Shift4 vs Square for restaurants

Overview

This compares Shift4's restaurant point of sale with Square for Restaurants in the US, using Shift4's published terms and Square's published prices as of October 2026. Shift4's system was called SkyTab until 12 May 2026, when it was renamed Shift4 Dine; Shift4 told customers the software, account setup and support would not change. The two are sold in opposite ways. Square publishes everything. Software is $0, $49 or $149 a month per location, in-person cards cost 2.6%, 2.5% or 2.4% + 15¢ depending on the plan, there is no contract and no early termination fee, and you buy the hardware. Shift4 publishes no processing rate. The description of its pricing page says pricing starts at $29.99, without saying what that figure covers, and the monthly fee includes hardware with a lifetime warranty, 24/7 support and free loyalty, reservations and a website builder. The cost is in the terms. Shift4's merchant processing agreement runs 36 months and renews yearly. Leaving early costs a per-device monthly fee of $100 to $750, set by your volume, for every month left. Shift4's terms also set $439.99 a year per device in regulatory and program fees, and the hardware goes back to Shift4 when you leave. Payment Review grades Square A and Shift4 B+.

Key Takeaways

• ✓Square publishes its rates: 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Square Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus ($49 a month per location) and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium ($149). Shift4 publishes no rate for any channel, so its cost cannot be compared until you have a written quote.
• ✓Shift4 Dine needs $0 upfront for hardware, which comes with a lifetime warranty and stays Shift4's property. Square hardware is bought outright, from $59 for a reader to $899 for Register, or financed at 15% APR.
• ✓Shift4's processing agreement has a 36-month initial term that renews for a year at a time unless you give 90 days' notice. Leaving early costs $100 to $750 per device for each remaining month. A restaurant estimated at $40,000 a month with three devices that leaves after a year would owe $21,600. Square has no contract and charges no early termination fee.
• ✓Shift4 charges a $189.99 regulatory fee and a $250 program fee per device every year, plus $20 a quarter for debit. Square lists no activation, PCI, inactivity or early termination fees.
• ✓Shift4 gives every merchant 24/7/365 technical support, and on-site installation is included from four workstations ($599 for two or three, waived if a month's volume tops $30,000). Square's phone support runs 6am to 6pm PT on weekdays, and is 24/7 only on Premium.