Square for Retail vs. Square POS: 2025 Comparison

This post was last updated on December 4, 2024

Square for Retail vs. Square POS—which should you choose? Both are user-friendly POS systems designed by Square but serve different business types and sizes.

This post will explain the precise differences and similarities between Square for Retail and Square POS, helping you choose the solution that best meets your business needs.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Square POS is a general POS app with limited features. It is suitable for small businesses, startups, and mobile businesses like food trucks and pop-ups.
Square for Retail is designed for small to midsized retailers that need robust inventory management, analytics, and multi-location capabilities.
Square POS offers low upfront costs, while Square for Retail is more expensive.

Square For Retail vs. Square POS: A Detailed Comparison

Image of Square POS hardware devices, including a large tablet terminal, a smaller iPad with a stand, a credit card machine, and a Square mobile card reader

What’s the difference between Square for Retail and Square POS, anyway? Take a look at our comparison chart to review discrepancies in pricing, features, device compatibility, and more. Then, read on for an in-depth comparison of the two.

	Square POS	Square for Retail
Best For	Small businesses or startups General retail flexibility Simple online ordering platforms	Advanced inventory management Specialized retail features Employee and till management
Pricing	$0 / month Payment processing: 2.6% – 2.9%	$0 – $89 / location / month Payment processing: 2.5% – 2.9%
Hardware Compatibility	Apple iOS devices Android devices Proprietary Square hardware	Apple iOS devices Proprietary Square hardware
Key Features	Intuitive user interface with no learning curve Straightforward POS features Online ordering features with automated sales and inventory data	Comprehensive inventory management tools Multi-location management, customer-facing displays, and advanced reporting Time tracking, permissions, and cashier workflow

Square For Retail vs. Square Pos: Features Comparison

While Square for Retail and Square POS are software from the same company – Square – their features are quite different. Our comparison chart below can help you understand exactly what sets them apart.

	Square POS	Square for Retail
Industry-Specific Application
Offline Capabilities
Advanced Analytics & Reporting
Receipts
Third-Party Payment Gateways
Credit Card Readers
Free E-commerce Website
Omnichannel Sales Features
Shipping & Discount Features
Advanced Multilocation Management
Advanced Inventory Management
Advanced Integrations
Customer Support	Weekdays 6 AM – 6 PM PST	Weekdays 6 AM – 6 PM PST

Square for Retail vs. Square POS: Prices, Fees, and More

Pricing and fees are critical considerations for your business when picking a POS system. Let’s break down the pricing models for both Square POS and Square for Retail to help you make an informed decision:

Note: There are no setup costs, but fees apply based on payment volume.

	Square POS	Square for Retail
Point of Sale	$0 / month	Advanced inventory management Specialized retail features Employee and till management
E-commerce Features	$0 – $72 / month, billed annually	$0 – $89 / location / month Payment processing: 2.5% – 2.9%
Hardware Compatibility	Apple iOS devices Android devices Proprietary Square hardware	Apple iOS devices Proprietary Square hardware
Credit Card Reader	$49 – $69	$49 – $69
In-Person Transactions	2.9% + $0.30	Free Plan: 2.6% + $0.10 Plus Plan: 2.5% + $0.10 Premium Plan: Custom pricing
Chargeback Fee	$0	$0
Refund Fee	$0	$0

Square POS Pricing

Free Plan: Includes basic payment processing and customer management tools with no monthly subscription fee

Square POS Plus: $12/mo per user, adding features like employee management, advanced reporting, and payroll support

Square POS Premium: $72/mo per user for larger businesses needing robust reporting and customer insights

Additional Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction for EMV cards with higher fees for swiped, online, or invoiced payments

Square for Retail Pricing

Free Plan: Offers basic retail-specific features but lacks advanced inventory management, reporting, and employee tools

Square for Retail Plus: $60/mo per location and includes inventory management, multi-location support, and reporting tools

Square for Retail Premium: Custom pricing for larger businesses requiring full features, including in-depth analytics and support

Additional Fees: Transaction fees of 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction for card-present transactions with higher costs for card-not-present transactions

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Pricing Transparency & Hidden Fees

While Square POS and Square for Retail have transparent pricing structures, transaction fees can add up based on your business’s sales volume.

Square POS offers a free basic plan but charges for premium features and services. Square for Retail also offers a retail-specific free plan with very basic features. Still, its subscription fee for more advanced features starts at $60/mo, with higher costs for additional locations or advanced features.

