Ranked
9 Best Square Alternatives for Small Business (2026)
Nine Square alternatives, matched to each Square product and priced at $5,000 a month against Square's 2.6% + 15¢. Verified 5 November 2026.
You're probably looking because Square's fees add up, or because you need something its free plan doesn't do. Those are good reasons to look, but moving has a cost too. Square's hardware is built for Square, so you should plan on buying something new.
So the useful question is what you'd buy instead of the Square product you have now, or were about to buy. I've matched each alternative to a Square product, and priced them for one business making $5,000 a month on cards from 100 sales of $50. On Square's free plan, that comes to about $145 a month.
What Square sells, and what to buy instead
Square sells five main machines, from a small reader to a full counter system. Find the one you have, or the one you were about to buy, and this is where I'd look instead.
What to buy instead of each Square product
| What it's for | Square's price | Try instead | Why it might suit you better | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Reader | A small reader that pairs with your phone | $59 | Helcim Card Reader, $199 | Lower fees on every sale |
| Square Terminal | A compact machine with a printer | $299 | Helcim Smart Terminal, $349 | Lower fees, with 4G for $7 a month |
| Square Stand | A swiveling iPad till | $149 | Shopify POS, from $25 a month | One system for your store and your counter |
| Square Handheld | A pocket till for orders at the table | $399 | Toast Go 3, on a quote | Made for restaurants |
| Square Register | A full system for a busy counter | $899 | Clover Station, or Lightspeed for retail | Plans and tools built around your type of business |
Square also sells a self-service Kiosk. Prices are for the machines, before any card fees.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
That's the machine. You'll also be paying a monthly plan if you've moved up from Square's free plan: Square Plus is $49 a month with a fee of 2.5% + 15¢, and Premium is $149 a month with 2.4% + 15¢. If you're on one of those for the tools, compare the whole bill, not only the fee.
What each one costs at $5,000 a month
The fee per sale matters most, because you pay it on every sale for as long as you use the machine. Here's each alternative next to the Square Reader on Square's free plan.
Against Square at $5,000 a month
| To buy | Monthly fee | Fee per sale | A month in fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Reader | $59 | $0 | 2.6% + 15¢ | $145 |
| Helcim Card Reader | $199 | $0 | About 1.93% + 8¢ | About $105 |
| SumUp Card Reader | On sale | $0 | 2.6% + 10¢ | $140 |
| PayPal Card Reader | $29 | $0 | 2.29% + 9¢ | $124 |
| Stripe Reader M2 | $59 | $0 | 2.7% + 5¢ | $140 |
| Helcim Smart Terminal | $349 | $0, or $7 for 4G | About 1.93% + 8¢ | About $105 |
| Shopify POS | Plus a reader | From $25 | Set by your plan | Set by your plan |
| Lightspeed Retail | On a quote | On a quote | On a quote | On a quote |
| Clover Station | Set by your plan | Set by your plan | From 2.3% + 10¢ | From $125, plus the plan |
| Toast Go 3 | $0 to start | $0, or from $69 | On a quote | On a quote |
Our sums, for 100 sales of $50. Helcim charges the card network's cost plus 0.40% + 8¢, so its fee moves from sale to sale, and the fee shown is its own estimate. SumUp lists 30% off its readers right now.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
How I ranked them
I've followed Square's own range, from small to big. The first four replace the Square Reader, starting with the two that suit most people leaving Square. Then comes the machine with a printer, then the tablet setup, and last the three counter systems.
1. Helcim Card Reader - instead of the Square Reader, for lower fees
This is where I'd start if your main reason for leaving is the fees. Square charges one flat fee. Helcim passes on what the card networks charge, and adds 0.40% + 8¢ on in-person sales. By its own estimate, that works out to about 1.93% + 8¢, which saves you about $40 a month at $5,000.
Helcim Card Reader
A portable reader with no monthly fee or contract, and a fee built from the card network's cost plus a small margin.
To lower your fees: Helcim Card Reader
Helcim is the one to look at if fees are why you're leaving Square. Your fee changes a little from sale to sale, depending on the card.
Where it stands out
- No monthly fee or contract
- Lower margins as your sales grow
Buy it if
- You sell a few thousand dollars or more a month on cards
- You're fine with a fee that isn't one flat number
Skip it if
- You want the same flat fee on every sale
Want one flat fee? SumUp
SumUp charges 2.6% + 10¢ on every in-person sale, so your bill is easy to predict, though it comes to about $35 more a month at $5,000.
The reader costs $140 more than Square's, so at $5,000 a month you'd earn that back in about four months. It also makes moving easier, because Helcim says it moves your card and customer data across at no charge. It's a harder sell if you only sell occasionally.
