10 Best Square Alternatives Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 21 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Running an ecommerce business comes with unique challenges. Maybe your current POS system isn't meeting your needs. You might be facing high transaction fees, limited customization, or a lack of specific features. I get it—finding the right tools and the right payment processor is tough. You need a system that aligns with your business model and a pricing model that agrees with your budget.
In this listicle, I'll explore the top alternatives to Square, highlighting each one's strengths and potential drawbacks. My goal is to arm you with insights to make an informed choice. Let's find the perfect POS fit for you and your team.
What Is Square?
Square is a payment processor that offers various point-of-sale (POS) systems to enable businesses to process and accept payments. It's commonly used by small business owners, retail shops, and service providers who need a straightforward way to process payments. Its mobile payment options, inventory management, and easy-to-use interface help you handle transactions efficiently and keep track of your stock. Overall, Square is considered to be a convenient and popular solution for managing most small businesses' payment needs.
Why Look For a Square Alternative?
While Square is popular for its flat-rate transaction fees and its popularized point-of-sale (POS) payment terminals, there are several reasons why some users seek out alternative solutions. For example, you might be looking for a Square alternative because…
- You need advanced inventory management
- Your team requires 24/7 customer support
- You are a business in a “high-risk” industry
- You're facing transaction limits
- You need integration with specific software
- You need advanced features
- You want lower processing fees
If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several payment processors that are better suited for teams facing these challenges with Square and looking for alternative solutions.
Best Square Alternatives Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top Square alternative selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shopify Shopify streamlines online payments with integrated ecommerce solutions. | Best for integrated ecommerce and payment processing | 3-day free trial | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website |
2 | Stripe Stripe offers an efficient, developer-friendly solution for online and mobile payments. | Best for developer-friendly payment integration | Free trial available | From 2.9% + 0.30/transaction | Website |
3 | Lightspeed Lightspeed delivers POS solutions tailored for retail and restaurant businesses. | Best for retail and restaurant-specific features | 14-day free trial | From $59/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
4 | Rotessa Rotessa simplifies recurring payments and billing for subscription businesses. | Best for recurring billing management | Free demo available | From $19/month (1-10 transactions) | Website |
5 | Stax Payments Stax Payments focuses on transparent, subscription-based payment processing. | Best all-in-one business platform with subscription pricing | Free demo available | From $99/month (billed annually) | Website |
6 | PayPal PayPal is a great option for international transactions and digital wallet services. | Best for international transactions and digital wallet services | Free plan available | From 2.9% + $0.49 per transaction | Website |
7 | Global Payments Global Payments offers global payment processing solutions. | Best for global payment processing solutions | Free consultation available | Pricing upon request | Website |
8 | Moneris Moneris provides extensive payment processing solutions for both in-store and online. | Best for large-scale Canadian businesses | Free demo available | Pricing available upon request | Website |
9 | Clearly Payments Clearly Payments offers both subscription and interchange pricing with tailored plans. | Best for scalable and flexible pricing models | Not available | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
10 | SumUp SumUp simplifies card processing with low-cost, portable terminals. | Best for low-cost mobile payment solutions | Free product demo available | From 3.25% plus $0.15 per transaction | Website |
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Best Square Alternatives Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best Square alternatives that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one.
Shopify is an ecommerce platform that helps businesses build and manage online stores. It offers a suite of tools for payment processing, order management, and marketing, all in one platform.
Why Shopify is a Good Square Alternative: Shopify allows you to handle both ecommerce and payment processing in one place. You can set up an online store quickly and start selling right away. It offers integrated payment solutions that work smoothly with your store. Plus, Shopify provides customizable features, so you can customize your store to fit your needs.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a customizable online store builder that lets you create a shop to match your brand. Shopify also offers built-in tools for inventory management, so you can track stock levels across multiple sales channels. With its flexible payment options, you can accept payments in many ways, making it easy for your customers.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Xero, PayPal, Amazon, Google Analytics, Facebook, Instagram, Zapier and Google Ads.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable themes and designs
- Wide range of payment methods
- Easy setup and store creation
Cons:
- Slight learning curve for new users
- Can get expensive with add-ons
Stripe is a payment processing platform designed for online businesses, developers, and startups. It offers a quick and user-friendly online checkout and various tools to accept payments, manage subscriptions, and handle complex transactions with its API-first approach.
