Square is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.1. Square wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Xero on 0.
Shops, cafes and service businesses that want simple payments and POS
Small businesses and their accountants who want cloud bookkeeping
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Square | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Business & Sales | Business & Sales |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Block, Inc. | Xero Limited |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Square better than Xero?
Square is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.1. Square wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Xero on 0.
Which is cheaper, Square or Xero?
Square: Free plan, 2.6% + 15 cents per in-person sale; Plus $49/month per location. Xero: US plans start at $27 a month (Early, capped at 20 invoices); first month free. On value for money, Square scores higher.
Do Square and Xero work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Square or Xero?
Square scores higher on privacy (7.3/10). App Store label links contact, financial, location, usage and diagnostic data to you, with no tracking listed. Play says nothing is shared with third parties. Card payments are encrypted end to end.
Strengths and weaknesses
Square
- Free POS software with no monthly fee to start
- Easy setup with simple, well-designed hardware
- One plan per location instead of a pile of add-ons
- Processing fees apply to every card payment
- Plus and Premium are charged per location
Square makes taking payments simple for small businesses. The free point-of-sale app handles sales, inventory, receipts and customer lists, and the newer Plus and Premium plans bundle advanced restaurant, retail and appointment tools into one monthly price per location. The hardware is easy to set up and pleasant to use. The trade-off is that every card sale carries a processing fee, and the best features sit behind paid plans.
Full Square review
Xero
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Bank reconciliation with auto-reconcile
- JAX AI assistant included at no extra cost
- Early plan limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills
- No discount for paying annually
- Support leans on AI and online help, not phone
Xero handles the core of small-business bookkeeping in the browser and on your phone: bank reconciliation, invoices, quotes, bills and expenses, with unlimited users. JAX, its AI assistant, answers questions about your numbers and checks the health of your books at no extra cost. US payroll now runs through Gusto inside Xero. The Early plan caps you at 20 invoices, and prices have climbed.
Full Xero review
