When comparing Toast vs Helcim, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to restaurant point-of-sale technology. Toast, rated 4.5/5, offers Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. Meanwhile, Helcim, rated 4.6/5, provides Cost-conscious businesses wanting transparent pricing. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: Toast vs Helcim
| Feature | Toast | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Free POS + interchange + 0.4% + 8¢ |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Interchange-plus |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes | Cost-conscious businesses wanting transparent pricing |
Toast Overview
Toast is a restaurant-specific point-of-sale and management system built exclusively for the food service industry. It offers hardware and software solutions for dine-in, takeout, and delivery operations.
Toast is offered by Toast, Inc. (founded 2012) based in Boston, MA. The system focuses on Full-service restaurants, Quick service, Bars, Cafes, Food trucks.
Key Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
- Payroll integration
Helcim Overview
Helcim provides interchange-plus payment processing with free POS software and card readers. Known for transparent pricing, no contracts, and volume-based discounts for growing businesses.
Helcim is offered by Helcim Inc. (founded 2006) based in Calgary, Canada. The system focuses on Retail, Service, B2B.
Key Features:
- Free POS Software
- Card Reader
- Invoicing
- Online Payments
- Recurring Billing
- Volume Discounts
Feature Comparison
Toast Features:
- Tableside ordering
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Menu management
Helcim Features:
- Free POS Software
- Card Reader
- Invoicing
- Online Payments
- Recurring Billing
When comparing features, Toast stands out with Restaurant-specific features, while Helcim differentiates itself with Transparent pricing. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Toast | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Starter kit) to $165+/month | Free POS + interchange + 0.4% + 8¢ |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Interchange-plus |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Budget |
| Free Trial | Available | Available |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
Helcim is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Toast
Pros:
- Built specifically for restaurants
- Robust reporting
- Excellent kitchen management
- Strong online ordering
- Good hardware durability
Cons:
- 2-year contracts typical
- Can be expensive with add-ons
- Limited to restaurant industry
Helcim
Pros:
- Transparent interchange-plus pricing
- Free POS and card reader
- No contracts or hidden fees
- Volume discounts
Cons:
- Limited POS features vs competitors
- Processing only – not full POS
- US and Canada only
Who Should Choose Toast?
Toast is ideal for Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. The system is particularly well-suited for Full-service restaurants, Quick service, Bars, Cafes, Food trucks.
However, Toast may not be the best fit for Non-restaurant businesses.
Who Should Choose Helcim?
Helcim is ideal for Cost-conscious businesses wanting transparent pricing. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Service, B2B.
However, Helcim may not be the best fit for Restaurants needing comprehensive POS features.
Our Recommendation
Both Toast and Helcim are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Toast if you’re Full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. Choose Helcim if you’re Cost-conscious businesses wanting transparent pricing. Helcim has a higher user rating (4.6 vs 4.5). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.