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COMPARE · 05

Square vs Nekti — which fits your restaurant?

Square is a US-origin payments + POS platform. No setup or monthly fee — start with payment fees only — plus restaurant features like table management and a kitchen display. Nekti is an integration platform that runs POS with the plugins you need on one OS. This page lays out the differences using public information.

30-second verdict

Square
If you want to start free with payments at the core — Square fits. Transparent fees, same-day deposits, and terminals you can buy in stores are strengths.
Nekti
If you want to consolidate payments with reservations, SNS, shifts and accounting and automate with AI — Nekti fits.
Both
Using both is viable: run Square for payments while adding Nekti's reservation, SNS and analytics plugins.
SECTION 01

What they share

First, what they both do. As cloud POS systems, the core is similar.

  • Cloud-based, accessible from multiple devices
  • Sales records and daily reports
  • Credit card / e-money / QR payments
  • Runs on smartphones / tablets
  • Core inventory, staff and customer management
SECTION 02

Feature coverage

Based on each vendor's public information. "△" means conditional support via an option or separate plugin. Note: Nekti’s features include some still in development.

FeatureSquareNekti
POS / order managementCore to both✓✓
Payment terminals (own hardware)Square Reader / Terminal / Stand etc.✓—
Table management & KDSSquare has built-in restaurant features✓✓
Self-order kiosk✓△
Same-day depositSquare's own strength✓—
Auto-import from reservation sites—✓
AI chat / task instructions—✓
Auto SNS post generation—✓
Shift & accounting integration△✓
Free monthly planSquare's own strength (fees only)✓△
SECTION 03

How costs differ

Nekti lets you start on the Free plan (¥0), and there is only one Paid plan (reservations come with the Paid plan). Always confirm rates and prices on the official site.

SQUARE

Square

  • Fixed monthly fee¥0 (free plan)
  • In-person card fee2.5%–3.25%*
  • Transfer / signup fee¥0
  • TerminalHardware cost only
  • Higher modesPaid plans available
NEKTI

Nekti

  • Free plan¥0 (core features)
  • Paid planList price ¥10,000 / month (currently discounted at the founding price)
  • Annual paymentThe price of 10 months
  • ReservationsFrom the Paid plan

※ The 2.5% in-person rate applies to major card brands in-person with annual cashless under ¥30M; otherwise 3.25%+ or custom. Confirm current fees on Square's official site.

SECTION 04

Running alongside your current tools

Keep using Square while adding Nekti. No need to switch all at once.

Parallel run

Yes

Run both at once and switch gradually — a soft landing.

With current tools

Via CSV

Import Square sales CSV into Nekti.

Switch period

About 2–4 weeks

It depends on store size and how many features you use, but we expect around 2–4 weeks (a pre-launch estimate).

SECTION 05

Which fits — by scenario

Decision criteria close to real situations. We aim for fit, not hierarchy.

Square fits

Square suits stores that…

  • Want to start free with payments at the core
  • Want terminals they can buy in-store and use today
  • Want faster deposits (same-day available)
  • Eye inbound and online sales too
Nekti fits

Nekti suits stores that…

  • Want payments, reservations, SNS, shifts and accounting in one
  • Use 3+ reservation sites and want auto-import (to be added after the paid plan starts)
  • Want to halve admin time with AI
  • Want AI for new menus and staff training
  • Want to expand flexibly by swapping plugins

Which one fits your restaurant?

Answer 12 questions and find out free whether Nekti fits your store.