Best Square Alternatives for Businesses in 2026

Square is a fantastic option for many small businesses. But we understand that every business has unique needs. Shifting from a single retail location to a hybrid setup, or moving to online-first while keeping some in‑person sales, creates new payment needs. Inventory must sync across channels. Online checkout should feel as clean as the counter. Subscriptions, ACH for larger invoices, and stronger fraud rules start to matter. 

This guide is here to support you as you explore the best payment processors for small businesses and alternatives to Square in 2026. Compare these alternatives to weigh hardware, online checkout, invoicing, and risk controls in one place. This is a straightforward payment solutions comparison for teams that need more than a POS.

Overview of the Best Square Alternatives

Many retailers adopting a hybrid model face the same challenges: mismatched online and in‑store data, delayed payouts during growth spikes, limited tools for subscriptions and ACH, and pieced‑together integrations. 

This section gives a quick look at several platforms used by local service providers, fitness trainers and studios, and shops. The options below cover mobile POS, retail systems with inventory, ecommerce‑ready checkouts, and platforms that bundle online booking, fraud controls, and recurring billing. 

Look at how each handles your mix: in‑person, online, invoicing, and recurring. Each option includes what it does, who tends to use it, and its general structure, so you can compare at a glance.

SensaPay

SensaPay combines online payments, in‑person POS, mobile wallets, payment links, invoicing, subscriptions, a virtual terminal, and ACH on a single platform. You can run a branded checkout and add Apple Pay and Google Pay. In‑house underwriting speeds approvals, and next‑day funding helps with cash flow. SensaPay issues dedicated merchant accounts, which can lower the chance of surprise holds during volume spikes.

It also helps hybrid businesses keep everything in sync, so online orders, walk-ins, and invoices all flow through the same dashboard without extra plugins. This makes day-to-day operations smoother and reduces the usual juggling that comes with running both a storefront and an online shop.

Key features:

• Embedded online checkout with cards, wallets, and bank transfers

• Subscriptions: smart retries, account updater, self‑service portal

• ACH for high‑ticket and recurring invoices

• Risk controls: 3D Secure 2.0, custom rules, chargeback management

• Customer vault for saved cards and faster reorders

• Reporting, batch emails, next‑day funding, 200+ integrations

Who it’s best for:

• Hybrid retailers and service brands needing online + in‑person on one system

• B2B and services that invoice or take ACH

• High‑risk or hard‑to‑place categories that need a dedicated merchant account

Pros:

• Strong subscription and ACH toolkit on one platform

• Chargeback automation and 3DS support

• Approvals in 24–48 hours and next‑day funding

• Works with 200+ business apps

Cons:

• Pricing is quote‑based

• POS hardware variety depends on your setup

• More features can mean a longer setup step for custom flows

Client Reviews:

• “I use it for both online and in person payments. Everything connects well with my store. I barely need to check on it now.” - Kari H. (Trustpilot review)

• “Got approved faster that I expected. Their onboarding team was patient and explained everything in simple terms. Feels good knowing my payments are in good hands.” - Faye P. (Trustpilot review)

PayPal Zettle

PayPal Zettle is a mobile POS with simple hardware and a light retail feature set. It pairs well with PayPal payments online and offers a quick path to in‑person sales using a compact card reader or all‑in‑one terminal.

Key features:

• Card reader for tap, chip, and swipe; all‑in‑one terminal option

• Item catalog, inventory basics, staff accounts, receipts

• PayPal and Venmo acceptance through QR

• Simple invoicing and reporting

• Works with common ecommerce carts and marketplaces

Who it’s best for:

• Mobile sellers, pop‑ups, events, and markets

• Small retail counters that want low‑cost hardware

• Merchants already using PayPal online

Pros:

• Fast setup for card‑present sales

• PayPal and Venmo ecosystem

• Affordable hardware

Cons:

• Retail features are lighter than full retail POS systems

• Limited restaurant tools

• Some advanced reports require third‑party tools

Client Reviews:

• “The iZettle device is excellent. However the company (PayPal?) are somewhat cavalier in that if you do not use the device for some time (for example we only use it when attending occasional craft fairs) they may switch the account off and then require new id. documents before switching back on. They do not tell you they have done this.” - Michael (Trustpilot review)

• “If you need help, there is a phone number which goes through to a real, knowledgeable, helpful, person. No distractions with invitations first to visit the website to resolve any queries. So rare nowadays, but so appreciated. Zettle also pay very quickly and notify you too.” - Yvonne E. (Trustpilot review)

Clover

Clover offers countertop registers, handhelds, and full POS bundles. It suits retail, services, and quick‑serve merchants that want all‑in‑one hardware with app store add‑ons. Billing, rates, and contracts vary by provider, since Clover is sold through many merchant services partners.

Key features:

• Hardware lineup: Station, Mini, Flex handheld

• Inventory, item variants, employee permissions, gift cards

• App marketplace for payroll, loyalty, and more

• Kitchen printer and barcode support

Who it’s best for:

• Retail and quick‑serve teams that want a full register

• Businesses that prefer turnkey hardware and paid add‑ons

Pros:

• Wide hardware choice with peripherals

• Rich app marketplace

• Strong offline sales capability

Cons:

• Pricing and contracts differ by reseller

• Early‑termination fees can apply in some offers

• Add‑ons raise monthly costs

Client Reviews:

• “After eight weeks with Clover, I’ve had nothing but problems. The system wasn’t set up properly, it crashes during peak hours, and support has been unreliable. On a busy Friday night, it went down nationwide and left us unable to take payments. I had to use a phone-based Square backup. Repeated outages like this have cost us business — I can’t recommend Clover. Stay away from clover. They will put you out of business.” - Ellie D. (Trustpilot review)

• “My POS is easy to use - good. I can use my POS as a time clock - good. Inventory can't be printed out or adjusted from a handheld - bad. Customer service can be hard to get a hold of on the phone - bad. My POS crashes on me way too often - bad.” - James M. (Trustpilot review)

Shopify POS

Shopify POS ties in with a Shopify store for unified products, customers, and inventory. Stores can sell online, in a shop, or at events and keep stock in sync. The POS Pro add‑on adds advanced retail features.

