Square POS vs Zettle

Square POS fees vary significantly depending on the transaction type. In-person card taps typically cost 2.6% plus 15¢. Keyed-in transactions are highest, costing 3.5% plus 15¢. Zettle keeps its pricing extremely simple for face-to-face sales. You only pay a competitive, flat 1.75% for all standard card transactions. Zettle is better if minimizing your immediate processing cost is critical. Square POS is more predictable across different transaction types. For remote payments, Square POS is slightly cheaper (2.9% + 30¢) than Zettle’s 2.5% rate for invoices and payment links.

Square POS offers dedicated, customizable modes for retail and food businesses. You get specialized tools like table management and advanced inventory. Zettle is a core POS focusing on efficient payment processing and mobile use. It relies on PayPal's ecosystem but has fewer built-in tools. If you plan to scale or need payroll, loyalty, or advanced software suites, Square POS is superior. Zettle integrates fewer comprehensive tools to start. Square POS supports multi-location retail inventory tracking easily. Zettle prioritizes fundamental mobile simplicity for smaller operations.

Square POS hardware is generally stable and reliable according to frequent user sentiment. Customers rarely complain about reader dropouts. Zettle users frequently report frustrating Bluetooth connectivity issues with the readers. Hardware stability is a recurring major consumer pain point. Square POS provides peace of mind that your terminal won't fail during the rush. Zettle means accepting significant connectivity risks for a lower fee. Poor stability with Zettle card readers costs businesses time and sometimes requires expensive device replacements.

Square POS transfers funds to your external bank account for free. This deposit typically arrives by the next business day. Zettle transfers funds free of charge to your linked PayPal account within minutes. You get near-instant access to your revenue. If ultra-fast access to cash flow is mandatory, Zettle linked to PayPal is unbeatable. Square POS is reliable but slower through the bank transfer system. You can use a Square Checking account for instant access, but the feature is not automatic for external banks.

Square POS offers live phone support, but review sentiment suggests experiences are very inconsistent. Complex billing issues are often difficult to resolve. Zettle users praise the support team, noting they speak to knowledgeable, real people quickly via phone. Support quality is high. However, Zettle's specific support availability is limited to weekdays (M-F). Square POS offers built-in dispute management services that Zettle is missing. For immediate problem solving and getting a real person, Zettle pulls ahead despite its limited working hours.

Square POS offers robust offline payments that safely store transactions. These process automatically upon reconnection within 24 hours. This explicit guarantee is crucial for mobile vendors or areas with unreliable internet. You won’t lose sales during a Wi-Fi failure. Zettle does not explicitly detail or guarantee a secure offline payment mode. Sales could be lost if the internet drops unexpectedly. If your business environment involves spotty Wi-Fi, the explicit Square POS feature is a massive, sales-saving advantage.

Square POS provides centralized inventory tracking across all selling locations. You get low-stock alerts and advanced reporting. It offers customizable staff permissions and separate passcodes for tracking employee hours. This ensures greater accountability. Zettle manages detailed product listings and monitors stock levels within the POS app. It also tracks basic staff performance metrics. Square POS is better suited for complex product catalogs and businesses with a large, multi-tiered team structure.