Seamless vs Square: Which is the Better EPOS for Your Hospitality Business?

Choosing the right EPOS system is a crucial decision for any hospitality business. Whether you run a café, food truck, or restaurant, you need a solution that simplifies operations, enhances customer service, and helps manage costs. Two popular options in the UK market are Seamless and Square. Both offer strong point-of-sale (POS) systems, but they differ in important ways that can impact your business. Let’s explore how they compare across key areas.

1. Designed Specifically for Hospitality

Seamless is built from the ground up for the hospitality industry, focusing on the unique needs of cafés, food trucks, pubs, and restaurants. From table management and booking integration to print routing and delivery support, Seamless offers specialised features that cater directly to hospitality environments. In contrast, Square, while versatile and suitable for a range of industries (including retail and service businesses), does not offer the same level of built-in hospitality functionality. For example, Seamless’s link with TableSense provides a 0% commission booking system, helping restaurants avoid the high fees often associated with third-party booking platforms.

2. Transparent and Competitive Pricing

Seamless provides clear, affordable pricing tailored to different business types. For cafés and food trucks, Seamless charges from £19/month per terminal, while restaurants can access advanced features like table booking and print routing for £29/month per terminal. These plans are designed to cover most hospitality needs without hidden costs. In comparison, Square’s pricing starts with a free plan but can quickly become expensive when you take into account the premium payment fees of 1.75% and as you add features such as advanced reports, kitchen display systems, or inventory management. Seamless’s clear pricing structure makes it easier for hospitality businesses to budget effectively and will often be more competitive overall.

3. Offline Resilience

For businesses operating in environments with unreliable internet access, such as food trucks or remote pubs, Seamless’s offline capabilities provide a crucial advantage. You can continue processing transactions and managing operations even when your internet connection drops. Square does offer offline functionality, but Seamless’s deep focus on this aspect makes it a stronger contender for businesses that need uninterrupted operations in all circumstances .

4. Flexible Payment Solutions

One of Seamless’s biggest strengths is its flexibility in payment processing. Seamless offers a choice of integrated payment solutions, allowing businesses to negotiate their own rates and switch providers if necessary. This gives you more control over your costs and shields you from sudden changes in transaction fees. In contrast, Square requires you to use its built-in payment processing system, tying you to their rates which start at 1.75%. While convenient, this lack of flexibility can leave businesses vulnerable to fee changes that they cannot control and subject to a higher than standard fee structure.

5. UK-Based Support and Local Expertise

Seamless provides UK-based customer support, ensuring you get fast and relevant assistance from a team that understands the local market and hospitality challenges. This is especially important for businesses in the UK that need support during local operating hours and want advice tailored to their specific context. While Square offers customer support, it is more general and global, meaning it may not always provide the same level of region-specific expertise.

Conclusion: Why Choose Seamless Over Square?

While Square is a solid, versatile EPOS solution, Seamless stands out as the better choice for UK-based hospitality businesses. Its tailored features, transparent pricing, offline resilience, flexible payment solutions, and local support make it an excellent option for cafés, food trucks, pubs, and restaurants looking to streamline their operations and improve their bottom line.

If your business requires a solution that understands the nuances of hospitality, Seamless is designed to deliver exactly that. It not only provides the tools you need today but also gives you the flexibility to grow and adapt as your business evolves.