A Toast alternative for cafes and small restaurants.
Toast is a restaurant platform on its own hardware. For a cafe or small restaurant, the questions are the hardware commitment and which features cost extra. Here is the honest comparison.
Who looks for a Toast alternative
Toast is common in busy restaurants. Smaller cafes compare it with Timeo when they add up hardware, add ons and processing.
- Toast hardware only. Toast runs only on approved Toast hardware, and hardware and implementation are paid up front or financed.
- Ordering and loyalty are add ons. Online ordering, order and pay, and email marketing with loyalty and gift cards are sold as add ons.
- Card rates are not published. Toast includes flat rate processing but does not publish the rate on its pricing page.
Toast and Timeo side by side
Toast facts are taken from its own pages on 9 November 2026. "Not stated" means we did not find it on the pages we checked, not that the product lacks it.
| Toast | Timeo | |
|---|---|---|
| Software price | Starter kit from USD 0 (1 location, up to 2 terminals); Point of Sale from USD 69 a month | USD 29 to USD 49 a month per location (Basic, Advance, Team), the same whatever the client count |
| Hardware | Toast hardware only, paid up front or financed | Your own tablet or computer, in the browser or the Timeo Pro app |
| QR ordering at the table | Order and pay is an add on | On every plan, no app for the customer to download |
| Kitchen display | Not stated on the pages we checked | On every plan |
| Loyalty and gift cards | Add on with email marketing | From Advance (USD 39) |
| Card processing | Flat rate included; rate not published | One off online payments and deposits go into your own Airwallex account, in your own currency; auto-renewing memberships charge cards through your own Stripe account |
When Toast is the better choice
- You run a high volume full service restaurant. Toast is built for restaurants and supplies its own hardware, so one vendor answers for the whole stack.
- You want one bill for hardware and software. Toast can finance hardware and implementation with the subscription. Timeo does not sell POS terminals.
- Delivery and online ordering in one place. Toast sells online ordering as part of its platform. Timeo does not connect to delivery apps.
When Timeo is the better fit
- You already own a tablet. Timeo runs on the tablet or computer you have, so there is no hardware to finance before your first sale.
- QR ordering and kitchen display without add ons. Both are on every plan, including Basic at USD 29 a month.
- Regulars, stock and recipes in the same system. On Advance, loyalty points, gift cards and recipe based stock come in the plan.
Moving from Toast to Timeo
The menu is the big job. Get your menu items, prices and modifiers out of Toast as a spreadsheet (ask Toast support for the steps), then:
- For retail items or a menu, open Catalog > Products and choose Import. Pick Generic CSV as the Import format, then Preview import and Apply import once the summary looks right.
- Set up modifier groups (milk, size, sugar) under Catalog > Modifier groups if they did not come across.
- Add your dining tables under Settings > Tables and use Print all for the table QR codes.
- On Advance, link drinks and dishes to their ingredients: open Catalog > Products > Recipe BOMs, choose Import preview, paste rows with recipe, target variant, component, quantity and unit, then Run preview and Apply import.
Sales history, staff timecards and your Toast hardware stay with Toast; check your hardware finance terms before you cancel. If you would rather not do it yourself, our team can run the import and set up services as part of hands-on setup, which is quoted separately. Paying yearly gets 14 months for the price of 12.
Questions about switching from Toast
- Can I use Toast hardware with Timeo?
- Toast says its software runs only on approved Toast hardware, and we have not tested Toast terminals with Timeo. Plan on a tablet or computer you own.
- Does Timeo have table QR ordering?
- Yes, on every plan. Customers scan the table QR, order without downloading an app, and the ticket goes to the kitchen display.
- Does Timeo work with delivery apps?
- No. Timeo takes its own QR, counter and pickup orders. If delivery apps are a large share of your sales, weigh that first.
- What does Timeo cost a restaurant?
- USD 29 to USD 49 a month per location (Basic, Advance, Team), the same whatever the client count. Every plan has a 7 day free trial with no contract.
- What does Timeo cost in Malaysia?
- In Malaysia, Timeo is billed in ringgit: RM79 to RM119 a month, with FPX and DuitNow QR through your own Billplz account.
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Sources
Toast's own pages, checked on 9 November 2026.