7 Best Alternatives to Square for Payment Processing in 2026

Why look beyond Square

While Square offers a comprehensive suite of tools for payment processing, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and business management, organizations may consider alternatives for several reasons. Businesses with significant restaurant operations, for instance, might find that Square's POS features, while robust, do not offer the specialized table management, menu customization, or tip-pooling capabilities required by the hospitality industry. Similarly, large-scale retail operations with complex inventory management or multi-channel sales strategies might seek platforms with more advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrations or dedicated e-commerce functionalities beyond what Square Online provides. Furthermore, businesses prioritizing specific pricing models, such as interchange-plus or subscription-based processing, may explore other providers to optimize transaction costs. Developers might also look for alternatives offering a different set of APIs or SDKs that better align with existing technology stacks or specific integration requirements, especially when building highly customized payment workflows that extend beyond standard POS interactions. Finally, some businesses may prefer a unified platform approach that combines payments with a broader suite of business operations, such as marketing automation or customer relationship management (CRM), which dedicated alternatives often provide in a more integrated fashion.

Top alternatives ranked

1. 1. Stripe Terminal — Customizable in-person payment solutions

   Stripe Terminal extends Stripe's payment processing capabilities to physical retail environments, enabling businesses to accept in-person payments programmatically. It integrates with Stripe's broader platform, allowing developers to unify online and offline transactions, manage payments, and access detailed reporting through a single API. Stripe Terminal offers a range of pre-certified card readers compatible with various devices and operating systems. Businesses can build custom POS applications or integrate Terminal into existing systems, providing flexibility in branding and user experience. Its developer-first approach supports advanced use cases like mobile POS, self-service kiosks, and unattended payment stations. Stripe Terminal is suitable for businesses that require granular control over their payment hardware and software, prefer a unified payment infrastructure across sales channels, or have specific branding and workflow customization needs for their in-person transactions. It supports global businesses with its multi-currency capabilities and compliance standards.

   • Best for: Developers building custom POS solutions, businesses needing unified online and offline payment processing, global operations with specific hardware integration needs.

   Learn more about Stripe Payments on platformdex or visit the Stripe Terminal official site.

2. 2. Shopify POS — Integrated e-commerce and retail platform

   Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that integrates directly with the Shopify e-commerce platform, providing a unified solution for businesses selling both online and in physical stores. It allows merchants to manage inventory, customer data, and sales across all channels from a single administrative dashboard. Shopify POS offers hardware options like card readers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers, alongside software features such as appointment booking, staff management, and detailed sales analytics. Its strength lies in its ecosystem, which includes a vast app store for extending functionality and themes for customizing online storefronts. Businesses can create customer profiles that capture purchase history from both online and in-store interactions, facilitating personalized marketing and loyalty programs. Shopify POS is well-suited for online merchants expanding into physical retail, brick-and-mortar stores looking to launch an e-commerce presence, or businesses that prioritize a tightly integrated platform for managing their entire retail operation. Its scalability supports growth from small pop-up shops to multiple retail locations.

   • Best for: E-commerce businesses expanding to physical retail, omni-channel merchants seeking unified inventory and customer management, businesses leveraging a broad app ecosystem.

   Learn more about Shopify on platformdex or visit the Shopify POS official site.

3. 3. Toast — Restaurant-specific point-of-sale system

   Toast is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed specifically for the restaurant industry. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools that address the unique operational needs of various food service establishments, including full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes. Key features include order and table management, online ordering, delivery integration, kitchen display systems (KDS), and employee management tools such as payroll and scheduling. Toast provides specialized hardware, including handheld devices for tableside ordering and payment processing, and offers robust reporting and analytics tailored for restaurant operations. Its platform can manage complex menus, track ingredient inventory, and facilitate loyalty programs. Toast's integrated approach aims to streamline front-of-house and back-of-house operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. It is a strong alternative for food service businesses requiring industry-specific functionalities that go beyond generic retail POS capabilities.

   • Best for: Restaurants, cafes, bars, and other food service businesses requiring industry-specific POS features, online ordering, and delivery management.

   Visit the Toast official site.

4. 4. NetSuite — Cloud ERP with integrated POS and commerce

   NetSuite, a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, offers a comprehensive suite of business management applications that can extend to include point-of-sale (POS) and e-commerce functionalities. While primarily known for its financial management, inventory, CRM, and supply chain capabilities, NetSuite provides modules and integrations that enable businesses to manage retail operations as part of a broader, unified platform. Its retail-specific features support multi-channel commerce, inventory synchronization across online and physical stores, and customer relationship management. Businesses can leverage NetSuite to gain a single view of their customers, inventory, and sales data across all touchpoints. This level of integration supports advanced reporting, demand planning, and personalized customer experiences. NetSuite is particularly suitable for growing medium to large enterprises that require a single system to manage diverse business functions, including retail operations, without relying on multiple disparate software solutions. Its flexibility allows for customization to meet specific industry or business process requirements.

   • Best for: Medium to large enterprises needing an integrated ERP system with retail, e-commerce, and POS capabilities; businesses requiring comprehensive financial and inventory management across all channels.

   Learn more about NetSuite on platformdex or visit the NetSuite documentation.

