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Square for Retail vs Revel

Square for Retail logo

Square for Retail

Software

Integrated point of sale and retail management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Revel logo

Revel

Software

iPad-based point of sale system

From
$99/month
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: Square for Retail limited customer support with primarily email and online forums, slow response times for urgent issues; Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
  • They diverge on capability: Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Revel covers iPad point of sale.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Square for Retail and Revel differ
AttributeSquare for RetailRevel
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, APIiPad, iOS, Web
Founded20092010

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Square for Retail

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

Only in Revel

  • iPad point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Loyalty programs
  • Multi-location support
  • Payment processing

Both cover

  • Employee management
  • Customer profiles
  • Sales analytics

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

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

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

Revel

$99/month
  • Standard$99/month
    • POS
    • Inventory management
    • Employee management
  • Premium$649/month
    • All standard features
    • Advanced integrations
    • API access

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.
Square for Retail review

Choose Revel if

  • You need ipad point of sale.
  • You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel review

Questions people ask

Is Square for Retail or Revel better?
Neither clearly leads. Square for Retail starts at Free and Revel at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Square for Retail or Revel?
Square for Retail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Square for Retail and $99/month for Revel.
Does Square for Retail or Revel run on more platforms?
Square for Retail runs on iOS, API. Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web.
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 Square for Retail do that Revel cannot?
Square for Retail covers Contactless payments, Inventory tracking, Receipt printing, Integration with Square Online. Revel covers iPad point of sale, Inventory management, Loyalty programs, Multi-location support. Both handle Employee management, Customer profiles, Sales analytics.

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.

Source
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.

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
Revel: 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.

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
Revel: 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.

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
Revel: 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.

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
Revel: 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.

Source
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