- Pros: Looks stylish. No contract. Simple fees. Cheaper than most registers. Very user-friendly. Fast bank transfers.
- Cons: Purchase cost too high for some (but financing available). Only works with Square’s POS software and card processing. Cash drawer and printer not included.
- Choose if: You don’t want to use a commercial-grade tablet for the point of sale and prefer a simple setup.
Overview
In brief
What is it?
Our opinion
In detail
Pricing
Hardware features
POS software
Support and reviews
What is it?
Square Register is a complete point of sale (POS) terminal with a large touchscreen and detachable, customer-facing EFTPOS terminal. It is an elegant piece of equipment designed by Square, though the style is clearly inspired by Apple.
Register includes free POS software that can be upgraded to more specialised Square POS systems. You don’t need an iPad or other commercial-grade tablet. Instead, you benefit from having a dedicated POS terminal that people would not steal, and cashiers can only use it for Square’s own features.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
Square Register is a two-piece tablet register and card terminal.
The card terminal is a mini tablet in its own right, but with slots for chip and swipe cards and NFC technology for contactless payments. The dynamic screen turns into a keypad when a PIN code is required and displays transaction totals and relevant details.
Square Register only works with its own payment processing and POS software, but can integrate with a cash drawer, receipt printer and more. It also shows online orders and accepts payments remotely, so there’s no need for a separate computer to manage your business across sales channels.
Prefer a card reader with iPad app? Learn about Square Reader
Our opinion: good product that’s not complicated
Square Register is certainly a classy point of sale register, but is it worth the price tag?
Compared with the cost of an iPad and card machine, you would pay a similar or higher price for a different setup. Just note the lack of a receipt printer and cash drawer, which are optional extras to purchase.
| Square Register criteria | Rating | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Product | 4.8 | Good/Excellent |
| Costs and fees | 4.1 | Good |
| Transparency and sign-up | 4.8 | Good/Excellent |
| Value-added services | 4.5 | Good/Excellent |
| Service and reviews | 4 | Good |
| Contract | 5 | Excellent |
| OVERALL SCORE | 4.5 | Good/Excellent |
There’s good value in having a checkout that only works for that purpose. Consumer tablets are attractive to steal, but Square Register doesn’t have consumer apps or an internet browser.
Its EFTPOS machine, pay-as-you-go card processing and free POS software with complimentary online tools are other benefits that small businesses save money on.
“It was just really straightforward for us to unpack Square Register, set it up and run the software from the get-go. A real joy to use.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, Mobile Transaction
But consider: is the software is sufficient for your retail or hospitality business? You’re “stuck” with Square features on Register, so make sure the POS system has everything you need before the purchase.
Best for: Merchants preferring a no-contract, all-in-one POS and payments system with online selling tools included.
Square Register pricing
There is no contract with Square and no account creation fee when signing up.
You just purchase Square Register upfront for $699 including GST, or $92 with GST per month in interest-free instalments over 12 months. It also comes with a two-year guarantee.
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Square Register price | Upfront: $699 incl. GST Interest-free instalments: $92 incl. GST/month for 12 months |
| Shipping | Free |
| Account | Free setup, no contract lock-in |
| Monthly fee | None |
| Transaction fee | 1.6% per card payment |
| Refunds | Transaction fee is retained |
| Chargebacks | Free |
| Bank transfers | Next day: Free Instant: 1.5% fee |
There are otherwise no monthly fees for the hardware or Square Point of Sale software installed on Register. All card transactions – regardless of the type of card – cost 1.6% to process. No extra transaction charges for foreign, premium or corporate business cards apply.
If you want specialised software features, you can subscribe to free or paid retail, restaurant or appointment POS systems from Square, all available on Register.
| Register software | Subscription fee* |
|---|---|
| Square Point of Sale | Free |
| Square for Restaurants | Free: Free Plus: $129/mo per location |
| Square for Retail | Free: Free Plus: $109/mo per location |
| Square Appointments | Free: Free Plus: $40/mo Premium: $90/mo |
*Including GST.
