Software · head to head
Square for Retail vs Ecwid
Square for Retail
Software
Integrated point of sale and retail management
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Square for Retail limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues; Ecwid the $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
- They diverge on capability: Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Square for Retail and Ecwid actually diverge.
| Attribute | Square for Retail | Ecwid |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | iOS, API | Web |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2009).
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 Square for Retail
- Contactless payments
- Inventory tracking
- Employee management
- Customer profiles
- Sales analytics
- Receipt printing
- Integration with Square Online
- Reporting tools
Only in Ecwid
- Omnichannel selling
- Product catalog
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Email marketing
- Analytics
- Mobile app
- API access
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Square for Retail
No use cases recorded yet. See the Square for Retail review.
Ecwid
- Adding a store to an existing website or social pagenot Square for Retail
- Selling physical goods and digital downloads from one cataloguenot Square for Retail
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Ecwid
- The $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
- Staff accounts start at the Business plan, and are limited to 2 until the Unlimited plan
- Abandoned cart recovery requires the Business plan at $65 a month
- In person selling through POS integration is Unlimited only, at $149 a month
- The Venture plan at $35 a month still caps products at 100
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Ecwid
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 10 products
- Basic storefront
- Standard payment methods
- Unlimited$99.08/month
- Unlimited products
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Ecwid if
- You need omnichannel selling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want product catalog.
Questions people ask
- Is Square for Retail or Ecwid better?
- Neither clearly leads. Square for Retail starts at Free and Ecwid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Square for Retail or Ecwid?
- Square for Retail starts at Free and Ecwid at Free.
- Does Square for Retail or Ecwid run on more platforms?
- Square for Retail runs on iOS, API. Ecwid runs on Web.
- Can I use Square for Retail for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Square for Retail do that Ecwid cannot?
- Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Inventory tracking, Employee management, Customer profiles. Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling, Product catalog, Payment processing, Inventory management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
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.
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.
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.
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