Square

4/5 stars

A POS, payment processor, and CRM all-in-one for a wide range of businesses.

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Pros

Easy to start and scale
All-in-one toolkit
Flexible pricing options
Multiple ways to accept payments without hardware
Fast access to funds

Cons

Flat-rate processing can get expensive at scale
Paid tiers are per location
Advanced workflows may require add-ons

The Bottom Line

Square is a great option for retail and service-based businesses that need flexibility and efficiency.

This page may contain affiliate links. Our assessments are grounded solely in the product’s merits and performance.

Plans & Pricing

Square Free

$0/per month

Processing fees: 2.6% + 15¢ (Tap, dip or swipe) or 3.3% + 30¢ (Online)
POS app for any payment
Online site
Item library
Invoicing & Booking

Square Plus

$49/per month

Processing fees: 2.5% + 15¢ (Tap, dip or swipe) or 2.9% + 30¢ (Online)
Everything in Free, plus:
Lower processing fees
Loyalty rewards program
Email/Text marketing

Square Premium

$149/per month

Processing fees: 2.4% + 15¢ (Tap, dip or swipe) or 2.9% + 30¢ (Online)
Everything in Plus, plus:
24/7 priority support
Advanced reporting
Lowest processing fees
No gift card load fees

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Continue on Square website

Pricing information is retrieved from publicly accessible pricing materials. The actual cost may vary based on specific plans chosen. Always check directly with the seller for the final quote.

Pricing information last updated January 5, 2026.

Ask Haystack AI

Find out if Square is right for your business.

Product Review

Square Point of Sale (POS) continues to be one of the most complete and flexible POS ecosystems for small-to-mid-sized businesses. It’s built for modern selling: in-person, online, invoicing, and even mobile-first setups. Square’s biggest strength is that it feels like a payments company first—and everything else (POS, customer directory, analytics, marketing, and banking tools) flows naturally from that foundation.

Square remains especially strong for businesses that want to:

Accept payments quickly without lengthy underwriting
Run simple-to-moderately complex operations
Expand from “one register” into online ordering, invoicing, and customer retention tools without switching platforms

Square’s edge is still its “build-your-own stack” approach—start free, then layer in premium capabilities only when you need them. You can run a full operation off Square’s core platform, and upgrade to Plus or Premium when you want more automation, deeper reporting, or lower processing rates.

It also stands out because Square gives businesses multiple hardware-optional ways to take payments (invoicing, payment links, virtual terminal, tap-to-pay), while still offering a mature hardware ecosystem when needed.

Why We Love It

Square continues to earn its spot because it’s not just a POS—it’s an operating system for small business. These features especially stand out:

Fast and flexible payment options: Card-present, online, invoice payments, ACH, and BNPL through Afterpay give businesses flexibility without extra integrations.
Built-in marketing + customer retention tools: Square’s marketing and loyalty ecosystem makes it easy to drive repeat business without pulling data into another CRM.
Scalable plan structure: you can stay on a $0 plan, then step up to Plus or Premium (per location) as you expand.
Real-world operational add-ons: KDS and kiosk options help Square support more advanced restaurant and counter-service setups when needed.

In short: Square is still one of the best choices for businesses that value speed, simplicity, and an ecosystem that grows with them, without forcing an upfront commitment.