Compare Square hardware
Square Register
A fully integrated point of sale with built-in payments and two touchscreens.
Square Stand (2nd generation)
An iPad point of sale with an intuitive checkout and integrated payments.
Square Reader (2nd generation)
A quick and simple way to accept chip and PIN, contactless payments, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Accepted payments
Contactless
Chip and PIN
Mobile
Contactless
Chip and PIN
Mobile
Contactless
Chip and PIN
Mobile
Contactless
Chip and PIN
Mobile
Power
Battery or socket
Requires wall socket
USB-C model requires a wall socket or uses iPad powered mode, which runs on the iPad’s battery.
Lightning model requires wall socket.
Battery or power by USB-C charging cable
Takes 20% more transactions on a single charge than Square Reader (1st generation)
Internet connection
Wi-Fi or Ethernet (with Hub for Square Terminal, sold separately)
Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Via your iPad
Via your phone or tablet
Compatible devices
No additional device required. Uses 57 mm x 35 mm thermal printer paper.
No additional device required.
Square Stand (2nd generation, USB-C) requires iPad (10th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation), iPad Air (4th, 5th generation), iPad Air 11-inch (M2).
Square Stand (2nd generation, Lightning) requires iPad (7th, 8th, 9th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch.
Connects via Bluetooth to an iOS (15.0+) or Android (7.0+) device.
Device connection
No additional device required.
No additional device required.
USB-C or Lightning dependent on iPad used
Bluetooth LE
Enhanced connectivity (compared to 1st generation)
Compatible point-of-sale software
Square Point of Sale
Square for Restaurants
Square for Retail
Square Appointments
Square Point of Sale
Square for Restaurants
Square for Retail
Square Appointments
Square Point of Sale
Square for Restaurants
Square for Retail
Square Appointments
Square Point of Sale
Square for Restaurants (with an iPad)
Square for Retail
Square Appointments