Square Payroll vs Square for Restaurants vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale Comparison
Square Payroll
Starting at $34 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Square Payroll is our new, easy-to-use payroll software that integrates with your existing payroll provider. It helps you pay employees faster, keep better track of hours worked, and outsource the labor-intensive parts o…
Square for Restaurants
Starting at $0 free
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Square for Restaurants makes running your bar simpler and faster than ever before. Easily manage orders, take payments and streamline operations with our restaurant point-of-sale system. Your staff will be able to handle…
SumUp
Starting at $0 /month
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card payments online, in-app, and i…
Square Point of Sale
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer purchases, and collect feedback f…
Square for Restaurants leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 5 reviews.
Square Payroll vs Square for Restaurants vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — at a glance
| Feature | Square Payroll | Square for Restaurants | SumUp | Square Point of Sale |
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| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Reviews | 586 | 5 | 4 | 518 |
| Starting price | $34 /User/Month | $0 free | $0 /month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Free version | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | POS Software | POS Software | POS Software |
| Integrations | — | 13+ apps | 8+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours | Online | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2 | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | US | Global | Global | US |
Key differences between Square Payroll and Square for Restaurants
- Pricing: Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month, while Square for Restaurants starts at $0 free.
- User satisfaction: Square for Restaurants scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Square for Restaurants supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS.
Compare Square Payroll vs Square for Restaurants vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.
- You run a small to medium business with hourly or tipped employees.
- You want effortless integration with Square POS and existing payroll providers.
- You need a simple, user-friendly payroll system with built-in time tracking.
- You require advanced payroll reporting, customization, or analytics.
- You manage complex pay structures, multiple locations, or international staff.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Best for small to mid-sized retail and food businesses needing simple POS.
- You want an easy-to-use POS with quick transaction processing.
- You need integrated inventory management and sales reporting.
- You require mobile device compatibility and hardware like Square Terminal.
- Your business is a large enterprise needing extensive customization.
- You require complex, multi-location inventory management capabilities.
Square Payroll typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Square for Restaurants tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Square Payroll is our new, easy-to-use payroll software that integrates with your existing payroll provider. It helps you pay employees faster, keep better track of hours worked, and ... Read More about Square Payroll | Square for Restaurants makes running your bar simpler and faster than ever before. Easily manage orders, take payments and streamline operations with our restaurant point-of-sale system. ... Read More about Square for Restaurants | SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card ... Read More about SumUp | Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer ... Read More about Square Point of Sale |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 | Not Available | 9.2/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesMedium Business | — | — | 1-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Seamless Integration with Square POS: Syncs easily with Square’s point-of-sale system, making it ideal for hourly or tipped workers in service industries.
- Contractor & Employee Support: Easily pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors with direct deposit and generate tax forms from a single dashboard.
No key benefits available yet.
No key benefits available yet.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
- Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants
No best-fit guidance available yet.
No best-fit guidance available yet.
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Businesses already using Square for POS may seek deeper payroll integrations or industry-specific HR features.
- Employers needing more advanced reporting, analytics, or benefits management might explore broader HR platforms.
- Companies managing multi-state or international employees could require tools with expanded compliance capabilities.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
Software Demo
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How do Square Payroll, Square for Restaurants, SumUp and Square Point of Sale Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 10 Features | 14 Features | 11 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Square Payroll, Square for Restaurants, SumUp and Square Point of Sale on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🌐 Global |
Square Payroll vs Square for Restaurants vs SumUp User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 3.9 (based on 586 reviews) | 4.5 (based on 518 reviews) | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Square Payroll's ease of use, integration capabilities, and time-saving automation, though some desire more advanced features for larger or more complex businesses. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 13 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 10049 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyers generally appreciate Square POS for its ease of use and hardware integration but note limitations in advanced features and pricing clarity. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. | No Integration information available. |
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List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Sofi Stadium  Rawlings  Ben and Jerry's |  DHL  FLiXBUS | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  6 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Square Payroll or Square for Restaurants?
- Square for Restaurants edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Square Payroll and Square for Restaurants offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Square Payroll and Square for Restaurants offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Square Payroll vs Square for Restaurants?
- Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month. Square for Restaurants starts at $0 free.
- What are the top alternatives to Square Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Square Payroll include Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Paycor, Freshbooks, PaymentEvolution.
- What are the top alternatives to Square for Restaurants?
- Top alternatives to Square for Restaurants include SumUp, Square Point of Sale, ShopKeep, Lightspeed Retail, SpotOn.