2. SumUp - instead of the Square Reader, for faster money
If you like how simple Square is and want the same kind of deal, this is the closest match. You pay 2.6% + 10¢ on in-person sales, which is 5¢ less than Square on each sale. That's a small saving: about $5 a month on 100 sales.
SumUp Card Reader
One flat fee on in-person sales, no monthly fee, and your money the next morning in a free SumUp account.
For a simple switch: SumUp
SumUp is the easy move if you like one simple fee. It lists 30% off its readers right now, and its prices move with its sales.
Where it stands out
- Money by 7am the next day, weekends too, in its free account
- No monthly fee or minimum
Buy it if
- You want your money fast, including on weekends
- You make small sales, where 5¢ a sale adds up
Skip it if
- Fees are your main reason for leaving Square
Want lower fees? Helcim
Helcim's reader costs $199, but its own estimate puts your fees about $35 a month lower at $5,000.
The better reason to move is speed. SumUp says your money reaches its free business account by 7am the next day, even on weekends and holidays. If you sell at a weekend market and restock on Monday, that's worth more than the fee.
3. PayPal Card Reader - instead of the Square Reader, for less upfront
Your first reader is $29, which is $30 less than Square's, and more readers are $79 each. Its 2.29% + 9¢ comes to about $124 a month at $5,000, about $21 less than Square.
PayPal Card Reader
A low-cost reader and a low flat fee, with your money in your PayPal balance within minutes.
If you already use PayPal: PayPal Card Reader
PayPal is a cheap way in if your money already sits in PayPal. If it doesn't, you'd be adding one more balance to move money from.
Where it stands out
- The lowest reader price here
- An all-in-one machine at $199
Buy it if
- You already sell through PayPal
Skip it if
- You'd rather have sales go straight to your bank
Want it in a bank account? SumUp
SumUp pays into its own free account by 7am the next day, at 2.6% + 10¢.
Your money goes to your PayPal balance within minutes, so this suits you best if you already run your business from PayPal. If you don't, that extra balance is one more thing to keep track of.
4. Stripe Reader M2 - instead of the Square Reader, if you have a developer
It's the same $59 as the Square Reader, but it's for a business building its own app or checkout, not one that wants to open a box and start selling. You pay 2.7% + 5¢ on in-person sales, plus 1.5% on international cards.
Stripe Reader M2
A reader your developer can connect to your own app, on the same Stripe account as your online payments.
If you're building your own app: Stripe Reader M2
Stripe is for a business with a developer. Connecting its readers to your own checkout takes development work.
Where it stands out
- Built to connect to your own software
- Low fixed fee on each sale
Buy it if
- You already take online payments through Stripe
Skip it if
- You don't have a developer
No developer? SumUp
SumUp works out of the box, at 2.6% + 10¢ on in-person sales.
If you already use Stripe online and have someone who can connect it, all your payments stay in one account. Otherwise, one of the first two will have you selling much sooner.
5. Helcim Smart Terminal - instead of the Square Terminal
The Square Terminal is $299 with a built-in printer. This is $349, also with a printer, and it runs on Helcim's lower fees. At $5,000 a month, you'd save about $40 in fees, so the extra $50 is gone in under two months.
Helcim Smart Terminal
A stand-alone machine with a built-in printer and till, with 4G available for $7 a month.
Instead of a Square Terminal: Helcim Smart Terminal
This is the Square Terminal's closest match, at Helcim's lower fees. Pay once, or spread it over a year.
Where it stands out
- A built-in printer
- 4G for $7 a month, where Wi-Fi isn't reliable
Buy it if
- Your customers want a printed receipt
- You sell enough for lower fees to matter
Skip it if
- A phone and a small reader would do
PayPal also sells an all-in-one machine at $199, with a barcode scanner for $40 more. That's the one to look at if your money already sits in PayPal.
6. Shopify POS - instead of the Square Stand, if you also sell online
The Square Stand turns an iPad into a till. Shopify does a similar job with a phone or tablet and its own card reader, and it keeps your stock and customers in one place. A sale at your counter and a sale on your website come off the same count.
Shopify POS
One system for your online store and your counter, with stock and customers kept together.
If you sell online too: Shopify POS
Shopify is the one to choose if your online store comes first. You pay a monthly fee even in a quiet month, so it rarely makes sense for a counter alone.
Where it stands out
- One stock count across online and in person
- Casual in-person selling is included in every plan
Buy it if
- You already sell online, or plan to soon
Skip it if
- You only sell in person
Only selling in person? Helcim
Helcim has no monthly fee, so nothing is due in a quiet month.
Basic is $25 a month, and in-person selling is included. A busy store will want POS Pro, at $89 a month for each location. That monthly cost is why I'd only move here if the online store is a real part of your business.
