Square POS vs Xero: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Square POS and Xero — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Square POS wins on our scorecard (7.5/10 vs 7.1/10).
| Scored on | Square POS | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 5 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 8 |
| Basic Software Fee | $0/mo | — |
| In-Person Processing | 2.6% + 10¢ | — |
| Online Processing | 2.9% + 30¢ | — |
| Keyed-in Processing | 3.5% + 15¢ | — |
| Early Plan | — | $15/mo |
| Growing Plan | — | $42/mo |
| Established Plan | — | $78/mo |
| Gusto Payroll Add-on | — | Varies |
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.
Xero in one paragraph
Xero is a powerful, sleek alternative to QuickBooks that excels for businesses with international needs, provided you don't mind the lack of phone support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Square POS or Xero?
On our five-axis scorecard, Square POS scores higher (7.5/10 vs 7.1/10). Square POS remains the fastest way to start taking payments, but high-volume businesses will eventually outgrow its flat-rate pricing.
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 Xero?
Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.