Does Square Appointments Free include booking deposits?

Square lists booking deposits on its Free plan too. Automatic no-show and cancellation fees need a paid Plus plan, priced per location. Plans change, so check Square's current plans. SoloPayLink Starter is $0/month, with 5% of each deposit and money paid straight to your own Stripe.

When is Square Appointments a better fit than SoloPayLink?

If you run a multi-chair storefront with physical POS terminals, barcode inventory, and counter card readers taking 100% full payments, Square's hardware ecosystem fits well. If you are a solo mobile or appointment pro who wants $0/month upfront deposit locking via Stripe, SoloPayLink Starter is purpose-built for you.

Honest Comparison for Solo Operators

SoloPayLink vs Square Appointments

Square builds great POS hardware for retail counters and multi-staff salons. SoloPayLink is built strictly for 1-person service businesses who want to lock upfront booking deposits on a $0/month Starter plan without a fixed monthly bill. Competitor plans change over time, so always check their current plans for yourself.

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Side-by-side deposit & fee math

What matters to a solo pro	SoloPayLink Starter	Square Appointments Free	Square Appointments Plus
Monthly fixed fee	$0 / month	$0 / month	Paid monthly plan per location
Upfront partial deposits to stop no-shows	Included on Starter (5% of deposit + Stripe card fee)	Available on Free	Available
Automatic no-show / cancellation fees	Deposit is paid before the slot is locked (A$20 platform fee on 40 × A$10 deposits, plus Stripe card fee)	Needs the paid Plus plan	Included
Full upfront online card payments	1.5% platform fee + Stripe card processing	Square's card processing rates	Plus plan fee + Square's card processing rates
Setup speed	~2 minutes (1-tap profile & service setup)	POS catalogue, locations, staff & tax menus	POS catalogue, locations, staff & tax menus
Where money lands	Directly in your own Stripe Connect bank account	Square balance / linked bank account	Square balance / linked bank account

Straight talk on fees: If you mostly take full online card payments and like Square's rates, Square Free can cost less than Starter's 1.5% platform fee plus Stripe's fee. Compare the card rates yourself. Where SoloPayLink Starter helps is a deposit-first booking link with a $0 fixed bill and money paid straight to your own Stripe account. Pro and Business lower the platform fee. Always check Square's current plans.

Common questions

Does Square Appointments Free include booking deposits?: Square lists booking deposits on its Free plan too. Automatic no-show and cancellation fees need a paid Plus plan, priced per location. Plans change, so check Square's current plans. SoloPayLink Starter is $0/month, with 5% of each deposit and money paid straight to your own Stripe.
When is Square Appointments a better fit than SoloPayLink?: If you run a multi-chair storefront with physical POS terminals, barcode inventory, and counter card readers taking 100% full payments, Square's hardware ecosystem fits well. If you are a solo mobile or appointment pro who wants $0/month upfront deposit locking via Stripe, SoloPayLink Starter is purpose-built for you.

Also compare: SoloPayLink vs Calendly · SoloPayLink vs Fresha · Free No-Show Calculator.