The best alternatives to toast
Toast’s 2023 online-ordering fee and its two-to-three-year contracts with locked-in payment processing have pushed many operators to look for European alternatives. If your restaurant or café runs on a simpler stack—or you want to avoid proprietary hardware and long-term lock-in—Epos Now and Tillpoint offer per-location pricing, open APIs, and no forced processor. Both are hosted in the EU, so data stays within GDPR boundaries without extra paperwork.
European alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Why are restaurants switching from Toast to European POS systems?
Toast’s 2023 online-ordering fee and multi-year contracts with locked-in payment processing have frustrated many operators. European alternatives like Epos Now and Tillpoint avoid proprietary hardware, offer per-location pricing, and allow third-party payment processors, reducing long-term lock-in and unexpected costs.
Is my data GDPR-compliant with European Toast alternatives?
Yes. Epos Now, Tillpoint, and other European alternatives in our directory host data within the EU or EEA, provide a standard DPA, and are ISO 27001 certified. This ensures GDPR compliance without additional configuration.
How do I migrate from Toast to a European POS system?
Start by exporting your menu, customer, and transaction data from Toast. Epos Now and Tillpoint offer migration tools and support teams to help import this data. Plan for a short parallel run to test hardware and integrations before fully switching.
Are European Toast alternatives cheaper than Toast?
European alternatives typically offer a cheaper entry tier and transparent per-location pricing. They avoid Toast’s add-on fees and processor lock-in, which can lead to lower total costs, especially for small or mid-sized restaurants.
Which European Toast alternative is best for small cafés?
For small cafés, Tillpoint and SumUp offer simple, all-in-one POS systems with no long-term contracts or proprietary hardware. Both support third-party payment processors and provide a free plan for basic needs.
Do European Toast alternatives support third-party payment processors?
Yes. Unlike Toast, European alternatives like Epos Now and Tillpoint allow you to choose your own payment processor, avoiding lock-in and potentially lowering transaction fees.