7. Lightspeed Retail - instead of the Square Register, for a big store
If you run a shop with a lot of stock, or more than one location, a simple till starts to hold you back. Lightspeed is built for that. It doesn't list its prices, so you'll need a quote, and then set the whole bill against what you pay Square now.
Lightspeed Retail
A retail system for stores with a lot of stock, with its plans on a quote.
For a bigger store: Lightspeed Retail
Lightspeed is for a store that has outgrown a simple till. There's no listed price, so you'll need to talk to its sales team.
Where it stands out
- Built for stores with a lot of stock
- Three plans, from Basic to Plus
Buy it if
- You run a shop with many products or locations
Skip it if
- You want to see a price before you talk to sales
It's more than a small store needs. If you have one shop and a few hundred products, Square's free plan or Shopify will probably do the job for less.
8. Clover Station - instead of the Square Register, for a busy counter
Like the Square Register, the Clover Station has a screen for you and a screen for your customer. Its fees start at 2.3% + 10¢, and the plan and machine price depend on your type of business, so you'll need to choose your type on its site, or talk to its sales team.
Clover Station
Countertop machines on a monthly plan, set by your type of business.
For a full counter: Clover Station
Clover is for a business that wants a full system at the counter. Compare the whole cost, including the plan, before you sign up.
Where it stands out
- Plans built for your type of business
- 24/7 support
Buy it if
- You want a countertop system with staff and stock tools
Skip it if
- You only need a small reader
Only need a small reader? Helcim
Helcim's reader is $199 once, with no monthly fee.
Before you sign, add up the machine, the plan and the fees, then compare that with the $899 Square Register and your Square bill. Clover's online offer includes a statement credit on some machines, so make sure it covers the one you want.
9. Toast Go 3 - instead of the Square Handheld, for a restaurant
The Square Handheld is $399 and works for tableside orders. Toast is built around restaurants, so the kitchen, the tables and the card payments all work together. Its Starter Kit begins at $0 a month for a single location with one or two machines, and its Point of Sale plan starts at $69 a month.
Toast Go 3
A handheld made for restaurants, with a Starter Kit from $0 a month.
For a restaurant: Toast Go 3
Toast is the one to look at if you run a restaurant. It's a poor fit for anything else.
Where it stands out
- Made for restaurants
- A retail plan too, from $90 a month
Buy it if
- You run a restaurant, bar or cafe
Skip it if
- You want to see your card fee before you talk to sales
Want a listed fee? SumUp
SumUp lists 2.6% + 10¢ on in-person sales, with no sales call.
Your card fees come on a quote, so get them in writing and compare them with Square's 2.6% + 15¢. For a cafe with a simple counter, the Helcim or SumUp reader is enough.
How to move from Square
First, download your customer list and items from Square. That way, you can load them into the new system instead of retyping them.
Second, keep Square running for a week or two. Run the new machine alongside it until you're sure your money is arriving when you expected.
Last, keep your records for tax time. Card companies report your sales to the IRS on Form 1099-K, so if you switch partway through a year, you may get a form from each one.
When you should stay on Square
If you sell under about $1,000 a month, a new reader can take a long time to pay for itself. On Helcim, for example, you'd save about $8 a month at that level, and its reader costs $140 more than Square's. Square's free plan also gets you a lot for $0, so staying can be the right call.
Which Square alternative should you choose?
It comes down to what kind of business you run, how much you sell on cards, and what you need the machine to do. Answer these three, and I'll point you to one.
Interactive · under a minute
Which alternative suits you?
Your business, your card sales and what you need.
1What kind of business do you run?
2What are your card sales in a month?
3Which of these fits you?
Before you answer
For most small businesses, the Helcim Card Reader
It has no monthly fee, and the lowest fees here by its own estimate.
The trade-off: its fee moves a little from sale to sale. If you want one flat fee, look at SumUp.
Prices and fees last confirmed on 5 November 2026.
Questions people ask about Square alternatives
What is cheaper than Square?
On in-person sales, Helcim estimates its fees at about 1.93% + 8¢, and PayPal charges 2.29% + 9¢, both with no monthly fee, against Square's 2.6% + 15¢ on its free plan.At $5,000 a month from 100 sales, that's about $105 and $124 against Square's $145. Confirmed 5 November 2026.
Can I use my Square reader with another company?
Plan on no. Square's hardware is built for Square's own system, so moving usually means buying something new.Helcim's reader is $199, PayPal's first reader is $29, and Stripe's M2 is $59.
What can replace a Square Terminal?
The Helcim Smart Terminal is the closest match, at $349 with a built-in printer and Helcim's lower fees.PayPal also sells an all-in-one machine at $199. The Square Terminal is $299.
1 more question
Is it worth leaving Square at low sales?
Often not. Under about $1,000 a month, the saving on fees is small, and a new reader can take a long time to pay for itself.Square's free plan has no monthly fee.