Square POS System Review 2023: Pricing & Features
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5.0
NerdWallet ratingSquare is a standout point-of-sale system and often a good option for small businesses. Its wide range of features and hardware can be tailored to fit a variety of business types. The pricing is transparent, and the free plan is one of the most powerful no-cost POS systems we’ve seen. It also earned top spots in NerdWallet's best POS systems roundup and best business software lineup.
However, Square may not be the right fit for businesses that want a highly specialized POS system with advanced features. And if you’re a dedicated Windows user, the Square POS app won’t work with your device.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Deep list of features. | Can’t run on Windows devices. |
Free version offers a lot of functionality. | Complex businesses might prefer a more specialized system. |
Offers related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system. |
Square POS |
Deciding factors
Payment processing fees |
|
Monthly fee |
|
Hardware cost |
|
Accepted payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Cash App (Cash App and Square are both owned by Block Inc.). |
Contract length | No contracts. |
Customer service | Email, chat and online knowledgebase. Phone support (1-855-700-6000) available Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm, PST. |
How much does Square cost per month?
The standard version of Square’s software is free, which is rare among POS systems. Its retail- and restaurant-specific versions have additional, industry-specific features.
$0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
$29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
$60 for Square Restaurant and Retail Plus plans.
$69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
Square POS | Square POS for Restaurants | Square POS for Retail |
|---|---|---|
Free plan Notable features:
| Free plan Additional features:
Square Plus Additional features:
| Free plan Additional features:
Square Plus Additional features:
|
Payment processing pricing for Square POS
2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Square transfers funds to your bank account on the next business day or, for a 1.75% fee, instantly. If you sign up for a Square Checking account, which comes with a debit card, instant transfers are available for free.
Use our Square fee calculator to figure out what fees you may for in-person and online transactions.
Square POS hardware features
Square sells an array of mobile and stationary POS hardware as well as hardware accessories, such as barcode scanners, receipt prints and cash drawers.
Magstripe reader for iOS or Android phone.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
Plug the reader into a phone and start swiping. (Note: Swiping cards that have EMV chips can expose a merchant to liability for fraudulent transactions) Square also offers Tap to Pay on iPhone, which lets merchants accept card payments using only a regular iPhone with the Square POS app. Customers hold their cards or their own iPhone wallets near the merchant's phone to pay.
Contactless and chip reader.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
Accept chip cards, contactless payment, Apple Pay and Google Pay with Square’s wireless reader. It connects to your Apple or Android device through Bluetooth LE.
Swivel iPad stand.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
The stand has a built-in reader for contactless payments. An iPad is not included.
Square Terminal.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
This all-in-one hand-held device accepts card swipes, dips and taps. It also prints receipts.
Square Register.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
Square’s Register includes a built-in touch screen for you and a smaller, customer-facing touch screen.
Square hardware kits.
(Photo courtesy of Square)
Square offers the Square Stand Kit, Square Register Kit, Square Stand Restaurant Station and the Square Stand Restaurant Station and Square Terminal, which are bundles with various tablets, stands, cash drawers, printers and other components.
Square RegisterNew to Square? Get $100 off your first Square RegisterUse code at checkout: NWSquare |
Square pros
Simple, transparent prices
Square’s prices are displayed prominently on its website. Also, its payment processing fees are a flat percentage of each transaction plus a flat fee. Clear pricing makes it easier to predict costs and compare your options. Another bonus: There’s no contract or early-termination fees. If you ever feel like switching, it won’t cost you.
Diverse hardware lineup
Square offers an array of hardware options, ranging from a quarter-sized reader that plugs into your phone, to a register with two touch screens. With that flexibility, you can design a variety of checkout experiences: You can set up a register at a store, customers can pay at their table or you can swipe cards out of a truck.
Long list of features
Square’s overall lineup of features is impressive and can work for a variety of industries. In addition to the core features that come with Square POS, you have the option to add on additional features that sync, like a loyalty program or an appointment scheduler. While you might not use every feature in Square's system, having so many options in one ecosystem can be a time saver for small businesses.
Square cons
More specialized POS systems exist
Square offers different versions of its POS system for restaurants and retail. That said, some other POS systems designed for a specific industry might offer even more features that meet the nuanced needs of a business. If you want a restaurant POS system, Toast might be a better option because of features like multiple language support on its kitchen display system or its spill-proof and water-resistant hardware.
Doesn't run on Windows desktop or tablet
Square currently works on iOS and Android phones and tablets. It also works on Macs and Chromebooks. But it won’t work on a Windows device. Consider the Lightspeed Retail POS system if you want to use a Windows desktop or tablet device. Lightspeed Retail is compatible with both macOS and Windows operating systems.
Square POS |
Optional Square add-ons
Square Appointments: Square Appointments combines appointment scheduling, text and email customer communication and payment options in a single cloud-based platform. There are three plan options to pick from along with the option for a custom-priced plan. You can cancel or change plans whenever you want, and a free trial is offered for the paid plans. Read NerdWallet's Square Appointments review.
Customer loyalty program: Lets you view reward points and reward history, track top loyalty customers and analyze average spend. Starts at $45 per month per location.
Email marketing: Starts at $15 per month.
Square Payroll: In addition to sending employees their paychecks, it can also be used to manage scheduling and time-tracking, tax withholding and filing, and the administration of benefits, such as health insurance and retirement savings. Starts at $35 per month plus $5 per month per employee. Read NerdWallet's Square Payroll review.
Square Online: Square Online is an e-commerce platform that lets you create a website, manage a variety of sales channels and take payments online — all without needing technical expertise. Free and up. Read NerdWallet’s Square Online review.
Square POS alternatives
Toast
Payment processing fees:
2.99% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose pay-as-you-go option on hardware.
2.49% plus 15 cents for card-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
3.50% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
Why we like it: Toast offers a POS system that is built for restaurants. Like Square, it offers a free starter kit that includes a terminal or hand-held device along with core features such as order management, mobile payments, reporting and analytics. Options with additional features are offered at $69 monthly for the Core plan, $165 for the Growth plan and quote-based pricing for custom plans.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Payment processing fees:
2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
2.6% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Why we like it: Lightspeed Retail's outstanding features make it a top POS choice for retail outlets, especially if they are growing. Lightspeed offers a free trial of its retail POS, but not a free monthly plan option. Also an Enterprise plan is offered for businesses with high volume. Lightspeed Retail's POS software is compatible with macOS and Windows operating systems.
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