Full Comparison
Yakuma vs Toast
US-centric restaurant POS locked into Toast's proprietary hardware and payment processing.
See the complete breakdown of how Yakuma compares to Toast across every dimension that matters for your business.
Complete Feature Comparison
| Dimension | Toast | Yakuma |
|---|---|---|
| Data ownership | Vendor-owned cloud. Your data lives in Toast's infrastructure, subject to their terms. | Customer-owned infrastructure. Your data, your servers (on-premise, private cloud, or your cloud account). |
| Deployment model | Cloud-only. No option for on-premise or private cloud deployment. | On-premise, private cloud, or customer cloud. You choose where your systems run. |
| Cloud provider choice | Vendor-imposed. You use Toast's cloud infrastructure with no alternatives. | AWS, Azure, GCP, or customer choice. Deploy on your preferred cloud provider. |
| Exit strategy | Limited / vendor-dependent. Leaving means losing access to your data, workflows, and starting over. | Full data ownership and portability. Export everything, switch anytime, no data hostage. |
| IT governance | Not supported. Cannot comply with enterprise IT policies or data residency requirements. | Designed for enterprise IT policies. Full compliance with corporate security, data residency, and governance. |
| Architecture | Cloud-first with limited offline fallback. Designed around cloud connectivity, degrades when internet drops. | Offline-first. Each store operates fully independently. Syncs when possible, never blocks when not. |
| Offline operation | Limited / degraded. Basic operations continue but many features require cloud connection. | Fully operational. Complete POS functionality without internet. |
| Kitchen & expo offline | Often impacted. Kitchen displays may lose sync or functionality during outages. | Always on (LAN). Kitchen displays work on local network, never depend on internet. |
| Online ordering during outage | Requires manual intervention. Staff must manage orders manually during internet outages. | Automatic disable / re-enable. System automatically handles online channel availability based on connectivity. |
| Delivery platforms sync | Manual intervention often required during connectivity issues. | Automatic. Seamless sync with delivery platforms, handles connectivity gaps automatically. |
| Store autonomy | Low. Stores depend on Toast's cloud infrastructure to function properly. | Full. Each store operates as independent unit, syncs centrally when connected. |
| Focus | US-centric restaurant vertical; strong for domestic chains. | True multi-country restaurant engine (taxes, languages, currencies, fiscal rules) from day one. |
| Franchise support | Restaurant groups supported but limited native franchise governance. No multi-owner separation. | Native franchise architecture (franchisor/franchisee separation, multi-owner networks). Read more → Franchise POS |
| Hotel & Airport Operations | Not supported. Cannot integrate with hotel PMS systems for room charging or airport authority systems for compliance reporting. | Native integration with hotel PMS (room posting, guest identification) and airport compliance (boarding pass handling, authority reporting, revenue sharing). Read more → Regulated Environments |
| Hardware freedom | Requires Toast's proprietary hardware. You must purchase Toast terminals, handhelds, and kitchen displays. | Works on any Windows PC. Use existing hardware or choose any vendor. |
| Payment processor lock-in | Locked into Toast Payments. Mandatory payment processing through Toast with no alternatives. | 100% payment processor agnostic. Integrate with any payment provider, negotiate your own rates. |
| Delivery & online | Strong online ordering and delivery integrations. | Same level plus orchestration for multi-brand, ghost kitchen, and aggregator-heavy operations. |
| Customization | Powerful features but mainly aligned to US market needs. Custom development is limited and expensive. | Unlimited custom development included in subscription. Any workflow, any integration, any branding. |
| Cross-vertical coverage | Primarily F&B only. | Same restaurant strength plus retail, salons, tickets, and other verticals on a single core. |
| Native apps | Toast's standard apps only. Custom native app development not available. | 100% custom native apps for iOS and Android. Hybrid apps also available for faster implementations. |
| Smart-watch & Smart-TV apps | Not available. Kitchen displays require Toast hardware. | Native apps for Apple Watch and WearOS. Smart-TV apps for any TV brand for kitchen displays and signage. |
| Source code protection | No source code access. If Toast changes terms or pricing, you have no alternatives. | Full source code deposited with a public notary, protecting your investment and ensuring independence. |
| Operating systems | Android only, and only on Toast-approved devices. | POS runs on any Windows version. Apps run on iOS, Android, watchOS, tvOS, and web browsers. |
Why Choose Yakuma Over Toast
Global by Design
Unlike Toast, Yakuma was built from day one for multi-country operations with different taxes, currencies, languages, and fiscal requirements.
Deep Customization
Build your own workflows with scripting and configuration. Don't wait for vendor roadmaps to get the features your business needs.
No Vendor Lock-in
Choose your own hardware, payment providers, and integrations. Yakuma works with what you have, not what we sell.
Multi-Sector Platform
Retail, restaurants, salons, tickets, and more on a single platform. No need for separate systems for different business types.
Compare Yakuma with Other POS Solutions
Ready to Switch from Toast?
See why multi-country chains choose Yakuma. Request a personalized demo today.
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