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E-Commerce · head to head

KORONA POS vs Square for Retail

KORONA POS logo

KORONA POS

E-Commerce

Cloud-based retail POS system

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: KORONA POS inventory counts and stock management require the $79 Retail plan, so the $59 Core plan is checkout without stock control; Square for Retail limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues
  • They diverge on capability: KORONA POS covers Point of sale, Square for Retail covers Contactless payments.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KORONA POS and Square for Retail actually diverge.

Attributes where KORONA POS and Square for Retail differ
AttributeKORONA POSSquare for Retail
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebiOS, API
Founded20042009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 KORONA POS

  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Customer database
  • Loyalty programs
  • Multi-location support
  • Mobile POS

Only in Square for Retail

  • Contactless payments
  • Inventory tracking
  • Customer profiles
  • Receipt printing
  • Integration with Square Online
  • Reporting tools

Both cover

  • Employee management
  • Sales analytics

What people use each for

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

KORONA POS

  • Point of sale and inventory management for retail storesnot Square for Retail
  • Multi location retail with stock control and reportingnot Square for Retail

Square for Retail

  • Retail point-of-sale systemsnot KORONA POS
  • Online store payment processingnot KORONA POS
  • Appointment and booking schedulingnot KORONA POS
  • Phone and field payment collectionnot KORONA POS

Where each one falls short

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

KORONA POS

  • Inventory counts and stock management require the $79 Retail plan, so the $59 Core plan is checkout without stock control
  • Five separate modules are charged on top of the plan, at $10 per terminal for food service, $10 per terminal for invoicing, $50 per gate for ticketing, $30 per franchise and $45 per token for custom API integrations
  • Integration pricing is per token rather than per account, so several integrations multiply the cost
  • Advanced stock management and movement reporting require the $99 Plus plan

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

KORONA POS

Free
  • Core$59/month
    • Basic checkout
    • Product database
    • Sales reports
  • Retail$79/month
    • Inventory management
    • Real-time stock tracking
    • Customer management
  • Plus$99/month
    • ABC analysis
    • Multi-location tools
    • Assortment optimization

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 KORONA POS if

  • You need point of sale.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want inventory management.
KORONA POS 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 KORONA POS or Square for Retail better?
Neither clearly leads. KORONA POS starts at Free and Square for Retail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KORONA POS or Square for Retail?
KORONA POS starts at Free and Square for Retail at Free.
Does KORONA POS or Square for Retail run on more platforms?
KORONA POS runs on Web. Square for Retail runs on iOS, API.
Can I use KORONA POS for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is KORONA POS best used for?
KORONA POS is most often used for point of sale and inventory management for retail stores, multi location retail with stock control and reporting. Of those, point of sale and inventory management for retail stores and multi location retail with stock control and reporting are not what Square for Retail is typically brought in for.
What can KORONA POS do that Square for Retail cannot?
KORONA POS covers Point of sale, Inventory management, Customer database, Loyalty programs. Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Inventory tracking, Customer profiles, Receipt printing. Both handle Employee management, Sales analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KORONA POS: What does KORONA POS cost?

KORONA POS plans start at $59/month per terminal for Core, $79/month for Retail, and $99/month for Plus. All plans include 24/7 in-house support, unlimited users and sales, and open API access.

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
KORONA POS: Does KORONA POS offer a free trial?

Yes, an unlimited free trial is available with no credit card required for signup.

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
KORONA POS: What add-on modules are available?

Optional modules include KORONA Food ($10/register/month), KORONA Invoicing ($10/register/month), KORONA Ticketing ($50/entry gate/month), KORONA Franchise ($30/franchisee/month), and KORONA Integration ($45/token/month).

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
KORONA POS: Is there a contract commitment for KORONA POS?

No, KORONA POS offers month-to-month subscriptions with no contracts. Annual plans receive discounts.

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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