Square for Restaurants vs ONAP FoodTech: UK Restaurant Software Compared 2026

Square for Restaurants is a strong choice for taking orders and processing payments: the POS itself is fast, reliable and widely trusted. Where UK restaurants start looking elsewhere is everything around the till - customer relationships, loyalty and repeat-order marketing - which Square was never built to cover in depth.

This comparison looks at POS, online ordering, CRM, loyalty and marketing, so you can see where each platform is genuinely stronger before deciding what your restaurant actually needs.

---

Quick Answer

Square for Restaurants is built around payments and POS, and does that well. ONAP FoodTech is built around turning one-off diners into repeat customers: built-in CRM, loyalty, WhatsApp and SMS marketing, and online ordering in one platform, priced from £79/month in the UK.

---

Point of Sale and Online Ordering

Both platforms cover restaurant POS and online ordering adequately. Square's strength is the POS hardware and payment processing itself. ONAP FoodTech includes online ordering as standard, built to connect directly into the same customer record used for loyalty and marketing, rather than sitting as a separate add-on.

Customer CRM

Square's customer records are limited, mainly built to support repeat payments rather than relationship management. ONAP FoodTech includes a built-in CRM that tracks order history, preferences and customer value across every visit, which is the foundation everything else (loyalty, marketing, segmentation) is built on.

Loyalty Programmes

Square offers a basic loyalty option. ONAP FoodTech includes a more advanced loyalty programme with rewards and offers built in, designed to bring customers back without needing a separate loyalty app or subscription.

WhatsApp and SMS Marketing

This is the clearest gap: Square for Restaurants does not offer WhatsApp marketing, and SMS is limited. ONAP FoodTech includes both built in, letting restaurants send offers, reminders and updates directly to customers without bolting on third-party marketing tools.

Marketing Automation

Square restaurants that want automated marketing campaigns typically need to add third-party tools and manage another integration. ONAP FoodTech builds marketing automation directly into the same platform as orders and loyalty, so campaigns can be based on real customer and order data without exporting anything.

---

Feature Comparison

Area	Square for Restaurants	ONAP FoodTech
Restaurant POS	Included	Included
Online Ordering	Available	Included
Customer CRM	Limited	Built in
Loyalty Programme	Basic	Advanced loyalty included
WhatsApp Marketing	Not available	Built in
SMS Marketing	Limited	Included
Marketing Automation	Requires third-party tools	Built in
Pricing	Add-ons required	From £79/month

---

Which Should You Choose?

If your restaurant only needs fast, reliable payments and POS, Square for Restaurants remains a solid choice. If repeat business, customer loyalty and marketing matter as much as taking the order, ONAP FoodTech brings all of that into one platform rather than a POS plus a stack of add-ons. More detail is available on the ONAP FoodTech product page.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Square or ONAP FoodTech better for a small UK restaurant?

Square suits restaurants that mainly need fast, reliable payments and POS. UK restaurants wanting built-in CRM, loyalty and WhatsApp marketing without adding third-party tools often find ONAP FoodTech a closer fit.

Does Square for Restaurants have WhatsApp marketing?

No. Square for Restaurants does not offer WhatsApp marketing and its SMS options are limited. ONAP FoodTech includes both built in.

Can I migrate my data from Square to ONAP FoodTech?

Yes. Migration specialists can securely import customer records, menus and product data from Square for Restaurants with minimal disruption.

Is ONAP FoodTech more expensive than Square?

ONAP FoodTech starts from £79/month with CRM, loyalty and marketing included. Square's core POS pricing can look lower until the add-ons needed to match that functionality are factored in.

Does ONAP FoodTech replace my Square POS hardware?

ONAP FoodTech covers restaurant POS as part of the platform. Confirm current hardware compatibility with the ONAP team during onboarding before switching.

---

Conclusion

Square for Restaurants does payments and POS well, which is exactly what it was built for. The gap UK restaurants run into is everything after the order: customer relationships, loyalty and getting diners to come back. ONAP FoodTech is built to close that gap from one platform, priced from £79/month. Compare both against how your restaurant actually operates, or explore ONAP FoodTech directly.