Square for Retail vs Epos Now

Sortly

Fishbowl

NetSuite

Sortly is an easy inventory solution that helps businesses track and manage their inventory from any device, in any location.

Designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, Fishbowl’s complete manufacturing and inventory management solution transforms the inventory process and uses automation to help growing businesses make strategic and precise decisions based on real-time data and cut costs.

NetSuite is an AI-powered cloud-based business management suite. It helps organizations streamline their operations and gain real-time insights into their performance. The suite caters to a range of industries such as manufacturing, retail, and professional services.

Manager

It is dependable and i feel peace of mind knowing it is safe for my customers' info.

Buyer

It was also very easy for customers to use and understand!

Square for Retail is a point of sale (POS) system for retail businesses, with integrated inventory management, customer profiles, employee timecards, and more

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting

Accounting Integration

ACH Payment Processing

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Appointment Management

Backorder Management

Barcode Recognition

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Barcoding/RFID

Billing & Invoicing

Catalog Management

Clock In/Out

Commission Management

Cost Tracking

Credit Card Processing

Customer Accounts

Customer Database

Customer History

Customization

Delivery Management

Discount Management

eCommerce Management

Electronic Payments

Electronic Signature

Email Marketing

Employee Management

For iPad Devices

For Liquor Stores

For Retail

Gift Card Management

Historical Reporting

Inventory Management

Inventory Optimization

Inventory Replenishment

Inventory Tracking

Invoice Management

Item Management

Label Templates

Loyalty Program

Mail Order

Merchandise Management

Mobile Access

Multi-Channel Management

Multi-Location

Order Entry

Order Fulfillment

Order Management

Order Processing

Payment Processing

Point of Sale (POS)

Pricing Management

Product Identification

Purchase Order Management

Purchasing & Receiving

QuickBooks Integration

Real-Time Data

Real Time Order Entry

Real-Time Updates

Receipt Management

Remote Order Entry

Reorder Management

Reporting/Analytics

Retail Inventory Management

Retail Management

Retail POS

Returns Management

Returns Tracking

Sales Order Management

Sales Reports

Sales Tax Management

Sales Trend Analysis

Search/Filter

Shipping Labels

Shipping Management

SKU/UPC Codes

Stock Management

Supplier Management

Touch Screen

Transaction History

Reviewers appreciate Square for Retail’s transparent pricing, free app, and included hardware, which they find helpful for small businesses. However, some users report that per-transaction fees and optional hardware costs can add up and impact profits.

Value for money

By industry, Square for Retail reviewers are most commonly professionals in retail (20%). The most frequent use case for Square for Retail is point of sale (63% of reviewers).

Square for Retail

Web-based

iPad

Clover

Toast POS

Lightspeed Retail

eHopper

Shopify POS

Epos Now

SkuVault Core

Bindo POS

Square Free

Square Plus

Square Premium

Frequent glitches and crashes

51% of reviewers feel negative about bugs and issues. Some users report experiencing glitches that require restarting the app or cause certain functions to fail. Reviewers mention problems with syncing, slow performance, and occasional crashes, especially during high-volume periods. They find it frustrating when errors disrupt daily operations and say that finding solutions can be time-consuming. Some reviewers indicate that intermittent technical problems and hardware-related issues can make the system unreliable at times.

Difficult customer support access

36% of reviewers feel negative about customer support. Some users report that it is hard to reach a live representative, especially during urgent situations. Reviewers mention long response times and inconsistent quality of assistance when they do connect with support. They feel that customer service is not always helpful or available when needed, leading to frustration during critical issues. Some reviewers indicate that lack of accessible support can disrupt business operations and cause customer dissatisfaction.

Unreliable card reader performance

36% of reviewers feel negative about the card reader. Some users report frequent issues with card readers failing to connect, requiring multiple swipes, or not reading cards properly. Reviewers mention that hardware sometimes needs to be replaced, and manual entry becomes necessary, which is time-consuming and incurs higher fees. They find it inconvenient when the reader loses charge quickly or does not pair with devices reliably. Some reviewers say these problems can slow down transactions and frustrate both staff and customers.

