Square review
Point of sale and payments for shops, cafes and services
- Block, Inc.
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
Does it deserve #3?
The verdict
Square makes taking payments simple for small businesses. The free point-of-sale app handles sales, inventory, receipts and customer lists, and you can add online ordering, appointments, invoices, payroll and loyalty as you grow. The hardware is easy to set up and pleasant to use. The trade-off is that you pay processing fees on every card sale, and advanced restaurant or retail features need paid plans.
- Free point-of-sale app
- Online store and ordering
- Invoices and appointments
- Payroll and loyalty add-ons
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Free POS software with no monthly fee to start
- Easy setup with simple, well-designed hardware
- Grows with add-ons for staff, loyalty and payroll
What could be better
- Processing fees apply to every card payment
- Advanced features need paid plans or add-ons
Shops, cafes and service businesses that want simple payments and POS
you run a large, multi-location operation with complex needs
Questions about Square
Is Square free?
The Square POS app has a free plan with no monthly fee, but you pay a processing fee on each card payment. Paid plans add advanced features for restaurants, retail and appointment-based businesses.
Does Square work without internet?
Partly. Offline mode lets you keep taking card payments when your connection drops and processes them once you are back online, but you carry the risk if a payment is later declined.
What are the best alternatives to Square?
The closest alternatives are Shopify, QuickBooks and HubSpot CRM. See all of them ranked on our Square alternatives page.
Where does Square rank?
Square ranks #3 of 8 in our Business & Sales ranking, with an overall score of 8.8 out of 10.