Square POS vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Square POS and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Wave wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10).
| Scored on | Square POS | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 5 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 7 |
| Basic Software Fee | $0/mo | — |
| In-Person Processing | 2.6% + 10¢ | — |
| Online Processing | 2.9% + 30¢ | — |
| Keyed-in Processing | 3.5% + 15¢ | — |
| Starter Plan | — | $0/mo |
| Pro Plan | — | $16/mo |
| CC Processing (Visa/MC) | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| CC Processing (Amex) | — | 3.4% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% ($1 min) |
| Payroll (Tax Service) | — | $40 + $6/employee |
Square POS in one paragraph
Square POS remains the fastest way to start taking payments, but high-volume businesses will eventually outgrow its flat-rate pricing.
Skip it if: You process more than $25,000 a month and need a dedicated account manager who picks up the phone every time.
Wave in one paragraph
Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Square POS or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10). Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Who should skip Square POS?
You process more than $25,000 a month and need a dedicated account manager who picks up the phone every time.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.