High and opaque fees

Owner

Absolutely ridiculous when other companies offer funds transfer and payment options for a fraction of the service fee.

38% of reviewers feel negative about pricing. Some users say the transaction and service fees are higher than they expected, and these costs can quickly add up for small businesses. Reviewers mention frustration with hidden or hard-to-locate fees, as well as the expense of optional hardware. They feel that the fees reduce their profits and wish the pricing structure was more transparent and competitive. Some reviewers indicate that the cost may be a barrier for businesses with tight margins.

Quick staff onboarding

96% of reviewers feel positive about staff training. Some users report that Square’s system is easy to learn, allowing new employees to become proficient in minutes. Reviewers appreciate the straightforward interface, which minimizes the need for extensive tutorials. They find that even staff with little technical experience can use the system confidently. Some reviewers mention that training additional team members is simple, and the platform’s intuitive design helps reduce onboarding time and errors during busy periods.

Reliable retail store solution

97% of reviewers feel positive about Square’s suitability for retail stores. Some users say it is simple to set up and manage for both brick-and-mortar and pop-up shops. Reviewers appreciate its ability to handle daily retail operations efficiently, including sales and inventory management. They mention that it supports both new and established retail businesses, helping them grow and operate smoothly. Some reviewers find it especially useful for first-time users and value its security and ease of use for in-store transactions.

Highly intuitive user interface

98% of reviewers feel positive about the user interface. Reviewers indicate the interface is extremely user-friendly, modern, and straightforward, making it easy for both staff and customers to navigate. They appreciate the ability to customize the interface and integrate it with other platforms, which helps streamline operations. Some users say the interface’s simplicity reduces training time and errors, while others mention that the design feels safe and reliable. They find it convenient for quick transactions and value its consistent performance across devices, whether using the app or desktop version.

Ideal for small businesses

Co-Owner

It is a highly customizable app that can be tailored to the specific needs of your small business.

Data & Finance Mgr

Square is designed for small business and is scalable for us to grow.

94% of reviewers feel positive about Square’s support for small businesses. Reviewers indicate that the platform is easy to set up, affordable, and highly customizable for small operations. Some users say it helps them appear more professional and manage sales efficiently, whether at markets, festivals, or small offices. They appreciate its mobile accessibility and the ability to scale as their business grows. Many reviewers mention that Square opens up new opportunities and simplifies accounting and payment processes.

Effortless setup and operation

lot manager

Use this product for just 6 weeks, was very very easy to learn and had people using it that were generally not good at computers.

93% of reviewers feel positive about Square’s ease of use. Some users report that setting up the system and adding products is quick and straightforward, even for those with limited technical skills. Reviewers appreciate how easy it is to process payments, generate receipts, and track sales. They mention that the platform is intuitive for both staff and customers, making transactions fast and efficient. Some reviewers find that Square’s accessibility across devices and simple configuration options save them time and reduce operational hassles.

Immediately after this transaction, Square closed my account and informed me that I would have to wait 90 days to receive the funds — with no way to expedite or reroute payment despite the urgent cash-flow implications for my business. Because these funds are tied up until February, my business is facing serious difficulty covering payroll and operating expenses.

Point of Sale Inventory Control manager

User friendly for many types of businesses, tracks inventory, supports online sales, competitive pricing for plans vs. other products.

Web Developer

Even with those limitations, Square for Retail delivers a clean, efficient, and dependable experience for managing in‑store sales.

Managing the back end, running real‑time sales, and processing payments all feel smooth and intuitive.

It’s excellent for small to mid‑sized operations, but businesses with more complex needs may find themselves wanting more flexibility and deeper features.

The search function could use some refining in order to make it easier to find items that don’t have SKU’s and scannable barcodes

It can feel limited for businesses that need more advanced retail features.

