7 Best Square Competitors of January 2026
Whether you’re switching from Square to a new provider or you just want to explore your options, factor in must-have features, software fees and hardware costs.
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| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shopify Retail POS | E-commerce platform integration | 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 | |
 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 | |
 Clover POS | Industry-specific plans | In-person: 2.5% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0 and up. | on Clover's website | |
 Payment Depot | Tailored interchange-plus rates | 0.2% + $0.00 to 1.95%, plus interchange. | $0 | on Payment Depot'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 | |
 SumUp POS | Touchscreen card reader | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.15 | $0 for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan. | on SumUp's website | |
 PayPal POS | Mobile POS app | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 2.99% + $0.49 | $0 |
Shopify Retail POS
Best for E-commerce platform integration
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.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
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.
Clover POS
Best for Industry-specific plans
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.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- 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 Depot
Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates
Payment processing fees
0.2% + $0.00
to 1.95%, plus interchange.
Monthly fee
$0
on Payment Depot's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- No cancellation fees.
- Compatible with several POS hardware providers, including Clover.
Cons
- Markups vary by business.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Charges a monthly $10 PCI compliance fee.
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.
SumUp POS
Best for Touchscreen card reader
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
on SumUp's website
Pros
- Free POS plans for card readers.
- Automated marketing tools for sending customers targeted promotions.
- Available in more than 30 countries.
Cons
- Online transaction rate is more expensive than some competitors.
- POS system software requires 12-month contract.
PayPal POS
Best for Mobile POS app
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.
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.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for E-commerce platform integration
Best for E-commerce platform integration
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.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
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.
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.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- 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 Industry-specific plans
Best for Industry-specific plans
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.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- 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
0.2% + $0.00
to 1.95%, plus interchange.
Monthly fee
$0
on Payment Depot's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- No cancellation fees.
- Compatible with several POS hardware providers, including Clover.
Cons
- Markups vary by business.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Charges a monthly $10 PCI compliance fee.
Payment Depot
Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates
Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates
Payment processing fees
0.2% + $0.00
to 1.95%, plus interchange.
Monthly fee
$0
on Payment Depot's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- No cancellation fees.
- Compatible with several POS hardware providers, including Clover.
Cons
- Markups vary by business.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Charges a monthly $10 PCI compliance fee.
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: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
on SumUp's website
Pros
- Free POS plans for card readers.
- Automated marketing tools for sending customers targeted promotions.
- Available in more than 30 countries.
Cons
- Online transaction rate is more expensive than some competitors.
- POS system software requires 12-month contract.
SumUp POS
Best for Touchscreen card reader
Best for Touchscreen card reader
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
on SumUp's website
Pros
- Free POS plans for card readers.
- Automated marketing tools for sending customers targeted promotions.
- Available in more than 30 countries.
Cons
- Online transaction rate is more expensive than some competitors.
- POS system software requires 12-month contract.
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 Mobile POS app
Best for Mobile POS app
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.
Jump to
Our picks: Best Square competitors
PayPal POS
Best for mobile POS app
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 POS review
$0.
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $199 for terminal only.
- $239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
- $229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
- 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).
SumUp
Best for touchscreen card reader
Why we like it: SumUp lets you accept in-person and mobile payments or use a virtual terminal SumUp review
- $0 for POS Lite plan.
- $99 for Connect Lite POS plan.
- $199 for Connect Plus POS plan.
- $289 for Connect Pro POS plan.
- $54 for SumUp Plus card reader.
- $64 for SumUp Plus cradle bundle.
- $99 for SumUp Solo touchscreen.
- $169 for SumUp Solo Printer Bundle.
- $499 for POS Lite and Solo Bundle.
- SumUp POS is quote-based.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.90% plus 15 cents for online invoice transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for e-commerce platform integration
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
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- $49 for Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Tap & Chip countertop kit (iPad not included).
- $349 for Shopify POS terminal.
- $459 and up for POS terminal countertop kits.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Toast POS
Best for full-service restaurants
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
- $0 for Starter Kit plan.
- $69 Point of Sale plan.
- Custom plans available.
- $494.10 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,123.20 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,438.20 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- 3.09-3.69% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose a pay-as-you-go plan.
- 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.
Payment Depot
Best for tailored interchange-plus rates
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 markup tailored to your business. Read our full Payment Depot review
$0.
Sells third-party equipment from Clover and other brands, but pricing isn’t transparent.
0.2%-1.95% plus interchange.
Clover POS
Best for industry-specific plans
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
- $0 for Clover Go Starter, Retail Basic and Personal Services Basic plans.
- $29.95 for Clover Go Essentials, Professional Services Basic, Home and Field Services Starter and Standard plans.
- $84.95 for Retail Standard and Professional, Personal Services Standard and Advanced, and Home & Field Services Advanced plans.
- $89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter and Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $104.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard and Quick-Service Dining Advanced plans.
- $129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $349 for countertop card reader.
- $749 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer.
- $699 for slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
- $849 for Clover Mini POS.
- $799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,899 for Clover Station Duo.
- $3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Full-Service and Quick-Service Restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on all Retail plans, Professional Services Standard and Advanced plans, all Personal Services plans and the Home and Field Services Advanced plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on the Home and Field Services Standard plan.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for inventory management
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
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $339 for Plus plan ($289 if billed annually).
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $79 for Mobile Tap V2 card reader.
- $199 for iPad swivel stand.
- $329 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Square pros and cons
To choose the right Square competitor, it’s important to identify what you like and dislike about Square. Some key pros and cons include the following:
Pros 
Free POS plan available.
No long-term contracts or termination fees.
Offers specialized plans for restaurants, retail stores and appointment-based businesses.
Has in-house payroll and banking services.
Cons 
May not be robust enough for larger small businesses.
Flat-rate payment processing isn’t the most cost-effective option for higher-volume businesses.
Not compatible with Windows operating systems.
Learn more about Square
Explore Square’s full product lineup, what it’s known for and which types of businesses it’s the best fit for.
» MORE: What is Square?
How to choose the right Square alternative
Square is a popular POS system and a great solution for many small businesses, but it’s not the best solution for every business. If you’ve used Square before, you probably already know what you like about the product, as well as which pain points you’d like to avoid. Aside from that, make sure to consider the following factors:
Industry specificity and complexity
The best Square competitor for your business will depend largely on your industry, whether you accept more payments online or in person and how robust of a system you require. The system you choose should be able to grow alongside your business and offer some industry-specific features, whether that’s an e-commerce retail platform, recipe costing or appointment booking.
Ease of use
POS systems should be easy for both employees and customers to interact with. If your business accepts tips
Payment processing costs
Square’s flat-rate payment processing model is easy to understand, but it’s typically not the least expensive option as your business grows and begins completing more transactions each month. Interchange-plus providers can be a good alternative.
Hardware options
Square has a solid variety of POS hardware
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