Square is a popular point-of-sale system and payment processor. It’s common among restaurants, retailers and service providers, and it can process in-person, online, phone and mobile credit card payments.
Square’s payment processing rates vary by transaction type. The company offers a free version of its point-of-sale, or POS, software with many features any business will need, and users can get a free credit card reader. A full POS register system from Square costs $39 per month for 24 months or $799 upfront. Add-ons are available to help you manage your team, process payroll, reward customers and set up marketing campaigns.
» MORE: Read our full review of Square
Although Square is a versatile system, some competitors offer similar or better features. These alternatives might offer a way for restaurants, retail stores and other businesses to cut expenses or move to a system that better meets their needs.
Best Square Competitors
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.0/5 Best for Shopify e-commerce users | In-person: 2.7% + $0.00 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $5 POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.) | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website |
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurants | 2.99% + $0.15 if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront. | $0 Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Starting a business | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $15 $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Lightspeed POS Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Dedicated customer support | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $69 and up. | Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | ||
Payment Depot Learn more on Payment Depot's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for High-volume sales | In-person: 0% + $0.00 Online: 0% + $0.00 Plus interchange | $79 and up. | Learn more on Payment Depot's secure website | ||
SumUp Learn more on SumUp's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Mobile | In-person: 2.75% + $0.00 Online: 3.25% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $0 | Learn more on SumUp's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.5/5 Best for Overall alternative | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.49 | $0 |
Our pick for
Shopify e-commerce users
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$5
POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.)
Pros
- Has good features for multichannel selling.
- Offers integrated, flat-rate payment processing.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- More e-commerce focused than other competitors.
Our pick for
Restaurants
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.99% + $0.15
if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront.
Monthly fee
$0
Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, email and chat support.
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- In-house payroll software available.
- Online ordering is included in some plans.
- In-house delivery platform available.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
Cons
- A two-year contract is required.
Our pick for
Starting a business
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$15
$14.95 and up.
Pros
- Competitive flat rates for payment processing.
- Hardware performs well and is well designed.
Cons
- No free options.
- Pricing can be tough to understand.
Our pick for
Dedicated customer support
Lightspeed POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$69
and up.
Pros
- Offers robust inventory management.
- Good customer service offerings.
- Lots of integrations.
Cons
- High price.
- Annual contracts required for lower pricing.
Our pick for
High-volume sales
Payment Depot
Learn more
on Payment Depot's secure website
Monthly fee
$79
and up.
Pros
- No markup on interchange rate.
- Compatible with several card readers.
- Free virtual terminal.
Cons
- No support library.
Our pick for
Mobile
SumUp
Learn more
on SumUp's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
SumUp stands out for its competitive pricing for hardware and payment processing. With no monthly fee or contract, it’s a good solution for businesses that don’t need a full POS system and are looking to keep costs to a minimum.
Pros
- Low cost.
- No contract.
- No monthly fee.
Cons
- Software has limited features.
- Narrow range of hardware options.
Our pick for
Overall alternative
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- Solid core features.
- No monthly fees.
- No long-term commitment.
- Low initial costs.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- No add-on features available.
- Limited integrations.
- Funds are transferred to your PayPal account and not your bank account.
PayPal Zettle: Best overall alternative
Monthly POS software fee: $0.
Hardware:
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $249 for Store Kit Mini (screen terminal with card reader).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $499 for Store Kit Standard (adds printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
Payment processing:
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Why we like it: This all-in-one POS system offers one of the lowest flat-rate transaction fees, making it an affordable option for starting a business. It also integrates with accounting software such as QuickBooks. To get started, you can buy a Store Kit Mini for $249 or browse other ready-made hardware kits and POS systems. Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
SumUp: Best for mobile
Monthly POS software fee: $0.
Hardware:
- $39 for SumUp Plus card reader.
- $49 for SumUp Plus cradle bundle.
- $129 for SumUp Solo touchscreen.
