Square For Retail VS Square POS: 2024 Comparison
Trying to choose between Square Retail or Square's free version? Check out this comprehensive guide before making your decision.
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WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Lead Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
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REVIEWED BY
Managing Editor
Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
Square POS and Square For Retail seem very alike at first because both products are made by Square, include retail item management, have similar payment processing fees, and use Square POS hardware.
However, there are some differences worth looking at when trying to decide between the two options.
This Square For Retail VS Square POS comparison will review differences in pricing, features, device compatibility, and user reviews to help you choose the best POS system for your small business.
Table of Contents
Square For Retail VS Square POS At A Glance
| Square For Retail | Square POS | |
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| Ideal For |
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| Pricing |
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| Hardware Compatibility |
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| Standout Features |
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| What’s Missing |
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Square For Retail and Square POS offer free in-person sales software and an online ordering platform. Square For Retail also offers a paid plan with better inventory management features and lower payment processing fees. Square POS is a basic payment app that connects to lots of third-party software.
Square For Retail Overview
Pros
- Free and advanced paid plans are available
- Excellent physical inventory management
- Multi-location inventory, employee, and sales capabilities
- Connects with Square’s suite of sales tools
Cons
- Best retail management features come with paid plans
- Not available on Android devices
Square Terminal handheld POS system, Square Register, and Square iPad stand.
Square For Retail is a POS app available only on Apple devices and proprietary Square POS hardware. The free plan offers good physical inventory management, such as SKU generation and checkout features, such as item exchanges, while the Plus plan ($89/location/month) offers more extensive inventory management, such as inventory stock takes and purchase order management. The paid plan also has slightly lower in-person payment processing fees, which, depending on your monthly sales volumes, can save you a lot of money.
Read our full Square For Retail review for a more detailed explanation of everything this Square retail solution has to offer.
Square POS Overview
Pros
- Completely free
- Works on Apple and Android devices
- Connects with Square’s suite of sales tools
- Connects to lots of third-party apps
Cons
- Limited inventory management
- No way to lower payment processing rates
Square POS interface on iPad.
The Square Point Of Sale (POS) app is a very general free POS app available on Apple and Android devices as well as proprietary Square POS hardware. The POS app on its own is a great option for small businesses with limited inventory, checkout interface, and reporting needs selling just a few items (such as prepackaged bread or earrings) or services (such as face painting.)
The Square POS app also connects to tons of third-party software as a payment method. If, for example, you run an event rental business, Square POS integrates with several niche event rental software so you can manage your business and take payments from within your chosen rental app.
Read our full Square POS app review for a more detailed explanation of everything this free point of sale app includes.
What’s The Difference Between Square For Retail & Square POS?
The difference between Square For Retail and Square POS is that Square For Retail is a fully functional retail solution with free and paid plans, while Square POS is a free, simple payment app that you can use on its own or connect to third-party niche software apps.
Both Square For Retail & Square POS Offer:
- Free in-person sales software
- A completely free online store builder
- Social media sales on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
- Access to Square’s suite of business management software
- Digital and physical gift card sales
- Square’s built-in payment processor
- Affordable card readers and POS hardware
Only Square For Retail Offers:
- Basic and advanced inventory management
- Lower payment processing rates (on paid plans)
- Barcode and packing slip creator
- More thorough business reports
Only Square POS Offers:
- Android POS system availability
- Compatibility with most apps on Square App Marketplace
- Ability to convert Square POS to restaurant or appointment booking software
Square For Retail VS Square POS Pricing
| Square For Retail | Square POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Point Of Sale |
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| Online Ordering Website |
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| Device Compatibility | iOS devices | iOS and Android devices |
| Credit Card Reader | $49-$69 | $49-$69 |
| In-Person Transactions |
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| In-Person Transactions |
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| Chargeback Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Refund Fee | $0 | $0 |
Square POS and Square For Retail both offer free plans and similar payment processing rates. However, Square For Retail offers a paid plan and includes lower in-person payment processing rates on paid plans.
