Upgrading to Square Terminal: How it Compares to Using an iPad

Lucyk35 — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:00:53 GMT

My 2nd Gen broke. I thought I’d upgrade to the Terminal. Will I need to change anything from the way I do things now using an iPad.

Re: Need hardware comparison advice

Laurie_ — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:13:45 GMT

Thanks for reaching out with this great question, @Lucyk35, and welcome to the Square Community!

The Square Terminal is an all-in-one device, so there are a few differences from using the Square Point of Sale app on an iPad, but the core functionality remains the same.

Here’s what you can expect from the initial setup:

1. All-in-One Hardware: The Terminal has a built-in card reader, receipt printer, and touchscreen, with no extra accessories needed.

2. No Need for a Separate Device: You won’t need to pair it with an iPad or other device. Everything runs directly on the Terminal.

3. Software: It runs its own version of Square Point of Sale, so you’ll still sign in with your existing Square account and have access to your items, settings, and sales history.

4. Device Setup: The setup is quick, just sign in, connect to your network, and you’re good to go.

If you use additional hardware with your iPad (like a cash drawer or barcode scanner), let us know, and we can help confirm compatibility.

For a further comparison, you can use our online tool in the Square Shop to compare hardware options prior to purchasing.

Let us know if this answers your question! We're happy to walk you through any other details as needed!

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Upgrading to Square Terminal: How it Compares to Using an iPad

Re: Need hardware comparison advice