Square Point of Sale: Payment vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Square Point of Sale: Payment's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

	Square Point of Sale: Payment This App	SumUp: Payments and POS Nemesis	Clover Go - Dashboard & POS Contender	Shopify Point of Sale (POS) Contender	QuickBooks GoPayment POS Peer	Loyverse POS - Point of Sale Peer	Helcim: Point of Sale New Kid
Core Identity
Developer	Block, Inc.	SumUp Limited	Clover Network, Inc.	Shopify Inc.	Intuit Inc.	Loyverse	Helcim Inc.
Category	Business	Business	Finance	Business	Business	Business	Finance
Platform	Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS
Store Metrics
Rating	4.6 / 5	3.8 / 5	4.8 / 5	4.5 / 5	4.8 / 5	4.7 / 5	3.2 / 5
Ratings Count	256,439	658	62,237	7,465	6,358	356	91
Price	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free
Release Date	May 11, 2010	Oct 20, 2015	Sep 24, 2015	Aug 28, 2013	Aug 3, 2009	May 2, 2016	May 28, 2020
Last Updated	May 5, 2026	Apr 13, 2026	Apr 6, 2026	May 14, 2026	Mar 25, 2026	Mar 24, 2026	Apr 15, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentiment	negative	-	-	negative	-	-	mixed
Score	35/100	-	-	25/100	-	-	52/100
Praises	Simple payment processing setup allows small businesses to start accepting transactions quickly	-	-	Core store management functionality provides a convenient foundation for new business owners starting out	-	-	-
Complaints	Recurring tap to pay connectivity failures post-update force frequent app uninstalls and reinstalls	-	-	Frequent application crashes and connection failures during checkout disrupt the sales process for retail merchants Unnecessary UI changes and complex navigation steps increase the time required to complete simple transactions	-	-	-
Requests	Dark mode interface requested to reduce eye strain during extended daily usage sessions	-	-	Offline transaction capability is required to prevent lost sales in areas with unreliable internet connectivity	-	-	-
Strategic Intel
Strengths	Integrated banking suite creates financial lock-in Multi-industry POS modes increase switching costs Offline processing ensures business continuity	Integrated Business Account with Mastercard for immediate fund access Versatile remote payment suite (Links, QR, Invoices) Transparent, no-monthly-fee pricing structure	24/7/365 live phone support (key advantage over Square) Native Tap to Pay on iPhone (hardware-free onboarding) Deep integration with Fiserv banking infrastructure	Unified inventory sync across online and physical channels drives high switching costs Deep platform integration creates a central source of truth for multi-channel merchants	-	-	Interchange Plus pricing model ($0 monthly fees) Free unlimited users included in base platform Unified online and in-person payment ecosystem
Weaknesses	0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap High-frequency connectivity failures post-update Opaque account-holding policies create financial friction	Lacks scaling features like Payroll and Staff Management (available in Square) No 24/7 phone support for lower-tier merchants Recent updates indicate a focus on maintenance over feature innovation	Mandatory monthly SaaS fees create a higher barrier to entry than Square Security restrictions block rooted/jailbroken devices Less extensive third-party app marketplace compared to Square	Frequent app freezes during active transactions erode merchant revenue Removal of direct keypad input increases checkout time Opaque account termination policies create financial uncertainty	-	-	Lower app store rating (3.26) compared to established competitors Smaller mobile user base (90 ratings vs Stax's 150+) Less mature financial reporting suite than Stax
Pricing	freemium	freemium	subscription	freemium	freemium	free	free
Momentum	Steady	-	Maintenance	Active	Intense	Intense	-
Update Cadence	3 versions, ~17d avg	-	1 versions	5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~11d avg	5 versions	5 versions	-

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