Replacement Guide

How to Build Your Own Square

Replace Square with a custom build. Power your entire business

1-2 Weeks
111 features4 integrations1-2 weeks

Estimated Timeline

Based on 111 features at 1-2 Weeks difficulty, expect about 1-2 weeks with AI-assisted development.

1
Planning & architecture
1-2 days
2
Core features (Phase 1)
3-4 days
3
Advanced features (Phase 2)
3-4 days
4
Testing & deployment
1-2 days

Recommended Tech Stack

Next.js 14

Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components

Supabase

PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions

Tailwind CSS

Utility-first styling for rapid UI development

Key Features to Replicate

Top features across 8 categories. See all 111 features

Payments(19 features)

ACH Bank Transfers

Let customers pay directly from their bank account with a secure invoice using bank account and routing number

Afterpay

Let customers pay in four interest-free installments over six weeks while you receive full payment up front

Automatic Discounts

Create automatic discounts for specific items, categories, quantities, daily specials, or limited-time offers

Automatic Gratuity

Add fixed-percentage gratuity to customer checks manually or automatically, with gratuity based on party size

Bitcoin

Accept Bitcoin payments and manage Bitcoin accounts

+14 more in this category

Inventory(10 features)

Bulk Edit Items in Menus

Update multiple items using bulk editing tool from Square Dashboard to easily make changes to menus at scale

Categories

Group items together in categories to organize item library and fine-tune sales reports

Cross-Location Returns and Fulfillment

Accept returns at any location, regardless of where the purchase was made

Inventory Management

Know what is in stock across all locations with low-stock alerts and inventory reports you can export anytime

Item and Menu Management

Update on-premise and online menus in real time and sync changes to all locations and channels including POS, online, kiosks, and delivery apps with bulk editing capabilities

+5 more in this category

Banking(7 features)

Checking Accounts

Business checking account with instant fund access

Credit Card

Business credit card offerings

Fast Transfers

Transfer funds to external bank account for free the next business day or instantly for a fee

Instant Payouts

Get real-time access to earnings from online marketplace and ordering platforms in your Square Checking account

Loans

Access to business loans with flexible terms

+2 more in this category

Hardware(7 features)

Square Handheld

Powerful, feature-packed POS that fits in your pocket

Square Kiosk

iPad-run kiosk to reduce lines and free up staff

Square Reader for Contactless and Chip

Portable reader for every tap and dip

Square Reader for Magstripe

Bite-sized reader that plugs in and never needs charging

Square Register (2nd generation)

Two responsive screens for lightning-fast checkout

+2 more in this category

Orders(7 features)

Advanced Modifiers

Capture complex orders with step-by-step flows, quantity controls, and smart sequencing for toppings or sides to reduce mistakes and speed up service

Kiosk Ordering

Set up kiosk-based ordering for customers

Manage Orders

Manage orders from one place

Open Checks and House Accounts

Create, edit, and save an order before completing the sale, and manage customer accounts to keep running balance of purchases

Orders Tab

Manage all on-premise and online orders including delivery-partner sites in one place, filterable by order status and source

+2 more in this category

Reporting(7 features)

Advanced ReportingPremium

Access deeper insights into all sides of business

In-App Reporting

Access top-line metrics by time period including gross sales, sales count, and refunds right from app

Reporting

Comprehensive reporting and analytics on all business metrics

Square Dashboard

Track business performance and manage sales and POS settings from any computer

Top-Selling Items

See complete breakdown of sales in organized reports to know what items are most popular

+2 more in this category

Sales(6 features)

Add Revenue Streams

Add online ordering, gift cards, and other revenue generating features

Contracts

Send contracts and agreements to customers

Gift Cards

Sell physical and digital gift cards with no load fees on premium tier

Integrated In-Person and Online Sales

See all in-person, online, and third-party app sales from your POS

No Gift Card Load FeesPremium

Add funds to physical and eGift cards with no load fees

+1 more in this category

Customer Engagement(5 features)

Built-in Loyalty Program

Create custom loyalty program, let customers enroll, and redeem rewards right from POS

Customer Insights

Understand customers better by seeing your most frequent and most recent visitors and average spend

Keep Clients Coming Back

Use loyalty programs and customer engagement to retain clients

Keep Customers Coming Back

Set up loyalty programs and customer engagement to welcome new customers and retain existing ones

Loyalty ProgramsPremium

Create custom rewards programs that connect to POS

Cost Calculator

Pricing data not available for Square. Check their website for current pricing.

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