VALUE FOR MONEY - good, with square swipe adapter being free

Order Management III

You can have unlimited items in your inventory which makes this convenient for the user and the customer, especially when you can do next day transfers as well!

I processed a transaction for $13,800 through Square.

The inventory piece of it is consistent and accurate and also very easy to navigate.

Now, it transfers all my data and spreadsheets straight to the accountant.

It's perfect for rerai furniture and store. Once you've tried it you won't forget it!, its the perfect all in one app

It’s very hard to get in touch with someone, and when you do, they weren’t much help in my opinion.

It was so easy to set up that I thought I was doing something wrong.

Owner operator

It is the most readily available and streamlined inventory tool

MANAGER

PRODUCT COUNT WAS GREAT WITH SQUARE FOR RETAIL.

I was using two other paid apps along with Square.

We specifically use Square for Restaurants POS system for our taproom system, which also ties into our mobile payments, but we do use Square for Retail as the basis for our online ordering page through Wix, as it works best for hosting that site for orders.

I like that square terminal is super easy to use and works every time.

The program also offers SKU and GTIN codes to be scanned successfully.

This is by far the best inventory tool I’ve found for the price.

First Impressions Director

The inventory tracking helps us know what we need and don't need, saving us money and allowing us to know what's in demand.

Overall, this is a good program to use when you need convenience. When using square, in this day and age, fast, easy and quick are what is needed in today's society, and this program comes to the rescue.

NutriStore Supervisor

Additionally, the processing fees went up drastically for us when we began offering one CBD product (THC free) out of several hundred products in our store.

Director

Would highly recommend this to all businesses in the retail sector

Real Estate Investor

It's so easy for me as a customer to make a quick purchase from small businesses, which I prefer to support.   If they did not have this option, I would not be able to make a purchase when I choose not to carry cash, which is nearly 100% of the time.  

Fees of course, and deposit timing is sometimes delayed.

We were not informed that all other user accounts would be closed and that the only way to access old records would be through the owner email account.  

WARRANTY CLERK

Square is a perfect solution, I can check my inventory, make multiple sales and email customer's receipt all within the Square App on my phone.

The incorporation of cash/check customers check out ability allows me to maintain inventory without the need to separately or manually change stock after the fact.

From loading up all our merchandise to swiping the guest's card/taking cash, all have come together nicely.

Entrepreneur 

Square for Retail has helped to ease my business flow by accepting payments, managing inventory and creating daily reports to track sales.

Co-Owner/Manager

with an attractive design and easy to use interface  Square made payment processing very easy and allowed me the time to handle other hurtles that pop up on a daily basis.

The mobility of Square is the most fantastic aspect of the Square service. If we don't end up using the fully-fledged POS system, we have the option to use a simple phone-attached card payment device.

Square integrates with QuickBooks online, so it's been seamless to link all my Square sales to my accounting books and makes my tax filings much more accurate

Sales and hires 

Running a hire company, receiving payments on delivery is required on a daily, the square system is amazing can keep in your pocket and works every time.

Engineer

It also is convenient for when phone or internet goes out, and customers are in the main store, since it supplies a simple backup for payment processing.  

Advocate

Square for Retail was a little more convoluted in my opinion, the traditional Square POS app was more my style, straight to the point!

Technical Support Specialist

While keeping operation and inventory counts synced seems difficult, Square for Retail delivers a great experience

We have hundreds of items, each with different elements and aspects, no two items are the same, thus it is time consuming to transfer items from our other e-commerce platforms to Square.

There have been times when my iPad crapped out and had to use my laptop, and it's not the same experience. If you're using the signature service for forms that you need to send out, it only records the signature itself and nothing else. Either it's a user error on my part, or they need to update it, but it needs more customization.

Endpoint Technician

My favorite feature is the management of customers, receipts, and automated thank you messages. If I was not using Square but ran into someone using it, I would surely be jumping ship.

owner

Items transferred from one store to the other don't always show up in inventory.

Square for Retail vs Epos Now Comparison (2026)

Square for Retail

Epos Now

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives