Square POS vs ShopKeep: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Square POS

8.6(48,500 reviews)

Free POS system with flat-rate processing at 2.6% + 10 cents. Works on iPad and Android with optional hardware from $49.

7.2(5,600 reviews)

Simple iPad POS for small retail and quick-service restaurants, now part of Lightspeed. Free plan available with payment processing.

Aspect	Square POS	ShopKeep
Best For	Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment	Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required
Pricing Model	Freemium	Freemium
Starting Price	Free	Free
Deployment	cloud	cloud
Platforms	WEB, IOS, ANDROID	IOS
Rating	8.6/10	7.2/10

Genuinely free plan with no monthly fees — you only pay per-transaction processing costs
Hardware is affordable starting at $49, and you can use your own iPad or Android tablet
The ecosystem (Payroll, Banking, Online, Loyalty) connects everything under one roof
Setup takes under 15 minutes with no technical knowledge required
Next-day deposits are included free on all plans, same-day available for a small fee

Processing rates are non-negotiable — 2.6% gets expensive at high transaction volumes
Customer support has declined and relies heavily on chatbots for free plan users
Reporting lacks depth compared to Lightspeed or Toast for detailed business analytics
The free online store template looks basic without heavy customization work
Account stability issues — some sellers report sudden holds or terminations without clear explanation

Simple and intuitive iPad POS that retail and food service staff can learn in under an hour
Free basic plan with payment processing means zero upfront software cost for small businesses
BackOffice mobile dashboard lets owners monitor sales and inventory remotely from their phone
Proven reliability — the core system has been stable for years without major outages
Part of the Lightspeed family provides a migration path to more advanced features when needed

Product is in maintenance mode with no significant new features since the Lightspeed acquisition
Migration to Lightspeed is inevitable — investing in ShopKeep as a new user makes little strategic sense
Integration ecosystem is stagnating with fewer new app partnerships being added
Limited to iPad — no Android, no web-based register option for flexibility
Pricing and future roadmap are unclear, creating uncertainty for long-term planning

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
Square POS	freemium	Free0
ShopKeep	freemium	Free0

Choose Square POS if...

Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment

Choose ShopKeep if...

Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.