Square POS System Cost
Square is a popular point-of-sale provider with various price plans tailored to multiple business types.
This is why their POS pricing plans can quickly get confusing.
We are here to help clarify exactly what you can expect to pay for the plan that's right for you.
Continue reading for a full break down of Square's software price plans, packages, processing fees, and hardware costs.
Square Reader For Magstripe | Square Reader For Contactless & Chip | Square Terminal | Square Stand & Square Stand Mount | Square Register | Square POS Hardware Kits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | First reader free, additional readers $10 each | $49 | $299 or $27 monthly over a year | $149 or $14 monthly over a year | $799 or $39 monthly over 2 years | $299 to $1,389 |
Features | For swiped card payments, Compatible with Android & iOS devices, Offline mode, No charging needed | Chip card payments, Contactless payments, Apple Pay & Google Pay | Mobile POS device & credit card terminal, Accept swiped, chip & contactless payments, Offline mode | iPad-based POS system with integrated payment features, Stand Mount offers more placement options | All-in-one POS system with customer-facing display & integrated payments | 7 different kits available including restaurant & mobile POS bundles |
Square POS Pricing
How much does a Square POS system cost? Well, it all depends on the software plan you choose.
Square offer three tiers (free, plus, and premium), for each of their three types of businesses plans (restaurant, retail, and appointment) all of which come with a free Square Reader.
They boast no hidden fees, and you'll have the freedom to change your plan at anytime. Let's take look at the Square software fees.
Square POS Software Plans
Restaurant Pricing Plans
Square's Restaurant POS system will suit any restaurant operation from food trucks to fine dining establishments.
Plan | Restaurant Free | Restaurant Plus | Restaurant Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | $0 | $60 + $40 per additional countertop POS device | Custom pricing |
Payment Processing | Card present & invoice payments 2.6% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ | Card present & invoice payments 2.6% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ | Custom pricing (available if processing $250,000 plus annually) |
Loyalty Program | $45 monthly per location | $45 monthly per location | Custom pricing |
Marketing | $15 monthly per location | $15 monthly per location | Custom pricing |
Highlights | Team management tools, table & menu management features, unlimited locations & POS devices, weekday customer support 6am to 6pm | Advanced features & unlimited kitchen displays systems and handheld devices, 24/7 support | 24/7 support Any Square features available |
Free Plan
Ideal for small businesses such as coffee shops, pizza parlors, and hospitality services, to name a few, this plan has no monthly fees and plenty of useful features. You can start to process payments online through your new Square online store as soon as the Square account is set up and the software is downloaded. The free Square Reader is what you will use to accept payments in person.
This POS software can be used at an unlimited number of locations and on an unlimited number of countertop POS terminals. It has table and menu management tools, and select Square Team management features.
Square offers a great basic POS system for free, however reporting tools are limited and add-ons such as a kitchen display systems, Square Loyalty, Square Marketing, and Square Payroll will incur monthly fees. For this free plan, customer support is limited to weekdays only.
Plus Plan
Ideal for multi-location management and growing businesses, the Plus Plan includes advanced features and 24/7 customer support.
It starts with a monthly fee of $60 for a single POS terminal, and each additional terminal will cost $40 per month. Square offers a thirty-day free trial of the Plus Plan, helpful if you are on the fence about whether or not it will work for you.
The mobile POS system software is available on an unlimited number of devices and includes an unlimited number of kitchen display systems.
Other advanced features include table and floor plan customization tools, full reporting features, and the Square Team Management tool called Team Plus. Add-ons such as Square Marketing, Square Payroll, and Square Loyalty will cost you extra in monthly fees.
Premium Plan
This is Square's custom restaurant POS solution. You'll be able to use custom pricing for credit card processing, and advanced features such as Square Marketing, Square Payroll, and their loyalty program are all included.
Retail Pricing Plans
As one of the best POS systems for retail, Square's retail pricing plans are designed for both in-person and online store setups. Square For Retail will work excellently for a variety of retail businesses.
