Square POS vs POS Nation

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Our analysts compared Square POS vs POS Nation 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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POS Nation provides solutions to help businesses handle sales, inventory, marketing, reporting and more. It offers advanced hardware solutions like cash drawers, chip card readers, barcode scanners, touch PCs and receipt printers. Users can track inventory by departments and categories, and establish reorder points for low-stock items. It maintains records of purchase orders and previous sales.
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$29 Monthly, Freemium, Plus Transaction Fees
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Tailored to your specific needs
$99 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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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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  • Pay Flexibly: Access and implement service through multiple subscription plan options. 30-day money back guarantee with no contract required. 
  • Process Secure Payments: Accept multiple payment options through Merchant Services, a secure, in-house payment processor that provides rate comparisons and assists with merchant services applications. 
  • Gain Valuable Insights: Monitor and analyze business performance using over 55 prebuilt, comprehensive reports. Customize reports based on unique needs and integrate with programs like Excel. 
  • Engage Customers: Forecast customer trends based on purchase history, preferences and other data. Initiate and publish marketing campaigns and promotions. 
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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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  • Inventory Management: Streamline product movement on an integrated inventory management platform. Track items, manage purchase orders, update vendor information, replenish stock, adjust data and more on a single platform. 
  • Customer Engagement: Create loyalty programs, run marketing campaigns, promote sales, offer discounts and more. Make intelligent business decisions based on buyer behavior, buying patterns and service expectations. 
  • Employee Monitoring: Create a consolidated labor management system to ensure team coordination, efficient workflows and transparency. Track employee work hours and breaks, schedule advance shifts, process payroll, assign jobs and grant role-based permissions. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Strategically improve business with extensive insights from the dashboard. Access and monitor reports, payment statements, purchase patterns, payroll summaries, marketing statistics, employee performance and other crucial business metrics through graphs and charts. 
  • Checkouts and Payments: Enable customers to pay using virtual and contactless payment methods and use discounts instantly. Employ barcode scanners, set promotion dates, verify IDs, create item-based departments and more to expedite payment processing and reduce wait times. 
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Product Ranking

#13

among all
POS Software

#90

among all
POS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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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 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 2169 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 218 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.

92%
of users recommend this product

POS Nation has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 218 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

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1.0 (1)
4.6 (495)
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4.6 (121)
4.7 (1637)
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4.5 (37)
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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

POS Nation stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite 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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Usability: The product is user-friendly, easy to install and intuitive, according to 95% of users who mentioned this element.
Reporting: According to 80% of users who reviewed this aspect, the reporting module is comprehensive, flexible and easy to understand.
Customer Support: 100% of users who mentioned this said the support team is knowledgeable, quick to respond and friendly.
Inventory Management: Regarding this feature, 65% of users said it’s effective in managing inventory.
Pricing: According to 80% of users who mentioned cost, the software is economical.
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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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Features: The amount of features is overwhelming, according to 85% of users who reviewed this aspect.
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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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POS Nation offers a solution for retailers that streamlines tasks like payment processing, checkouts, marketing, CRM and inventory management. It provides a user-friendly suite of employee and customer support options. Users can effectively manage inventory, process credit card transactions, run marketing campaigns, generate insightful reports, access customer information and customize the system to meet industry-specific needs. However, users reported some downsides, including bugs in the software, limited filters for inventory management and an overwhelming amount of features. Overall, POS Nation provides comprehensive and low-cost solutions well-suited for many retail businesses.

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Screenshots

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