Square made POS accessible. We made it even lighter.
Square changed the game by giving small businesses a free POS with a simple card reader. That approach brought thousands of businesses into modern payment processing for the first time. Credit where it is due — Square lowered the barrier.
Simplrr takes a different path. Instead of building around payment processing and hardware, we built around operations and reliability. No card reader to buy, no transaction fees to calculate, and full offline capability from day one.
Where the approaches diverge
Square’s model is built on transaction fees. The software is free or low-cost, but every card tap costs 2.6% + 10 cents. For a restaurant doing $15,000 per month in card sales, that is roughly $400 in processing fees alone. Add the loyalty program ($45-105/month) and hardware, and the “free” POS becomes a significant monthly expense.
Simplrr does not process payments. That is a deliberate choice. You keep your existing payment setup — cash register, card terminal, payment gateway — and Simplrr handles the ordering, menu management, and operations layer. No transaction fees flow through us because no transactions flow through us.
The other key difference is offline reliability. Square’s offline mode is limited — you can accept some payments, but most features require an active internet connection. Simplrr stores every order locally on your device the instant it is placed. Internet drops, your POS keeps running. When connectivity returns, everything syncs in the background.
How the two compare
| Square | Simplrr | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Basic POS + 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction | POS with up to 150 orders/month, no transaction fees |
| Paid plans | $29-$89/month + transaction fees | Flat monthly fee, no transaction fees |
| Transaction fees | 2.6% + 10¢ in-person, 2.9% + 30¢ online | None (bring your own payment processing) |
| Loyalty program | $45-$105/month add-on | Included in Pro plan |
| Offline capability | Limited — some payments only | Full offline mode with automatic sync |
| Hardware | Square Reader ($49), Stand ($149), Terminal ($299) | Any device with a browser |
| Payment processing | Built-in (required) | Not included (use your existing setup) |
| Online ordering | Yes (with transaction fees) | Yes (included in paid plans) |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Setup time | Reader shipping + account setup | Minutes — open browser, build menu |
Pricing last verified: March 2026
Who each is best for
Square is the better choice if you:
- Need integrated payment processing and do not have an existing setup
- Want a single vendor for payments, POS, and hardware
- Run a retail business alongside food service
- Need a physical card reader for walk-up transactions
- Value Square’s ecosystem of banking and payroll tools
Simplrr is the better choice if you:
- Already have payment processing and want to avoid additional transaction fees
- Need your POS to work reliably without internet
- Want built-in loyalty without paying $45+/month extra
- Prefer to use the devices you already own
- Run a small restaurant, cafe, or food truck focused on ordering efficiency
A note on payment processing
Simplrr does not replace your payment terminal or gateway. If you currently accept cash and cards through your own setup, Simplrr adds the ordering and management layer on top. If you do not yet have payment processing, Square may be the faster path — their integrated approach handles everything in one place.
We believe separating operations from payment processing gives you more flexibility and lower costs over time. But we understand that is not the right trade-off for every business.
Try the demo. See the difference for yourself.