Square POS vs NCR Silver

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Our analysts compared Square POS vs NCR Silver based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Square is a cloud-based POS system for retail stores of all sizes. It automatically creates customer profiles and tracks their information and purchase histories. Its key capabilities include sales reports, online payment processing, inventory tracking control, marketing campaigns, digital receipts, sales management, e-commerce and more. It accepts offline payments and automatically syncs payment information when mobile devices reconnect.

It is available on Android and iOS devices and includes optional hardware such as terminals, cash drawers, scanners, scales and card readers. Users can manage order pick-ups from third-party services like DoorDash, Postmates and more.

Pros
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Affordable pricing plans
  • Mobile payments and online ordering
  • Integrates with Square ecosystem
  • Free basic plan available
Cons
  • Limited customization options
  • May not be suitable for high-volume businesses
  • Transaction fees can add up
  • Limited reporting features in free plan
  • Customer support could be improved
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NCR Silver is an easy-to-use, cloud-based solution that provides software and hardware solutions to banks, restaurants, telecom companies and other retail businesses. The exceptional point of sale system is backed by secure payments, powerful integrations, customer marketing tools, regular updates, live support options, labor management tools and more.
It provides an enhanced employee training and onboarding experience while advanced reporting and business intelligence tools give detailed insights into day-to-day operations. The handheld devices ensure efficient customer service and a transparent payment processing model to simplify secure checkouts.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Reliable hardware
  • Good customer support
  • Offline functionality
  • Strong inventory management
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Few integrations
  • Higher costs
  • Long-term contracts
  • Occasional software glitches
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$29 Monthly, Freemium, Plus Transaction Fees
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$108 Monthly
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Windows
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Android
Chromebook
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Linux
Android
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Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Streamlined Operations: Simplify day-to-day tasks like sales, inventory management, and employee management with an intuitive interface and mobile accessibility. Square POS offers a clean and user-friendly interface that minimizes the learning curve for new users and streamlines operations for established businesses. Additionally, its mobile app allows you to manage your business on the go, whether you're taking inventory, processing payments, or checking sales reports.
  • Omnichannel Engagement: Facilitate seamless omnichannel experiences by offering mobile payments, online ordering, and click-and-collect options. In today's digital age, customers expect a smooth and consistent experience across all channels. Square POS empowers you to meet these expectations by providing omnichannel features that bridge the gap between physical and online storefronts.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Adapt to your evolving business needs with a range of pricing plans and integrations with Square's broader ecosystem of tools. Square POS doesn't lock you into a one-size-fits-all solution. With its flexible pricing plans and vast ecosystem of integrations, you can tailor the system to your specific needs and budget, whether you're a small startup or a growing enterprise.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights into your business performance with sales reports, inventory tracking, and customer analytics. Square POS equips you with the data you need to make informed decisions. Its comprehensive reporting and analytics suite provides insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and inventory levels, empowering you to optimize your operations and marketing strategies.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: Delight your customers with features like loyalty programs, gift cards, and email marketing tools. Square POS goes beyond just processing transactions. It helps you build stronger customer relationships by offering tools to implement loyalty programs, send personalized marketing campaigns, and offer convenient gift card options.
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  • Improved Efficiency: Streamline operations with intuitive point-of-sale processing, inventory management, employee time tracking, and sales reporting, freeing up time for growth-focused activities.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: Offer personalized interactions, loyalty programs, and efficient checkout processes to build customer loyalty and satisfaction, fostering repeat business.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights from comprehensive sales and inventory data to make informed decisions about product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns, optimizing business performance.
  • Reliable Operations: Ensure business continuity with offline functionality, secure payment processing, and robust hardware that withstands daily wear and tear, minimizing downtime and interruptions.
  • Scalability for Growth: Adapt the system to your evolving needs with multi-location support and expanded features as your business expands, accommodating growth without the need for system overhauls.
  • Simplified Inventory Management: Track stock levels, automate purchase orders, and receive low-stock alerts to maintain optimal inventory levels, preventing stockouts and potential revenue losses.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and reporting, offering flexibility and convenience for remote management and decision-making.
  • Secure Transactions: Protect customer data and comply with industry standards through robust security measures and PCI compliance, safeguarding sensitive information and building customer trust.
  • Dedicated Customer Support: Access comprehensive assistance through phone, email, and online resources, ensuring prompt resolution of issues and minimizing disruptions to business operations.
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  • Intuitive Register Interface: Easy-to-use touch-screen interface with customizable menu items, modifiers, and employee permissions.
  • Payment Processing: Accept all major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and cash.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, set low-stock alerts, and generate purchase orders.
  • Employee Management: Track employee hours, create schedules, and manage payroll.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Store customer information, track purchase history, and send targeted marketing campaigns.
  • Sales Reporting: Generate reports on sales, inventory, employee performance, and customer behavior.
  • Mobile App: Access Square POS from your smartphone or tablet to process payments, manage inventory, and view reports on the go.
  • Online Ordering: Allow customers to order and pay online for pickup or delivery.
  • Loyalty Program: Reward customers for repeat business with points, discounts, and special offers.
  • Gift Cards: Sell physical and digital gift cards to boost sales and customer loyalty.
  • Integrations: Connect Square POS with other business tools, such as accounting software, payroll providers, and email marketing platforms.
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  • Kitchen Management: Optimize kitchen operations and boost efficiency using table mapping, offline credits, menu management and more. Colour code and route orders, assign preparation time, attach receipts, monitor production status, forecast requirements and leverage integrations to enhance the overall experience. 
  • Online Ordering: Create a flexible and effective digital ordering system to deliver quick services. Allow guests to order for curbside pickups, in-house delivery and third-party delivery. Process contactless payments, offer customizable menus, integrate with delivery providers, send orders directly to the kitchen and more across multiple devices. 
  • Alerts: Prioritize important tasks and regulate operations based on real-time notifications. Get instant alerts about new orders, updates, payments, non-availability of items, customer reviews and other communications without delay. Resolve issues to ensure smooth workplace functioning. 
  • Marketing: Offer rewards, discounts, promos and discounts to boost customer retention. Analyze transaction data, interaction stats and customer buying patterns to create targeted campaigns and personalized deals. Send marketing messages via SMS, MMS and email. 
  • Online Payments: Use a fully integrated platform to process online payments, equipped with a branded user interface and compatible with any smartphone device. Allow guests to scan a QR code or click a link from a text message to pay and send electronic receipts via email upon receiving checks. 
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Product Ranking

