Square is everywhere in small restaurants, and Square Online is the obvious next step for many owners: you already have the POS, so why not turn on online ordering too? For a lot of cafés and counter-service spots, that works. For restaurants that want to grow direct orders, it's worth knowing exactly what you pay and what you don't get.
This guide covers Square Online's published plans in the USA and Canada, the processing fees that make up most of the real cost, and when a restaurant-specific alternative makes more sense.
Square's US online store page lists three plans, each "per location" (as of Oct 2026):
| Plan | Monthly price | Online processing fee | In-person fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Free | $0/mo. | 3.3% + 30¢ | 2.6% + 15¢ |
| Square Plus | $49/mo. | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 15¢ |
| Square Premium | $149/mo. | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.4% + 15¢ |
Source: Square online store plans (US), as of Oct 2026. Square adds that if you "process over $250,000 per year," you can ask about custom pricing.
Square's Canadian online store page lists (as of Oct 2026):
| Plan | Monthly price | Online processing fee |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2.8% + $0.30 |
| Plus | $36 | 2.8% + $0.30 |
| Premium | $99 | 2.5% + $0.30 |
Square's Canadian FAQ says that on the free plan "your only cost comes when you make a sale — just 2.8% + 30¢ per transaction" (Square online store plans (Canada), as of Oct 2026).
For most restaurants, the processing fee matters more than the plan price. A worked example using Square's published US Free-plan online rate:
On Square Plus (2.9% + 30¢), the same volume is about $789/month in processing plus the $49 plan, roughly $838. That's simple arithmetic on Square's published rates, not a quote; your mix of in-person and online orders will change it.
Keep in mind that every online ordering system has card processing somewhere. The useful comparison is total cost: plan + processing + commission + add-ons. Try your own numbers in our cost calculator.
Square Online is a general online store builder used by retailers, services and restaurants. Restaurants that want to grow direct orders usually end up needing things that aren't the core of an online store:
None of this means Square is a bad choice. It means Square Online is one tool, and growth needs several.
| Square Online | AIOrders | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 / $49 / $149 (US); $0 / $36 / $99 (CA) | flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees |
| Commission | None from Square; card processing per sale | 0% on the flat-monthly plan |
| Works with Square POS | Native | Order Hub sends orders into "your existing POS system (Square, Clover, Toast, and more)" |
| Delivery app orders in one place | Not on these plan pages | Order Hub: "DoorDash, UberEats, SkipTheDishes, Grubhub, plus your website orders — all in one place" |
| Reviews, SEO, win-back marketing | Not the focus of these plans | Included: review automation, local SEO, repeat-customer campaigns |
| QR table ordering | Yes | Yes, with loyalty points and reorder favourites |
Sources: Square US plans, Square CA plans, AIOrders homepage, AIOrders pricing, Order Hub, QR Table Experience, all as of Oct 2026.
The key point for Square users: you don't have to leave Square to use AIOrders. Order Hub is built to send orders into an existing Square POS. See the full AIOrders vs Square Online comparison and the Square Online alternative page.
Not sure? Compare a dozen options on our best online ordering system for restaurants page, or read Toast vs Square vs Clover for small restaurants.
About AIOrders: a commission-free online ordering and restaurant marketing platform based in Vancouver, BC, serving restaurants in Canada and the USA. Pricing: a flat-monthly plan with 0% order fees, or a lower-cost entry plan with a per-order fee.
In the US, Square lists Square Free at $0/mo., Plus at $49/mo. and Premium at $149/mo. per location, with online processing of 3.3% + 30¢ on Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium (as of Oct 2026).
Square Canada lists Free at $0, Plus at $36 and Premium at $99, with online processing of 2.8% + $0.30 on Free and Plus and 2.5% + $0.30 on Premium (as of Oct 2026).
Yes. Square's QR code ordering page says each QR code is mapped to a table, walk-up window, parking spot or other ordering location.
Square's plan pages list a monthly plan price and card processing fees per transaction, not a percentage commission like delivery apps.
Yes. AIOrders' Order Hub says orders sync into existing POS systems including Square, Clover and Toast.