Independent booking software comparisons, run from the UKUK edition · Prices checked
US edition

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Review · UK edition

Square Appointments review: pricing, features and who it suits

Our verdict The strongest free option for UK salons, barbers and other businesses that take card payments in person: unlimited staff at one location for free, with POS and no-show fees built in. You're tied to Square for payments.

Visit Square Appointments Free plan available

At a glance

Best for
Salons, barbers, spas and any business taking card payments
Free plan
Yes: 1 location, unlimited staff (UK)
Free trial
Free plan instead
Entry price
From £29 per location/month
VAT basis not stated
Currency and tax
Square publishes UK prices in pounds. Its page, as recorded in our research, doesn't say whether VAT is included.
Fees
UK card fee in person: 1.75% on the Free plan, 1.6% on paid plans
Plan notes and add-ons
Card readers and hardware available from Square
Integrations
Square point of sale and payments, Google Calendar, Instagram, Reserve with Google
Third-party ratings
Capterra 4.5/5 (263 reviews)
Third-party figures as listed around 19 October 2026; not our ratings
Checked
2 November 2026

Our take

Square Appointments is the booking side of Square's payments platform, so its main advantage is that bookings, card payments and the point of sale live in one place. It can charge no-show fees, it works with Reserve with Google and Instagram, and Square sells card readers and other hardware.

In the UK the Free plan covers one location with unlimited staff, which is hard to beat for a busy salon or barbershop. Plus is £29 and Premium £69 per location per month. Card fees for in-person payments are 1.75% on Free and 1.6% on paid plans, so a paid plan can pay for itself once your card takings are high enough.

The catch is lock-in: you take payments through Square, paid plans are charged per location, and it isn't designed for booking online meetings.

Square Appointments plans and prices

Square Appointments plans
PlanPriceBillingUnitTax
Free£0Same (monthly)per location/monthVAT basis not stated
Plus£29Same (monthly)per location/monthVAT basis not stated
Premium£69Same (monthly)per location/monthVAT basis not stated

Square publishes UK prices in pounds. Its page, as recorded in our research, doesn't say whether VAT is included. Square Appointments pricing in detail.

Strengths

  • Free plan with unlimited staff at one location
  • Built-in card payments, POS and no-show fees
  • Native UK pricing in pounds

Weaknesses

  • You're tied to Square for payments
  • Paid plans are charged per location
  • Not designed for online meetings

Who it suits

  • Salons, barbers and spas taking payments in person
  • Businesses that already use Square for card payments
  • Single-location businesses that want unlimited staff on a free plan

Look elsewhere if

  • Anyone who wants to choose their own payment provider
  • Businesses that mostly book video calls
  • Multi-location chains watching per-location costs

Features

Payments
Square payments (built in)
SMS reminders
Not checked
HIPAA option
Not checked
UK/EU data angle
Not checked
Teams
Unlimited staff on Free (1 location)
AI features
Not checked
Marketplace
Reserve with Google
Open source / self-host
No
Video calls
Not checked

Square Appointments alternatives

  • Fresha: Salons, barbers and spas, especially in the UK.
  • SimplyBook.me: Service businesses such as salons, clinics, tutors and fitness; EU-friendly.
  • Setmore: Budget-conscious small businesses and small teams.
  • Booksy: Barbers and beauty professionals.
  • Acuity Scheduling: Service businesses: coaches, therapists, salons and studios.

Compare

Questions people ask

Is Square Appointments free in the UK?

Yes. The Free plan covers one location with unlimited staff. Plus costs £29 and Premium £69 per location per month.

What are Square's card fees for appointments in the UK?

For in-person payments, 1.75% on the Free plan and 1.6% on paid plans.

How we reviewed Square Appointments

This review is based on Square Appointments's published pricing and documentation as recorded on 2 November 2026, and on third-party review-site figures, all linked below. We haven't run a hands-on test for this edition, and we don't publish star ratings or user reviews of our own. Rankings and verdicts are never paid for. See the methodology.

Sources

Prices and features as recorded on 2 November 2026 from these pages (research pass 26 October to 2 November 2026). Prices change: check the vendor's page before you buy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.