#13

among all
POS Software

#21

among all
POS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

92
80
100
42
100
89
100
100
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Compliance and Security
Customer and Loyalty Management
Employee Management
Integration and Extensibility
Items and Service Management
Employee Management
Reporting and Insights
Types of POS
Customer and Loyalty Management
Inventory Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Square POS
NCR Silver
+ Add Product + Add Product
Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 100 100 100 98 100 100 74 100 74 69 100 42 89 100 85 85 76 70 100 76 73 100 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
33%
0%
67%
100%
0%
0%
90%
0%
10%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
89%
0%
11%
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
100%
0%
0%
78%
0%
22%
50%
0%
50%
40%
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60%
100%
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100%
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60%
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40%
70%
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30%
56%
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44%
67%
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33%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
40%
0%
60%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 2169 reviews
Good User Sentiment 161 reviews
93%
of users recommend this product

Square POS has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 2169 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

74%
of users recommend this product

NCR Silver has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 161 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.6 (495)
3.8 (18)
4.7 (1637)
3.7 (143)
4.5 (37)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Square POS and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall POS Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Compliance and Security, Customer and Loyalty Management, Items and Service Management, Payment Transactions and Cash Management and Types of POS. Square POS stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

Analysts' Pick Award
User Favorite Award
Compliance and Security Award
Customer and Loyalty Management Award
Items and Service Management Award
Payment Transactions and Cash Management Award
Types of POS Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated NCR Silver and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Types of POS.

