TackOn Table vs Square: An Honest Comparison for Restaurants
Square is one of the most popular POS platforms in the world — and for good reason. TackOn Table is a restaurant-only POS built for cafés, food trucks, and quick/full-service restaurants. Here's a verified breakdown of pricing, features, and trade-offs — including where Square wins.
Start Free Trial See PricingTackOn Table vs Square: Real Pricing
Square overhauled its pricing in October 2025. All business types now share three unified tiers. Here's how both platforms actually price.
TackOn Table
Starter
$49/mo
1 terminal · Processing from 2.9% + 10¢
Professional
$99/mo
Up to 5 terminals · Advanced analytics · Staff mgmt
Enterprise
$199/mo
Unlimited terminals · Multi-location · Dedicated manager
Square for Restaurants
Free
$0/mo
Basic POS · 2.6% + 15¢ in-person · KDS $20/mo per device
Plus
$49/mo per location
2.5% + 10¢ in-person · Unlimited KDS included
Premium
$149/mo per location
2.4% + 10¢ in-person · Dedicated support
Square pricing: Square.com, NerdWallet, POSUSA.com (verified post-Oct 2025 overhaul, Feb 2026). TackOn Table pricing: tackontable.com/pricing.
Feature Comparison
What's included, what costs extra, and where each platform is stronger.
| Category | TackOn Table | Square for Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Built For | ✅ Restaurants only — cafés, trucks, QSR, FSR | ⚠️ Restaurant tools built on a general POS platform |
| Free Plan | ❌ No free plan; starts at $49/mo | ✅ $0/mo with basic POS and processing-only fees |
| Hardware | Certified TackOn terminals (POS, PAX, peripherals) | iPad-based; Square Terminal, Square Register, readers |
| Contracts | ✅ Month-to-month, cancel anytime | ✅ Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| Menu & Modifiers | ✅ Deep modifiers, combos, dayparts — native | ⚠️ Menus and modifiers available; combos/dayparts on Plus+ |
| Kitchen Display (KDS) | ✅ Native KDS with routing, statuses, expo | ⚠️ KDS available — $20/mo per device on Free; included on Plus |
| Processing Rates | From 2.9% + 10¢ (decreases with volume) | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free) · 2.5% + 10¢ (Plus) · 2.4% + 10¢ (Premium) |
| Online Ordering | 🔜 Coming soon — embeddable + delivery integrations | ✅ Built-in via Square Online; all plans |
| Multi-Location | ✅ Real-time cross-store dashboard (Enterprise) | ⚠️ Available; paid plans charge per location |
| Table Management | ✅ Floor plans, reservations, waitlist | ✅ Floor plans with seat-level checks; coursing |
| Support | ✅ 24/7 phone + chat; guided onboarding | ⚠️ 24/7 on Premium only; self-serve first on Free/Plus |
| Ecosystem | ⚠️ Growing; fewer integrations currently | ✅ Massive: payroll, loyalty, marketing, online, banking |
| Track Record | ⚠️ Newer platform, smaller install base | ✅ Established since 2009; publicly traded (Block, Inc.) |
Feature availability varies by plan, configuration, and region. Verify current capabilities with each provider before purchasing.
Where Each Platform Wins
Both are strong options. The right choice depends on your restaurant's size, complexity, and budget.
TackOn Table's Strengths
- Restaurant-only focus. Modifiers, KDS, dayparts, combos, and table management are all native — not layered on top of a general retail POS.
- KDS included on all plans. Square charges $20/mo per KDS device on the Free plan. TackOn Table includes KDS at every tier.
- Flat multi-location pricing. Enterprise covers unlimited locations for $199/mo. Square charges per location ($49–$149 each), which adds up fast at 3+ stores.
- 24/7 human support on all plans. Square reserves 24/7 dedicated support for Premium ($149/mo). TackOn Table includes it at every price point.
- Guided onboarding. A real person walks you through setup. Square's onboarding is primarily self-serve on Free and Plus.
Square's Strengths
- Free plan — genuinely free. $0/mo with basic POS, reporting, and online ordering. No other major restaurant POS offers this. If you're just starting, it's the lowest-risk entry point in the market.
- Massive ecosystem. Payroll, loyalty, marketing, gift cards, online ordering, banking, and invoicing — all in one platform. TackOn Table can't match this breadth today.
- Online ordering built in. Square Online gives every restaurant a free ordering page synced to the POS. TackOn Table is building embeddable online ordering with Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash integrations — but it's not live yet.
- Lower processing on paid plans. Plus at 2.5% + 10¢ and Premium at 2.4% + 10¢ both beat TackOn Table's starting rate of 2.9% + 10¢.
