Summarize this article with:
Square transformed how small businesses accept payments, but it’s not the only player in the mobile payment processing game. Thousands of merchants now seek apps like Square that offer better rates, specialized features, or industry-specific tools.
The point of sale software market exploded with alternatives targeting different business needs. Some focus on restaurant operations with kitchen display systems. Others excel at inventory management or integrate seamlessly with accounting platforms like QuickBooks.
Finding the right payment processor affects your bottom line daily through transaction fees, hardware costs, and operational efficiency.
This guide examines nine proven Square alternatives, comparing their:
- Core payment processing capabilities
- Unique features and specializations
- Pricing models and fee structures
- Best-fit business types
Whether you run a retail store, restaurant, or service business, you’ll discover which payment solution matches your specific operational needs and growth plans.
Apps Like Square
QuickBooks POS
Core Functionality: Point of sale system that processes payments while automatically syncing transaction data with QuickBooks accounting software.
How It’s Like Square: QuickBooks POS accepts credit cards, tracks inventory, and generates sales reports just like Square. Both platforms offer mobile card readers for small businesses.
Key Features:
- Automatic QuickBooks integration
- Inventory tracking with low-stock alerts
- Sales reporting and analytics
- Multi-location management
- Employee time tracking
Unique Angle: Direct integration with QuickBooks eliminates manual data entry between sales and accounting systems.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($25-$200/month)
Ideal For: Small businesses already using QuickBooks for accounting
QuickBooks POS removes the friction between sales and bookkeeping that many Square users face. Transactions automatically appear in QuickBooks, eliminating double data entry and reducing accounting errors. This makes it particularly valuable for businesses with complex inventory or those needing detailed financial reporting beyond Square’s basic analytics.
PayPal Here
Core Functionality: Mobile payment processing app that turns smartphones and tablets into card readers for in-person transactions.
How It’s Like Square: PayPal Here processes chip cards, contactless payments, and manual card entry similar to Square’s mobile reader system.
Key Features:
- Chip and contactless payment acceptance
- Invoice creation and sending
- PayPal account integration
- Keyed-in transactions for phone orders
- Receipt printing via Bluetooth
Unique Angle: Instant access to funds through existing PayPal accounts without waiting for bank transfers.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android
Pricing Model: Pay-per-transaction (2.7% for swiped cards)
Ideal For: Businesses with existing PayPal customer base or those needing immediate fund access
PayPal Here works well for businesses already embedded in PayPal’s ecosystem. Unlike Square’s 1-2 day settlement, funds appear instantly in PayPal accounts. This speed advantage makes it attractive for small vendors, food trucks, or service providers who need immediate access to their earnings.
Lightspeed POS
Core Functionality: Cloud-based point of sale system designed for retail stores and restaurants with advanced inventory management capabilities.
How It’s Like Square: Lightspeed processes payments, tracks sales, and manages inventory like Square, but with more sophisticated reporting tools.
Key Features:
- Advanced inventory analytics
- Multi-location synchronization
- Customer relationship management
- Supplier ordering integration
- Customizable checkout workflows
Unique Angle: Industry-specific versions optimized for retail versus restaurant operations with specialized features.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($69-$229/month)
Ideal For: Growing businesses with complex inventory needs or multiple locations
Lightspeed appeals to businesses outgrowing Square’s simpler feature set. Its advanced inventory analytics help retailers optimize stock levels and identify top-performing products. The platform’s industry-specific versions address specialized needs that Square’s one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t handle as well.
Toast POS
Core Functionality: Restaurant-focused point of sale system with integrated online ordering, kitchen display systems, and staff management tools.
How It’s Like Square: Toast processes payments and tracks sales like Square, but adds restaurant-specific features like table management and kitchen workflows.
