STOA's verdictRating 8.1 out of 10
Square is a top pick for any US small business that takes payments in person — especially retail, food service, and personal care.
The biggest pro is how much you get for free: a full POS, basic inventory, and reporting with no monthly fee, just per-transaction costs. The main downside is that costs can add up fast once you layer in payroll, advanced POS features, or loyalty tools, so check the full price before assuming it stays cheap.
Six factors, weightedHow we rate
- SMB Fit 25%8.0 out of 10
Square Free has no monthly subscription cost and charges 2.6% + 15 cents per in-person card payment, which fits a small business taking payments in person.
