Square Review Australia 2026

Pos
3.0 / 5— SoftwareHQ AU Rating
Pricing verified 2026-03-18

Overview

Square is free pos software with affordable card payments. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA (Block Inc), it serves Australian businesses.

Free POS software with affordable card payments

AU Compliance Scores

BAS Lodgement
0/5
STP Phase 2
0/5
Payday Super
0/5
Modern Awards
0/5
GST Handling
3/5
Bank Feeds
0/5

Pricing (AUD inc. GST)

All prices below are in Australian dollars and include GST. Pricing verified as of 2026-03-18.

Free POS
Free
AUD inc GST
Free POS software — hardware from $59
  • Locations: 1
  • Registers: unlimited
Most Popular
Plus
$69/mo
AUD inc GST
  • Locations: unlimited
  • Registers: unlimited
  • Advanced Reporting: Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free POS software — zero monthly fees to start
  • Simple 1.6% flat card rate — no hidden fees
  • Affordable hardware from $59 (Square Reader)
  • 300+ integrations including Xero and MYOB
  • AEST support hours with AU-based team
  • Easy to set up — no technical skills needed

Cons

  • 1.6% card rate higher than Zeller's 1.4%
  • US company — some data may be US-hosted
  • No built-in payroll or accounting
  • Advanced features require paid Plus plan
  • Hardware purchases required for in-person payments

Who Is Square Best For?

  • Cafe
  • Retail Shop
  • Market Stall
  • Pop Up Store
  • Food Truck
  • Small Retail

Square may not be the best fit for:

  • Enterprise Retail
  • Complex Inventory
  • Eftpos Only Needed

Square Alternatives

If Square doesn’t quite fit your needs, consider these alternatives for Australian businesses:

  • Lightspeed — Full-featured POS for retail and hospitality. From $129/mo inc. GST.
  • Zeller — AU-made EFTPOS and POS in one device. Free plan available.
  • Shopify POS — Omnichannel POS for retailers who sell online and in-store. From $56/mo inc. GST.

Related Comparisons

Head to Head
Square vs Lightspeed 2026
Square's free POS software and flat 1.6% card rate make it the easiest entry point for cafes, market...
Head to Head
Square vs Zeller 2026
Zeller's 1.4% card rate undercuts Square's 1.6%, saving AU businesses $2 per $1,000 in card transact...

Migration Guides

Step-by-step switching guides involving Square for Australian businesses.

Hard
How to Switch Your POS System
4-8 hours · 10 steps
Moderate
How to Migrate from Square to Zeller
2-4 hours · 7 steps
Moderate
How to Migrate from Lightspeed to Square
3-5 hours · 8 steps

Related Compliance Guides

Guide
BAS Lodgement Guide for Australian Businesses
Business Activity Statements must be lodged quarterly or monthly with the ATO, reporting GST, PAYG i...
Guide
GST Registration Guide for Australian Businesses
Australian businesses must register for GST once their annual turnover reaches or is expected to rea...
Guide
Tax Invoice Requirements in Australia — What You Must Include
Australian businesses registered for GST must issue tax invoices for taxable sales of $82.50 or more...

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Square charge per transaction in Australia?
Square charges 1.6% for card-present (tap or insert) transactions for sellers who signed up on or after 30 May 2024. Card-not-present transactions (online, invoices, manual entry) are charged at 2.2%. Afterpay transactions are 6% plus 30 cents. There are no monthly fees, setup fees, or hidden charges.
Is Square free to use in Australia?
Yes, Square's base POS software is completely free with no monthly subscription. You only pay the 1.6% processing fee when you make a card sale. However, you'll need to purchase at least one hardware device (from $59) to accept in-person card payments. The Plus plan at $69/month adds advanced features like multi-location management.
Where does Square store Australian customer data?
Square processes payment data locally in Australia. However, some account and personal data may be stored overseas, including in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the Philippines. Square states it takes reasonable steps to ensure overseas data handling complies with Australian Privacy Principles.
Can Square integrate with Xero or MYOB?
Yes, Square has native integrations with both Xero and MYOB. Sales, refunds, and payment data sync automatically to your accounting software, eliminating manual data entry. Square also integrates with 300+ other apps including Deputy for rostering and Shopify for ecommerce.
Does Square handle GST on receipts?
Square automatically calculates and displays GST on customer receipts. However, Square is a POS system and does not handle BAS lodgement or tax reporting directly — you'll need to connect it to accounting software like Xero or MYOB for BAS preparation and ATO compliance.
Can I get a lower rate if my business processes high volumes?
Yes, businesses processing over $250,000 per year in card sales can contact Square's sales team to negotiate custom processing rates based on their payment volume and average transaction size.