E-commerce & Retail · head to head
Revel vs Square for Retail
Square for Retail
E-commerce & Retail
Integrated point of sale and retail management
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Square for Retail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives; Square for Retail limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues
- They diverge on capability: Revel covers iPad point of sale, Square for Retail covers Contactless payments.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Revel and Square for Retail actually diverge.
| Attribute | Revel | Square for Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | iPad, iOS, Web | iOS, API |
| Founded | 2010 | 2009 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-commerce & Retail).
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 Revel
- iPad point of sale
- Inventory management
- Loyalty programs
- Multi-location support
- Payment processing
Only in Square for Retail
- Contactless payments
- Inventory tracking
- Receipt printing
- Integration with Square Online
- Reporting tools
Both cover
- Customer profiles
- Employee management
- Sales analytics
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Revel
- Mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
- Long-term 3-year contracts with high early termination fees
- Hidden fees for API access and mobile inventory management app not included in base pricing
- Frequent system crashes and connectivity issues that disrupt operations
- Limited ability to retrieve historical data after extended use of the system
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
Revel
$99/month- Standard$99/month
- POS
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Premium$649/month
- All standard features
- Advanced integrations
- API access
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 Revel if
- You need ipad point of sale.
- You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
- You also want inventory management.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Revel or Square for Retail better?
- Neither clearly leads. Revel starts at $99/month and Square for Retail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Revel or Square for Retail?
- Square for Retail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Revel and Free for Square for Retail.
- Does Revel or Square for Retail run on more platforms?
- Revel runs on iPad, iOS, 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. Revel starts at $99/month.
- What can Revel do that Square for Retail cannot?
- Revel covers iPad point of sale, Inventory management, Loyalty programs, Multi-location support. Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Inventory tracking, Receipt printing, Integration with Square Online. Both handle Customer profiles, Employee management, Sales analytics.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Revel: Does Revel have a free trial?
Revel Systems does not offer a free trial for its standard POS plans. However, Revel+ premium subscriptions include a two-month free trial period.
SourceSquare 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.
SourceRevel: Can Revel work offline?
Yes. Revel uses hybrid architecture to run offline or on a local network, and Always On Mode enables credit card processing during internet outages. The only limitation is that you cannot verify if a credit card has declined until your connection is restored.
SourceSquare 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.
SourceRevel: Does Revel integrate with Shopify?
Yes. Revel integrates with Shopify to synchronize inventory levels, automatically transfer sales data, and manage both online and brick-and-mortar stores from a single dashboard.
SourceSquare 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.
SourceRevel: What are Revel's typical contract terms?
Revel typically requires 3-year contracts with high early termination fees (ETFs). Users report difficulty canceling and facing steep penalties if they exit before the contract period ends.
SourceSquare 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.
SourceRevel: Can I use my own payment processor with Revel?
New customers are almost always required to use Revel Advantage payment processing. Using an outside payment processor is typically not allowed or is heavily penalized.
SourceSquare 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