Key features:

• One catalog across online and in‑store

• Local pickup, local delivery, and ship‑to‑home from the store

• Discounts, exchanges, and gift cards across channels

• Mobile POS app, staff roles, and smart inventory tools

Who it’s best for:

• Retailers running a Shopify store

• Brands that offer “buy online, pick up in store”

• Pop‑ups that need instant sync with ecommerce

Pros:

• Strong online + in‑store link

• Clean checkout on Shopify hardware

• Broad app store

Cons:

• POS Pro is an extra monthly fee per location

• Card rates vary by plan

• Less appeal if you do not run Shopify online

Client Reviews:

• “I love how seamlessly Shopify POS connects with our online store. The interface is modern and very easy for staff to use, especially during peak hours. Inventory sync is real-time, customer profiles are automatically updated, and the system supports quick checkouts. The main downside is the cost. Some features that feel like they should be standard (like smart inventory reporting or advanced staff permissions) are only available in the Pro plan.” - Alex e. (G2 review)

Lightspeed

Lightspeed serves retail and hospitality with multi‑store inventory, purchasing, work orders, and analytics. Many plans require Lightspeed Payments, which keeps billing under one roof.

Key features:

• Advanced inventory with variants, suppliers, and purchase orders

• Multi‑store transfers and counts

• Customer profiles, loyalty, and gift cards

• Ecommerce and reporting add‑ons

Who it’s best for:

• Retailers with large catalogs and multiple locations

• Bike shops, golf, and specialty retail needing work orders

Pros:

• Strong inventory and purchasing tools

• Good fit for multi‑store setups

• Add‑ons for loyalty and ecommerce

Cons:

• Monthly fees trend higher than light POS apps

• Hardware compatibility is more specific

• Payments often must run through Lightspeed

Client Reviews:

• “The company has been so supportive. If they are not sure about a question or topic, they work hard to find an answer. They are also very open to suggestions, and have a system for taking recommendations and requests into consideration. My only complaint is some of the integrations with 3rd party apps could be a little smoother, but overall still very easy to work through.” - Christian F. (Trustpilot review)

• “Transitioning from QuickBooks POS to Lightspeed took some adjustment, but the onboarding process was smooth, thanks to the excellent support specialist who guided us. The Lightspeed X-Series has proven to be stable and reliable. We added a second register license and credit card terminal, which now allows us to run ad-hoc sales outside the store—something we never could have managed before.” - RJ C. (Trustpilot review)

Stripe (Payments + Terminal)

Stripe is known for online payments, subscriptions, and custom checkout flows. Stripe Terminal adds in‑person card acceptance with readers that connect to the same account. Many teams pair Stripe with a custom site or app.

Key features:

• Cards, wallets, ACH, and international methods

• Billing for subscriptions and invoices

• Radar fraud tools and 3D Secure 2.0

• Terminal readers for countertop or mobile

• Extensive APIs and SDKs

Who it’s best for:

• SaaS and memberships

• Platforms and marketplaces

• Teams with developers who want flexibility

Pros:

• Strong online and recurring billing

• Global payment methods

• One backend for online + in‑person

Cons:

• Customization often needs engineering time

• POS feature set is lighter than retail‑focused systems

• Hardware choice centers on Stripe‑certified readers

Client Reviews:

• “The efficiency of the POS system and integration features available for use are better and easier to navigate than Square for example. I believe that it is competitive and offers features that other POS systems in the market don't. Because the market is so competitive, I wish that the pricing was better. As a small business owner, it is helpful to have products that are cost efficient for a low overhead.” - Caitlyn W. (G2 review)

• “Convenient way to collect payment from clients, can use terminal or set up a link. Minimal choice compared to other companies who have a wider choice of devices.” - Charlotte S. (G2 review)

Quick Comparison of Square Alternatives

Use this quick view to narrow your shortlist.

What to Consider Before Switching  

Before you move, check these points so nothing surprises you:

• Account eligibility: merchant category, ticket size, and risk rules

• Payout scheduling: funding speed, weekends, and holidays

• Refunds: fees returned or kept, partial vs full refunds

• Chargebacks: dispute deadlines, evidence tools, and fees

• App connections: ecommerce carts, accounting, CRM, and exports

• Business type rules: restricted industries, CBD, subscriptions, and cross‑border

Which Alternative is Best for Your Business?

The right Square alternative depends on how your business accepts payments.

• Recurring billing or SaaS: SensaPay, Stripe

• Online‑only service businesses: SensaPay, Stripe

• Retail or hybrid (store + online): SensaPay, Shopify POS, Clover, Lightspeed

• Simple invoicing without a full checkout: SensaPay, Stripe

• High‑volume online processing and customization: SensaPay, Stripe 

Next Steps

Need help mapping options to your setup? SensaPay can review your payment mix, underwriting needs, and target rates. Request a consultation or start an application to see fit, pricing, and rollout timing.