Plan | Retail Free | Retail Plus | Retail Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | $0 | $60 per location | Custom pricing |
Payment Processing | Card present & invoice payments 2.6% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ | Card present & invoice payments 2.5% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ | Custom pricing (available if processing $250,000 plus annually & have 10+ employees) |
Loyalty Program | $45 monthly (up to 500 loyalty visits) | $45 monthly (up to 500 loyalty visits) | Custom pricing |
Marketing | $15 monthly (up 500 customer contacts) | $15 monthly (up 500 customer contacts) | Custom pricing |
Highlights | Unlimited items & inventory management, online sales & checkout tools, e-gift cards | Advanced inventory management, reporting tools, & team management features. | Any Square features available |
Free Plan
With no monthly fee, the free Square point-of-sale software is a popular small business management tool. It is a great thrift store POS system, and gas station POS system, among countless other retail types.
The inventory management feature included in the free plan allows an unlimited number of products. You'll get a free basic Square Online Store where you can grow online sales, as well as payment processing features that will accept payments in a variety of ways, including credit cards and e-gift cards.
While you'll be able to build customer profiles, their loyalty programs have a monthly fee. Some employee management tools are included, but and reporting features are limited. Various add-ons such as payroll and marketing have additional monthly fees.
Plus Plan
The Square point-of-sale Plus Plan for retail businesses starts at $60 per month, per location and a free trial of the POS software that comes with this plan is available. This is one of the best POS solutions growing retail businesses who expect increasing sales volume.
It includes advanced retail tools for inventory management, reporting and analytics, and employee management, in addition to the features available in the free retail plan. It also has a virtual terminal and checkout to support online sales.
The optional add-ons that will cost extra per month include Square Marketing, payroll, physical gift cards, and loyalty programs.
Premium Plan
Identical to the restaurant POS price plans, Square for retail businesses offers fully custom Premium Plans with all-encompassing access to features and tools.
Premium Plans are charged by custom pricing and the way to get a quote for your specific operation is to contact Square directly.
Appointments Pricing Plans
These plans are ideal for the business management of salons, spas, and all other enterprises that require booking and scheduling.
Plan | Appointments Free | Appointments Plus | Appointments Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | $0 | $29 per location | $69 per location |
Payment Processing | Card present 2.6% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ Keyed-in/ on file 3.5% + 15¢ | Card present 2.5% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ Keyed-in/ on file 3.5% + 15¢ | Card present 2.5% + 10¢ Card not present 2.9% + 30¢ Keyed-in/ on file 3.5% + 15¢ |
Loyalty Program | $45 monthly | $45 monthly | Custom pricing |
Marketing | $15 monthly email marketing $10 monthly text message marketing | $15 monthly email marketing $10 monthly text message marketing | Custom pricing |
Highlights | Online booking, client management, reporting & full payment features, some employee & scheduling tools | Advanced scheduling features, write access for booking API integrations | Access to all Square Appointments features, e.g. advanced scheduling, client & employee management, integrations |
Free Plan
Square Appointments' free POS software comes with everything small businesses need in order to get up and running.
This plan is comprised of online booking, scheduling tools, employee management features, full access to client management, sufficient reporting tools and a full range of payment processing options including cash, card and digital wallet.
However, if you need Square's loyalty program, payroll, or marketing features, each of these come with an additional monthly charge.
Plus Plan
Square's Plus Plan costs $29 per month, per location. While it comes with the same features as the free plan, you'll also get more advanced scheduling tools and integration features.
Like with all of the Square POS system plans, add-ons are available for additional monthly fees.
Premium Plan
As one of the best salon POS systems, and nail salon POS systems, the Square Appointments Premium Plan starts from $69 per location and grants access to all of Square Appointments' features.
In addition to the features that come standard in the Plus Plan, you'll get the full employee management suite.
Square also offers a customized POS system where you can select each optional add-on that you desire, packaged together with custom pricing.
Square POS Hardware Costs
Square point-of-sale hardware is available individually or in bundles, plus they offer payment by installment if you're looking to keep upfront costs to a minimum.
