7 Best Square Competitors of 2026 of February 2026
Square is a popular choice for businesses, but it’s not the best fit for everyone. Our top alternatives offer more industry-specific features or cheaper processing rates.
Learn more Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shopify Retail POS | Cheaper online rates | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | on Shopify's website | |
 Clover POS | Payment processing flexibility | In-person: 2.5% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0 and up. | on Clover's website | |
 Lightspeed Retail POS | Inventory management | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan. | on Lightspeed's website | |
 Stripe | Global payments | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | on Stripe's website | |
 Helcim POS | Interchange-plus pricing | 4.8
/5
| In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim's website |
 PayPal POS | Lower in-person processing fees | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 2.99% + $0.49 | $0 | ||
 Toast POS | Full-service restaurants | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0 Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan. | on Toast's website |
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Cheaper online rates
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
Clover POS
Best for Payment processing flexibility
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Inventory management
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Stripe
Best for Global payments
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
on Stripe's website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Helcim POS
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
PayPal POS
Best for Lower in-person processing fees
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
Toast POS
Best for Full-service restaurants
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Sort by:
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Cheaper online rates
Best for Cheaper online rates
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Clover POS
Best for Payment processing flexibility
Best for Payment processing flexibility
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Inventory management
Best for Inventory management
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
on Stripe's website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Stripe
Best for Global payments
Best for Global payments
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
on Stripe's website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Helcim POS
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
PayPal POS
Best for Lower in-person processing fees
Best for Lower in-person processing fees
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Toast POS
Best for Full-service restaurants
Best for Full-service restaurants
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Jump to
How we chose the best Square competitors
Square pros and cons
Who are Square alternatives best for?
How to find the best Square alternative for you
How we chose the best Square competitors
Our writers and editors cover more than 20 POS systems. To find the best Square alternatives, we looked at where it falls short in our ratings. But we also reviewed complaints in online forums like Reddit and asked business owners what they dislike about Square.
This led us to focus on competitors that offer the following:
- Lower costs. Most of our picks have lower online or in-person payment processing rates than Square’s Free plan does. Square’s Free plan, for reference, charges 2.6.% plus 15 cents per in-person transaction and 3.3% plus 30 cents per online one. Some competitors, like Helcim and PayPal POS, also offer free POS software.
- More industry-specific features. We looked for certain standout features, like advanced inventory management, website templates and the ability to accept cross-border payments.
- Better customer support. Some of our choices have 24/7 support, which is important for businesses that operate outside of traditional working hours. Square’s Free plan only offers phone support for the first 90 days. Outside of that, Free plan subscribers only get chat and email support.
💬 From our Nerds: Why I use Square
"After weighing its pros and cons alongside competitors, I chose Square for my husband’s brewery. Its user interface seemed simple enough, and I was familiar with it as a customer. And since the brewery doesn’t serve food, I wasn’t terribly concerned with industry-specific features outside of the ability to start tabs and create item variations.
"Six months in, I feel good about the decision and I haven’t heard too many complaints from staff.
"That said, it’s still more expensive than I anticipated. After subscribing to the free plan, for example, my husband and I realized it doesn’t let you evenly split tips among each person working during a shift. We had to upgrade to the Plus plan for that feature. This wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s certainly something to consider if you have employees."
— Hillary Crawford, lead writer covering small business
» MORE: Square vs. PayPal
Square pros and cons
To choose the right alternative to Square, it’s important to identify what you like and dislike about Square. This is especially true if you’re switching from Square to a different provider. Some key Square pros and cons include the following:
Pros 
Free plan option available.
Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
No long-term contracts or termination fees.
All plans include a free online store.
Cons 
Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Who are Square alternatives best for?
Businesses that are better off with a Square competitor fall into two buckets:
1. They’re looking for lower processing rates
Square’s Free plan has lots of useful features, but its processing rates aren’t the lowest on the market. Square’s fees increased in early 2025. In-person transaction rates for the free plan rose from 2.6% plus 10 cents to 2.6% plus 15 cents. Online rates for the free plan jumped from 2.9% plus 30 cents to 3.3% plus 30 cents per transaction.
Solopreneurs and other very small businesses are typically more price sensitive than others. If they just need the basics, it could make sense to go with a product that still offers free POS software but has lower processing rates, like Stripe or Helcim.
2. They need a more specialized system
These businesses aren’t switching from Square or deciding against it due to cost. Instead, they’re likely prepared to pay more for access to advanced features.
For example, Shopify’s plans can be expensive at $39 to $399 per month. But it gives you access to hundreds of website templates, shipping discounts, multiple inventory location management and 24/7 support. These are important features for fully online businesses trying to level up.
» MORE: Square vs. Shopify
How to find the best Square alternative for you
To find the best Square competitor for your business, follow these steps:
- Identify why Square doesn’t fit the bill. If you’re using Square, you probably already know what you dislike about it. Prioritize those things while looking for a new POS system. For example, maybe you’ve grown out of Square and need more advanced restaurant management features. Maybe Square has more than your business really needs and you’re looking for a product with lower processing rates.
- Budget for costs. This includes monthly POS software subscription costs and processing fees. Our credit card processing fees calculator can help you figure the latter. You’ll just need to estimate your average transaction cost and number of transactions per month.
- Consider contract lengths. One of Square’s pros is its lack of contracts. Some of its competitors, like Toast, lock you into a two-year contract and charge early termination fees. Other options, such as Clover, require a three-year contract if you want to take advantage of promotions. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. But you should be confident that it’s the right product for your business. Chatting with representatives and walking through demos can help you decide.
- Confirm it integrates with your accounting software. Your POS system should sync seamlessly with your accounting software. That way, you don’t need to manually input sales totals. Some products integrate with accounting software for free. Others, like Lightspeed, only include accounting integrations in higher-tier plans.
» MORE: Clover vs. Square
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.