The Square Loyalty alternative that isn't tied to a POS.
Square Loyalty is a strong loyalty product if you're already running Square POS. If you're not — or you don't want your loyalty program tied to your card terminal — Brewstamp is the standalone, browser-based alternative. Free up to 100 stamps. $5 flat after.
In short
Square Loyalty is a paid add-on that lives inside Square POS. If you're not running Square — or you want a loyalty program that doesn't care which POS you use — Brewstamp is the POS-agnostic, browser-only alternative. The big differences are POS independence, price, and a real free tier.
Brewstamp vs Square Loyalty
The honest comparison
Pricing and features pulled from Square's public pricing page. Last reviewed May 2026.
| Feature | Brewstamp | Square Loyalty |
|---|---|---|
| Requires specific POS | No — works alongside any POS | Yes — Square POS required |
| Customer app required | No — runs in browser | —Square's customer app for stamping |
| Free tier | Yes — 100 stamps total | No — paid add-on only |
| Starting monthly price | $5/month flat (after free tier) | $45/month + Square POS fees |
| Per-stamp merchant approval | Yes — every stamp | —Tied to a Square transaction |
| Customisable rewards | Free coffee, threshold | Points, dollar discounts, items |
| Customer insights | Visits, frequency, churn | Deep — tied to POS data |
| Setup time | Under 2 minutes | —Requires Square account + setup |
Why cafes choose Brewstamp
Reasons cafes pick Brewstamp over Square Loyalty
Works with whatever POS you already have
Square POS is great. So is Toast. So is your old card reader. Brewstamp doesn't care — your loyalty program runs as a separate QR code at the counter, not as a POS plugin.
$5/month vs $45/month
Square Loyalty starts at around $45/month on top of your Square processing fees. Brewstamp is $5/month flat after a free tier of 100 stamps. For an independent cafe that's $480/year saved on a single line item.
A free tier you can really test
Brewstamp covers your first 100 stamps for free. That's enough volume to genuinely tell whether a loyalty program is shifting your numbers — without committing to another monthly subscription.
No customer app to install
Square's loyalty experience can require customers to use a Square-branded app or stored card. Brewstamp's card lives in the browser — scan the QR, get a card, no install, no account.
When Square Loyalty might be the better fit
We're not for everyone
Square Loyalty is genuinely good if it fits your existing setup. A few honest scenarios where it's the better choice:
- You already run Square POS, and want one bill. If your card payments, inventory, and reporting all live in Square, having loyalty there too is a real workflow win — even at the higher price.
- You want loyalty tied to spend, not visits. Square Loyalty earns points based on dollars spent. Brewstamp earns stamps per visit. If your cafe has a wide product range with very different prices, points may fit better than stamps.
- You have multiple reward tiers and a marketing team. Square Loyalty supports multi-tier rewards (free coffee + free pastry + free merch) and richer campaign tooling. Brewstamp deliberately keeps it simple.
Testimonials
What people say
“Working with Brewstamp has increased our customer loyalty. We love how easy it is to use and redeem free coffees.”
Jo
Cafe owner
“Our customers are stoked to join the paperless movement as part of their daily coffee routine.”
Isaac
Bruns Beach Coffee Shop
FAQ
Square Loyalty alternative — questions cafe owners ask
Is Brewstamp a free Square Loyalty alternative?+
Yes. Brewstamp has a public free tier covering your first 100 stamps, then $5/month for unlimited stamps. Square Loyalty is a paid Square add-on, typically around $45/month, with no free tier of its own.
Do I need a specific POS to use Brewstamp?+
No. Brewstamp is a separate digital loyalty card that runs as a QR code at your counter — independent of whatever POS or card terminal you already use.
How is Brewstamp different from Square Loyalty?+
Square Loyalty is a points-based program tightly coupled to Square POS purchases. Brewstamp is a stamp-based program that runs independently of any POS, lives in the browser, and prices at $5/month flat instead of around $45.
Can I use Brewstamp if I run Square POS?+
Yes. Brewstamp doesn't care which POS you use. Your customers scan the Brewstamp QR code separately from paying — the two systems just don't talk to each other, which is the entire point.
Is Square Loyalty better for some cafes?+
Yes — if you already pay for Square POS and want everything on one bill, Square Loyalty's tighter integration is a real workflow benefit. The price difference is the trade-off.
