Toast alternative

The Toast alternative that runs on any tablet, anywhere.

LinkandBook is an all-in-one restaurant platform with the same touch POS, KDS, online ordering and reservations as Toast — but no hardware lock-in, no multi-year contracts, and global from day one. Plus a multilingual AI voice phone agent and country-specific e-invoicing.

TL;DR — Why restaurants leave Toast

Toast is the dominant US restaurant POS, but it requires Toast-branded hardware (terminals, KDS screens, handhelds), often locks you into 2–3 year contracts, and is heavily focused on the US market. LinkandBook runs on any modern tablet (iPad, Android), works in any country, has no contracts, and adds a multilingual AI voice phone agent and country-specific e-invoicing (Greek myDATA today, more on roadmap) that Toast doesn't offer.

The four reasons we hear most.

"Hardware lock-in is brutal"

Toast terminals, Toast KDS, Toast handhelds. Switching means buying new hardware and re-training. LinkandBook runs on the iPad you already own.

"2–3 year contracts hurt"

Toast typically wants long-term commits with hardware financing baked in. LinkandBook is monthly, cancel anytime.

"Limited outside the US"

Toast's payment, support and integrations are US-first. LinkandBook is global with EU hosting and country-specific e-invoicing built in.

"Phone still rings off the hook"

Toast doesn't answer the phone. LinkandBook's multilingual AI voice agent takes orders 24/7 and routes them straight to the kitchen display.

LinkandBook vs Toast, feature by feature.

CapabilityLinkandBookToast
HardwareAny tablet (iPad / Android)Toast-branded only
Contract lengthMonthly, cancel anytimeTypically 2–3 years
Touch POS
Kitchen Display (KDS)✓ Any browser✓ Toast hardware
Online ordering / QR menu✓ 4 layouts
Table reservations✓ Built-in✓ Add-on
Delivery dispatch (own fleet)✓ Driver app + GPS✓ US-only
Multilingual AI voice phone agent✓ 30+ languages
Country-specific e-invoicing✓ (Greek myDATA, more on roadmap)US tax only
Multi-currency & multi-region hosting✓ EU default, regional on requestUSD-first, US-hosted
B2B partner marketplace✓ Built-in
Inventory + recipe costing✓ Built-in✓ Add-on
Setup time~1 afternoon~weeks (hardware + training)

Comparison reflects public information as of April 2026. Toast pricing and contracts vary.

From Toast to LinkandBook in a few weeks.

1

Export Toast menu & clients

Toast lets you export menu items, modifiers and customer database as CSV. We import everything.

2

Run on parallel hardware

Install LinkandBook on a spare iPad. Run a few shifts side-by-side with Toast to compare. Most kitchens prefer the LinkandBook KDS within a week.

3

Wait out the Toast contract

If you're on a 2-year Toast contract, calculate the cancellation cost vs. the savings. Many restaurants run both for the remaining term, then drop Toast at renewal.

Restaurants switching from Toast ask…

Can I keep my Toast hardware?

Toast hardware is locked to Toast software, so no. But LinkandBook runs on any iPad or Android tablet, plus standard ESC/POS receipt and kitchen printers via our cloud-print relay. Switching off Toast hardware is often a relief — you stop paying their hardware lease too.

What about my Toast contract — am I locked in?

Probably yes for 1–3 years depending on when you signed. Many restaurants run both systems for the contract remainder (LinkandBook for new orders, Toast just to satisfy the contract) and drop Toast at renewal. Cancellation fees vary; ask your Toast rep for the exact amount before deciding.

Can I migrate menu modifiers and prices?

Yes. Toast's CSV export includes items, modifier groups and prices. We re-create the structure in LinkandBook. Bigger restaurants with 500+ SKUs typically need a day; small menus take an hour.

What about Toast Capital / Toast Payments?

Toast Capital is a financing product — separate from the POS. Switching POS doesn't affect existing financing. For payments, LinkandBook integrates with Stripe, Adyen, Viva and regional providers — pick whichever has the best rate in your country.

Is the AI voice agent really worth it?

For restaurants that get 20+ phone calls a day (pizza, sushi delivery), yes — typically saves 1–2 staff hours per day and never misses a call. Pay per answered minute (~€0.05–0.10/min); cap monthly spend.

Is there a free trial?

Yes — free to start, no credit card required. Most restaurants run in parallel with their existing POS for a week or two.