A Square alternative for electronics stores
Last reviewed 2026-08-05 · by the RetailPOS team
Square is a capable general POS and plenty of small electronics shops start on it. The gap shows up with serialised, high-value stock: returns, warranty claims and theft control all need per-unit tracking, and the bundled processing rate stings on large tickets. Here is how RetailPOS compares — factually.
Where a general POS falls short for electronics
Per-unit identity.Every phone, laptop or console has a serial/IMEI. Tracking by SKU alone means you can't say which exact unit sold or came back.
Warranty & returns. A serial lookup should surface the original sale, date and warranty status — essential for returns and manufacturer claims.
Repairs. Service jobs should attach to the device and customer history, not sit in a separate notebook.
Processing on big tickets. A bundled ~2.6% on an $800 sale is ~$21 every time; on electronics volumes that adds up fast.
RetailPOS vs Square for electronics — factually
| RetailPOS | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI / serial per device | Built in | No |
| Warranty / original-sale lookup | Yes | No |
| Repair handling | Yes | Limited |
| Card processing | Bring your own (negotiate) | Bundled fixed rate |
| Accessories alongside devices | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-store on base plan | Yes | Higher tier |
When to stay on Square
If you sell mostly accessories and low-value, non-serialised items— cables, cases, chargers — and don't need per-unit tracking or warranty lookup, Square's free tier, first-party hardware and instant setup are genuinely great. The case to switch is specifically about serialised, high-value devices: IMEI/serial tracking, warranty lookup, and negotiating the processing rate on big tickets.
Migrating from Square
Export your catalogue and customers from Square, import into RetailPOS, then set up serial/IMEI tracking on your device lines before go-live. Steps in the Square migration guide.
Frequently asked
- Can Square track phones by IMEI?
- Square tracks stock by SKU, not by individual unit, so it doesn't track IMEI/serial or surface warranty status per device. RetailPOS tracks every device by its serial with original-sale and warranty lookup.
- Can I keep my card reader?
- Square readers are tied to Square processing, so those are replaced when you switch; RetailPOS is bring-your-own-processor, so you use a reader from your chosen provider and negotiate the rate.
- Does RetailPOS handle repairs?
- Yes — repair jobs can be logged alongside device sales, attached to the unit and customer history.
Open your shop in 30 seconds.
No card. Free until your first 100 sales. Bring your own Stripe; keep your hardware.