Key Features:
- Kitchen display integration
- Online ordering and delivery
- Table and reservation management
- Staff scheduling and payroll
- Menu engineering analytics
Unique Angle: Built specifically for restaurants with features like split checks, modifier tracking, and kitchen timing.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($75-$165/month per location)
Ideal For: Restaurants, cafes, and food service businesses
Toast addresses restaurant pain points that Square’s general-purpose design doesn’t solve. Kitchen display systems eliminate paper tickets, while table management features handle reservations and wait times. These specialized tools make Toast more suitable for full-service restaurants than Square’s basic offerings.
Clover POS
Core Functionality: Modular point of sale platform with swappable hardware components and an extensive third-party app marketplace.
How It’s Like Square: Clover accepts payments, manages inventory, and processes transactions like Square, but offers more hardware flexibility.
Key Features:
- Modular hardware ecosystem
- Third-party app marketplace
- Employee management tools
- Customer engagement features
- Advanced reporting suite
Unique Angle: Hardware modularity lets businesses customize their setup with different screen sizes, printers, and accessories.
Platform Availability: Proprietary Android-based hardware, iOS, Android apps
Pricing Model: Subscription ($14.95-$114.85/month)
Ideal For: Businesses wanting customized hardware configurations
Clover’s modular approach appeals to businesses with specific hardware needs. Unlike Square’s fixed reader designs, Clover offers countertop terminals, handheld devices, and tablet configurations. This flexibility makes it suitable for businesses with unique space constraints or workflow requirements.
ShopKeep
Core Functionality: iPad-based point of sale system focused on simplicity and real-time business insights for small retailers.
How It’s Like Square: ShopKeep processes payments and tracks inventory like Square, with particular strength in real-time reporting.
Key Features:
- Real-time dashboard analytics
- Inventory management with alerts
- Employee time tracking
- Customer database management
- Email marketing integration
Unique Angle: Emphasizes real-time business intelligence with instant sales notifications and trend analysis.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($69-$199/month)
Ideal For: Small retailers wanting immediate business insights
ShopKeep excels at giving business owners instant visibility into their operations. Real-time notifications about sales, inventory levels, and employee activity help owners stay connected even when away from their store. This immediacy appeals to hands-on business owners who want constant awareness of their business performance.
Shopify Point of Sale
Core Functionality: Unified commerce platform that connects online stores with in-person sales through integrated payment processing.
How It’s Like Square: Shopify POS accepts payments and manages inventory like Square, but synchronizes everything with online store operations.
Key Features:
- Online and offline inventory sync
- Unified customer profiles
- Multi-channel order management
- Integrated e-commerce tools
- Abandoned cart recovery
Unique Angle: Seamless integration between online and offline sales channels with unified inventory and customer data.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($39-$399/month)
Ideal For: Businesses selling both online and in physical locations
Shopify POS solves the channel conflict problem that many Square users face when expanding online. Inventory automatically updates across all channels, and customer data remains consistent whether they shop online or in-store. This unified approach eliminates the complexity of managing separate systems.
Revel POS
Core Functionality: iPad-based point of sale system with enterprise-grade features for multi-location businesses and complex operations.
How It’s Like Square: Revel processes payments and manages sales like Square, but scales to handle enterprise-level complexity.
Key Features:
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Multi-location management
- Loyalty program integration
- Employee scheduling and payroll
- Third-party integrations
Unique Angle: Enterprise-grade features and scalability for businesses with complex operational needs.
Platform Availability: iOS, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($99-$389/month)
Ideal For: Multi-location businesses and enterprises with complex operational requirements
Revel targets businesses that have outgrown Square’s capabilities. Its enterprise features handle complex multi-location operations, sophisticated reporting needs, and integration with existing business systems. While more expensive than Square, it provides the scalability that growing businesses eventually require.
Epos Now
Core Functionality: Cloud-based point of sale system with emphasis on quick setup and responsive customer support for small businesses.
How It’s Like Square: Epos Now processes payments and manages basic business operations like Square, with focus on ease of use.
