Square is excellent at payments and shares Shisu's no-contract freedom. The difference is depth: Shisu is built only for restaurants, and it comes with AI staff Square has no answer for.
Every figure is real and public. Scroll the table on mobile.
| Best valueShisu | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & fees | ||
| Entry price software / month | $0–$55per station | $0–$149Free / Plus / Premium |
| Transparent public pricing | ||
| Card-present rate | 2.45% + 15¢ | 2.5–2.6% + 15¢ |
| Online / keyed rate | 3.45% + 15¢ | 2.9–3.3% + 30¢ |
| Mid-contract rate increases | Flat, published | Flat, published |
| Contract | ||
| Term | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Early-termination fee | None | None |
| Hardware | ||
| Countertop terminal | $750financing available | $799 Register |
| Built for the dining room | Retail + foodgeneralist | |
| AI staff | ||
| AI phone host answers & books calls | ||
| AI shift coverage | ||
| AI hiring & training | ||
| AI inventory & reordering | ||
| Shows its work full audit trail | ||
| Multilingual voice Cantonese · Mandarin · English | ||
| Restaurant software | ||
| Commission-free online ordering | $49/mo | Included |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | $25/screen | $30/device |
| Loyalty | $49/mo | $45/mo + |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 support | Paid plans |
Competitor pricing and terms compiled from public listings as of June 2026 and subject to change — see squareup.com for current terms.
Both are month-to-month with no exit fee — but Shisu's paid card rate (2.45% + 15¢) edges Square's, and the whole platform is built for coursing, floor plans, and the pass, not a checkout line.
Square's add-ons are software. Shisu's are staff: an AI host that answers every call, and a coordinator that fills a sick shift before service — without you lifting a finger.
For Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking rooms, Shisu takes the call, books the table, and upsells in the language the guest used. Square's POS is English-first.
Square is hard to beat for a brand-new or very small shop, a mixed retail + food concept, or anyone who wants a genuine free tier and the simplest possible setup. Shisu is for restaurants that want dining-room depth and AI staff working the shift.