Square vs TouchBistro
Square comes out ahead of TouchBistro on 4 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Square takes it, 4–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Square takes 4 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Square if…
- • You want Square's edge on what the software costs and how long you are locked in
Choose TouchBistro if…
- • You want TouchBistro's edge on who picks up when the till is down and what the top plan costs
Round by round
- Round 1What the software costsSquare wins
Square wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Who picks up when the till is downTouchBistro winsSquare5/10
weekday hours on the free plan
Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm PT on the free plan
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 support
Source: posusa.com ↗
TouchBistro wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How long you are locked inSquare winsTouchBistro5/10
variable Initial Term per Sales Quote, auto-renews for an equivalent period
TouchBistro Merchant Terms of Use, Section 21
- 1 year, against No contract
Source: touchbistro.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What customers say on TrustpilotSquare winsTouchBistro5/10
1.5 out of 5
TrustScore from 349 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.5 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5Tracking stock on the starter planSquare winsSquare8/10
Not in Free (Plus and Premium only)
Square Free ($0/mo per location); Inventory tracking is ticked for Plus and Premium only
- Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
Source: squareup.com ↗
TouchBistro5/10Inventory is a paid add-on
Point of Sale (software only, hardware/payments extra)
- Inventory is a paid add-on, against Inventory tracking in Free plan
Source: touchbistro.com ↗
Square wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What the top plan costsTouchBistro winsSquare5/10
Premium $149/mo
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- Premium $149/mo, against Essentials Bundle from $119/mo
Source: squareup.com ↗
TouchBistro8/10Essentials Bundle from $119/mo
Point of Sale (software only, hardware/payments extra)
Source: touchbistro.com ↗
TouchBistro wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- in-person card sale
- annual contracts that auto-renew, no month-to-month
- 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
- $69, against $0
- 1 year, against No contract
- 1.5 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
- Inventory is a paid add-on, against Inventory tracking in Free plan