Square for Retail vs. Square POS: Strengths and Weaknesses

Both Square for Retail and Square POS serve their purpose and have strengths and weaknesses. Our pros and cons comparison charts help you understand how each system succeeds and how it might be improved:

Square for Retail: Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Advanced Inventory Management: Barcode scanning, stock alerts, multi-location management, and more make Square for Retail suited for businesses with complex inventories	Monthly Subscription Fee: Square for Retail has a subscription fee (starting at $60/month), which may not be ideal for smaller businesses on a tight budget
Detailed Reporting and Analytics: Robust reporting tools provide insight into sales, performance, customer trends, and more	More Complex Setup: Due to advanced features, Square for Retail has a steeper learning curve and may require additional training
Multi-location Support: Square for retail allows centralized inventory management, reporting, and employee oversight across all locations.	Overkill for Small Operations: For very small businesses, Square for Retail can offer more features than necessary
Employee Management Features: Square for Retail includes advanced tools for managing employees (e.g., time clocking, customizable roles, and permissions)	Transaction Fees for Card Not Present: Fees for online transactions or card-no-present payments can be higher
Customizable POS Layouts: Users can customize the POS interface for their unique retail-specific needs	Limited Third-Party Integrations: Square for Retail does not support as many third-party app connections as competitors, like KORONA POS

Square POS: Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free Plan Available: Includes basic features, making Square POS a great option for small businesses and startups	Limited Inventory Management: Square POS lacks advanced inventory tracking features, which can be limiting for large or complex inventories
Ease of Use: Intuitive and easy-to-use interface, requiring minimal employee training	Fewer Customization Options: Features are generalized, making Square POS less adaptable for specialized industries
Mobile Friendly: Works seamlessly with smartphones and tablets, making Square POS perfect for mobile businesses (food trucks, pop-ups, etc.)	Transaction Fees: The transaction fees are higher than other POS systems (2.6% + 10¢ per swipe), which can add up for businesses with high sales volume
Integrated Payments: Square POS allows you to accept a variety of payment types all in one system	Limited Reporting: Basic reporting and analytics may be insufficient for larger businesses
No Monthly Fees for Basic Plan: The Square POS Basic Plan is free for retailers—you will only be charged processing fees	Lack of Employee Management: Square POS doesn't offer the level of employee management (e.g., shift scheduling or permissions) that Square for Retail provides.

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Square for Retail vs. Square POS: User Reviews

Square for Retail and Square POS reviews are very similar, with the majority praising the software for how easy and affordable the company has made it for small businesses to start taking payments. Let’s take a look at how users review the two systems:

Square for Retail User Reviews

On software review sites, Square for Retail earns very high reviews on G2 (4.4/5 based on 65 reviews) and GetApp (4.7/5 based on 479 reviews).

Customers mostly praise Square for Retail: Flexibility and ease of use, intuitive inventory management features, in-store and mobile payment options, and brand recognition for sellers and consumers

The most common complaints: WiFi connectivity issues, high processing fees, and compatibility issues with certain apps

Square for Retail was easy to register for and get up and running. It provides an easy method of inventory management, along with a robust POS check-out system all-in-one.

-Verified Small Business Owner

check out more reviews on g2

Square POS User Reviews

Square POS also earns very high reviews on software review sites like G2 (4.7/5 based on 792 reviews) and GetApp (4.6/5 based on 2,947 reviews).

Customers love Square POS overall: Simplicity and ease of use, mobile payment features (e.g., card reader or tap-to-pay on phone), brand recognition for sellers and consumers, and invoicing and virtual terminal functions for online payments

Top complaints about Square POS: Limited built-in reports, WiFi connectivity issues, and high processing fees

The best thing about Square POS is its accessibility to speedy transactions. I can charge my client immediately and look professional while doing so.

-Destiny E.

check out more reviews on g2

Square for Retail vs. Square POS: Our Assessment

At KORONA POS, we’ve worked with hundreds of businesses of all sizes and learned that no two POS solutions are the same. When comparing Square for Retail and Square POS, it’s clear that both are solid POS solutions that cater to very different needs.

Square for Retail is better suited to businesses ready to grow or with basic inventory management needs. However, it is still limited for businesses with multiple locations. If your business requires more insights and an organized approach to inventory management, Square for Retail is a worthy choice.

Square POS is a great fit for small businesses or those just starting out. Mobile vendors, service-based companies, or small shops that don’t require advanced reporting might find it an easy and affordable way to begin taking payments.

While Square POS and Square for Retail are both great solutions, they aren’t necessarily great fits for any retail business. KORONA POS offers the flexibility, scalability, and transparency that help growing businesses succeed and scale without the complexities and extra costs of Square’s higher-tier plans.

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An Alternative to Square For Retail & Square POS: KORONA POS

If you’re looking for a POS system that blends the best of both worlds—advanced features with simple usability—KORONA POS might be your ideal solution.

With flexible pricing, an intuitive user interface, and robust features like advanced inventory management, multi-location support, and real-time reporting, KORONA POS offers retailers with more complex needs a powerful and customized solution.

Additionally, KORONA’s pricing is completely transparent, with no hidden fees, and we provide 24/7 customer support for businesses of all sizes.

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Written By

Taylor J.

Taylor loves the diversity of topics she gets to cover as a freelancer, and right now, it's all about POS and SEO. When she's not writing, she's probably climbing rocks or reading fiction.