Square — Point-of-sale hardware and commerce software for retail, restaurants, and appointments
Square helps in-person and online businesses accept credit card payments, run POS registers, manage inventory, and handle payroll.
About Square
Square (Block Inc) transformed in-person commerce by turning mobile devices into payment terminals with its iconic square reader. Today, Square offers an end-to-end commerce ecosystem including Square POS, Square Terminal, kitchen display systems, appointments scheduling, and online storefronts.
Key features
- Hardware POS Terminals & Registers — Sleek contactless card readers, iPad stands, and standalone POS registers.
- Square POS Software Suite — Track real-time inventory, modify item menus, and view daily sales summaries.
- Unified In-Person & Online Sales — Sync store inventory automatically between physical registers and online stores.
Pricing
Pricing model: Freemium.
- Free POS Software — $0 — Zero monthly software fees, 2.6% + 10¢ in-person card fee, Free magstripe card reader
- Square for Restaurants Plus — $60 / month — Advanced table management, Kitchen display system, Live sales reports
- Square for Retail Plus — $60 / month — Barcode scanning & printing, Purchase orders, Multi-location inventory
Pros
- Zero monthly subscription fee required to accept in-person card payments
- Hardware is beautifully designed and highly durable in busy hospitality settings
- Instant transfer to bank account available 24/7
Cons
- Manual key-in card fees are higher (3.5% + 15¢)
- Not optimized for complex international cross-border SaaS billing like Stripe
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web, Square Hardware