Square Review
Verdict: Square earns 4.5/5 from 12,600 reviews, ranking #1 of 5 POS systems we track. It suits Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs best. Great for in-person is its standout strength, while less developer-flexible is the main trade-off to weigh.
Our take on Square
Square shines for businesses selling both online and in person, with free POS hardware/software, flat fees, and an all-in-one ecosystem for retail and food.
Key features
- In-person & online payments
- Free POS software
- Flat-rate fees
- Invoicing
- Hardware ecosystem
Pros & cons
Pros
- Great for in-person
- Transparent flat fees
- Free POS
Cons
- Less developer-flexible
- Funds holds for new accounts
Who Square is for
A good fit if…
- • You are retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
- • Your use case is brick-and-mortar + online.
- • Your use case is restaurants.
- • Your use case is pop-ups.
- • Great for in-person matters to you.
Look elsewhere if…
- • Less developer-flexible would be a dealbreaker.
- • Funds holds for new accounts would be a dealbreaker.
Square pricing
Full pricing breakdown →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| OnlinePopular | Custom | — |
How Square compares
| Measure | Square | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting price | Free | $89/mo |
| Rank by rating | #1 of 5 | — |
| Public API | Yes | 4 of 4 offer one |
Integrations
Alternatives to consider
All Square alternatives →
Bottom line on Square
4.5/5 · Freemium · best for Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs
Frequently asked questions
Is Square worth it?+
Square is rated 4.5/5 across 12,600 reviews and is best suited to Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs. Great for in-person is the standout strength; the main trade-off is less developer-flexible.
What do users like most about Square?+
Great for in-person, Transparent flat fees, Free POS.
What are the downsides of Square?+
Less developer-flexible, Funds holds for new accounts. Whether these matter depends on your use case — see who it is and isn't for above.
How much does Square cost?+
Square offers a free plan.
How does Square compare with other POS systems?+
Among the 5 POS systems we track, Square ranks #1 by rating (4.5/5 vs a 4.3/5 category average).
What is Square best used for?+
Brick-and-mortar + online, Restaurants, Pop-ups.