Payment processing:
- 2.75% for in-person transactions.
- 2.90% plus 15 cents for online and invoice transactions.
- 3.25% plus 15 cents for manually keyed or payment-linked transactions.
Why we like it: SumUp lets you accept in-person and mobile payments or use a virtual terminal to process payments by phone. The app includes a digital cashier so you can receive cash payments and send digital receipts. Pricing is straightforward with no monthly contract, and you pay fees only for the transactions you process. Read our full SumUp review.
Shopify: Best for Shopify e-commerce users
Monthly POS software fee:
To use Shopify POS, you also must have a Shopify plan for e-commerce. The following prices reflect the annual billing option, which saves you money:
- $29 for Shopify Basic.
- $79 for regular Shopify.
- $299 for Shopify Advanced.
- $2,000 for Shopify Plus.
Once you have a Shopify plan for e-commerce, add either:
- $5 for Shopify POS Lite.
- $89 per location for Shopify POS Pro.
Hardware:
- $49 for Chipper 2X BT card reader or Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Retail Kit.
- $399 for Shopify POS Go mobile device.
Payment processing:
- 2.4%, 2.6% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.7% for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Why we like it: This POS system can help you market to customers, manage inventory and combine in-store and online sales. You can try it for free for three days. Plans include a monthly or annual billing option. You can also change your plan later, regardless of whether you want to upgrade or downgrade. Read our full Shopify POS review.
Toast: Best for restaurants
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for Quick Start Bundle.
- $69 for Core plan.
- $110 plus $4 per employee for Restaurant Basics plan.
- $165 for Growth plan.
- Custom plans available.
Hardware:
- $627 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $875 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,009 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
Payment processing:
- 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 is specifically designed for restaurants. The Quick Start Bundle offers payment processing with optional add-ons so you can customize features to match your business needs. Other plans offer lower rates for card-present transactions but higher startup costs. Read our full Toast POS review.
Payment Depot: Best for high-volume sales
Monthly fee:
- $79 if you process up to $250,000 per year.
- Custom quote if you process more than $250,000 per year.
Hardware: Sells third-party equipment from Clover and other brands, but pricing isn’t transparent.
Payment processing: Interchange plus $0 per transaction.
Why we like it: Payment Depot is an alternative to consider if you want lower credit card transaction fees. Instead of a flat rate, you pay the actual interchange rate that applies to the transaction plus a monthly fee. Because Payment Depot processes only the payment, you’ll need to have your existing terminal reprogrammed, use a free virtual terminal or buy POS hardware. Read our full Payment Depot review.
Clover: Best for starting a business
Monthly POS software fee:
- $14.95 for Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter, Professional Services Starter and Standard and Home & Field Services plans.
- $49.95 for Retail Standard, Personal Services Standard and Advanced and Professional Services Advanced plans.
- $54.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $64.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $69.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $84.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $99.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $114.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
Hardware:
- $49 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
Payment processing:
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter and Professional Services Standard plans, as well as Home & Field Services Standard and Advanced plans.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Why we like it: Clover is an all-in-one system that lets you accept in-store, mobile, online and phone payments. It works for restaurants, retail stores and service businesses, and the transaction rate is lower than that of some competitors. Read our full Clover POS review.
Lightspeed Retail: Best for dedicated customer support
Monthly POS software fee:
- $89 for Lean plan ($69 if billed annually).
- $149 for Standard plan ($119 if billed annually).
- $269 for Advanced plan ($199 if billed annually).
Hardware:
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $99 for Chipper 2X BT card reader.
- $199 for iPad stand or swivel stand.
- $299 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
Payment processing:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Why we like it: Lightspeed offers competitive transaction pricing along with a complimentary onboarding session to help you get started. Plus, there’s free dispute management and chargeback assistance. You can also find a large number and variety of integrations in the Lightspeed app marketplace. Read our full Lightspeed POS review.
Last updated on August 1, 2023
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.
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