Square

squareup.com
Payment Processing
Weekend Project

Everything you need to grow your business

How to Replace Square

Overview

Square provides payment processing, point of sale systems, and business management tools for businesses of all sizes. It offers integrated solutions for accepting payments, managing inventory, and tracking sales across multiple channels.

Features

41 features across 21 categories

Accounting(1)

BookkeepingPremium

Automated bookkeeping that syncs sales data directly to accounting software.

Also in: Jobber, Melio, Lemonway

Analytics(1)

Reporting & Analytics

Generate detailed sales reports and business analytics dashboards.

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

Billing(1)

Subscription Billing

Set up recurring billing for membership and subscription-based revenue models.

Also in: Insightly, Airtable, Obsidian

CRM(1)

Customer Directory

Build and manage customer profiles with purchase history and contact information.

Also in: monday.com, Setmore, HubSpot

Compliance(1)

Tax Calculation

Automatically calculate sales tax based on location and item type.

Also in: Insider CDP, Airtable, 1Password

Developer Tools(1)

API & Developer Tools

Build custom integrations and applications with Square's comprehensive API.

Also in: Jobber, Hugging Face, 1Password

Ecommerce(1)

Online Store

Build and manage an ecommerce storefront with Square's hosted solution.

Financing(1)

Square CapitalAIPremium

Access short-term business loans based on your sales history.

HR(2)

Employee Management

Track shifts, manage schedules, and monitor employee performance.

PayrollPremium

Process payroll, manage tax payments, and handle employee withholding.

Inventory(3)

Inventory Management

Track stock levels, set reorder points, and manage SKUs across locations.

Supplier ManagementPremium

Track suppliers, manage purchase orders, and monitor inventory levels.

Wholesale ManagementPremium

Manage wholesale orders and bulk sales with special pricing.

Invoicing(2)

Estimates

Generate and send job estimates to clients with approval tracking.

Invoicing

Create and send professional invoices with automatic payment reminders.

Marketing(2)

Loyalty ProgramPremium

Build customer loyalty with rewards programs and repeat purchase incentives.

Marketing ToolsAIPremium

Send email and SMS campaigns to reach customers and drive repeat business.

Mobile(1)

Mobile App

Manage your business on-the-go with full POS and management capabilities.

Multi-Location(1)

Multi-Location Management

Manage inventory, staff, and sales across multiple store locations from one dashboard.

Order Management(2)

Contactless Ordering

Enable customers to browse and order from their phones without physical contact.

Delivery ManagementPremium

Manage delivery orders, tracking, and driver assignments for food businesses.

POS(7)

Customizable Menu

Create detailed menus with modifiers, pricing tiers, and preparation notes.

Kitchen Display SystemPremium

Send orders directly to kitchen screens for efficient food preparation management.

Point of Sale System

Comprehensive POS software for retail and restaurant management.

Receipt Printing

Print custom receipts with company branding and promotional messages.

Refunds & Returns

Process full or partial refunds and manage return transactions easily.

Table Management

Manage table assignments, covers, and turn times for restaurant operations.

Tipping Options

Customize tipping percentages and prompt customers at payment time.

Payment Processing(6)

Gift Cards

Issue and manage digital and physical gift cards for increased customer spending.

Payment Links

Send custom payment links to customers via email or text for quick checkout.

QR Code Payments

Accept contactless payments via QR codes for quick and safe transactions.

Split Payment

Allow customers to pay with multiple payment methods in one transaction.

Square Reader

Accept card payments anywhere using mobile card reader hardware.

Virtual Terminal

Accept payments over the phone or manually key in card details securely.

Payments(1)

ACH Transfers

Send payouts and settle funds via ACH bank transfers.

Scheduling(2)

Appointment Booking

Allow customers to schedule and manage appointments with automatic reminders.

Class Management

Manage class schedules, enrollment, and payments for fitness and education businesses.

Security(2)

Data Security & Encryption

Protect customer and business data with end-to-end encryption.

PCI Compliance

Ensure secure payment processing with built-in PCI DSS compliance.

Support(2)

Phone Support

Get help from Square support team via phone for urgent issues.

Staff Training

Access training resources and best practices to maximize your Square setup.

Pricing

Starter

Free
  • Basic payment processing

Plus

Popular
$60/mo
  • POS system with inventory

Premium

$120/mo
  • Multi-location with advanced features

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Square

Monthly$60/mo
Yearly$720/yr
5-Year Total$3.6k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $480
SaaS
$720
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $1.4k
SaaS
$2.2k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $2.4k
SaaS
$3.6k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 41 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Square alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 41 features.

Buy Square

Better Value
Monthly cost$600/mo
3-year total$21,600
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Square saves ~$15,360 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 41 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

28 known integrations