From cash drawers to barcode scanners and accessories, Square has it all.
Card Readers
Square Reader For Magstripe
All the Square point-of-sale software price plans include a free Square Reader for Magstripe (additional devices are $10 each).
This free Square Reader lets you accept swiped card payments. Along with the free POS software available, a small business could easily get started for free!
The Square Reader is secure, doesn't need charging and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
On days that your internet unexpectedly drops out, you'll be able to keep accepting card payments due to its offline mode capabilities.
Square Reader for Contactless & Chip
The Square Reader for Contactless & Chip costs $49. With this device, you can take chip card (EMV) payments as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay contactless payments.
POS Terminals
Square Terminal
The Square Terminal is a mobile POS system costing $299 upfront with the option to pay in monthly installments. The Square dashboard is where you'll ring in sales, place orders, and take mobile payments. You'll be able to accept all the same payment methods the Square Reader.
Square Stand & Square Stand Mount
The Square Stand is a complete iPad-based point-of-sale solution that features payment integrations, rendering a separate card reader unnecessary. All business management activities can be performed on this this device which comes with a stylish stand that sits nicely on a countertop. The screen swivels to allow for customer payments.
The Square Stand Mount securely attaches the Square Stand terminal to a wall or counter. You can choose to pay $149 upfront or $14 per month for 12 months. The Square Stand and the Square Stand Mount both cost the same.
Square Register
The Square Register is another all-in-one point-of-sale system. Like the Square Stand, it features integrated payments as well as the Square dashboard, but it also features a permanent customer-facing display. This speeds up the check out process and also prevents order errors.
The Square Register costs $799 upfront or $39 per month for 24 months.
Square POS Hardware Kits
Square offers seven different POS hardware kits ranging in price from $299 for a mobile restaurant POS systems to $1,389 for the Square Register kit that includes cash drawers and receipt printers.
Square Transaction Fees
Premium Plans
The transaction fees for every Square Premium Plan is based on custom pricing by quotation. There are some conditions, however, such as processing over $250,000 annually.
Free and Plus Plans
Card Present
In person payments, when the customer's card is swiped or tapped in-store, have the lowest transaction fees of 2.5% to 2.6% plus 10¢ per transaction
Card Not Present
Online payments taken through your online store have higher transaction fees of 2.9% plus 30¢ per transaction.
Keyed-in
If you manually input credit card information or use card details that are saved on file, transaction fees are 3.5% plus 15¢ per transaction
Afterpay
The Square Afterpay feature lets customers pay in installments while you get paid straightaway. This applies to both in-person and online purchases, and these have the highest payment processing fees of 6% plus 30¢ per transaction.
Alternatives To Square POS
eHopper
eHopper is an attractive option for small businesses because, like Square, it has free point-of-sale software for retail shops and restaurants and a free e-Commerce website. The biggest difference between these two providers is that you will pay 0% credit card processing fees. Instead, eHopper uses a cash discount program which means credit card fees get passed to the customer.
Their complete POS hardware bundles are priced between $399 to $1,299. eHopper also has individual hardware items for purchase, so you can simply pick up an extra cash drawer if you need to.
One of the drawbacks to eHopper's free point-of-sale plan is that you'll be limited to a single POS terminal, three hundred transactions per month, and only fifty products. While this is not a scalable option by any means, it will work great if your business is small and you're looking to keep costs down. When sales advance, eHopper makes it simple and easy to upgrade your plan.
TouchBistro
TouchBistro POS systems start at $69 per month.
This brand is a restaurant POS specialist. They provide helpful POS software and POS hardware designed just for eateries.
These include advanced menu and table management, inventory management, kitchen display systems, and self-service kiosks.
TouchBistro runs off of iPad and has a full range of hardware, including devices similar to the Square Register.
They also offer various hardware kits which can include cash drawers and printers.
Our TouchBistro POS reviews guide explains this system in further detail.
Tim Postlethwaite
Contributing Author
