Square Review

Our Verdict

Square is the best all-in-one platform for brick-and-mortar businesses.

GetASearch Score: 8.5/10

Rating: 4.4/5 (4567 reviews)

Score Breakdown

What is Square?

Square (now part of Block, Inc.) is an all-in-one commerce platform that enables businesses of every size to accept payments, manage operations, and grow their customer base. Founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, Square revolutionized payment processing by making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone - from food truck vendors to multi-location retailers. The Square ecosystem starts with payment processing: accept credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and Cash App payments through hardware readers, the Square Terminal, Square Register, or online checkout. Processing fees are straightforward at 2.6% + 10¢ for in-person transactions and 2.9% + 30¢ for online payments, with no monthly fees on the basic plan. Square Point of Sale (POS) is a free, full-featured system that runs on iOS and Android devices. It handles transactions, tracks inventory, manages employees (with clock-in/out and tip management), and generates sales reports - all from a tablet or phone. Specialized POS versions are available for restaurants (Square for Restaurants with table management and coursing) and retail stores (Square for Retail with purchase orders and vendor management). Square Online provides a free website builder with e-commerce capabilities, allowing businesses to sell online with pickup, delivery, or shipping options. Integration between online and in-store operations means inventory, orders, and customer data sync automatically. The platform also supports social selling through Instagram and Facebook shops. Financial services include Square Loans (business financing based on your sales history with automatic repayment), Square Banking (business checking and savings with no fees), and instant deposits for accessing funds immediately rather than waiting 1-2 business days. Square's developer APIs enable custom integrations and applications, while the App Marketplace offers 300+ pre-built integrations with accounting, e-commerce, marketing, and workforce management tools. The platform processes over $200 billion in payments annually and serves millions of merchants across the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the UK.

POS Ecosystem: Everything a Small Business Needs

Square's POS system handles sales, inventory, employee management, customer profiles, and reporting - all for free. The ecosystem covers 90% of small business needs without monthly software fees.

Hardware Options: Professional and Affordable

Square Reader ($49), Square Terminal ($299), and Square Register ($799). All hardware connects to Square's free POS software.

Square Features

Square Pricing

2.6% + $0.10 in-person

Best For

• Retail stores
• Restaurants
• Service businesses

Not Ideal For

• High-volume e-commerce
• High-risk industries

Final Verdict

Square is the best all-in-one platform for brick-and-mortar businesses.

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Frequently Asked Questions