Square Reviews

Square stands out for its wide range of products and services for businesses of all types and sizes. Its numerous hardware products (terminals, registers, card readers, etc.) and user-friendly POS software allow business owners to easily sell anywhere, in person or online.

Being an all-in-one solution, Square lets you seamlessly manage business operations across multiple locations and sales channels. No matter your business goal – diversifying revenue, increasing customer loyalty, or managing your team – there’s a product to help you achieve it.

Although medium and large businesses can benefit from using Square‘s products, the solution is a true game-changer for small businesses. If you’re just starting out, chances are you don’t have much revenue coming in. So, taking payments with Square only costs you the processing fees for each sale you make. Not having up-front costs and being able to take payments right away is a great way to start doing business.

There are also options to help you manage invoices, appointments, and online checkout. You can even transform your computer into a terminal, so you can take credit cards over the phone.

What’s more, there’s proactive fraud protection that uses machine learning to monitor fraud trends and payments to identify suspicious transactions. Plus, all card-present payments are end-to-end encrypted, making Square a reliable and secure payment solution.

Another reason why Square is especially attractive for small businesses is that it offers various affordable hardware devices.

For starters, a free magnetic stripe reader for swiping credit cards lets you accept payments anywhere, using your phone or tablet.

There are also two models of readers (1st and 2nd generation) that accept chip cards and contactless payments. After the free magnetic stripe reader, these are the two most affordable hardware products. All three readers are compatible with Android and iOS devices and have a sleek design.

Those who don’t want to rely on a mobile device should go for the terminal. The all-in-one credit card machine is an independent device that takes payments and prints receipts.

With a battery that lasts all day, you can take payments anywhere, even without Wi-Fi, as offline payments are available. What’s more, with a terminal, you can take payments in any way  – dip a chip card, tap a contactless card or device, or swipe a magstripe card.

Those who need a comprehensive solution for the counter should consider Square Register, a fully integrated POS register that combines payments, software, and hardware all in one device.

With Square Register, you can easily process payments and manage workflows. It even comes with two displays – one for you and one for your customers – so clients can instantly see what they’re being charged for and pay right away.

The extra sparkle is that Square Register has a modern and elegant look. It combines functionality with aesthetic appeal and elevates the design of any business, from restaurants to shops and salons.

The Square Stand is a more budget-friendly POS system. It allows you to slide in a compatible iPad with a Square POS app installed to process payments and manage workflows.

Unfortunately, it isn’t compatible with Android tablets, which would broaden the range of possibilities for users.

Even so, both POS systems support accessories, such as receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers. We found it convenient that Square offers all the hardware accessories, so you don’t need to turn to third parties to set up your system.

Square also provides POS software designed specifically for restaurants and retailers. Square for Restaurants’ resources and features help you manage your front and back-of-house, pickup, and delivery operations.

With the software, you can count on various additional ways to order, such as tableside, online, or pickup. There’s also a kitchen display system for managing all kitchen orders in one place and receiving notifications and ticket timers. These resources are crucial for keeping orders moving so your restaurant can provide excellent service.

Square for Retail is spot-on for retail businesses of all sizes and styles. It has resources for accepting returns and exchanges, managing inventories, and handling in-store pick-up and shipping.

Both systems are compatible with all Square hardware.

Square integrates with hundreds of third-party apps and software through its App Marketplace, allowing you to manage your entire business from a single platform. This extensive compatibility lets you automate tasks, handle accounts, and run marketing campaigns, making it easy to unify your business management system directly from your POS system.

The integration process works seamlessly, so with just a few clicks, you can connect with well-known platforms, including Quickbooks Online, Typeform, and Mailchimp.

What’s more, Square also provides a free CRM tool, gift card settings, options to create loyalty programs, and many others.

Having so many resources proves that Square  truly is an all-in-one POS solution that provides everything you need, so you don’t have to resort to other systems to manage all your business operations.

One reason why Square is perfect for small businesses is that you can start using the service for free and upgrade according to your needs. It’s also one of the reasons why the company stands out among its competitors, as only a few offer free plans.

With this plan, there are no setup or monthly fees. All you have to pay are the processing fees when you take a payment. You even get your first magnetic stripe reader for free.

The Plus plans come with features designed specifically for each type of business, starting at $69 per month for restaurants. The processing fees vary according to the type of transaction. In-person transactions have the lowest fees, followed by online, manually entered, and invoices.

As for the hardware products, after the magnetic stripe reader, the most affordable option is the Square Reader for contactless and chip (1st generation), which costs $49. We especially enjoyed the flexibility in buying the hardware products. The terminal, Square Register, and Square Stand can be purchased at once or in installments.

Another reason to choose Square is that there are no hidden fees, restrictive contracts, or fine print. You can upgrade or downgrade according to your business’s needs and cancel your plan at any time.

The 30-day free trial for all paid subscription plans is the cherry on top. Plus, hardware devices can be returned for free within 30 days and come with a one-year warranty. Lastly, you can pay for your subscription with American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or PayPal.

Square excels in supporting its customers. The whole support combo is available – there’s live chat, phone, email, help articles, and a community.

We reached out via live chat a few times and always got a precise response in around ten minutes. Live chat and phone support are available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST, but paying users get phone support 24/7. If you decide to reach out via email, the estimated wait time is 24 to 48 hours.

There’s also an engaging community where you can ask a question or search among hundreds of answers given by loyal members. Additionally, the company’s website contains many FAQs on different topics. Several helpful videos are also available on the company’s YouTube page.

The company also provides user-friendly POS systems and supports multiple sales channels. Plus, a 30-day free trial and a flexible return policy on hardware make Square even more attractive. The extra sparkle is that it integrates seamlessly with third-party apps, enhancing its all-in-one business management capabilities.

However, some limitations include compatibility issues, such as the Square Stand not supporting Android devices, and live phone support only available for paying users.

Despite these drawbacks, Square remains a versatile and cost-effective solution for small businesses looking for a secure and reliable POS system.