Square for Restaurants Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Square for Restaurants pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $149 per per location in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Square for Restaurants's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Menu management
- Pickup and delivery
- Third-party order management
- Basic POS features
- Higher processing fees
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Free features
- Kitchen display system
- Course management
- Table management
- Lower processing fees
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Free features or Kitchen display system
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Square for Restaurants branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Plus Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Plus $60/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 5 included | 5+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Square for Restaurants branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Small restaurants starting out | Full-service restaurants |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Square for Restaurants free?
Yes, Square for Restaurants offers a forever free plan with 5 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Square for Restaurants's free plan?
Square for Restaurants's free plan includes: Menu management, Pickup and delivery, Third-party order management, Basic POS features, Higher processing fees. Key limits include basic usage caps.
03 What's NOT included in Square for Restaurants's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Free features, Kitchen display system, Course management, Table management, Lower processing fees. You'll also have Square for Restaurants branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Square for Restaurants's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Free features or Kitchen display system, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $60/per location.
05 Is Square for Restaurants's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Square for Restaurants's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Square for Restaurants pricing updates
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