Square is commerce infrastructure that starts at the counter: till software, first-party hardware and one shared catalogue across channels.
Company
Who makes Square
Square is the commerce arm of Block, selling self-serve payment hardware and point-of-sale software in the markets it supports.
Official website: squareup.com ↗
Product
What it actually does
The line-up pairs free point-of-sale software with first-party readers and terminals, then extends into an online store, invoicing, appointments, restaurant and retail verticals, payroll and reporting on one catalogue.
Product family
- · Square POS
- · Square Reader and Terminal
- · Square Online
- · Invoices
- · Appointments
- · Restaurants
- · Retail
- · Payroll
Use cases
What people hire it for
- Taking card payments across a counter or on the move
- Selling the same catalogue in person and online
- Booking and charging appointments
- Running one inventory and reporting source for a small business
Platforms
Where it runs
iOSAndroidWeb dashboardFirst-party hardwareREST API
Categories
Where Square appears
Buying guides
Featured in these buying guides
Comparisons
Head-to-head
Editorial roadmap
Planned reviews
Full review published — read it here.
Related reviews
Read next
- StripeThe developer-first payments platform: card acquiring, subscriptions, invoicing and marketplace payouts behind one API.
- PayPalA payments network with a consumer wallet in front of it — chosen for buyer recognition rather than developer experience.
- AdyenSingle-platform payments for scale: direct acquiring, local payment methods and unified online plus in-store commerce.
Alternatives
Considered instead of Square
Glossary