Aloha POS vs Square: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Aloha POS and Square side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Square leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Aloha POS
All-in-one cloud-based restaurant POS system for streamlined operations and enhanced guest experiences.
Best for you if:
- • You want cloud-based for accessibility and scalability
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Aloha POS | Square |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan, paid from $49/mo, billed monthly Plus plan |
Category | Payment Processing Food & Restaurant | Payment Processing E-commerce |
Rating | n/a | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 1,211 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Aloha POS or Square?
Choose Aloha POS if
- You want cloud-based for accessibility and scalability
- You want centralized management for multiple locations
Choose Square if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want easy payment processing
- You want POS hardware
In-Depth Analysis
Aloha POS
All-in-one cloud-based restaurant POS system for streamlined operations and enhanced guest experiences.
However, the lack of transparent pricing suggests it's likely on the higher end, tailored for established restaurants rather than startups.
Strengths
- Pro: Cloud-based for accessibility and scalability
- Pro: Centralized management for multiple locations
- Pro: Offline mode ensures continuous operation
- Pro: Comprehensive feature set for end-to-end restaurant management
- Pro: Offers various add-ons for extended functionality
Weaknesses
- Con: Many advanced features are optional add-ons, potentially increasing cost
- Con: Specific pricing details are not publicly available
Key features
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Square's pricing is generally fair, especially for small businesses.
Strengths
- Pro: Easy payment processing
- Pro: POS hardware
- Pro: Good for small business
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Many features
Weaknesses
- Con: Account holds possible
- Con: Not for high-risk
- Con: International limited
- Con: Support varies
- Con: Fees add up
Key features
Plans and prices: Aloha POS vs Square
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aloha POS |
| ncr.com/restaurants/aloha-pos read Sep 29, 2026 |
| Square |
| squareup.com/pricing read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Aloha POS pricing and Square pricing.
Key Takeaways
Aloha POS
- Choose if you want all-in-one cloud-based restaurant POS system for streamlined operations and enhanced guest experiences
Square
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Square leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Square has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 1,211 reviews); Aloha POS has none we can show.
- Square starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; Aloha POS has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Square has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Aloha POS and Square compare in 2026?
On the data below, Square leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Square has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 1,211 reviews); Aloha POS has none we can show. Square starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; Aloha POS has no public paid plan price on file. Only Square has a free plan.
What are Aloha POS and Square used for?
Aloha POS: All-in-one cloud-based restaurant POS system for streamlined operations and enhanced guest experiences. Square: Payment processing and POS systems.
What does Aloha POS cost vs Square?
Aloha POS has no public paid-plan price on file. Square's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $49/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 29, 2026.
What's the main difference between Aloha POS and Square?
Aloha POS's main strength: cloud-based for accessibility and scalability. Square's main strength: easy payment processing.