The best Square competitors offer similar core capabilities and have competitive in-person or online processing rates. A handful of these point-of-sale (POS) systems come with free software plans, like Square does, while others focus on paid subscriptions with industry-specific features. If you’d like to learn more about Square’s strengths and downsides, check out NerdWallet’s Square POS review.
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Here are our picks for the best Square competitors and why you might choose them.
Sponsored partner picksfor
Our pick for
E-commerce platform integration
Shopify is made specifically for retail operations with a strong online presence. Square’s retail POS plans include an e-commerce site, but Shopify’s e-commerce platform offers significantly more online themes and customization options.
Shopify Retail POS
4.5
NerdWallet rating
on Shopify POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$39.00
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Shopify POS syncs directly with the Shopify e-commerce platform. However, Shopify does not offer free POS software, and the platform is retail-focused.Read full review
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.
Read full review
Our pick for
Full-service restaurants
Square has its own set of POS plans for restaurants, but Toast takes those capabilities a step further with advanced reporting add-ons and 24/7 phone support for all merchants. You can also opt for higher processing rates to cover hardware costs instead of paying upfront or through a monthly payment plan.
Toast POS
4.0
NerdWallet rating
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
Every element of Toast's POS system is designed in a restaurant-first way. Hardware options are made to withstand spills, grease and heat. These include self-serve kiosks, kitchen display systems, handheld POS systems and guest displays that let customers view orders. Its free plan also offers 24/7 support via email, live chat and phone, just like its higher-tier plans do.Read full review
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 support via web messaging.
- 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 is considered an add-on for all plans.
Read full review
Our pick for
Industry-specific plans
Square’s restaurant plan can be a good fit for a variety of restaurant types, but Clover breaks its options down more granularly with separate plans for quick-service and full-service restaurants. Its full-service plans are more expensive than its quick-service ones and offer additional features, like table mapping.
Clover POS
4.0
NerdWallet rating
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Similar to Square, Clover offers different POS software plans depending on your business’s industry, whether it’s full-service dining, quick-service dining, retail, personal services or professional services. Clover’s hardware can be pricey, but its in-person processing rates are reasonable.
Read full review
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges termination fees, though they may be waived in certain cases.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Popular accounting integrations are only available through third-party apps.
Read full review
Our pick for
Tailored interchange-plus rates
The biggest difference between Square and Payment Depot is their pricing models. Square charges a flat rate, while Payment Depot uses interchange-plus pricing, which allows for more flexibility and passes interchange savings to the merchant.
Payment Depot
4.5
NerdWallet rating
on Payment Depot's secure website
Payment processing fees
0.2% + $0.00
to 1.95%, plus interchange.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Payment Depot is a payment processor owned by Stax, a membership-style payment processing platform. But as opposed to offering monthly subscription pricing like Stax, it uses an interchange-plus pricing model and charges no monthly fee. The margin Payment Depot charges on top of interchange varies, so businesses must reach out directly for specifics.Read full review
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- No cancellation fees.
- Compatible with several POS hardware providers, including Clover.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Markups vary by business
- Website doesn’t disclose hardware pricing.
Read full review
Our pick for
Inventory management
Lightspeed Retail has more advanced inventory management features than Square, like the ability to sync product details from popular business-to-business supplier catalogs so you don’t have to manually enter that information yourself. Advanced reports include “dusty inventory,” which helps you identify products that aren’t selling and may need to be discounted.
Lightspeed Retail POS
3.5
NerdWallet rating
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$109.00
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based POS system for retailers. It has strong inventory management capabilities and is a good match for more established small businesses with multiple locations. Newer small businesses with less complicated operations could be better served with a simpler, less expensive product.Read full review
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- Free one-on-one onboarding session for all new merchants.
- 24/7 phone and live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include e-commerce features.
- Charges termination fee and may require annual contract.
- Does not include a virtual terminal or offline mode.
Read full review
Our pick for
Touchscreen card reader
SumUp has the same in-person processing rates as Square (2.6% plus 10 cents) but offers alternative hardware options, like a small touchscreen card reader for taking mobile payments. This is ideal for businesses that process transactions on the go and want to print receipts or display customers’ total purchase amounts.
SumUp
4.5
NerdWallet rating
on SumUp's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
With a free monthly plan and no contract, SumUp is a good solution for business owners who want to level up their mobile sales setup. Its touchscreen card reader gives customers tipping options, has an eight-hour-long battery life and prints receipts.
Read full review
Pros
- Low cost.
- No contract.
- No monthly fee.
Cons
- Software has limited features.
- POS software plans are expensive.
Read full review
Our pick for
Mobile POS app
Both Square and PayPal Zettle have free mobile apps for accepting payments on the go, whether you’re at a pop-up or farmers market. PayPal Zettle’s in-person transaction rates, however, are a bit lower, making it a reasonable alternative if you just need the basics.
PayPal Zettle
4.0
NerdWallet rating
Monthly fee
$0.00
PayPal Zettle delivers the essentials at a relatively low cost with a small commitment. Its $29 card reader, low in-person transaction fee and free mobile POS app make it an especially solid choice for business owners who complete most sales using a smartphone. But consider other options if you want features like customer loyalty and email marketing programs. Although Zettle can expand through hardware, it doesn’t offer plan upgrades or those types of add-ons.
Read full review
Pros
- No monthly software fees for accepting in-person payments.
- 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.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Read full review
Our picks for the best Square competitors
PayPal Zettle: 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 Zettle review.
» MORE: See our full rundown of PayPal's fees
$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.
$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).
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).
» MORE: Square vs. PayPal: Which is right for your business?
SumUp: Best for touchscreen card reader
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.
$0.
$54 for SumUp Plus card reader.
$64 for SumUp Plus cradle bundle.
$99 for SumUp Solo touchscreen.
$169 for SumUp Solo Printer Bundle.
SumUp POS bundle 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.
» MORE: SumUp vs. Square: Which is right for your business?
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).
$299 for Shopify POS Go mobile device.
$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.
» MORE: Square vs. Shopify: Which is right for your business?
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.
$799.20 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
$1,024.20 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
$1,339.20 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.
» MORE: Toast vs. Square: Which is right for your business?
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 Payments, Retail Starter and Personal Services Starter plans.
$14.95 for Clover Go Essentials, 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.
$59.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
$69.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
$79.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
$89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
$109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
$129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
$49 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
$279 for countertop card reader.
$599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with printer.
$799 for Clover Mini POS.
$799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
$1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
$1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
$3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans, though rates may also vary by hardware type.
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.
» MORE: Clover vs. Square: Which is right for your business?
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).
$289 for Plus plan ($239 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 stand or swivel stand.
$299 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, especially 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, for example, make sure your POS system allows you to offer customers preset tipping options. And don’t hesitate to contact to the provider for a demo so that you can test out the user interface.
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.
» MORE: How much are credit card processing fees?
Hardware options
Square has a solid variety of POS hardware options, including handheld terminals, countertop registers with cash drawers and mobile card readers. Its software is also compatible with iPads. Make sure competitors offer the hardware options that best fit your needs and that they’re compatible with third-party accessories you already own.
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