Quick verdict
Square is the best free POS software you can get without signing a contract. The app is genuinely good, the ecosystem (online store, invoices, inventory, loyalty) is broad, and there's no monthly fee to start. It's our go-to recommendation for cafés, small retail and service businesses.
Best for
- Cafés
- Small retail
- Service businesses
- Online + in-person
Not ideal for
- Businesses needing bespoke rates at large scale
Pricing
- Flat 1.75% on in-person card payments, with no setup fee and no monthly fee on the standard plan.
- Square for Restaurants and Square for Retail add paid tiers with deeper features.
- Readers from £19 + VAT; the Square Terminal (£149 + VAT) is an all-in-one with a printer; the Register is a full till.
- Monthly fee
- £0 (paid POS tiers available)
- Transaction
- 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
- Reader from
- £19 + VAT
- Payouts
- Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)
Hardware
The range scales nicely: a £19 reader for a phone/tablet, a Terminal handheld for table-side, or a Register for a fixed counter. You can start small and add hardware as you grow.
Features & contract
Contract: No contract (pay-as-you-go). Support: Square's help resources are strong and the software is self-explanatory. Phone support is available during business hours.
Real-world use cases
- Independent café: Excellent - free POS, tipping, quick menus and good reporting.
- Small retail shop: Excellent - built-in inventory and an online store that syncs.
- High-volume merchant after bespoke rates: Limited - the flat rate isn't negotiable; consider a quote-based acquirer.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Genuinely good free POS app
- No monthly fee, no setup fee on standard plan
- Strong ecosystem: online store, invoices, inventory, loyalty
- Square for Restaurants & Retail tiers if you grow
Watch out for
- 1.75% flat rate isn't bespoke-cheap at high volume
- Some advanced features sit behind paid tiers
- Instant payouts cost extra
Square vs alternatives
SumUpThe “just let me take payments” option. Cheap to start, portable, dead simple. Brilliant for low-volume and mobile sellers; you may outgrow it for a full restaurant setup.
PayPal ZettlePayPal-friendly card payments with a simple reader and no monthly software fee for basic use. Good for small retailers and mobile sellers already in the PayPal world.
Shopify POSThe obvious choice if you sell on Shopify and want in-person to match your online store. Strong for ecommerce-led retail; less compelling if you're not already on Shopify.
Final verdict
The strongest free POS software option. Tidy app, decent ecosystem, no monthly fee to start. Great for small retail, cafés and service businesses that want software without signing their life away.
FAQs
Is Square really free?
The standard POS app and plan have no monthly or setup fee - you pay 1.75% per in-person transaction. Advanced Restaurant/Retail tiers and some add-ons are paid.
Is Square good for restaurants?
Square for Restaurants handles tables, coursing and tips well for small and mid-size venues. Larger operations sometimes prefer Lightspeed or a dedicated hospitality POS.
How much does a Square card reader cost?
The Square contactless and chip reader starts from around £19, while the all-in-one Square Terminal is about £149. There is no monthly fee on the standard plan and no contract. You then pay 1.75% per in-person card transaction. Check current terms for the latest hardware pricing.
Does Square offer next-day payouts?
Yes. Square typically sends funds to your bank account the next working day as standard, at no extra cost. If you need money sooner, instant payouts are available for a fee. Timing can shift around weekends and bank holidays, so check current terms.
Is Square good for a small business just starting out?
Square suits new and small businesses well. There is no monthly fee on the standard plan, no contract, and a strong free POS app for tracking sales and stock. You pay 1.75% per in-person sale, so costs scale with your takings rather than a fixed bill.