Chargebacks and processing refunds are free.
“Square merchants really value the Instant Transfers option when they need funds straight away after card transactions.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, Mobile Transaction
Standard settlement, where transactions reach your bank account the next day, including weekends, is free. If you want funds instantly, an additional fee of 1.5% applies.
Good quality hardware
Square Register is a purpose-built, 13.25“ touchscreen apparatus with a crisp-clear screen for the POS interface and detachable, customer-facing card terminal with a touchscreen as well. The whole thing weighs 1.8 kg with a total height of 25.4 cm.
It uses an Android operating system, but you can’t access consumer Android apps, only Square software. Register connects with the internet over WiFi or an Ethernet cable for the software and card payments to function.
It accepts cards via chip, contactless and swipe from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, eftpos, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung. And if you don’t want to pay the transaction fee, it’s possible to add a surcharge to recoup the fee.
Photo: Square
The card terminal attaches to the back.
The card terminal can be attached behind Register’s screen so it faces the customer or detached and placed closer to the customer on a counter.
At the moment, it’s limited what you can display on the EFTPOS screen. It adapts to the payment method, guiding customers to insert a card or tap the screen, becoming a virtual PIN pad when relevant. During transactions, payment amounts show on the screen.
When not in use, your company name and logo can be displayed on the screen.
Accessories for a more complete checkout
The Register kit comes with a 1-metre cable between the main body and card terminal to keep them paired, but you can buy a 2-metre cable for $15. The (included) main power cable has to be plugged in at all times.
Photo: Square
Square Register works with a cash drawer, receipt printer and barcode scanner.
Compatible receipt printers, barcode scanners, scales and cash drawers can be connected with Square Register.
These can be bought from the Square website or other point of sale stockists. You can also use Square Terminal or Handheld as portable terminals connected with your account, but they work independently.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
Square Stand (left) doesn’t have a tablet, whereas Register (right) is a tablet register.
How Register compares with Square Stand
An alternative POS register is Square Stand, but this requires an iPad for the software. This stand has built-in contactless and chip card readers instead of a separate terminal like Square Register.
They both look great on a countertop, and we think they would elevate an ordinary point of sale to a smart, efficient checkout experience.
Similar to Stand, Square Kiosk only works with an iPad inserted, but it’s for self-service ordering only.
Point of sale software
With Square’s POS software, Register really comes to life through the colourful, user-friendly interface designed to make sense even for new users.
The following POS systems work with Square Register.
Square Point of Sale: Free app with general features for all sectors. Features include product library, customer library, employee accounts, sales reporting, split bills, eGift cards and much more. Learn more in our review.
Square for Restaurants: Free and paid plan for restaurants. Features include table management, order management, service charge settings and much more. Learn more in our Restaurants review.
Square for Retail: Free or paid plan for retailers. Features include useful stock management tools, vendor management, exchanges, printing barcode labels and more. Learn more in our Retail review.
Appointments: Free for one user and monthly plan for several users. Ideal for appointment scheduling, managing rooms or resource bookings, combined with a POS interface.
Register cannot be used with non-Square software, so you need to be sure that the above software is sufficient for your needs long-term.
The cool thing about the system is its many integrations with online tools like payment links, an online store, email invoices and QR codes. With these, you can adapt to store closures and remote payments easily, keeping transactions synced in sales reports across channels.
Customer support and reviews
While other Square users can only phone the Australia-based customer support on business days between 9am-5pm (Melbourne time), buying a Square Register includes 24/7 helpline support.
You can email the customer service team, but it may take a couple of days to receive a response through this channel.
We see merchants are happy with Square Register in Australian reviews, citing its ease of use, how all features are included, and that “customers love it”.
A potential downside is that you’re dependent on Square’s available software, so if the company lags behind on features you want, there’s nothing else to do than wait for them. The US is further ahead with the rollout of features.
