I dunno about the difference between clipless and toe clips, but the difference between plain platforms and toe clips is so vast I wouldn't worry too much about it. When I started getting into road cycling I had one bike with clips and one with platforms that I rode less often. After a month with the clips the platforms made me crazy and I got a second set of inexpensive toe clip pedals. With the right shoes and a properly adjusted strap it's pretty good. Not as good as clipless, but for the price it can't be beat.