Square is the most popular POS system in the world. But is it worth the fees when alternatives like NexPOS exist? Let us compare every feature, fee, and limitation side by side — with real numbers.

NexPOS dashboard on iPad with the NexIQ AI assistant panel open answering business questions.
NexPOS dashboard with built-in AI — ask "today’s sales" or "low stock items" instead of building a report.
The math

Pricing: the real cost over a year

COMPARISON

Annual cost comparison

Your salesNexPOS FreeWinnerSquare Free
Monthly fee$0$0
Transaction fee$02.6% + 10¢
$5K/month sales$0$135/mo
$10K/month sales$0$270/mo
$20K/month sales$0$530/mo
Annual cost @ $10K/mo$0$3,240/year
$3,240
Saved per year
at $10K/mo sales
0%
Transaction fee
on NexPOS
25+
Currencies supported
Square: 1
Feature by feature

How they actually stack up

Point of sale

NexPOS: touch-optimized POS, category browsing, quick search, barcode scanning, custom modifiers, split payments — all on the free plan.

Square: similar POS interface and good design, but barcode scanning is locked behind paid plans.

NexPOS POS on iPad with the Sandwiches category drilled in and three items in the cart.
Drill into a category, add items, take payment — the flow Square charges 2.6% to facilitate.

Inventory

NexPOS: real-time stock tracking, low-stock alerts, purchase orders, supplier management — all free.

Square: basic inventory on free plan, advanced features require Square for Retail ($60/mo).

Kitchen Display, modifiers, multi-currency

FeatureNexPOSWinnerSquare
Kitchen DisplayEssential ($4.99/mo)Add-on ($20/mo)
Product modifiersEssentialIncluded in Plus
Multi-currencyBuilt-in (25+)USD only in US
AI assistantNexIQ includedNone

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Where Square actually wins

Let us be fair — Square has real advantages worth naming:

  • Hardware ecosystem: Square Terminal, Register, card readers — polished and tested.
  • Brand recognition: customers know what the white square reader means.
  • Banking: Square Checking, Square Loans, instant deposits.
  • App marketplace: hundreds of third-party integrations.

Where NexPOS pulls ahead

Pros
  • +Zero transaction fees, ever
  • +Works in 15+ countries with multi-currency
  • +NexIQ AI insights Square does not offer
  • +BYOD — any tablet, any phone, any browser
  • +More features included free than Square Plus offers paid
Cons
  • −No proprietary card reader (use any tap-to-pay device)
  • −Younger brand — less recognition at the counter
The bottom line

Is Square $3,240/year better?

If you are a small business doing $10K+/month in sales, Square costs you $3,240/year in transaction fees alone. NexPOS costs $0.

The question is not "Is Square better?" — it is "Is Square $3,240/year better?" For most small businesses, the answer is no.