Why Stripe is a Good Square Alternative: Stripe has long been considered a Square competitor because it gives developers a more flexible, customizable payment solution than Square, especially for those with technical expertise. Its APIs allow for deep integration into your website or app, letting you customize the payment experience for accepting credit card payments and processing online ordering. Unlike Square, Stripe supports a wider range of advanced features like recurring billing, a customer loyalty program, and subscription management. If your business requires unique payment workflows or automation, Stripe offers more control and scalability.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include flexible payment gateway options, a suite of tools such as recurring billing, payment links, and invoicing, and an extensive reporting dashboard. You can easily customize your payment forms. Stripe also supports international transactions, making it a great option if you run a global business.
Integrations include PayPal, QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, Salesforce, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive API documentation
- Easy integration with custom applications
- Supports international payments
Cons:
- Complex setup for non-developers
- Not beginner-friendly
Lightspeed is a point-of-sale (POS) system specifically designed for retail and restaurant businesses. It offers features tailored to managing sales, inventory, and customer interactions in these industries.
Why Lightspeed is a Good Square Alternative: Lightspeed’s retail and restaurant-specific tools set it apart from general-purpose POS systems. It provides advanced inventory management, allowing you to track stock levels and set alerts for low inventory. In addition, Lightspeed offers specialized restaurant management features like table tracking, menu customization, and employee scheduling. Whether you’re in retail or food service, these tailored features can help you run your business more efficiently.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include custom receipt templates, an advanced employee management system, and multi-store management. You can personalize receipts to match your brand’s look and feel, while the employee management system lets you track hours and set permissions. With multi-store management, you can easily oversee inventory and sales across several locations.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, Mailchimp, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce, Vend, Square, and Amazon.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed reporting for performance insights
- Customizable receipt templates for branding
- Strong multi-location management
Cons:
- High monthly fees compared to other options
- May be too complex for small businesses
Rotessa is a payment processor that is particularly good at helping businesses manage recurring payments and subscriptions. It’s useful for organizations that need a simple, reliable way to handle automated billing.
Why Rotessa is a Good Square Alternative: Rotessa is ideal if your team focuses on recurring billing. It makes it easy to set up automatic payments, reducing manual invoicing and improving cash flow consistency. You can manage different billing cycles and payment amounts with minimal effort. Whether you have weekly, monthly, or custom billing intervals, Rotessa ensures everything runs smoothly and on time.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include automatic billing cycles, flexible payment schedules, and simple reporting tools. You can set up customized intervals for payments, making sure the system fits your business needs. The tool offers an easy-to-read dashboard to track payment statuses and revenue. Notably, Rotessa requires no minimum spend and no setup or cancellation fee which is quite common for payment processors to charge and another way for them to trap you in a contract. Instead of a per-transaction fee like Square, Rotessa charges a flat subscription fee for a set number of transactions.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated payment reminders for customers
- Custom billing intervals and amounts
- Ideal for subscription-based businesses
Cons:
- Doesn’t support one-time payments
- Limited to recurring billing use cases
Stax Payments is a payment processing platform designed for businesses of all sizes, especially those focused on subscription-based models. It offers transparent pricing and simplifies payment acceptance for both online and in-person transactions.
Why Stax Payments is a Good Square Alternative: With Stax Payments, you get clear, subscription-based pricing with no hidden fees, making it easy to manage your costs. Flat-rate, scalable, and tool-rich, it is great for businesses that prioritize predictable costs and comprehensive features. It includes features like customizable invoicing and recurring billing. You’ll also find advanced reporting tools that help you track payments and optimize revenue. This focus on subscription pricing sets Stax Payments apart from Square by offering more all-in-one tools and consistent savings as you scale.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include subscription-based pricing with no hidden fees, customizable invoicing options, and flexible recurring billing management. You can easily set up automatic payments for your customers, saving you time and effort. The platform also offers detailed reporting to track transactions and analyze payment patterns.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Stripe, and PayPal.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable invoicing options
- Flexible recurring billing management
- Subscription-based pricing with no hidden fees
Cons:
- Less suited to businesses processing under $100k/year
- Pricing may be high for small businesses
PayPal is an online payment platform used by businesses and consumers worldwide for secure transactions. It offers digital wallet services, allowing users to send, receive, and store money in various currencies.
