit guidance available yet.
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
No alternatives guidance available yet.
- 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.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
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How do Shift4 Payments, Toast, SumUp and Square Point of Sale Compare on Features?
Total Features | 0 Features | 14 Features | 14 Features | 11 Features |
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Unique Features | No features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Shift4 Payments, 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.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |  |  |
Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Shift4 Payments vs Toast vs SumUp User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | 4.5 (based on 518 reviews) | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is cautious across 132 reviews, with several recurring concerns in feedback. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 10049 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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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 |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. | No Integration information available. |
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List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Buffalo Wild Wings  The Melting Pot  Maple Leaf |  DHL  FLiXBUS | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  3 Screenshots |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  4 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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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, Shift4 Payments or Toast?
- Toast edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 2.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Shift4 Payments and Toast offer a free trial?
- Neither Shift4 Payments nor Toast currently lists a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Shift4 Payments vs Toast?
- Shift4 Payments starts at Contact for pricing. Toast starts at $90 /month.
- What are the top alternatives to Shift4 Payments?
- Top alternatives to Shift4 Payments include WePay, Square Payments, Payline Data, MagicPay, Quantum Electronic Payments.
- What are the top alternatives to Toast?
- Top alternatives to Toast include SumUp, Square Point of Sale, ShopKeep, Lightspeed Retail, SlickPOS.