A Toast alternative built for independent restaurants
Owners usually start looking when add-on modules push the monthly bill up, or when they want to choose their own hardware and avoid a multi-year agreement. HubPlate has a 30-day free trial, then one flat $99 per month per location, runs on devices you already own, and is month-to-month.
What to check before you switch POS systems
- What the total monthly cost is once you add online ordering, kitchen screens, scheduling and payroll tools.
- Who processes your cards, and at what rate, and whether you can pass the card fee to guests.
- Whether you must buy the vendor's hardware, or can use tablets and phones you already own.
- How long the agreement is, and what it costs to leave early.
- Who sets it up and trains your staff, and how you reach support.
HubPlate and Toast compared
| Compare | HubPlate | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software | 30-day free trial, then $1,188/year per location with setup waived and a website included, or $99/mo plus a one-time $249 setup. Everything included. | $0/mo Starter Kit, $69/mo Point of Sale plan; larger setups are custom-quoted. Add-ons such as payroll, marketing and online ordering cost extra. |
| Card processing | No HubPlate transaction fees. Card payments go through Stripe at Stripe's standard rate, and you can pass that fee to guests as a service charge. | About 2.49% + 15¢ in person on the Point of Sale plan; higher pay-as-you-go rates on the Starter Kit. |
| Hardware | Bring your own: Android app, or any iPhone, iPad or computer in the browser. Bluetooth printers and Stripe card readers. | Toast's own terminals and handhelds, bought or financed separately. |
| Contract | Monthly plan: month-to-month, cancel anytime. Yearly plan: paid once a year, runs to the end of the year if you cancel. | Third-party reviews commonly report 2-year agreements on paid plans. |
Toast figures are publicly reported prices, checked October 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Toast before deciding. Sources: Owner.com: Toast pricing 2026, UpMenu: Toast pricing breakdown 2026.
What's included in HubPlate's $99
- Point of sale with seat-based ordering
- Kitchen display screens (no per-screen fee)
- Commission-free online ordering, with Uber Direct delivery
- Reservations, waitlist and Reserve with Google
- Floor plan and server sections
- Inventory, recipes and vendor purchase orders
- Staff scheduling, time clock and payroll exports
- Loyalty points and digital gift cards
- Email campaigns to your guests
- Reporting and analytics
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Toast alternative for an independent restaurant?
HubPlate is one option: a restaurant POS and management system with a 30-day free trial, then $1,188 a year per location (setup waived, website included) or $99 per month plus a one-time $249 setup, everything included, no HubPlate transaction fees, and no proprietary hardware.
Can I keep my current menu?
Yes. HubPlate can read your printed menu from a photo to build your digital menu, and you can edit everything before it goes live.
Who helps me switch?
HubPlate's founder sets up and trains in person in the San Antonio, Texas area, and by Zoom and phone elsewhere.
Talk it through with the founder
A free 20-minute demo on your own menu. No pressure, no contract.
Book a free demo