SUPERKAWA OS vs Square: full comparison

In short

Square works on a radically different model from other POS software: the software is free, with no subscription or setup fees. Square only earns through a per-transaction fee — 1.65% for an in-person card payment, between 2% and 2.5% for remote payments, and between 1.4% and 2.9% for online payments depending on the card's geographic zone.

Hardware starts at €19 for a simple card reader, up to €165 for a full terminal. Square claims more than 2 million business customers worldwide.

SUPERKAWA OS works on a fixed subscription model — €59, €99 or €149/month — with no additional fee on the transactions you collect.

Comparison table

Where Square is strong

Square's business model is particularly well suited to very small volumes or seasonal activity: with no subscription, a restaurateur who is just starting out or has irregular activity only pays for what they actually collect. No fixed fees to absorb during slow months.

Square covers a very broad ecosystem: in-person and online payments, invoices, online store, inventory management with restocking alerts, employee management with time tracking, and a loyalty program included with no extra hardware. It's a complete commerce platform, not just a register.

Offline mode works for inserted-card payments, with automatic processing once the connection returns within 24 hours — a real advantage for areas with unstable connectivity.

Square highlights register closing and archiving features tailored to merchants needs, with daily Z reports generated and archived for six years, the legal retention period.

Understanding the commission-based business model

With no fixed subscription, the real cost depends entirely on business volume. The higher the card payment volume, the higher the total cost of fees rises mechanically. Conversely, a fixed subscription remains independent of the volume collected.

To estimate their own cost, a restaurateur can multiply their monthly card revenue by the applicable fee rate and compare the result to a fixed subscription.

The real differentiator: wallet and loyalty

Square offers a customizable loyalty program and electronic gift cards, integrated with no extra hardware — a real strength for a free system.

SUPERKAWA OS goes further with a native customer wallet — a digital prepaid card built directly into the platform. The customer tops up their balance, pays with a single QR scan from their phone, and every transaction automatically credits their loyalty points. For the restaurateur, the wallet lets the customer top up their account in advance and speeds up checkout on subsequent purchases.

The real differentiator: cost predictability

Square handles multi-location well from a single dashboard, with separate profiles and bank accounts per venue. But every transaction at every venue remains subject to the fee — the total bill grows mechanically with the business volume of the entire network.

SUPERKAWA OS is designed so that a multi-site restaurateur runs a single brand from a consolidated dashboard, with publicly displayed pricing. The software bill remains independent of the sales volume achieved.

In practice: a restaurateur who opens a shop in Paris then a second in Dubai runs both from the same SUPERKAWA OS dashboard — each venue collects in its own currency, without ever adding them up, with a fixed subscription cost regardless of the sales volume achieved.

Who should choose SUPERKAWA OS over Square?

• You have a high sales volume and want a fixed cost rather than a variable fee
• You want a native customer wallet with no third-party app
• You prefer Android, iPad or PC hardware of your choice rather than proprietary hardware
• You manage several venues and want predictable pricing
• You want to try for free without depending on your collection volume

Where Square remains relevant

• You are starting a business with a low or irregular sales volume
• You want to avoid any fixed financial commitment at launch
• You need offline mode for card payments
• You want a complete commerce platform (online store, invoices, remote payments) beyond the register alone
• Square hardware fits your start-up budget

To go further, discover the SUPERKAWA OS restaurant software, the details of the restaurant POS software, or compare the plans and pricing directly.

Frequently asked questions

Is Square really free?

The software has no subscription, but Square earns a fee on every transaction collected. For a high sales volume, the total cost can exceed that of a fixed subscription.

Does SUPERKAWA OS work without an internet connection?

Not yet. On this specific point, Square currently has an advantage for inserted-card payments.

Is the customer wallet different from a Square gift card?

Yes. The SUPERKAWA OS wallet is a rechargeable prepaid store of value, natively integrated with the customer's loyalty, whereas a gift card is generally a fixed amount given or bought once.

How do I know which one costs less for my restaurant?

It depends on your monthly collection volume, your activity and the services used. Comparing transaction-related fees with the cost of a fixed subscription helps estimate the solution best suited to your venue.

Can I test SUPERKAWA OS before committing?

Yes, a 14-day free trial with no credit card.

The information on this page is based on the public offers available at the date of publication. Features, prices and conditions may change. Verify the information directly with each vendor before making any decision.