Almost everything written about Toast pricing describes the US packages. Canada gets different bundles, different prices — and a pricing page that quotes processing rates instead of publishing them. If you're a Canadian restaurateur, here's the actual bundle: the software subscription, the hardware, the add-ons, and the processing, with the contract terms priced as risk.
The Canadian packages: what Toast actually sells here
From Toast's official Canadian pricing page (updated May 2026): Starter at CA$120/month, Essentials at CA$220/month, and Custom by quote — per location. The platform rate itself is listed as "no fee"; card-present and card-not-present processing are both quoted as a "per transaction flat rate" — Toast gives you the number in a sales conversation, not on the page. Every subscription includes 24/7 customer care, offline mode, installation and network configuration, and automatic software upgrades. Upfront costs (hardware plus implementation) vary by package and are quoted, not listed.
For context, the US lineup this replaces: a $0 starter tier at 2.99% + 15¢ per transaction, and a $69/month plan at 2.49% + 15¢. Canada's entry point is higher in monthly fee — which makes the bundle math, not the rate, the decision.
The bundle math: a mid-size restaurant, worked
Year-one worksheet — Essentials package, single location (CAD):
Software: Essentials $220 × 12 = $2,640. Add-ons (US list prices, for scale): online ordering $75 × 12 = $900; kitchen display software $25 × 12 = $300. Software subtotal: ~$3,840/year. Hardware: quoted per package — Toast's US reference points are a $799 starter kit, $499 handhelds, and $799 kitchen displays, so budget a low four figures and confirm the CAD quote. Processing: the quoted per-transaction flat rate applied to your volume — get it in writing before you sign. Implementation: quoted.
The honest total for year one: roughly $3,840 in software before hardware, implementation, and processing. Processing is the line that dwarfs everything else — at $50,000/month in card volume, even a 2.5% effective rate is $15,000 a year. The $220 subscription is the smallest decision in the bundle; the quoted processing rate is the largest. Negotiate in that order.
Hardware: the upfront line nobody itemizes
Toast sells restaurant-grade hardware as part of the package — terminals, handhelds, kitchen displays, kiosks — and actively advises against bringing your own: Toast states it can't support equipment it didn't sell, and using Toast hardware keeps the system optimized for the software. That means the hardware quote is effectively mandatory, and it's the least transparent line in the bundle. Get the hardware list itemized in the quote (device, quantity, unit price, subscription vs purchase) and ask what happens to it if you cancel — proprietary Android hardware has limited resale value outside the Toast ecosystem.
The lock-in: processing, contracts, and the exit cost
Three lock-ins, plainly stated. Processing: you cannot shop your card rates — Toast is the processor, full stop, with no third-party option. Contract: most plans carry a two-year agreement with early termination fees if you cancel. Hardware: proprietary devices that don't transfer to another POS. Any one of these is manageable; together they mean switching away from Toast is a re-platforming, not a cancellation. Before signing: get the processing rate, the contract length, and the ETF dollar figure in the same written quote, and ask what "Custom" would cost at your volume — multi-location pricing is negotiable.
Toast vs the alternatives, stacked
| Toast (Canada) | Square | Lightspeed Retail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software | Starter CA$120/mo · Essentials CA$220/mo | Free base tier; Retail Plus $149/mo | $89–$229 CAD/mo (annual) |
| Processing | Quoted flat rate, Toast-only | Flat 2.6% + 15¢ in person | 2.6% + 10¢, Lightspeed-only integrated |
| Hardware | Toast-supplied (BYO discouraged) | Optional; works on own devices | Wide third-party hardware support |
| Contract | Two-year + ETF on most plans | Month-to-month | Plan terms vary |
| Best for | Restaurants wanting one restaurant-specific platform | Low-commitment starts, retail | Retailers needing hardware flexibility |
Toast's case is specialization: it's the only platform here built exclusively for restaurants — course firing, table management, KDS, and restaurant-grade hardware in one system. You're paying for that focus in the monthly fee and the lock-in. If your restaurant is really a café with retail, or you prize the freedom to renegotiate processing yearly, the generalist platforms cost less in commitment.
A note on format: this is an explainer, not a procedure — there are no step-by-step actions because the question it answers is which setup fits your business, and that is what the comparisons above are for.
FAQ
How much does Toast cost in Canada?
Starter CA$120/month and Essentials CA$220/month per location (Custom by quote), plus hardware, implementation, add-ons, and processing. Card processing is a quoted per-transaction flat rate — not published on the Canadian pricing page.
Can I use my own hardware with Toast?
Toast advises against it: the company states it can't ensure success or provide support for equipment not purchased through Toast. In practice, the hardware package is effectively part of the deal.
Is there a contract or cancellation fee?
Most plans carry a two-year agreement with early termination fees, according to third-party reporting on Toast's terms. Confirm the contract length and the ETF dollar figure in your written quote — Toast's own page doesn't publish them.