Fresh KDS vs Square KDS

Fresh KDS is a kitchen display system that runs on iOS and Android tablets and shows POS orders on screens in the kitchen. Square KDS is a kitchen display app from Square that replaces paper tickets and kitchen printers with digital tickets on Android devices. Both are listed under Kitchen Display System. Where the profiles show a difference, it is in price, audience and platforms.

Key differences

  • price

    The vendors price on different terms. Fresh KDS at USD 16 per screen per month, billed yearly; Square KDS at USD 20 per device per month. The amounts cannot be compared directly.

  • audience

    Audience differs between the profiles. Listed by one product alone: Fresh KDS: Cafes, bistros and fast casual restaurants; Square KDS: Restaurants already running Square POS.

  • platforms

    Listed platforms: Fresh KDS: iOS, Android; Square KDS: Web, Android.

  • integrations

    Fresh KDS names 37 integrations and Square KDS names 7 integrations. 1 partner appears in every list.

Side by side

Fresh KDS vs Square KDS: side-by-side comparison from published vendor information
FieldFresh KDSSquare KDS
What it isFresh KDS is a kitchen display system that runs on iOS and Android tablets and shows POS orders on screens in the kitchen.Square KDS is a kitchen display app from Square that replaces paper tickets and kitchen printers with digital tickets on Android devices.
Best forCafes, bistros and fast casual restaurants; Food trucks and breweries; Restaurant groupsRestaurants already running Square POS; Quick-service and fast-casual kitchens; Full-service restaurants with several prep stations
Pricing modelSubscription per screenSubscription per device
Starting priceUSD 16 per screen per month, billed yearlyUSD 20 per device per month
Free planNot publishedNot published
Free trialYesNot published
ContractNone; the vendor says there is no long-term contract and plans can be cancelled, upgraded or downgraded at any timeNone stated: Square says its plans have no locked-in contracts and can be cancelled or switched anytime
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb, Android
CountriesNot publishedUnited States
LanguagesEnglish, French, German, SpanishNot published
Number of integrations377
CertificationsNot publishedISO 27001, PCI compliant
Security practicesNot publishedNot published
FoundedNot published2009
HeadquartersNot publishedNot published
OwnerNot publishedBlock, Inc. (Square, Inc. was renamed Block, Inc. in 2021)
Last reviewed29 September 202629 September 2026

Integrations

Named by both

  • Square

Named only by Fresh KDS

  • ABCPOS
  • Arryved
  • Bite
  • BookNow Software
  • ClearCOGS
  • Clover
  • Cubigo
  • Cuboh
  • Dejavoo
  • Elavon
  • FoodHub
  • Graine
and 24 more
  • helloTESS!
  • Last.app
  • Lightspeed K-Series
  • Lula Commerce
  • Noovi
  • Northstar
  • Olo
  • Oracle Restaurants
  • Otter
  • Payanywhere
  • Peblla
  • POS Cafe
  • Poynt
  • Qu
  • Register by Smart Volution
  • ROLLER
  • Salido
  • SmartTab
  • SmilePOS
  • SoftPoint
  • SpotOn
  • TouchBistro
  • Vroom Delivery
  • Yuze

Named only by Square KDS

  • DoorDash
  • OpenTable
  • Postmates
  • SevenRooms
  • Square Online ordering
  • Uber Eats

Which to choose

Fresh KDS

Choose Fresh KDS if you are in one of these groups: Cafes, bistros and fast casual restaurants; Food trucks and breweries; Restaurant groups.

Square KDS

Choose Square KDS if you fit its listed audience: Restaurants already running Square POS; Quick-service and fast-casual kitchens; Full-service restaurants with several prep stations.

Weaker fit: Kitchens that do not use Square POS or that cannot run Android devices: the app needs a Square Plus or Premium subscription and Android hardware.

What we could not confirm

Fresh KDS

  • Countries served
  • Headquarters, founding year, funding, team size
  • Named customers
  • Security certifications (a security policy page exists but states no certification)
  • Whether the site language options equal the app interface languages

Square KDS

  • Length of the free trial of Square plans
  • Languages the KDS app supports
  • Countries where the KDS app is sold outside the US
  • Company headquarters, employee count and funding (Block is a public company)
  • Which Android devices are recommended or supported

Go further

Fresh KDS profileSquare KDS profile

Other comparisons with these products

Sources

Facts on this page come from the pages below. Prices and features change, so confirm with each vendor before you buy.

Square KDS, reviewed 29 September 2026

  1. KDS product page: features, price, FAQ, hardwarehttps://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/restaurants/kitchen-display-system
  2. Plans, no lock-in contracts, coursing, reservation integrationshttps://squareup.com/us/en/pricing
  3. Full-service restaurant fit and KDS pricinghttps://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/restaurants/full-service
  4. Quick-service fit, delivery integrations, auto-86https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/restaurants/quick-service
  5. Company history, countries served, Block renamehttps://squareup.com/us/en/about
  6. PCI and ISO 27001https://squareup.com/us/en/security