Toast vs Butter POS – What’s Best for Single-Counter Setups?

Running a single-counter restaurant is all about speed, control, and simplicity. You don’t have extra staff to manage systems, and you definitely don’t have time to figure out complex software in the middle of a lunch rush.

That’s where the right POS system can either help you run smoothly or slow you down.

You’ve probably heard of Toast POS — it’s well-known, widely used, and packed with features. But here’s the real question:

Is Toast POS the right fit for your small, single-counter setup? Or is it more than you actually need?

In this blog, we’re comparing Toast POS vs Butter POS — side by side, no fluff — to help you figure out what works better when space is tight, teams are small, and every second counts.

Meet the Contenders - Toast POS vs Butter POS

Before we dive deeper, here’s a quick side-by-side look at both POS systems — so you can get the lay of the land.

Setup and Simplicity - Getting Started Without the Headache

When you’re running a single-counter operation, your focus isn’t on tech — it’s on food, service, and speed. The last thing you need is a complicated setup that takes days to figure out.

➢ Toast POS

Toast POS offers a polished system — but it often comes with setup appointments, hardware coordination, and training time. That’s not a deal-breaker, but for small teams, it means time away from the counter. It’s designed for scale, so the process naturally feels a bit heavy if you’re running a one-person or two-person show.

➢ Butter POS

Butter POS is made for small restaurants, so the setup is intentionally simple. No special hardware. No IT support needed. You can sign up, get your system running, and start billing orders the same day.

If you can use a smartphone, you can use Butter POS. That’s the idea — less setup, more selling.

Features That Actually Matter in a Small Setup

Not every restaurant needs 100+ features. If you’re running a single counter, what you really need is a system that does a few things — and does them fast, reliably, and without confusion.

➢ Toast POS

Toast is built for full-service restaurants, franchises, and growing operations. You get tools for inventory, multi-location management, staff scheduling, loyalty programs, and more. That’s great — but for a small outlet, most of these either go unused or add unnecessary clutter.

You might find yourself paying for tools you’ll never touch.

➢ Butter POS

Butter POS cuts out the noise. It’s designed for small setups, so the feature list is focused and intentional:

• Fast Billing – Create and close orders in seconds
• Split Payments – Handle cash and card combos with ease
• Real-Time Sales Dashboard – Know your daily totals anytime
• Simple Menu Editing – Add or remove items without a laptop
• Fraud Protection – Every order is recorded, so nothing “goes missing”
• Table Numbers or Tokens – Optional, for dine-in or takeaway workflows

You don’t need to manage a warehouse, you just need to take orders, get paid, and track your day. Butter keeps it that simple.

Pricing - Are You Paying for More Than You Need?

For small restaurant owners, every dollar counts. The real cost of a POS system isn’t just the monthly fee — it’s in the hardware, hidden charges, and the features you’ll never use.

➢ Toast POS

Toast’s pricing starts reasonably, but as you add features like online ordering, marketing tools, and loyalty programs, the monthly cost goes up. Plus, you’re required to buy their proprietary hardware, which can push your initial spend into the thousands.

It’s a solid system but often, you’re paying for scale that your business doesn’t need.

➢ Butter POS

Butter POS is designed to be budget-friendly. One flat monthly fee. No extra charges for basic features. And you don’t need to buy expensive hardware, it works with the android device you already have or with low-cost options.

Here’s what that means for you:

• No surprise fees at the end of the month
• No getting locked into equipment you can’t replace
• No paying for enterprise tools you’ll never use

With Butter, what you see is what you pay — and that’s a big win for small restaurants.

Customer Support - When You’re Stuck at 8 PM

It’s 8:00 PM. You’ve got a queue at the counter. Something’s not working — a bill won’t print, a menu item disappeared, or your system froze. What happens next depends entirely on your POS provider’s support team.

➢ Toast POS

Toast offers support through tickets, email, and phone — but it’s built for scale. You may face wait times, automated responses, or tiered support levels. For big teams, that’s manageable. But if you’re a solo operator, waiting for a callback isn’t always an option.

➢ Butter POS

Butter POS treats small restaurants like big customers. You get direct, human support — often from the same team that built the product. Whether it’s late evening or early morning, help is a text away.

There’s no call center. No scripts. Just straight answers when you need them.

Because when your restaurant depends on one screen, that screen can’t afford to go silent.

Which POS is Built with Small Setups in Mind?

If you're running a small setup — a single counter, two staff members, limited seating — your needs are different. You don’t want extra tabs, complex reports, or features made for chains. You want something that fits your workflow, not something you have to work around.

➢ Toast POS

Toast is a powerful system — no doubt. But it’s built with growth and complexity in mind. Multiple locations. Staff roles. Expansions. That’s great for bigger players. But for a single-counter setup, it can feel like too much system for too little space.

➢ Butter POS

Butter POS wasn’t scaled down from an enterprise system. It was built from the ground up for small restaurants, food stalls, and owner-led teams. Every screen, every button, every step is designed to reduce effort — not add to it.

• No training manuals
• No complex dashboards
• No overwhelming options

When your restaurant is small, your POS should feel light, fast, and invisible. That’s what Butter aims to be — the system that works quietly in the background while you focus on the food.

Final Verdict - Toast or Butter?

If you’re running a mid-size or large restaurant with multiple stations, rotating staff, and layered operations — Toast POS is a solid choice. It’s loaded with features and built for restaurants that are growing fast or already scaled.

But if you’re running a small, single-counter setup — where every minute, every tap, and every dollar matters — Butter POS might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Here’s the bottom line:

• Toast POS is great, but it’s built for businesses larger than yours.
• Butter POS is built for you. It’s fast, lean, affordable, and made to solve the exact problems small restaurant owners face every day.

You don’t need more features — you need fewer clicks, faster service, and less headache. That’s Butter.

Still Deciding? Try Butter POS For Free

No hardware required. No long-term contracts. Just sign up and see how it fits your flow. Start Now - It’s Free.