Point of Sale API, Square’s POS API, is ideal for developers who want to build a custom point-of-sale for in-person payments. Our POS API allows you to integrate the Square payments flow (and utilize our beautifully designed card readers) into a customized POS that suits your business’s unique needs.
Square’s POS API is perfect for businesses that want to build upon the out-of-the-box capabilities of our Square Point of Sale app. For example, custom furniture stores might need complex order forms for customized item specs. Museums and events sometimes have custom ticketing requirements and payments. Professional services might need custom order management workflows such as assessment and delivery dates. In all these cases, developers can create a customized POS app that integrate easily with Square’s POS API to take care of the payment flow process. InvoicesASAP, Jobber, and Breezeworks, for example, are all apps that have integrated with our POS API to take in-person payments.
Whatever your business, if you need a POS that’s perfectly tailored to your unique needs, Square’s POS API offers you fully integrated payment processing without having to build your own payment flow from scratch. Our standard Point of Sale app is a powerful tool that allows millions of merchants to run their businesses from top to bottom. By using our POS API, you get access to all these tools along with the workflows you need in your specialized POS app. You’re able to view all your transactions in Square’s online Dashboard and take advantage of all the reporting and analytics you get from selling with Square. Our point-of-sale API is PCI-DSS compliant, our [fees][7] are competitive, and our sellers get paid fast.
Why we made our POS API
We started our payments company so anyone anywhere could take credit and debit card payments. Creating our POS integration API is a continuation of that mission. We’ve built a really solid payments infrastructure and want to allow people to build on top of it. Our POS API is a great way to support businesses that have more complicated POS needs than what we’re able to provide with our standard offering.
How does the point-of-sale (POS) API work?
Our POS integration API uses an app switch, meaning the app switches between your custom POS and Square’s Point of Sale app to process a payment. With just a few lines of code, you’re ready to initiate a transaction from your POS. Once initiated, it automatically switches you into the Point of Sale app. There you can swipe or dip cards, or tap devices for NFC payments. After the payment flow, the app switches back to your custom POS. It’s simple and easy.
What POS features can I expect?
- Quick, easy API integration
- Cutting-edge [hardware][9] that accepts magstripe credit and debit cards, EMV chip cards, and contactless (NFC) payments including Apple Pay
- PCI compliance using end-to-end encryption
- Quick transfers: merchants see payments in their bank accounts in one to two business days
- Offline payments
How much do payments with Square’s POS API cost?
Payments made with Square’s point-of-sale API are charged at Square’s [standard rates][7]. It’s just 2.6% + 10¢ per swipe, dip, or NFC payment. Manually entered transactions are charged at 3.5% + 15¢. Rest assured, there are no monthly fees, long-term contracts, or commitments. It’s always free to integrate Square’s POS API into your software.
Square’s POS API is a PCI-compliant point-of-sale solution
PCI compliance can be a real headache for developers. The PCI Security Council’s stringent requirements are set up to make sure all companies accept, process, store, and transmit credit card information safely. Which is really important but can be a lot to take on for developers who aren’t payments experts. Fortunately, Square takes on the burden of staying PCI compliant. No checklists, assessments, or audits required.
FAQ:
Is Square’s POS API right for me?
Square’s point-of-sale API is a payments API that’s appropriate for in-person payments. To take online payments, check out our E-Commerce API, or create your free online store. If you’re building your own POS app, you can use Square’s POS API to take care of payments. Our point-of-sale API triggers an app switch that takes the merchant from your custom app to Square Point of Sale to complete the transaction.
| API | Best for: |
| E-Commerce API | Online payment services and custom e-commerce stores, payment processing, and customer management |
| Point-of-sale API | In-person payments, custom point-of-sale (POS) applications |
| Items API | Item and inventory management |
| Reporting API | Sales reporting and analytics |
| Employee Management API | Managing employee roles and permissions, including easy management of hours worked across locations |
| Other APIs | Managing customer data, managing online stores, and tracking inventory |
What makes Square’s POS API the best way to accept in-person payments?
Square’s POS API is fast to integrate with just a few lines of code. It’s facilitates PCI compliant payments- credit card information never hits your app. And Square has [great hardware][9] that’s simple, stylish, and secure.
What currency are sales processed in?
Sales on Square’s POS API are made in U.S. dollars.
Does Square’s POS API transfer cash using ACH payments?
Yes, our POS integration API transfers sellers’ payments into their bank account using ACH payments. Payments are fast and secure, and are transferred in one to two business days. If sellers want their funds faster, they can opt for scheduled transfer or instant transfer.
Do I still need a payment gateway with Square APIs?
No, you don’t need a payment gateway or merchant account when you use Square’s Payment APIs. All you need to start selling with Square is a U.S. checking account and a free Square account. It takes just a couple of minutes to sign up for a Square account and no credit check is needed.
Where can I find more information about POS integration/API documentation?
There are more resources on the Square website for developers interested in learning about POS API integration and API documentation.
Related Articles
Introducing: Square’s Payment APIs
What Is a Merchant Account? Merchant Services Explained
Ecommerce Guide to PCI DSS Compliance
[Recurring Payments and Billing With Square][24]
The Square Editorial Team is dedicated to telling stories of business, for business owners. Our team comes from a variety of backgrounds and share a passion for providing information that helps businesses to start, run, and grow. The team is based in San Francisco, but has collaborators all over the country.
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