5. 5. Salesforce Commerce Cloud — Enterprise-grade e-commerce with POS integrations

   Salesforce Commerce Cloud (formerly Demandware) is an enterprise-level e-commerce platform designed for unified commerce experiences. While it is primarily an online commerce solution, it supports integrations with various point-of-sale (POS) systems, enabling businesses to connect online sales with in-store operations. Commerce Cloud provides features for digital storefronts, order management, inventory management, artificial intelligence-driven personalization, and global commerce capabilities. Its strength lies in its ability to handle high transaction volumes and complex retail strategies for large brands. The platform allows businesses to create seamless customer journeys across web, mobile, social, and physical touchpoints. For POS, retailers can integrate third-party solutions or utilize Commerce Cloud's APIs to ensure consistent product catalogs, pricing, promotions, and customer data between online and offline channels. This makes Commerce Cloud an option for large retailers seeking a scalable e-commerce foundation that can be extended to physical stores through integration, providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions and sales performance.

   • Best for: Large enterprises and global brands requiring a scalable e-commerce platform with robust personalization, order management, and multi-channel integration capabilities, including POS.

   Learn more about Salesforce Commerce Cloud on platformdex or visit the Salesforce Commerce Cloud product page.

6. 6. Zoho Books and Zoho POS — Integrated accounting and retail management

   Zoho Books is an online accounting software that integrates with Zoho POS to provide a comprehensive solution for small to medium businesses managing retail and financial operations. Zoho Books handles invoicing, expense tracking, banking, inventory, and financial reporting, while Zoho POS facilitates in-store sales, order management, and customer interactions. Together, they offer a unified approach where sales data from the POS system automatically syncs with the accounting software, streamlining reconciliation and inventory updates. Zoho POS supports various hardware peripherals, loyalty programs, and can operate in offline mode. This integration helps businesses maintain accurate financial records, manage stock efficiently, and gain insights into their sales performance without manual data entry between systems. Zoho's ecosystem includes a wide array of business applications, allowing for further expansion into CRM, marketing, and project management. This makes Zoho Books and Zoho POS a suitable alternative for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable, integrated solution that combines robust accounting with retail point-of-sale capabilities.

   • Best for: Small to medium businesses needing integrated accounting and retail POS, companies using other Zoho applications, businesses seeking an affordable all-in-one solution.

   Learn more about Zoho Books on platformdex or visit the Zoho POS official site.

7. 7. Oracle NetSuite — Cloud ERP with integrated commerce and POS

   Oracle NetSuite provides a cloud-based business management suite that incorporates enterprise resource planning (ERP), financial management, customer relationship management (CRM), and e-commerce functionalities. For retail businesses, NetSuite offers modules that support point-of-sale (POS) operations and multi-channel commerce, aiming to provide a unified platform for managing all aspects of a retail business. This includes centralized inventory management, real-time sales data, customer profiles, and order fulfillment across both online and physical stores. By integrating POS capabilities within its broader ERP framework, NetSuite allows businesses to synchronize data, automate processes, and gain a holistic view of their operations from a single system. It is designed for businesses that require robust financial management, complex inventory control, and a scalable solution to manage growth across multiple sales channels. Oracle NetSuite's strength lies in its comprehensive integration, making it suitable for medium to large enterprises that need to consolidate disparate business applications into one cohesive platform.

   • Best for: Medium to large enterprises requiring a comprehensive cloud ERP with integrated financial, inventory, CRM, and multi-channel retail capabilities.

   Visit the Oracle NetSuite documentation.

Side-by-side

How to pick

Selecting an alternative to Square involves evaluating your specific business needs, particularly concerning payment processing, retail operations, and overall business management. Consider the following factors:

• Business Type and Industry Focus:

  • If you operate a restaurant, cafe, or bar, a specialized system like Toast might be more appropriate due to its industry-specific features for table management, online ordering, and kitchen display systems.
  • For general retail, especially if you have a significant online presence, Shopify POS offers a strong integration between e-commerce and physical stores, providing a unified platform for inventory and customer management.

• Customization and Developer Needs:

  • If your business requires highly customized payment workflows, bespoke POS applications, or needs to integrate in-person payments seamlessly with a complex existing system, Stripe Terminal provides a developer-centric API and flexible hardware options.
  • For enterprises with specific integration requirements across their entire business, platforms like NetSuite or Salesforce Commerce Cloud offer extensive APIs and customization capabilities within their broader ERP or e-commerce ecosystems.

• Scale and Complexity of Operations:

  • Small to medium businesses looking for an integrated solution that combines POS with accounting can consider Zoho Books and Zoho POS for a cost-effective, all-in-one approach.
  • Medium to large enterprises needing a comprehensive solution that integrates POS with ERP, CRM, and advanced inventory management might find Oracle NetSuite more suitable for its robust, scalable platform.

• Pricing Model:

  • Evaluate the transaction fees, monthly software costs, and hardware expenses. Square's transaction fees are competitive for many SMBs, but alternatives like Stripe Terminal offer a similar pay-as-you-go model, while others might have subscription tiers that could be more cost-effective at higher volumes or for specific feature sets.
  • Consider whether a blended rate or an interchange-plus model (offered by some processors not listed here but available through integrations) aligns better with your average transaction size and volume.

• Ecosystem and Integrations:

  • Assess the importance of integrating with other business tools. Shopify POS benefits from the extensive Shopify app store. Zoho products are designed to integrate seamlessly within the broader Zoho ecosystem. Enterprise solutions like NetSuite and Salesforce Commerce Cloud offer deep integrations with their own comprehensive suites and a wide range of third-party applications.