Why PayPal is a Good Square Alternative: PayPal is ideal for businesses that need to process international payments. It supports over 100 currencies, making it easy for you to reach customers across the globe. You can also use PayPal as a digital wallet, letting customers store funds and make purchases directly from their account. With its extensive buyer protection and secure payment systems, it’s a trusted choice for both merchants and consumers. If you run a physical store or need a POS system that integrates with your PayPal account for in-person sales then PayPal Zettle (previously known as iZettle) may also be a good solution for you.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include support for international transactions, allowing you to accept payments in over 100 currencies. PayPal also offers recurring billing, which helps your team manage subscription-based services easily. You can link your bank accounts and cards for quick transfers for easy fund management directly from your PayPal account.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, Square, and Adobe Commerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Offers buyer and seller protection
- Easily integrates with ecommerce platforms
- Supports over 100 currencies
Cons:
- Limited customer service support
- Transaction fees can add up
Global Payments is a payment processing platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It enables merchants to accept payments through multiple channels, including online, in-store, and mobile.
Why Global Payments is a Good Square Alternative: Global Payments offers a diverse range of international payment solutions, making it ideal for businesses operating across borders. You can easily process payments in multiple currencies. The platform also supports various payment methods, including credit cards, ACH, and digital wallets. This flexibility ensures that you can meet the needs of customers worldwide and save on transaction fees through inexpensive payment methods such as ACH.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include easy international payment processing, multiple currency support, and mobile payment options. With Global Payments, you can accept payments from around the world, which is perfect for businesses expanding globally. You’ll also get access to fraud protection tools and customizable payment solutions, making it easier to meet your unique needs.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, Adobe Commerce, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Square, Stripe, and PayPal.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fraud protection tools
- Multiple currency options
- Global payment support
Cons:
- Not ideal for very small businesses
- Higher fees for certain transactions
Moneris is a payment processing solution designed for businesses in Canada, offering services that handle online, in-person, and mobile payments. It serves a wide range of industries, with a focus on providing enterprise-level solutions.
Why Moneris is a Good Square Alternative: Heartland operates as a traditional payment processor with a strong focus on personalized customer service and advanced security. It’s tailored for small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S., offering competitive pricing, robust fraud protection, and support for various industries. Heartland stands out with its fluid integrations, payroll services, and focus on PCI compliance, making it an excellent choice for growing businesses that need more than just basic payment solutions.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include flexible payment processing for in-person, online, and mobile transactions. Heartland offers advanced fraud protection, real-time sales reporting, and tools for managing payroll and employee benefits.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Clover, Lightspeed, WooCommerce, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integration with payroll and benefits tools
- Advanced fraud protection and PCI compliance
- Tailored solutions for SMBs
Cons:
- May have additional fees for some features
- Not as cost-effective for very small businesses
Clearly Payments is a payment processing solution focused on providing transparent, straightforward pricing for businesses. It primarily serves small and medium-sized businesses looking for clear, no-surprise processing fees.
Why Clearly Payments is a Good Square Alternative: Clearly Payments offers a fully transparent pricing model, so you know exactly what you're paying with no hidden fees. Clearly Payments differentiates itself through its pricing model by not just offering both subscription and interchange pricing models but tailoring them specifically to a business's needs. While many providers may support either cost-plus or subscription pricing, they often lack the flexibility to offer both seamlessly or optimize the choice based on business size, volume, or operational goals.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include flexible pricing models, various payment methods and tools for both online and in-person payments, a local Canadian focus, and support for high-risk industries such as cannabis. With quick fund deposits into your merchant account and freedom from long-term contracts, this payment processor stands out from many other payment processors. They also provide detailed transaction reports and access to 24/7 customer support, ensuring transparency and help when you need it.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, and BigCommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports multiple payment methods
- Easy-to-understand transaction reports
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Cons:
- Lacks some niche integrations
- Limited advanced features for large businesses
SumUp is a mobile payment solution designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need an affordable way to accept payments on the go. It helps you process credit card transactions with a simple, low-cost setup.
