SmakSpace is the New Zealand-built alternative to Toast for cafés, restaurants and bars considering Toast's AU/NZ rollout. SmakSpace runs in any web browser on devices you already own — no proprietary terminal, no Toast Go hardware purchase, no US-style multi-year contract. Pricing is flat NZD; payments work alongside your existing NZ EFTPOS (Smartpay, Worldline, Verifone or Windcave) without a forced processor migration. Bundles POS, online ordering, kitchen display, bookings and loyalty on one platform. Supported in NZ business hours; cancel anytime.
What's the best Toast alternative for New Zealand restaurants?
The best Toast alternative for NZ restaurants in 2026 is one that doesn't require proprietary hardware, bills in NZD rather than USD, and works alongside the EFTPOS terminal you already own. SmakSpace is the NZ-built option — runs in any modern web browser on devices you already have, works alongside your existing Smartpay, Worldline, Verifone or Windcave EFTPOS terminal, and bundles online ordering, kitchen display, bookings and loyalty for NZ$49–$179/month flat, with self-order kiosks on the NZ$99 Professional plan and above. No multi-year contract.
A direct comparison for NZ operators.
Comparison reflects publicly available Toast materials and operator commentary on Capterra and Reddit r/restaurantowners as of May 2026. Toast plans, hardware, and contract terms vary by region — confirm specifics for your venue with Toast\'s AU/NZ team. SmakSpace pricing is published on /pricing.
What operators say about Toast contracts.
Verified review quotes from independent public platforms. We have not edited the wording. Sources cited below each quote.
"The monthly fees, hidden fees, fees for every single thing add up and it becomes a very expensive monthly bill.
"Switching out felt like breaking a lease.
"Be prepared for nickel and diming.
From assessment to live — no hardware shipment to wait for.
Free assessment
You are evaluating Toast for NZ. We map your venue needs (covers, terminals, online ordering volume, KDS stations) against both Toast's NZ-day-1 offering and SmakSpace, in plain NZD numbers.
Hardware audit
Most cafés already have iPads, Android tablets, laptops or phones that meet SmakSpace requirements. We audit your existing kit and confirm what (if anything) you need to buy — usually zero hardware spend.
Menu + customer setup
If you are migrating from an existing POS (Lightspeed, Kounta, Vend, Square), we load your menu items, prices and categories for you from our CSV template and set up modifiers with you; ask us and we load your customer list for you as well. Or photograph the printed menu and the AI compiles the item list for you to sign off. If you are starting fresh, we set up the menu with you.
Payments setup
Your existing NZ EFTPOS terminal stays on the counter and keeps operating independently — SmakSpace does not connect to it. Online and QR orders take card through your own provider; kiosk orders are paid at the counter. No surcharge from us.
Live
Designed for go-live within a week on SmakSpace. No multi-year contract to sign, no hardware shipment to wait for, no US-time onboarding queue.