Toast alternatives
PlateLogic vs Toast: commission-free ordering on your own domain
Toast sells an all-in-one POS with quoted modules, hardware and processing. PlateLogic is the guest-facing layer independents actually need — branded ordering, marketplace and POS sync, dine-in and inventory — at flat published pricing, with no hardware and no contract.
Direct vs marketplace: own the repeat order
Delivery marketplaces are great at first discovery and expensive forever after — 15–30% of every repeat order from a guest you already earned. The way out is a direct channel guests prefer, not an ordering page bolted onto a POS quote.
PlateLogic gives you that channel: your domain, your branding, SEO pages that rank in your city, and marketplace tickets mirrored into the same kitchen board so nothing runs twice — for a flat monthly fee instead of a cut of each ticket.
Commission & ROI calculator
Estimate what you keep by moving repeat orders off commission-based ordering with Toast or a marketplace and onto a flat PlateLogic subscription.
Base covers pickup ordering for one location. Pro adds delivery, dine-in, POS and marketplace sync, and up to five locations.
- Monthly online revenue
- $34,640
- Commission & fees today (1083 orders)
- $7,307
- PlateLogic flat subscription (Pro)
- $189
- Estimated monthly savings
- $7,118
- Estimated yearly savings
- $85,415
- Return on subscription cost
- 3766%
Estimates only. Card processing is paid at your own Stripe rate, and orders that still arrive from delivery marketplaces keep those marketplaces' fees.
PlateLogic vs Toast at a glance
Toast's terms vary by plan, module and contract, so treat its column as typical rather than a published rate card.
| Feature | PlateLogic | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on direct online orders | None | Per-order fee on some plans |
| Flat monthly pricing published publicly | $89–$189 | Quote + module pricing |
| Proprietary hardware required | Typically yes | |
| Works with your existing POS | ||
| Ordering on your own branded domain | Hosted ordering page | |
| Full website, SEO location pages & About pages | Basic site builder | |
| Sitemaps & structured data per location | ||
| Menu sync to Uber Eats, Favor, Postmates | Partner integrations | |
| Marketplace orders in one kitchen board | ||
| Payments settle to your own Stripe account | ||
| Choose your own processor / negotiated rate | ||
| Dine-in QR ordering, tables & reservations | Paid modules | |
| Staff scheduling, PIN logins & timesheets | Paid modules | |
| Inventory with auto sold-out menu items | Paid module | |
| Long-term contract required | Typically multi-year |
Five differences that decide it for independent brands
Commission-free direct ordering, flat and published
Toast bundles online ordering into a quoted stack where fees, modules and processing are negotiated per restaurant. PlateLogic publishes $89–$189 per location, takes no commission on direct orders, and includes the storefront, kitchen app, marketplace sync and dine-in tools in that price.
No hardware or processor lock-in
There is nothing to buy and no terminal to standardize on. Payments run through your own Stripe account at your negotiated rate with Apple Pay and Google Pay included, and PlateLogic layers on top of the POS you already own — Toast included.
Your domain, your brand, your guest list
Each location gets ordering on your own verified domain with your colors, logo and site template, plus SEO landing pages, About pages, sitemaps and structured data built to rank for your city. Guest contacts, order history, reviews and loyalty balances export any time.
Direct vs marketplace, handled in one queue
We sync your menu to Uber Eats, Favor and Postmates and mirror their tickets into the same kitchen board, then give you promos and loyalty to move repeat guests off 15–30% commissions and onto your own commission-free channel.
The whole floor without module math
Dine-in QR ordering, tables, reservations and waitlists, staff PIN logins, schedules, timesheets, inventory with auto sold-out and verified reviews are included rather than priced as separate modules per location.
See your savings vs Toast — book a walkthrough
Tell us where you are today and we'll send a switch plan for your menu, payments and listings. No contract, no setup fee.
Toast alternatives: FAQ
- What is the best Toast alternative for online ordering?
- PlateLogic is a strong Toast alternative for independents and small groups that want commission-free ordering on their own branded domain, marketplace menu sync, dine-in QR ordering and a kitchen tablet app — without proprietary hardware or a multi-year contract.
- How is PlateLogic different from Toast?
- Toast is an all-in-one POS platform sold on quotes, hardware and modules. PlateLogic is the guest-facing and operations layer: a branded ordering site with SEO location pages, Uber Eats/Favor/Postmates sync, dine-in tables and reservations, staff scheduling and inventory — and it works with the POS you already have, including Toast.
- Can I keep Toast as my POS and still use PlateLogic?
- Yes. On the Pro plan PlateLogic syncs with Toast, Clover, Square or any till that can use our generic webhook — importing your menu, receiving online and marketplace orders and marking items sold out.
- Do I pay commission on orders with PlateLogic?
- No PlateLogic commission on direct orders — you pay a flat monthly subscription plus your own Stripe processing fees. Orders from Uber Eats, Favor or Postmates still carry those marketplaces' own fees.
- Do I need new hardware?
- No. The kitchen app runs in a browser on any tablet or phone you already own, with push notifications and sound alerts.
- Is there a contract or setup fee?
- No setup fee and no long-term contract. Menu loading, payment connection, POS onboarding and listing setup are included in the subscription.
- Do I own my customer data?
- Yes. Guest contacts, order history, reviews and loyalty balances belong to your restaurant and can be exported from the dashboard at any time.