FreshBooks vs Square POS: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of FreshBooks and Square POS — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Square POS wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.6/10).
| Scored on | FreshBooks | Square POS |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 7 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 9 |
| Lite Tier (Monthly) | $19.00 | — |
| Plus Tier (Monthly) | $33.00 | — |
| Premium Tier (Monthly) | $60.00 | — |
| ACH Payment Fee | 1% | — |
| Credit Card Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Monthly Software Fee | — | $0 (Free tier available) |
| In-Person Swipe/Tap | — | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Online/Invoiced Sale | — | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Instant Transfer Fee | — | 1.75% per transfer |
FreshBooks in one paragraph
FreshBooks is the best-in-class choice for service-based solos and small teams who value a beautiful UI and automated billing over deep accounting complexity.
Skip it if: You run a high-volume retail shop or have more than 50 low-value clients that would trigger expensive tier jumps.
Square POS in one paragraph
Square is the fastest way to accept credit cards without a monthly fee, but high-volume businesses will eventually outgrow its flat-rate pricing.
Skip it if: Skip it if you process over $25,000 per month or sell high-risk items like CBD, as you'll save thousands elsewhere and face fewer account freezes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, FreshBooks or Square POS?
On our five-axis scorecard, Square POS scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.6/10). Square is the fastest way to accept credit cards without a monthly fee, but high-volume businesses will eventually outgrow its flat-rate pricing.
Who should skip FreshBooks?
You run a high-volume retail shop or have more than 50 low-value clients that would trigger expensive tier jumps.
Who should skip Square POS?
Skip it if you process over $25,000 per month or sell high-risk items like CBD, as you'll save thousands elsewhere and face fewer account freezes.