# Square vs Katalyst KDS

The clearest difference is rating: Katalyst KDS at 5.0 against Square's 4.3. Katalyst KDS also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (3 vs 1). Square's advantage is ratings volume (4.2K vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Katalyst KDS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Square has 4.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Square ships an update every 5 days, Katalyst KDS monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Square | Katalyst KDS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/square-restaurants-pos/id1346862885/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katalyst-kds/id1613211073/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 786 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Block, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/335393791) | [Katalyst LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1162083402) |

## What reviewers say

### Square

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/square-restaurants-pos/id1346862885)

This app is a comprehensive point-of-sale system designed for restaurants. It helps manage orders, payments, online ordering, menus, and table layouts. Gain insights with real-time sales reports and improve staff efficiency for dine-in, takeout, and online orders.

**Highlights:** Order and payment processing, Online ordering site creation, Menu management, Table and floor management, Real-time sales reports, Offline payment acceptance

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Excellent for restaurants
- 🚀 Seamless integration
- 🚀 Great POS system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant issues with updates
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🐛 Unreliable performance
- 🔍 Poor UI design
- 🔍 Lacking important restaurant features

**Reported bugs**

- Orders not processing correctly
- Transactions not completing
- Inventory updates not syncing
- Shift reports not printing properly
- Card reader disconnection issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to split items across checks
- Hold/save orders functionality
- Improved inventory management
- Better reporting and analytics
- Mobile app for managing the restaurant


### Katalyst KDS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katalyst-kds/id1613211073)

This kitchen display system integrates with a point of sale to manage in-house, online, and third-party orders. It offers color-coded statuses, multi-screen support, and prep station routing to replace paper slips and provide kitchen reporting.

**Highlights:** Integrates with Katalyst POS, Manages multiple order sources, Color-coded order statuses, Supports multiple screen sizes, Prep station routing, Provides kitchen reporting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Square free?

Square is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Katalyst KDS free?

Katalyst KDS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Square or Katalyst KDS?

Katalyst KDS is rated higher. Square averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.2K ratings, while Katalyst KDS averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Square or Katalyst KDS have ads?

Neither Square nor Katalyst KDS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Square or Katalyst KDS?

Square ships an update every 5 days, and Katalyst KDS monthly. Most recently, Square was updated on October 18, 2026 and Katalyst KDS on October 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*