Note: You get a free 30-day trial on paid Square For Retail plans.
Which Is Cheaper, Square POS Or Square For Retail?
Square POS and the Square For Retail Free plan have the same monthly fee and per-transaction payment processing rates. The paid Square For Retail Plus plan offers slightly lower in-person payment processing rates, so once you start processing a lot more sales, the $89/month/location plan may be cheaper than a free one.
Square POS VS Square For Retail Features
| Square For Retail | Square POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Industry-Specific POS App | ||
| Receipts | ||
| Offline Capabilities | Strong | Strong |
| Reporting | Good | Limited |
| Third-Party Payment Gateways Available | ||
| Credit Card Readers | ||
| Omnichannel Sales Features | ||
| Free eCommerce Website | ||
| Shipping Features & Discounts | ||
| International Sales | ||
| Multilocation Management | Good | Limited |
| Inventory Management | Good | Limited |
| Integrations | Good | Excellent |
| 24/7 Phone Support | Weekdays 6 AM-6 PM PST | Weekdays 6 AM-6 PM PST |
Let’s compare the different features and best use cases for Square POS and Square For Retail.
Square POS VS Square For Retail User Reviews
For the most part, Square POS and Square For Retail reviews are very similar, with the majority of reviews praising Square for how easy and affordable the company has made it for small businesses to start selling.
The only recurring complaints are about occasional connectivity issues and the credit card processing fees, but you’ll need to pay these fees no matter which POS system you decide to use.
Square For Retail User Reviews
Square For Retail earns very high reviews on software review sites like GetApp (4.7/5 based on 475 reviews), G2 (4.4/5 based on 65 reviews), and TrustRadius (9.4/10 based on 22 reviews).
The top positive reviews for Square For Retail include:
- Flexible, simple, and easy to use
- Intuitive inventory management features
- In-store and mobile payment options are available
- Brand recognition for both sellers and consumers
The top complaints include:
- WiFi connectivity issues
- Paid plan and processing fees are expensive
- Not compatible with certain apps
Square POS User Reviews
Square Point Of Sale also earns very high reviews on software review sites like GetApp (4.7/5 based on 2.8K reviews), G2 (4.7/5 based on 782 reviews), and TrustRadius (9.1/10 based on 90 reviews).
The top positive reviews for Square POS include:
- Flexible, simple, and easy to use
- Mobile payments using a card reader or tap to pay on phone
- Brand recognition for both sellers and consumers
- Invoicing and virtual terminal functions for accepting payments online
The top complaints include:
- Built-in reports are not thorough
- WiFi connectivity issues
- Higher payment processing fees
Square For Retail VS Square POS: The Final Verdict
Square For Retail and Square POS are similar in many ways, but Square’s retail-specific solution works for small to midsize retailers, while Square POS is a more general app that connects with several well-known and niche third-party apps.
Here are some easy guidelines to follow when choosing the right POS system for your business.
Choose Square For Retail If You Need:
- A free POS system with retail inventory management features
- Relatively low-cost advanced inventory management and business reports
- A free online ordering platform or invoicing software
- To take contactless payments on an iOS device
Choose Square POS If You Need:
- A payment method to integrate with specific software you are interested in
- A general-purpose POS to sell a few items or accept donations/fees
- Very simple invoicing or virtual terminal payment software
- To take contactless payments on iOS or Android
If, after reading this comparison, you are unsure which POS system is right for your business, look into these best POS systems for small businesses to continue your research and make your final choice.
Matt Sherman
Lead Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Matt has been helping small businesses make decisions since 2017. He has written reviews and articles across many different channels but specializes in the point of sale, payroll, and small business insurance categories and has been quoted in articles for Fox Business, Forbes, and other publications. Prior to joining Merchant Maverick, Matt was a journalist and editor for 14 years for a pair of weekly newspapers. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and currently resides in Gladstone, Oregon.
View Matt Sherman's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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