Why Square sellers look for an alternative
The Square Seller Community shows the same requests year after year. The most-read Appointments threads ask how to embed booking on a website (280,188 views), how to take a deposit instead of full payment (279,802 views, now built), and whether clients can use a discount code when booking online (116,948 views across two requests). Sellers also ask for memberships, a booking page that matches their brand, and follow-up messages after a visit.
Price is the other reason. In October 2025 Square replaced its separate Appointments plans with Square Free, Plus ($49 a month per location) and Premium ($149). Sellers who were on the old Appointments Plus report it cost $29.
Sources, checked October 9, 2026: Square: plans and pricing, Square press release, Oct 6 2025.
What switching platforms involves
Every booking platform handles the move a little differently, so ask yours these questions before you commit:
- Clients and history. You can export your Square customer list. Ask the new platform what it imports: notes, visit history, and how many years.
- Saved cards. Cards on file belong to the payment processor. Ask whether they can be moved, or whether clients will enter them again.
- Gift cards and packages. Balances sold through Square need a plan: honor them in Square, or recreate them by hand.
- Your links. Instagram, Google and your website point to your Square booking site. Each link needs updating, and Reserve with Google moves to the new provider.
- Your team. A new calendar, checkout and app. Plan for a few slow weeks.
None of this is a reason not to switch. If your business needs clinical charting, a different payments setup or a full salon suite, a dedicated platform can be the right call.
Keep Square and add what’s missing
If Square already runs your day and the gaps are about booking and marketing, Foyer adds them on top of your Square account:
| What you need | Square Appointments alone | With Foyer |
|---|---|---|
| Booking stays on your website | Opens a new tab | Popup or inline |
| Booking page in your colors, fonts and words | Logo and one color | Included |
| Promo codes in online booking | Not available | Included |
| Member prices and credits at online booking | Not available | Included |
| Packages | Square Plus ($49/mo) | Any Square plan |
| Rebooking reminders when the next visit is due | Not available | Included |
| Google review request after every visit | Plus campaigns | Any Square plan |
| Google Analytics and Meta Pixel on booking | Square Online only | Included |
| Calendar, clients and payments in Square | Yes | Still yes |
From Square’s help center and pricing page, and Square staff answers on the Square Seller Community, checked October 9, 2026. Square adds features over time, so check your plan.
Each piece has its own guide: booking widget, deposits, memberships, packages, promo codes, reminders and rebooking, review requests and a website.
How to decide
- Keep Square and add Foyer if your team likes Square’s checkout and app, and what you are missing is on-site booking, memberships, packages, promo codes or follow-ups.
- Upgrade to Square Plus if you only need no-show fees, Square packages or the waitlist. See Square plans compared.
- Switch platforms if you need something neither Square nor an add-on covers, such as clinical charting, and you are ready for the move.