Why SumUp is a Good Square Alternative: SumUp offers a straightforward pricing model with no monthly fees or admin fees, making it an ideal option for businesses looking to minimize their payment processing costs. You can accept payments with a mobile card reader that connects to your smartphone. The device is compact and easy to use, so you don’t need any special equipment. SumUp also provides a user-friendly app that lets you track sales and manage payments on the go.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a simple, transparent pricing model with no monthly fees, allowing you to only pay for what you use. They also offer subscription plans with volume-based discounts for businesses processing over $3400 a month. The card reader works with both chip and contactless payments, offering flexibility for different customer preferences. SumUp also supports quick access to transaction history and payment tracking through its easy-to-use mobile app.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Square.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Works with any smartphone
- No monthly subscription or long-term contracts
- Low transaction fees
Cons:
- Doesn’t integrate with all POS systems
- Doesn’t support recurring billing
Other Square Alternatives
Here are some additional Square alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Clover
For customizable point-of-sale systems
- Payment Depot
For affordable subscription pricing
- Helcim
For volume-based discounts on interchange plus pricing
- Paystand
For blockchain payments
- Chase Payments
For large enterprises
- Costco
For exclusive pricing for Costco members
- Elavon
For reliable payment processing with a strong global presence
- Finix
For payment infrastructure
- Adyen
For advanced fraud protection tools
- Fiserve Merchant Services
For scalable enterprise solutions
- QuickBooks Payments
For QuickBooks users
Square Alternatives Selection Criteria
When selecting the best Square alternatives to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points related to point-of-sale (POS) system products, like transaction fees and integration capabilities. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Process payments
- Track sales
- Manage inventory
- Generate reports
- Support multiple payment methods
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Advanced analytics and insights
- Customizable user interface
- Integrated loyalty programs
- Multi-language support
- Offline transaction capabilities
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface
- Easy navigation
- Responsive design
- Customizable settings
- Clear user instructions
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to webinars
- Use of chatbots for assistance
- Availability of setup templates
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 availability
- Multiple support channels
- Response time
- Access to a knowledge base
- Personalized support options
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Transparent fee structure
- Features included in the base plan
- Discounts for long-term use
- Return on investment
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Commonly reported issues
- Feedback on reliability
- Opinions on customer service
- Comments on ease of use
Features to Look for in a Square Alternative
When considering alternatives to Square, it's essential to prioritize tools that match its core functionalities while offering enhancements to support your business growth. Here's what to look for:
- Versatile Payment Processing: Ensure the alternative offers in-person or online sales and respective POS software and equipment such as a credit card reader or an online checkout. The processor should accept a wide range of payment types, such as credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets, and QR code payments. Look for credit card processors with competitive processing rates and robust protection against chargebacks and fraud.
- Advanced Inventory Management: Opt for systems that track stock levels in real-time across multiple sales channels, with additional features like low-stock alerts and automated reordering.
- Comprehensive Sales Reporting: Seek platforms with in-depth analytics that go beyond basic reports, offering customizable dashboards and actionable insights into trends and profitability.
- Integrated CRM Tools: Choose solutions with customer directory functionality, enabling you to store customer data, segment audiences, and create personalized marketing campaigns for online sales and sales retargeting.
- Flexible Employee Management: Look for tools that provide advanced scheduling, permissions, and time tracking to improve team organization.
- Customizable Invoicing: Alternatives should allow for professional, branded invoices with options for recurring billing and automated payment reminders.
- Gift Card and Loyalty Programs: Beyond just gift cards, consider platforms that include built-in loyalty programs to boost customer retention.
- Offline Payment Capabilities: Ensure the system supports offline transactions so sales can continue uninterrupted during internet outages.
- ECommerce and Marketplace Integration: Prioritize platforms that seamlessly sync with your online store and popular solutions like Shopify POS, keeping inventory and sales data consistent.
- Flexible Receipt Options: Look for software offering both digital and printed receipt options, with added features like customizable branding or eco-friendly receipt choices.
- Refunds and Dispute Management: Ensure streamlined handling of refunds and chargebacks, with clear reporting and resolution tools.
- Cloud-Based Access: Choose a cloud-based POS system that offers real-time data syncing, multi-device support (like Android and iOS compatibility), and remote management capabilities.
By evaluating Square alternatives with these features, you can find a solution that meets your current needs while providing additional tools for scaling your operations. Some alternatives may even specialize in areas like lower payment processing fees, better retail POS features, or deeper integrations.
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