Square POS alternatives (2026): 8 tools compared for buyers
Looking for an alternative to Square POS? These 8 tools do the same job with a different focus. Each one is compared on who it suits, its key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms.
Why buyers look beyond Square POS
- Processing fees and upfront hardware costs add up.
- Support access complaints are common across POS vendors, check before buying.
- Businesses that want to choose their own payment processor.
- High-volume merchants sensitive to flat-rate processing.
From Square POS's published plan limits and recurring themes in public reviews. See the Square POS review for the full picture.
Square POS alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
 Square POS Current | Single-shop retailers and service businesses that want to start at $0 software. | $0/month (Square for Retail Free) | Free plan |
 Clover | Small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software. | Varies by vertical; Standard bundle $130/month or $849 + $84.95/month (as listed by Clover) | No |
 Shopify POS | Merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations. | POS included in every Shopify plan; Basic from $39/month (third-party), POS Pro $89/location/month | Free trial |
 Toast | Restaurants, bars and cafes needing table service, kitchen display and online ordering. | $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit; $69/month standard Point of Sale plan (per a Toast article) | No |
 SumUp | Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee. | $0/month POS Lite; $499 bundle (Register + Solo reader) | Free plan |
 Lightspeed | Multi-category retailers needing deeper inventory and reporting. | Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party) | No |
 Revel Systems | Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform. | Contact sales | No |
 TouchBistro | Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads. | From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra) | No |
 Epos Now | Small retail and hospitality shops wanting bundled hardware. | $399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page) | No |
The 8 best Square POS alternatives
Clover
Fiserv-owned POS and merchant processing platform sold through banks and resellers, with bundled hardware and software plans.
Clover is a Fiserv-owned platform sold through banks and resellers, with Station Duo, Mini and Flex hardware. It is quick to set up and suits small retailers and restaurants, though phone support and fee clarity draw complaints.
- Best for
- Small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software.
- Company size
- Small businesses.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Clover Station Duo, Mini, Flex; Station Duo about $1,799 to $1,899 (third-party)
- Payment processing terms
- About 2.3% + 10c card-present, 3.5% + 10c keyed (third-party); rate depends on reseller.
- Industry features
- Retail, restaurant and services plans.
Pros
- Easy to use and quick setup.
- Modern hardware.
Cons
- Weak phone support.
- Fees unclear or higher than expected.
- Connectivity problems.
Pricing: Varies by vertical; Standard bundle $130/month or $849 + $84.95/month (as listed by Clover)
Shopify POS
In-person selling layer for Shopify stores, with a free baseline in every plan and a paid POS Pro add-on per location.
Shopify POS adds in-person selling to a Shopify store, with a baseline in every plan and POS Pro at $89 per location per month. It requires a Shopify plan, and inventory management sits in POS Pro rather than the free baseline.
- Best for
- Merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations.
- Company size
- Small to enterprise (Plus)
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Shopify card readers plus tablet or phone; hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor.
- Payment processing terms
- Shopify Payments; in-person 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 10c by plan (third-party); EU page 1.5%/1.3%/1.2%.
- Inventory management
- Inventory management is in POS Pro, not the free baseline (EU page)
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Native: same Shopify store and catalog online and in store.
Pros
- Intuitive design and strong reporting.
- Easy setup.
Cons
- Support can be slow in busy periods.
- Inventory depth.
- Per-location billing surprises reported.
Pricing: POS included in every Shopify plan; Basic from $39/month (third-party), POS Pro $89/location/month · Free trial
Toast
Restaurant-only POS and payments platform with its own hardware and tiered software plans, sold mostly on quote.
Toast is a restaurant-only platform with its own terminals, handhelds, kitchen displays and online ordering. It processes payments through Toast Payments only, so check processing rates and contract length before you sign.
- Best for
- Restaurants, bars and cafes needing table service, kitchen display and online ordering.
- Company size
- Single restaurants to multi-location groups.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Proprietary Toast terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and kiosks; tiered hardware bundle around $1,024 (third-party)
- Payment processing terms
- Toast Payments only; rates vary by plan and pay-as-you-go vs traditional.
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Core and Growth add online ordering and loyalty (third-party)
- Industry features
- Restaurant-specific: table service, kitchen display, online ordering.
Pros
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Customer support wait times.
- Transaction and hardware costs.
Pricing: $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit; $69/month standard Point of Sale plan (per a Toast article)
Market stalls and micro-merchants who refuse a monthly fee can use POS Lite at $0, with in-person card rates of 2.6% plus 10 cents. A Register plus Solo reader bundle costs $499. Shops needing real inventory control, several locations or table service will outgrow it fast.
- Best for
- Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee.
- Company size
- Micro and small.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- POS Lite Register plus Solo reader $499 bundle.
- Payment processing terms
- 2.6% + 10c in person; 3.5% + 15c eCommerce.
Pros
- Fast, simple payments.
- Friendly interface.
Cons
- Customer service.
Pricing: $0/month POS Lite; $499 bundle (Register + Solo reader) · Free plan
Lightspeed
Montreal-based commerce platform with separate retail and restaurant POS products, sold on annual or monthly plans.
