The verdict for cosplay makers: Square is solid software, but at $29/month it costs $1,168 over 3 years. Nexa does most of what Square does for $279 once. For solo cosplay makers and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.
Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $889. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | Square | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $29/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $1,168 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
Square plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Cosplay Makers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Custom commissions take 40-200+ hours and scope creep is constant. Material costs vary wildly per build (foam, Worbla, fabric, LEDs, paint). Convention deadlines create rush stress. Clients want fantasy-grade work at reasonable prices. Square charges $29/month on top of these daily realities. The median cosplay maker earns $25,000/year — $348/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Nexa is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for cosplay makers. You own it like you own your Worbla and EVA foam supplies.
You're building a Warhammer armor commission — 80+ hours of foam shaping, heat forming, painting, and weathering. Materials so far: $180 in foam, $60 in paint, $40 in LEDs. You quoted $1,200 and you're 50 hours in with another 40 to go. That's $9.20/hour before materials. You also have 3 props in the queue for other clients, a convention in 6 weeks, and commissions are managed through Instagram DMs.
Real cosplay makers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a cosplay maker? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every cosplay maker on Nexa →
For solo cosplay makers and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Square may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
Square has features like No monthly fee on Free plan and Instant setup that some businesses rely on. For most solo cosplay makers, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $29/month, Nexa pays for itself in 9.6 months. After that: $348 saved every year.
Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Nexa — $279 Once