Alternative · prices checked 2026-10-18
A Square for Retail alternative that keeps your processor
Most owners who search for a Square alternative are not unhappy with the screens. They want to choose their own card processor, track IMEIs and warranties properly, or open a shop where Square is not sold. RetailPOS Studio is built for general retail, gift and phone shops in the USA, the UAE and Pakistan. Prices checked 18 October 2026; we list where Square is the better fit too. Every competitor figure links to its source.
| RetailPOS Studio | Square for Retail | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $35 per location / month (Counter) | $49 per location / month (Plus plan) |
| IMEI / serial tracking | IMEI or serial number per item, on Stockroom and Chain | Serial number tracking available on paid retail plans; check current plan |
| Warranties | Named warranties with a duration, printed on the invoice | No built-in warranty records per item; check current plan |
| Purchase orders | Purchase orders, receiving and purchase returns | Purchase orders on paid retail plans |
| Supplier ledgers | Supplier ledger with pay terms, payments and running balance | Vendor lists and purchase orders; no running supplier balance ledger |
| Reward points | Reward points included on every plan | Square Loyalty is a separate paid subscription |
| Multi-store | Multi-store with stock transfers on Chain | Multiple locations, each billed per location |
| Online store | Online store generated from your catalogue, on every plan | Square Online store, set up separately from the POS catalogue sync |
| Card processing | Works with your own card processor | Card payments run through Square Payments |
| Arabic / Urdu | English, Arabic, Urdu, Spanish and Chinese interface and receipts | English, Spanish, French and others; check for Arabic and Urdu |
| UAE and Pakistan | Sold in the USA, the UAE and Pakistan | Not sold in the UAE or Pakistan |
| Contracts | No contract; cancel any time | Month to month |
Competitor details from public pricing pages and reviews, checked 2026-10-18: Square for Retail pricing (Square help center). Vendors change plans; confirm before deciding.
Why people look
Why shops look for a Square alternative
- 1
Price per location adds up
Every new shop multiplies the bill. Owners planning a second or third branch compare what Square will cost at three locations against a plan where registers are included per shop.
- 2
Payments lock-in
Square for Retail runs card payments through Square. Owners with a negotiated merchant rate, or a bank relationship they want to keep, look for a POS that works with their own processor.
- 3
Serial and IMEI tracking
Phone and electronics shops need every unit traceable for warranty claims. When that needs a higher tier or an extra app, owners start looking.
- 4
Language at the counter
Many shop teams work in Arabic, Urdu, Spanish or Chinese. A system whose interface and receipts speak the staff and customers’ language cuts training time and mistakes.
- 5
Where the shop is
Square is not sold in the UAE or Pakistan. Owners with family shops in Dubai or Lahore want one system they can use in every shop.
When to stay with Square
Stay with Square if you value one bill for payments and software, sell only in the US and rarely need serials or supplier balances. Move to RetailPOS Studio when you want to keep your own processor, track phones and warranties per unit, run supplier ledgers or open a shop in the UAE or Pakistan. Either way, test with your own products during a free trial.
Where Square for Retail is strong
- One company for payments, hardware and software
- A free plan for basic needs
- Large ecosystem of apps
Where RetailPOS Studio is strong
- Bring your own card processor
- Serials, warranties, repairs and supplier ledgers
- USA, UAE and Pakistan in one system
Switching
How to move from Square to RetailPOS Studio
- STEP 1
Export your products and customers
Download your item library and customer list from Square as CSV files. Keep the original files untouched so you can always go back to them.
- STEP 2
Map the columns
Match their columns to ours: name, SKU, barcode, category, cost, selling price, tax, stock per location. Our import template shows every field, and we check the file with you on a switching call at no charge.
- STEP 3
Import, then recount
Import products and customers, then do a fresh stock count before you trust the numbers. Counts drift in every system, and a switch is the cheapest moment to reset them.
- STEP 4
Run both for a weekend
Keep Square open in the background for your first busy weekend while you sell on RetailPOS Studio. When the totals match your expectations, cancel the old subscription.
Spec sheet · FAQ