Square vs. GoTab

Are you wondering if GoTab or Square is the better POS for your business? Check out our comparison of the two platforms to help you decide.

Why GoTab is Better for Hospitality Businesses

What to Consider When Choosing a POS Provider

Guest Experience

We let you offer guests the experience that suits them. Order and pay from a server. Order and pay from their phone. Order and pay via Pass RFID bracelet/card. Design your dream service model and we can make it happen.

Growth

GoTab is well-known for industry-leading on-premise mobile ordering and kitchen operations. However, the heart of GoTab is in its customizable platform that allows you to grow as a business and adapts to your needs as an operator.

Flexibility

GoTab works seamlessly across all sizes of operations. That means it's equally powerful for F&B ops at a food hall, trendy hotel or a sprawling eatertainment venue as it is for a counter service at a brewery or tap room.

Support

GoTab support is available via phone, SMS, chat (accessed through the KDS and Manager Dashboard), or email with an average 4 minute response time. A dedicated support team of hospitality professionals is sourced in-house, so they will always understand your issues.

Comparison Details: GoTab vs Square

Pricing

When it comes to pricing you can rely on both GoTab and Square to be upfront with you about fees and monthly costs. Square and GoTab have similar processing rates and both offer free monthly packages.

The primary advantage of selecting GoTab is the range of products and features that cater to all types of operations and save money:

  • We don’t  charge extra for vital products or support.
  • We let you purchase or reuse your own hardware or buy GoTab hardware.
  • We enable significant processing fee savings when guests order and pay once during their experience instead of closing a tab on every transaction.
GoTab’s Processing Fees and Pricing Information

Square offers three pricing packages: free, plus, and custom, depending on the nature of your operation. Their processing rates and monthly fees are relatively standard. Here's what you pay for when you choose Square:

  • Their branded hardware, which can add to your costs
  • Access to certain features cost additional monthly fees
  • 24/7 Phone Support

Real-Time Support

GoTab and Square both offer support and comprehensive support articles if you want to look up a quick question or take control and learn on your own. However, there are some key differences when it comes to real-time support.

GoTab's round-the-clock support is available via phone, SMS, chat (accessed through the KDS and Manager Dashboard), or email with an average 4 minute response time. You get a dedicated support team that consists of hospitality professionals. Our support team is sourced in-house, so they will always understand your issues.

  • GoTab offers 24/7x365 support with a real person
  • Onboarding team to get your operation up and running
  • Team dedicated to training you on our system
  • Dedicated account manager to help you post go-live

Square offers support by chat or phone Monday through Friday 6am-6pm PST. You may have to wait a while when you call so they offer a call back option. If you pay extra for Square's premium plan, you'll have access to 24/7 phone support.

Guest Experiences

If you're seeking a superior guest experience, the primary difference for GoTab is that it is an end-to-end platform that can provide a solution for any type of operation you run. Our all-in-one POS integrates seamlessly with all service models, whether tableside, counter service, or on-premise guest ordering via QR codes. We allow servers to not only add items to guest-initiated orders, but also process payments on behalf of guests. Square places a larger emphasis on quick one-off transactions.

From shared tabs to item splitting and the ability to freely roam around without having to open and close new tabs, we give your staff the ability to streamline the ordering process for themselves and your guests.

Learn More About Guest Experiences

Reporting, Invoicing, and Analytics

When it comes to reporting, invoicing, and viewing data, both GoTab and Square allow you to view real-time data. Your choice will come down to the complexity of your operation and the level of detail you need.

GoTab provides a variety of standard reports, including:

  • Custom Product Mix Reports
  • Real-time Sales Data
  • Automatic Revenue Sharing
  • Accrual and Deposit Reports

GoTab also offers comprehensive reports on inventory, products, employees, providing businesses with valuable insights into their operations. Additionally, GoTab offers one-of-a-kind features for food halls and other multi-vendor operations such as automatic revenue share and  roll-up reporting.

GoTab’s reporting capabilities can start small and grow with you. Square provides operators with insights to their sales and customer behavior. Square offers intuitive reporting on inventory, customers, and employees. Square’s reporting capabilities are intuitive and great for businesses that prioritize the basics.

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Complex Operations

When it comes to complex operations, GoTab will always have you covered. Whereas Square is designed for traditional counter service models, GoTab is tailored to work seamlessly across all sizes of operations in the hospitality industry.  

Because of GoTab’s cutting edge POS and on-premise mobile ordering, RFID technology, two-way text communication and Marketplace features, we are the optimal solution for operations with any level of complexity.

Let's break this down together:

Integrations

GoTab has best-in-class integrations so you can keep innovating. We work with best of breed solutions so that it can flexibly fit your location, allowing for a continued focus on the core real-time operational experience.

Learn More About our Integrations

Summary

GoTab and Square are both excellent choices in your search for a new POS. It really comes down to the type of operation you run, the features you need, and which one of these solutions are designed to work for you. If you are looking for software that grows with your business and customers, GoTab’s customizable platform is the way to go.

Square background image.
Quotation Mark

GoTab is the best solution for mobile ordering and payment. It has given us the tools to pivot during this past year, and we’re excited to evolve our hospitality service model to blend technology and in-person hospitality, particularly for our luxury clientele.

Camilo Rivera

General Manager of The Delegate

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