Retailers with several categories or locations, who care most about inventory depth and reporting, are the people to pitch this Montreal vendor to, with separate retail and restaurant products. Retail Basic runs $89 monthly on annual billing. Contact the support team before signing, since G2 reviewers call it slow and pricey.
- Best for
- Multi-category retailers needing deeper inventory and reporting.
- Company size
- SMB to enterprise.
Key features
- Payment processing terms
- Lightspeed Payments about 2.6% + 10c (one review); same across plans.
- Inventory management
- Reviewers highlight inventory management.
- Industry features
- Retail and Restaurant (plus Golf, hospitality)
- Reporting and analytics
- Reviewers highlight reporting.
Pros
- Inventory management.
- Reporting.
Cons
- Pricing high for value.
- Slow support, hard to reach account managers.
Pricing: Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party)
Revel Systems
Cloud iPad POS for restaurants that is now owned by Shift4, with the old vendor site redirecting to Shift4's food and beverage pages.
Rebranded: Acquired by Shift4 (deal announced May 2024, reported at $250M cash). revelsystems.com now redirects to shift4.com/food-beverage; a competitor blog says Revel is being folded into SkyTab, which is unconfirmed.
Restaurant groups already on this iPad system, or willing to accept Shift4 as their processor, can keep going, though the old vendor site now redirects to Shift4. New buyers should ask for a written roadmap, terminal pricing and processor terms. Reviewers mention high fees, weak support and connectivity trouble.
- Best for
- Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform.
- Company size
- Multi-location restaurants and chains.
Key features
- Payment processing terms
- Shift4 plans to sell its payments product to Revel customers (Restaurant Business)
- Industry features
- Restaurant focus, 18,000+ locations at time of deal (Restaurant Business)
Pros
- Setup is described as easy in aggregated reviews.
Cons
- High fees for basic features.
- Weak customer support.
- Connectivity problems.
- Unclear pricing disclosure.
Pricing: Contact sales
TouchBistro
IPad-based restaurant point of sale with table service features, sold as software-only or as a bundle with hardware and integrated payments.
Full-service restaurants wanting floor plans, table management and tableside ordering on iPads can begin at $69 monthly, with 24/7 support in the subscription. Hardware and processing cost extra. Inventory, online ordering and the kitchen display are paid add-ons, so request a full quote before comparing.
- Best for
- Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads.
- Company size
- Restaurants, from single venue to multi-terminal venues.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- POS plan requires own hardware; Essentials Bundle and Custom Setup include restaurant-grade hardware; financing for 2+ terminals.
- Payment processing terms
- Integrated payments bundled in Essentials and Custom plans; rates not published on pricing page.
- Inventory management
- Paid add-on, price not published.
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Online ordering is a paid add-on, no commission on online orders per vendor FAQ.
Best for
- Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads.
- Venues that want 24/7 support included in the subscription.
Not ideal for
- Retail stores needing SKU-level inventory (inventory is a paid add-on and the product is restaurant-focused)
- Buyers who want fully published all-in pricing: add-on prices and hardware are quote-based.
Pricing: From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra)
Epos Now
UK-origin POS vendor selling bundled hardware plus monthly software in retail and hospitality.
Epos Now is a UK-origin vendor selling bundled hardware with monthly software for small retail and hospitality shops. It offers many terminal types and kitchen displays, but reviewers call pricing high and customization limited.
- Best for
- Small retail and hospitality shops wanting bundled hardware.
- Company size
- Small business.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Countertop, Countertop 2, Duo, Air, Link, Pro+, Kitchen Display; printers, scanners, cash drawers.
- Industry features
- Retail and hospitality.
Pros
- Ease of use.
- Support (G2 reviewers)
Cons
- Pricing high.
- Customization limited.
Pricing: $399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page)
How to choose a Square POS alternative
Start with what made you look: a missing feature, a team that outgrew the plan or a bill that grew faster than the team. Then compare the shortlist on the points that matter most for this kind of software.
- Hardware and terminals: Proprietary vs bring-your-own hardware drives upfront cost.
- Payment processing terms: Processor lock-in and rates often outweigh the monthly fee.
- Inventory management: Retailers need SKU, variant and multi-location stock.
- Online and omnichannel sales: Syncing web and in-store stock avoids overselling.
- Industry features: Table service and kitchen display vs retail barcodes decide fit.
- Reporting and analytics: Sales by item and staff guide purchasing and scheduling.
Security, admin and contract terms compared
Switching tools means a new security review. This is what Square POS and each alternative state publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs and the contract; a blank means the vendor does not say.
| Tool | SAML SSO | SCIM | Audit logs | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square POS | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Clover | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Shopify POS | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Toast | Not published | Not published | Not published | About 2 years reported by a third-party source; not confirmed by the vendor. |
| SumUp | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Lightspeed | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Revel Systems | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| TouchBistro | Not published | Not published | Not published | Pricing page shows monthly price; contract term and cancellation not stated. |
| Epos Now | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
When to stay with Square POS
- Single-shop retailers and service businesses that want to start at $0 software.
- Merchants who want one vendor for hardware, payments and online store.
Square POS alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Square POS?
Clover is the closest alternative for most teams: small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software. Shopify POS suits teams that merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations.
Is there a free alternative to Square POS?
SumUp offers a free plan. Free plans usually cap users, features or history, so check the limits against your team size.