Key Features:
- Quick setup process
- 24/7 customer support
- Cross-device accessibility
- Basic inventory management
- Simple reporting tools
Unique Angle: Prioritizes customer support and ease of setup over advanced features.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, Web
Pricing Model: Subscription ($39-$99/month)
Ideal For: Small businesses prioritizing support and simplicity over advanced features
Epos Now appeals to business owners who want Square-like functionality but with better customer support. The platform’s strength lies in its setup process and ongoing assistance rather than advanced features. This makes it suitable for less tech-savvy business owners who value human support over self-service capabilities.
FAQ on Apps Like Square
What are the best free alternatives to Square?
PayPal Here and SumUp offer free apps with pay-per-transaction pricing. Both provide basic card readers and mobile payment processing without monthly fees, making them suitable for low-volume businesses.
Which Square alternative has the lowest transaction fees?
Stripe Terminal typically offers competitive rates starting at 2.7% plus 5ยข per transaction. However, processing fees vary based on transaction volume, card types, and business risk factors across different payment processors.
Do Square competitors work with existing hardware?
Most payment processing apps require proprietary card readers. However, some like Stripe Terminal and certain Clover devices can integrate with existing POS terminals through compatible payment gateways and merchant accounts.
Which apps offer better inventory management than Square?
Lightspeed POS and Shopify Point of Sale provide advanced inventory tracking with features like low-stock alerts, supplier integration, and multi-location synchronization that exceed Square’s basic inventory capabilities.
Can I switch from Square without losing customer data?
Most merchant service providers offer data migration assistance. Customer information, transaction history, and inventory data can typically be exported from Square and imported into alternative POS systems through CSV files.
Which Square alternative works best for restaurants?
Toast POS dominates restaurant point of sale systems with kitchen display integration, table management, and menu engineering. These specialized features address food service needs better than Square’s general-purpose design.
Do these apps integrate with QuickBooks like Square does?
QuickBooks POS offers native integration, while Clover, Lightspeed, and most other payment solutions connect through third-party apps or direct API integrations for seamless accounting synchronization.
What about offline payment processing capabilities?
Clover, Toast POS, and Revel POS support offline transactions when internet connectivity fails. These systems store payment data locally and sync automatically when connection resumes, ensuring uninterrupted sales.
Which alternatives offer the best customer support?
Epos Now and Toast POS provide 24/7 phone support, while Clover offers dedicated account managers for business customers. Customer support services quality varies significantly across different payment processing platforms.
Are there industry-specific Square alternatives available?
Yes. Toast POS targets restaurants, Lightspeed serves retail stores, and Shopify POS focuses on e-commerce integration. These specialized platforms offer features tailored to specific business types and operational workflows.
Conclusion
The market offers numerous apps like Square that address specific business needs and operational requirements. Each payment processing platform brings unique advantages, from Toast POS’s restaurant-focused features to Shopify Point of Sale’s e-commerce integration.
Choosing the right mobile payment solution depends on your industry, transaction volume, and growth plans. Restaurant owners benefit from specialized kitchen display systems, while retail businesses need advanced inventory analytics.
Consider these key factors when evaluating alternatives:
- Transaction fees and monthly subscription costs
- Industry-specific functionality requirements
- Integration capabilities with existing software
- Hardware flexibility and customization options
- Customer support quality and availability
Payment processors like Clover and Lightspeed excel at scalability for growing businesses. Meanwhile, PayPal Here and SumUp serve smaller operations with simple fee structures.
The right merchant services provider should reduce operational friction while improving your bottom line. Test multiple platforms during their trial periods to find the best fit for your specific business model and customer needs.
If you liked this article about apps like Square, you should check out this article about apps like TaskRabbit.
There are also similar articles discussing apps like Mercari, apps like Poshmark, apps like Thumbtack, and apps like Sezzle.
And let’s not forget about articles on apps like Field Agent, apps like Fiverr, apps like Depop, and apps like Perpay.
With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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