Quick Answer
Last verified:

Square POS pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $149 per month 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: Yes
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

Square POS offers 4 pricing tiers: Free, Plus, Premium, Enterprise. Standard paid plans include Free at $0/free, Plus at $49/location/month, Premium at $149/location/month. The Plus plan is growing businesses processing $15,000+ monthly wanting lower fees and advanced inventory features.

Compared to other retail pos software, Square POS is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

Last verified: January 2026 | Sources: 6 pricing pages and reviews

All Square POS Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Free transactionFees: 2.6% + 10¢ in-person, 2.9% + 30¢ onlineadvancedFeatures: Not included Free Free 0 Small businesses and startups wanting free POS software with pay-per-transaction pricing
Plus transactionFees: 2.5% + 10¢locations: Per location pricing $49 /location/month Custom Growing businesses processing $15,000+ monthly wanting lower fees and advanced inventory features
Premium transactionFees: 2.4% + 10¢support: Priority with dedicated manager $149 /location/month Custom Established retailers processing $50,000+ monthly needing premium support and customization
Enterprise minimumVolume: $250,000 annual card salestransactionFees: Negotiable Contact Contact Large retailers and chains processing $250,000+ annually requiring custom pricing and enterprise support
View all features by plan

Free

  • Unlimited devices and locations
  • Inventory management
  • Sales reports
  • Digital receipts
  • Team management
  • Square Online store
  • Contactless payments
  • Gift cards (activation fees apply)
  • Customer directory
  • Payment links
  • eCommerce integration

Plus

  • Everything in Free
  • Reduced processing fees: 2.5% + 10¢ per sale
  • Custom permissions
  • Advanced inventory management
  • Multi-location management
  • Automated reorder points
  • Smart cash tracking
  • Item-level margin reporting
  • Category management
  • Vendor management
  • Customer engagement tools

Premium

  • Everything in Plus
  • Even lower processing fees: 2.4% + 10¢ per sale
  • Custom reporting dashboards
  • Advanced employee management
  • Priority customer support
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Advanced data exports
  • Custom integrations (API access)
  • Labor management tools
  • Performance tracking
  • Multi-currency support

Enterprise

  • Everything in Premium
  • Custom processing rates for $250,000+ annual volume
  • White-glove onboarding
  • Dedicated implementation specialist
  • Custom contract terms
  • Advanced security and compliance
  • Priority API access
  • Custom reporting and analytics
  • Enterprise-grade SLAs
Visit Square POS Website

Get a custom Square POS quote

Enter your work email and we'll send you a detailed cost breakdown.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 10 hidden costs
  • Hardware costs: Square Terminal $299 (or $27/mo financing), Square Register $799 (or $39/mo financing), Square Reader $49, Square Stand $149
  • Transaction processing fees are unavoidable: 2.6% + 10¢ (Free), 2.5% + 10¢ (Plus), or 2.4% + 10¢ (Premium) - costs add up quickly on high-volume sales
  • Manual entry fees higher: 3.5% + 15¢ for manually keyed-in card transactions vs 2.6% for card-present, plus fraud risk
  • Online transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ for e-commerce sales (Free tier) separate from in-person rates
  • Per-location monthly fees: Square Plus ($49/mo) and Premium ($149/mo) charge per location - 3 stores = $147-447/month software costs alone
  • Chargeback fees: $15-25 per disputed transaction regardless of outcome, even if you win the dispute
  • Instant deposit fees: 1.5% fee for instant transfers to bank account vs free 1-2 business day standard deposits
  • Gift card activation fees: $1 per physical gift card activated through Square, digital cards free
  • Advanced features locked behind tiers: Custom permissions, automated inventory reorders, and margin reporting require $49/mo Plus upgrade minimum
  • No month-to-month discount: Square Plus and Premium charge same rate monthly vs annually - no savings for annual commitment unlike competitors
Tip

Ask your Square POS sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does Square POS cost?

Square POS software is free with no monthly subscription or setup fees. You pay only transaction fees: 2.6% + 10¢ per in-person sale and 2.9% + 30¢ online. Optional paid plans are Square Plus ($49/mo per location with 2.5% + 10¢ fees) and Premium ($149/mo with 2.4% + 10¢ fees). Hardware costs $49-$799 separately.

02 What are Square's transaction fees?

Square charges 2.6% + 10¢ per card-present transaction (Free plan), 2.5% + 10¢ (Plus plan at $49/mo), or 2.4% + 10¢ (Premium plan at $149/mo). Online transactions cost 2.9% + 30¢. Manually keyed-in cards are 3.5% + 15¢. For businesses processing over $250,000 annually, custom Enterprise rates are negotiable.

03 Is Square POS really free?

Yes, Square POS software is completely free with unlimited devices, locations, and features like inventory management, reporting, and team management. However, you must pay transaction processing fees (2.6% + 10¢ minimum per sale) and purchase hardware ($49-$799). The free plan is suitable for most small businesses, but high-volume retailers save money with paid plans that reduce per-transaction costs.

04 Should I upgrade to Square Plus or Premium?

Upgrade to Square Plus ($49/mo) if you process $15,000+ monthly - the 0.1% fee reduction (2.5% vs 2.6%) saves $15+ monthly, paying for itself. Premium ($149/mo) breaks even at $50,000+ monthly volume. Plus adds advanced inventory and custom permissions. Premium adds custom reporting, dedicated support, and priority service for high-volume businesses.

05 How much is Square hardware?

Square hardware ranges from $49 (Square Reader for contactless/chip) to $799 (Square Register with built-in screen and receipt printer). Square Terminal (all-in-one device) costs $299 or $27/month financing. Square Stand is $149. You can also use Square with iPad or smartphone and just purchase a card reader ($49). Hardware is purchased once, not monthly.

06 Does Square charge monthly fees?

No monthly fees for the Free plan - you pay only per-transaction (2.6% + 10¢). Square Plus costs $49/month per location with reduced fees (2.5% + 10¢). Premium costs $149/month per location with even lower fees (2.4% + 10¢). Multi-location businesses pay per-location monthly fee, so 3 stores = $147-447/month depending on plan.

07 How does Square compare to Shopify POS on pricing?

Square POS is free with 2.6% + 10¢ fees, while Shopify POS requires $5-89/month subscription plus 2.7% fees. Square has lower upfront costs and simpler pricing. Shopify wins for omnichannel retail (unified online/offline inventory) but costs more. For in-person-only sales under $20,000/month, Square is cheaper. For e-commerce + retail, Shopify may justify the premium.

08 Are there hidden fees with Square?

Square's main hidden fees include: $15-25 chargeback fees (even if you win), 3.5% + 15¢ for manually keyed-in cards (vs 2.6% card-present), 1.5% for instant deposits (vs free 1-2 day transfers), and $1 per physical gift card activation. Hardware financing adds interest. Multi-location businesses pay monthly fees per location, not flat rate.