Tallo vs Square
Tallo vs Square
An honest side-by-side for independent venues. Every Square fact links to its source, checked October 30, 2026.
Square · Square for Restaurants · Plus
$22,445 /yr
Tallo · Pro
$19,047 /yr
Difference
$3,398 less /yr on Tallo
Example: $60,000/month in in-person card sales at a $28 average check. Software + processing only. Run your own numbers.
Side by side
| Square | Tallo | |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Yes, fully publishedsource | Fully published, including interchange-plus |
| Software | Free $0, Plus $49/mo, Premium $149/mo per locationsource | Free, Pro $59/mo, Plus $149/mo per location |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)source | 2.29% + 10¢ (Free), 2.19% + 10¢ (Pro/Plus), or IC + 0.35% + 8¢ (Plus) |
| Keyed / card on file | 3.5% + 15¢source | Shown before you take the payment |
| Bring your own processor | No — other terminals can only be logged as an "Other" tendersource | Yes, on every plan, no penalty |
| Hardware | Buy outright or finance over 3–24 monthssource | Runs on affordable Android tablets and phones. Optional Stripe readers bought outright |
| Contract | No long-term contract; cancel anytimesource | Month to month. No early termination fee |
| Tap to Pay on a phone | Yes, on iPhone and Androidsource | Yes, on Android tablets and phones |
| Kitchen display | Not on Free; $30/mo per device on Plus, $20/mo on Premiumsource | Included on Pro. Runs on any tablet, no per-screen fee |
| Offline mode | Yes; must reconnect within 24 hourssource | Yes |
| Tip pooling | On paid planssource | Pooling and tip-out by role on Pro |
| Online ordering | Commission-freesource | Commission-free, on Plus |
| Surcharging | Credit card surcharge in open beta (max 3%)source | Off by default. State rules built in if you enable it |
Square information is from its public US web pages as of October 30, 2026; your own agreement may differ. Tallo is onboarding its first venues, and some features roll out in stages. Spot something out of date? Email hello@tallopay.com and we'll fix it.
Where Square is strong
- Fully published pricing and no long-term contract — the closest to Tallo on transparency.
- A huge ecosystem spanning retail, appointments, payroll and banking.
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android on every plan.
Why venues pick Tallo
- Keep your own processor on any plan — or use ours at a published rate.
- No hardware contract. Run on affordable Android tablets.
- Kitchen display, tips and tip-out included on Pro, with no per-screen fees.
- Month to month, with your menu and staff migrated for you in 48 hours.
Thinking about leaving Square?
Join the waitlist and we'll walk you through switching — menu migration, staff setup and timing it around your current contract.