Software · head to head
Melio vs Square Appointments
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only; Square Appointments the free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
- They diverge on capability: Melio covers Vendor payments, Square Appointments covers Online booking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Melio and Square Appointments actually diverge.
| Attribute | Melio | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile app | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2018 | 2009 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Melio
- Vendor payments
- Card to check
- Payment scheduling
- Approval workflows
- QuickBooks sync
- Xero
- FreshBooks
- SOC 2
Only in Square Appointments
- Online booking
- Client management
- Point of sale
- Payment processing
- Automated reminders
- Instagram booking
- Google booking
- Mobile app
Both cover
- QuickBooks
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Melio
- Accounts payable automationnot Square Appointments
- Bill management and payment schedulingnot Square Appointments
- Multi-vendor payment processingnot Square Appointments
- Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot Square Appointments
Square Appointments
- Online appointment booking for salons, barbers and personal servicesnot Melio
- Taking card payments and deposits at the time of bookingnot Melio
- Managing staff calendars, waitlists and no-show policiesnot Melio
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Melio
- Go (free) plan limited to one user only
- ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
- Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
- International payments limited to select currencies only
- NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)
Square Appointments
- The free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
- Cancellation policies, no-show fees and waitlists require the Plus plan
- Resource management, service cost tracking and the future bookings report require the Premium plan
- Custom processing rates are reserved for Square Pro, which is aimed at businesses processing over $250,000 a year
- Card processing fees are charged on top of the plan fee on every tier including the free one
Pricing, plan by plan
Melio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.
Square Appointments
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited appointments
- Online booking
- Client management
- Plus$29/month
- Everything in Free
- Multiple staff calendars
- No-show protection
- Premium$69/month
- Everything in Plus
- Multi-location
- Staff management
Which should you pick?
Choose Melio if
- You need vendor payments.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile app.
- You also want card to check.
Choose Square Appointments if
- You need online booking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want client management.
Questions people ask
- Is Melio or Square Appointments better?
- Neither clearly leads. Melio starts at Free and Square Appointments at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Melio or Square Appointments?
- Melio starts at Free and Square Appointments at Free.
- Does Melio or Square Appointments run on more platforms?
- Melio runs on Web, Mobile app. Square Appointments runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Melio for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Melio best used for?
- Melio is most often used for accounts payable automation, bill management and payment scheduling, multi-vendor payment processing, invoice receivables and payment collection. Of those, accounts payable automation and bill management and payment scheduling are not what Square Appointments is typically brought in for.
- What can Melio do that Square Appointments cannot?
- Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Square Appointments covers Online booking, Client management, Point of sale, Payment processing. Both handle QuickBooks, Web support.
Related pages
More on Square Appointments
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