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E-Commerce · head to head

Checkout.com vs Square for Retail

Checkout.com logo

Checkout.com

E-Commerce

Your business deserves tailored pricing based on your needs

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Square for Retail logo

Square for Retail

E-Commerce

Integrated point of sale and retail management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Square for Retail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Checkout.com no rate is published: the pricing page states fees are set per business profile and risk category, so no figure can be compared before contacting sales; Square for Retail limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Checkout.com and Square for Retail actually diverge.

Attributes where Checkout.com and Square for Retail differ
AttributeCheckout.comSquare for Retail
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebiOS, API
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Checkout.com

Nothing recorded that Square for Retail does not also cover.

Only in Square for Retail

  • Contactless payments
  • Inventory tracking
  • Employee management
  • Customer profiles
  • Sales analytics
  • Receipt printing
  • Integration with Square Online
  • Reporting tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Checkout.com

  • Processing card payments across 150+ currenciesnot Square for Retail
  • Taking domestic payments in 45+ countriesnot Square for Retail
  • Interchange plus plus processing for a business that wants itemised card association and processor costsnot Square for Retail

Square for Retail

  • Retail point-of-sale systemsnot Checkout.com
  • Online store payment processingnot Checkout.com
  • Appointment and booking schedulingnot Checkout.com
  • Phone and field payment collectionnot Checkout.com

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Checkout.com

  • No rate is published: the pricing page states fees are set per business profile and risk category, so no figure can be compared before contacting sales
  • Both a flat rate and interchange plus plus are offered without either being quoted, so a buyer cannot tell which model they will be given
  • Every route to a number runs through the sales team

Square for Retail

  • Limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues
  • Internet connectivity required for normal operations; weak signal impacts transaction processing and experience
  • Restricted to Square's payment processing with higher transaction fees compared to some competitors
  • Limited to iOS devices and Square's proprietary hardware, excluding Android or third-party devices
  • Limited advanced retail capabilities and deeper third-party integrations compared to enterprise POS systems

Pricing, plan by plan

Checkout.com

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Checkout.com review.

Square for Retail

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Payment processing at 2.6% + 15 cents
    • Basic inventory management
    • Invoicing
  • Plus$49/month
    • In-person: 2.5% + 15 cents
    • Online: 2.9% + 30 cents
    • Product exchanges
  • Premium$149/month
    • In-person: 2.4% + 15 cents
    • Online: 2.9% + 30 cents
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Checkout.com if

Nothing in the data separates Checkout.com from Square for Retail on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Checkout.com review

Choose Square for Retail if

  • You need contactless payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, API.
  • You also want inventory tracking.
Square for Retail review

Questions people ask

Is Checkout.com or Square for Retail better?
Neither clearly leads. Checkout.com starts at On request and Square for Retail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Checkout.com or Square for Retail?
Square for Retail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Checkout.com and Free for Square for Retail.
Does Checkout.com or Square for Retail run on more platforms?
Checkout.com runs on Web. Square for Retail runs on iOS, API.
Can I use Square for Retail for free?
Yes. Square for Retail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Checkout.com starts at On request.
What is Checkout.com best used for?
Checkout.com is most often used for processing card payments across 150+ currencies, taking domestic payments in 45+ countries, interchange plus plus processing for a business that wants itemised card association and processor costs. Of those, processing card payments across 150+ currencies and taking domestic payments in 45+ countries are not what Square for Retail is typically brought in for.
What can Checkout.com do that Square for Retail cannot?
Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Inventory tracking, Employee management, Customer profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Checkout.com: How is Checkout.com pricing structured?

Checkout.com offers flat-rate pricing based on your business profile and risk category. They also provide interchange++ pricing model showing transparent card association and processor fees. No setup fees, account maintenance fees, or surprise charges are applied.

Source
Square for Retail: Does Square for Retail have a free tier?

Yes, Square for Retail's free tier includes payment processing at 2.6% plus 15 cents per transaction, basic inventory, invoicing, online shop, and booking tools with no monthly subscription fee.

Source
Checkout.com: Does Checkout.com offer pricing for nonprofits?

Yes, Checkout.com provides free payment processing for registered charities in countries where they operate. Contact their sales team to verify eligibility and activate the charity program.

Source
Square for Retail: What are the transaction fees across Square's pricing tiers?

Free tier: 2.6% + 15 cents. Plus tier ($49/month): 2.5% + 15 cents in-person, 2.9% + 30 cents online. Premium tier ($149/month): 2.4% + 15 cents in-person, 2.9% + 30 cents online.

Source
Checkout.com: What support is included in Checkout.com pricing?

All plans include dedicated account management, risk and fraud management tools, and integration support at no additional cost.

Source
Square for Retail: What devices can run Square for Retail?

Square for Retail runs on iOS devices (iPad and iPhone) using Square's proprietary hardware or compatible mobile devices, and requires integration with Square's payment processing.

Source
Square for Retail: Can I use Square for Retail offline?

Square for Retail depends on an internet connection for optimal functionality. Offline functionality is limited, and high-traffic operations may require recharging or connection verification.

Source
Square for Retail: Does Square for Retail support third-party integrations?

Yes, Square offers integrations through its App Marketplace and provides APIs for custom development including payments, inventory, orders, customers, loyalty, and webhooks.

Source
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