Types of POS Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-Friendly: 96% of users who reviewed this element said the software is flexible and mobile with a clean user interface.
Economical: According to 70% of users who mentioned this aspect, the pricing is fair and competitive.
Card Payments: 80% of users who reviewed payments said the platform is useful for processing cashless transactions with cards and sending invoices.
Invoicing: Regarding this feature, 95% of users said it’s easy to create, add and send invoices to clients.
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Intuitive Interface: Users often praise the easy-to-learn interface, with clear navigation and touchscreen compatibility.
Mobile Capabilities: Manage sales, inventory, and employee timecards remotely using the mobile app.
Flexible Payment Processing: Accept various payment methods, including EMV chip cards, contactless payments, and mobile wallets.
Robust Reporting: Generate detailed sales, inventory, and employee performance reports to track business insights.
Customer Management Tools: Build customer loyalty with features for tracking purchase history, creating targeted promotions, and managing gift cards.
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Costly for high-volume transactions: The per-transaction fees become significant as your business grows, pushing Square beyond cost-effective for many merchants.
Limited reporting and inventory: Users find Square's reports lack depth and flexibility, making detailed sales analysis and inventory management challenging.
Unreliable customer support: Users report difficulty reaching support, long wait times, and frustrating email-only communication, leaving them feeling helpless when issues arise.
Account holddowns and closures: Square's automated fraud detection can lead to sudden account freezes and closures, causing business disruptions and difficulties resolving the issue.
Clunky hardware: Some users find the Square hardware, particularly the chip reader, clunky and frustrating to use, impacting checkout workflow and customer experience.
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Limited Customization Options: Users may find the system's customization capabilities for receipts, reports, and workflows restrictive compared to some competitors.
Potential Inventory Management Issues: Some reviews mention challenges with inventory tracking accuracy and stock syncing across multiple locations.
Technical Glitches: Occasional reports of software glitches, slow loading times, and hardware compatibility issues, though frequency may vary.
Customer Support Response Times: Mixed experiences with customer support, with some users reporting long wait times or difficulty reaching knowledgeable representatives.
Hidden Fees: Potential for unexpected fees for hardware, add-ons, or specific payment processing services, which can increase overall costs.
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Square POS shines for its ease of use and affordability for small businesses, especially those starting out. Users praise its intuitive interface, seamless setup, and mobile accessibility, making it a breeze to ring up customers and manage basic sales. It also integrates well with popular tools like email marketing and accounting software, offering a centralized platform for managing various aspects of their business. However, Square's appeal wanes as businesses grow. Users lament its limited reporting and inventory management features, lacking the depth and customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS or Clover. Square's higher transaction fees for larger volumes also become a drawback compared to options like Stripe, which offer lower rates based on monthly transaction volume. Furthermore, Square's customer support receives mixed reviews. While some appreciate its responsiveness, others face frustrating wait times and limited communication channels, especially compared to the dedicated phone and live chat support offered by competitors. Overall, Square POS is a strong contender for solopreneurs and micro-businesses seeking a user-friendly and affordable POS solution. However, its limitations become apparent as businesses scale, pushing them towards more robust and feature-rich platforms. The choice ultimately boils down to prioritizing ease of use and affordability in the early stages versus scalability and advanced features as a business grows.

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NCR Silver, a POS software solution, has garnered a mixed bag of user reviews in the past year. While praised for its intuitive interface, ease of use, and robust reporting features, some users have expressed concerns regarding its pricing structure, limited customization options, and occasional glitches. On the positive side, many users appreciate NCR Silver's clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy for new staff to learn the ropes quickly. The software's reporting capabilities are also a hit, offering valuable insights into sales trends, inventory levels, and customer behavior. This data-driven approach helps businesses make informed decisions and optimize their operations. For instance, one user mentioned using NCR Silver's reporting to identify slow-selling items and adjust their ordering accordingly, leading to a significant reduction in waste. However, some users find the software's pricing to be on the higher end, especially for smaller businesses. Additionally, the customization options are perceived as limited compared to competitors, hindering businesses with unique workflows or branding needs. A recurring complaint dotyczy occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt operations, although NCR has been working on addressing these issues through regular updates. Overall, NCR Silver seems to be a solid POS system for businesses seeking a user-friendly and data-rich solution. However, its pricing and limited customization might deter cost-conscious businesses or those with specific needs. Carefully weighing the strengths and weaknesses against your individual requirements is crucial before making a decision.

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Screenshots

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