Square vs Epos Now

Round by round

1. Round 1What the software costsSquare wins
   Square8/10

   $0

   the free plan, software only

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Epos Now5/10

   $39

   software only, per month

   • $39, against $0

   Source: posusa.com ↗

   Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

2. Round 2What it costs to get a card readerSquare wins
   Square8/10

   $59

   contactless and chip reader; the first magstripe reader is free

   Source: posusa.com ↗

   Epos Now5/10

   $399

   upfront cost

   • $349, against $59

   Source: posusa.com ↗

   Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

3. Round 3How long you are locked inSquare wins
   Square8/10

   No contract

   month-to-month, cancel anytime

   Source: posusa.com ↗

   Epos Now5/10

   1 to 5 years

   depends on the package; the low end is used

   • 1 to 5 years, against No contract

   Source: posusa.com ↗

   Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

4. Round 4What customers say on TrustpilotEpos Now wins
   Square5/10

   3.7 out of 5

   TrustScore from 7,486 reviews on Trustpilot

   • 3.7 out of 5, against 4.3 out of 5

   Source: trustpilot.com ↗

   Epos Now8/10

   4.3 out of 5

   TrustScore from 26,598 reviews on Trustpilot

   Source: trustpilot.com ↗

   Epos Now wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

5. Round 5What each card sale costsTie
   Square7/10

   2.6% + 15¢ in person

   Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Epos Now7/10

   2.6% + 10¢ per card

   Complete Solution (Countertop), $399 upfront + monthly

   Source: eposnow.com ↗

   Nothing to separate them here.

6. Round 6Who picks up when the till is downTie
   Square7/10

   Mon-Fri 6am-6pm PT (24/7=Premium)

   Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Epos Now7/10

   9am-6pm; 24/7 is paid package

   Complete Solution (Countertop), $399 upfront + monthly

   Source: eposnow.com ↗

   Nothing to separate them here.

Side by side

Best for what the software costsSquare

Check price

Epos Now

Check price

Overall score

6.8

Best

6.5

Price

See price

See price

What the software costs

7.8

6.5

What customers say on Trustpilot

7.3

7.8

Who picks up when the till is down

5.2

5.8

How long you are locked in

8.0

6.6

What it costs to get a card reader

5.9

5.0

Head-to-head findings

What the software costs

$0/mo (Square Free)

$39

What customers say on Trustpilot

3.7 out of 5

4.3 out of 5

Who picks up when the till is down

weekday hours on the free plan

9am-6pm; 24/7 is paid package

How long you are locked in

No contract

1 to 5 years

What it costs to get a card reader

Reader from $59

$399

What the top plan costs

Premium $149/mo

—

What each card sale costs

2.6% + 15¢

2.6% + 10¢ per card

Selling when the internet drops

Offline payments on every plan

Offline mode

Record

Head-to-head record

6–3

2–3–1

Head-to-heads won

67 %

40 %

Rounds won

53 %

32 %

Pros

• Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
• in-person card sale

Cons

• weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 support
• Reader from $59, against $0 upfront for first device
• Premium $149/mo, against Point of Sale from $69/mo
• weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 phone support

• $39, against $0
• $349, against $59
• 1 to 5 years, against No contract
• 7.5 out of 10, against 9 out of 10

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