Toolbox · Kitchen display (KDS)
Kitchen display (KDS)
Toast KDS
KDS routing POS/online/handheld orders to kitchen screens.
est. ~$ + hardware (Toast)
What it costs
Quote-only and tied to your Toast POS plan ($0-$69/mo, custom plans available; many restaurants run $165+/mo per terminal). Runs on Toast displays (~$799+) or iPad; KDS is bundled into higher Toast packages and priced via quote.
Best for
Restaurants already running Toast POS that want a deeply integrated kitchen display.
Pros
- Seamless if you already use Toast POS
- Routes POS, online, and handheld orders to kitchen screens
- One vendor and one support line
- Tight ticket flow across order channels
Cons
- Locked to the Toast ecosystem
- Opaque, quote-only pricing
- Proprietary hardware adds upfront and replacement cost
Integrations
Native to Toast POS, online ordering, and handhelds; not designed to work outside Toast.
Alternatives
Fresh KDS · QSR Automations ConnectSmart · Square KDS
Our take: The obvious choice if you're committed to Toast, with the smoothest integration. If you're not on Toast, the lock-in and hardware cost make standalone options more sensible.
Pricing is the public list rate or a research estimate as of June 2026 — always confirm on a live quote. We take no commission from any vendor; this is for reference.