# Lavu KDS vs Square

The clearest difference is rating: Square at 4.3 against Lavu KDS's 3.3. Square also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (4.2K vs 8). Lavu KDS's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Square holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Square has 4.2K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Lavu KDS's written reviews are positive against 34% of Square's.

Lavu KDS ships an update every 6 months, Square every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lavu KDS | Square |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lavu-kds/id437565964/reviews) | **[4.3 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/square-restaurants-pos/id1346862885/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **4.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **34.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 792 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.1 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lavu](https://appshunter.io/developer/576060823) | [Block, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/335393791) |

## What reviewers say

### Lavu KDS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lavu-kds/id437565964)

Enhance restaurant and bar operations with a digital kitchen display system. Track orders in real-time, improve accuracy, and speed up service without paper tickets. Ideal for various food establishments seeking efficiency.

**Highlights:** Real-time order tracking, Order accuracy improvement, Paperless ticket system, Customizable interface, Visual order indicators, Late order notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lavu KDS free?

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

### Is Square free?

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

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

Square is rated higher. Lavu KDS averages 3.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Square averages 4.3 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do Lavu KDS or Square have ads?

Neither Lavu KDS nor Square shows ads.

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

Lavu KDS ships an update every 6 months, and Square every 6 days. Most recently, Lavu KDS was updated on October 23, 2026 and Square on October 30, 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.*