Compare
Toast and Live Hospitality POS side by side: published Australian prices, support, setup, hardware, payments and staff tools, with the source for every figure.
The short answer
Toast is a package of its own hardware, integrated payments and software, while Live is software that runs on the devices and EFTPOS you already have.
Toast lists Starter from $139 a month and Essentials at $269 a month (GST not stated), with a custom quote for bigger set-ups. Live is $41, $80 or $125 per venue a month billed yearly, or $49, $95 or $149 billed monthly, including GST, with free setup and 24/7 support on every plan.
Price at a glance
Live’s prices include GST. Where a competitor’s page doesn’t say whether GST is included, we show the price as published and mark it “GST not stated”.
| Topic | Live Hospitality POS | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Floor: $41 a month per venue, billed yearly ($490 a year), or $49 billed monthly. GST included | Starter: from $139 a month (GST not stated). For single-location restaurants needing 1 to 2 terminals; includes the first hardware terminal subscription, with charges for more devices; new customers and single locations only |
| Middle plan | Standard: $80 a month, billed yearly ($950 a year), or $95 billed monthly. GST included | Essentials: $269 a month (GST not stated). Adds a kitchen display system and all-in-one handheld |
| Top plan | Multi-venue: $125 per venue a month, billed yearly ($1,490 a year), or $149 billed monthly. GST included | Custom quote for any number of devices |
| Yearly billing | 2 months free: $490, $950 or $1,490 per venue a year | Not stated |
| Card processing | Keep your own EFTPOS: Tyro, Zeller, Square or your bank’s, at your provider’s rates | Integrated processing at a per-transaction flat rate; the rate isn’t published |
| Minimum term | No minimum term: monthly plans run month to month | Not stated |
| Hardware | Use your own tablets, computers and receipt printer | Toast hardware; Toast advises against using your own |
| Setup | Free full setup by our team | Hardware configuration, installation and go-live support included; upfront hardware and implementation costs vary |
Features
Live’s column covers confirmed Live features. Toast’s column uses only what its pricing page says; anything it doesn’t mention is marked “Not stated”.
| Topic | Live Hospitality POS | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 24/7 by phone and chat inside the app, on every plan | 24/7 by phone, email and web, included in every subscription |
| Rostering and timesheets | Roster, clock on at the till, timesheets and payroll CSV (Standard and Multi-venue) | Scheduling & Team Communication add-on; price not stated |
| Membership and loyalty | Your own tiers, automatic tier rules and tier discounts (Standard) | Loyalty in the Marketing Suite add-on; price not stated |
| Happy hour | Automatic, with four offer types including buy one get one free (Standard) | Not stated |
| Inventory and costing | Stock in ml, grams or pieces, recipes and margins (Standard) | Supplier & Accounting Suite add-on; price not stated |
| Payroll | Payroll CSV of approved hours (Standard and Multi-venue) | Payroll Suite add-on; price not stated |
Which suits you
Each is built for a different kind of venue. Here’s how to decide.
Switching
Four steps, and we do most of the work.
Upload your current menu with the demo form, or send it after your demo.
Menu, categories, options and modifiers, plus your floor plan and tables, all free.
Toast’s payments are integrated with its POS. With Live you choose your EFTPOS provider: Tyro, Zeller, Square or your bank.
We roll Live out on your tablets and computers, connect your printer, and your team takes its first order.
FAQ
Yes. Live runs in the browser on any tablet or computer, works with your receipt printer and your own EFTPOS, and we connect them during free setup.
Toast’s Australian pricing page doesn’t say. We show its prices as published. Live’s prices always include GST.
Toast lists Scheduling & Team Communication as an add-on, with no price stated. Live includes roster, timesheets and payroll CSV from Standard, at $80 a month billed yearly ($95 billed monthly).
On 27 Sep 2026, from Toast’s Australian pricing page, which was last updated on 9 February 2026.
From each company’s own Australian pricing page, checked on 27 Sep 2026. Prices and features change, so check the source before you decide.
Square, Lightspeed and Toast are trademarks of their respective owners. Live Hospitality POS and Plain Sense Consulting are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Live Hospitality POS prices are from our pricing page.
Book a demo and upload your menu. We’ll show you your venue on Live and answer every comparison question.