- iPad-based simplicity. Use iPads you may already own. Square's hardware starts with a free magstripe reader and goes up from there.
- Brand and market trust. Millions of businesses worldwide. Publicly traded. Your accountant has seen Square reports before.
3-Year Cost Comparison
A single-location café processing $50,000/month in card sales. Comparable paid plans.
TackOn Table · Professional ($99/mo)
Square · Plus ($49/mo + device fees)
Simplified estimate. Actual costs depend on transaction mix, average ticket, tips, and add-ons. Square device fees may vary. Use the TackOn Table pricing calculator for a personalized estimate.
Switching from Square
How Migration Works
- CSV import for menus, items, categories, and modifiers
- TackOn Table hardware setup in under a day
- Native KDS + receipt printers — no per-device fees
- Training videos + live onboarding with a real person
- Most restaurants fully operational in 1–3 days
Before You Switch: Check These
- Hardware: Square hardware (Terminal, Register, readers) won't work with TackOn Table. You'll need new certified terminals.
- Online ordering: If you depend on Square Online for takeout/delivery orders, note that TackOn Table is building embeddable online ordering with delivery platform integrations — but it's not live yet. Plan for a third-party tool in the interim.
- Ecosystem dependencies: If you use Square Payroll, Square Loyalty, or Square Marketing, you'll need replacements or integrations.
- Processing rates: If your Square rate is lower than TackOn Table's published rates, ask about volume-based custom pricing.
Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Square If You…
- Are starting a new restaurant and want $0 upfront software cost
- Need online ordering, loyalty, payroll, and marketing in one platform
- Run a simple menu with basic modifier needs
- Already own iPads and want to keep hardware costs minimal
- Prefer a brand with massive community support and documentation
- Operate a single location without complex kitchen routing
Choose TackOn Table If You…
- Run a dedicated restaurant — café, food truck, QSR, or full-service
- Need native KDS, deep modifiers, combos, and dayparts without add-on fees
- Want 24/7 human support without paying $149/mo for the privilege
- Plan to scale to multiple locations without per-location pricing
- Prefer guided onboarding with a real person, not self-serve setup
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TackOn Table cheaper than Square?
Not at the entry level. Square's Free plan costs $0/mo — TackOn Table starts at $49/mo. On paid plans, Square's Plus ($49/mo) also has lower processing rates (2.5% + 10¢ vs 2.9% + 10¢). However, Square charges per location and adds device fees ($40/mo per countertop POS), so multi-location restaurants may find TackOn Table's flat Enterprise pricing ($199/mo, unlimited locations) more cost-effective. Use our pricing calculator to compare.
Can I use my Square hardware with TackOn Table?
No. Square hardware (Terminal, Register, readers) only works with Square software. You'll need TackOn Table-certified terminals. Hardware bundles start at $399 (food truck) and $999 (restaurant starter).
Does either platform require a contract?
Neither requires a long-term contract. Both TackOn Table and Square are month-to-month. You can cancel either at any time without penalties.
Does TackOn Table have online ordering like Square?
Not yet, but it's in active development. TackOn Table is building embeddable online ordering for restaurant websites plus direct integrations with Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash. Until that launches, Square Online has the edge here. Contact us to join the early access list.
Which has better processing rates?
Square's paid plans offer lower card-present rates: 2.5% + 10¢ (Plus) and 2.4% + 10¢ (Premium) vs TackOn Table's starting rate of 2.9% + 10¢. Square's Free plan rate (2.6% + 15¢) is closer but still slightly lower on percentage. TackOn Table's rates decrease with volume — restaurants processing $150K+/month qualify for custom pricing.
Is KDS included or does it cost extra?
TackOn Table includes native KDS on all plans at no extra cost. Square charges $20/mo per KDS device on the Free plan; KDS is included at no extra cost on Plus and Premium.
How long does it take to switch from Square?
Most restaurants are fully operational in 1–3 days. TackOn Table supports CSV import for menus and items, and the onboarding team walks you through setup live.
Online Ordering Is Coming to TackOn Table
Embeddable online ordering for your restaurant's website — plus direct integrations with Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash. Orders flow straight into your TackOn Table POS. No third-party tablets, no separate dashboards.
Want to be among the first restaurants to use it?
Get on the Early Access List →Still Deciding?
Try TackOn Table and see if it fits your restaurant. No long-term commitment — if it doesn't work, you haven't lost anything.
Start Free Trial View Pricing Talk to Our TeamSquare® is a registered trademark of Block, Inc. This page is an independent comparison for informational purposes only. TackOn Table is not affiliated with Square or Block, Inc. All pricing and feature data was gathered from publicly available sources and is believed accurate as of February 2026. Verify current terms directly with each provider.