Square vs Nexa
The Real Comparison for Estheticians

Square
$29/mo ($348/yr)
VS
Nexa
$279 once — own forever
or 3 payments of $99
Break even: 9.6 months. Save $889 over 3 years.
"I compared Square and Nexa side by side. The math wasn't even close. $1,168 over 3 years vs $279 once. Switched and never looked back."
— Esthetician, Nexa customer

The verdict for estheticians: 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 estheticians and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.

Choose Nexa if:

  • You're done paying monthly forever
  • You're a solo operator or small team (1-5)
  • You need scheduler, Connect CRM, Invoicing in one purchase in one tool
  • You're tired of price increases
  • You want to own your tools like you own your equipment

Choose Square if:

  • You have a large team (10+) needing enterprise features
  • You're deeply invested in Square's specific workflow
  • You need a feature Nexa doesn't have yet

What Square Actually Costs Estheticians

The 3-Year Damage

Year 1$348
Year 2 (+11.4% inflation)$388
Year 3$432
Total lost to Square$1,168

Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $889. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.

Your Square subscription has cost you $0.00 since you opened this page.

Feature-by-Feature

FeatureSquareNexa
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 accessYes — forever
"The feature comparison convinced me. Nexa does 90% of what Square does — for 10% of the 3-year cost. And I actually own it."
— Esthetician

Calculate Your Full Stack

Square plus whatever else you're paying for:

Email yourself this comparison?

Switching from Square

1
Export your data — Go to Square Dashboard → Customers → Export. Also export transactions and item library.
2
Set up Nexa — 15-minute setup. Import your customer list and service/product catalog.
3
Parallel run — Run both for 1-2 weeks. Test invoicing and booking through Nexa.
4
Cancel Square — Cancel paid subscriptions. Keep free account for records access.
✓ 30-day money-back guarantee. Zero risk.
Estheticians are switching from Square every week.

The math doesn't lie.

What This Means for Estheticians

Your 10am wants a chemical peel but you can't remember if she had a reaction to glycolic last time. Your notes are scattered between Vagaro, a paper notebook, and text messages. Your 11:30 bought a serum last visit that she wants to reorder — you need to check inventory. Your 2pm is a new client and you need intake forms signed before touching her face. Vagaro charges $25/month plus a booking fee, and you're still using a separate notebook for skin notes.

Estheticians deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Tracking client skin history and treatment protocols across visits. Product costs per facial cutting into service margins. Vagaro showing clients other estheticians in the marketplace. Managing retail product sales alongside service bookings. Square charges $29/month on top of these daily realities. The median esthetician earns $38,000/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 estheticians. You own it like you own your Facial steamer and magnifying lamp.

What estheticians actually deal with

A day in the life of a esthetician

Your 10am wants a chemical peel but you can't remember if she had a reaction to glycolic last time. Your notes are scattered between Vagaro, a paper notebook, and text messages. Your 11:30 bought a serum last visit that she wants to reorder — you need to check inventory. Your 2pm is a new client and you need intake forms signed before touching her face. Vagaro charges $25/month plus a booking fee, and you're still using a separate notebook for skin notes.

The tools a working esthetician actually owns

Why estheticians leave the big platforms

Where estheticians actually talk shop

Local estheticians on Nexa

Real estheticians near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you an esthetician? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every esthetician on Nexa →

FAQ

Is Nexa really a Square replacement?

For solo estheticians 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.

What does Square do that Nexa doesn't?

Square has features like No monthly fee on Free plan and Instant setup that some businesses rely on. For most solo estheticians, these aren't dealbreakers.

How fast does Nexa pay for itself?

At $29/month, Nexa pays for itself in 9.6 months. After that: $348 saved every year.

Can I pay in installments?

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.

"$1,168 over 3 years to Square. Or $279 once for Nexa. I own my tools now. No more renting software."
— Esthetician, Nexa owner

$1,168 Over 3 Years. Or $279 Once (or 3 × $99).

Own your tools. Stop renting your software.

Get Nexa — $279 Once
or 3 payments of $99
✓ 30-day money-back — save $500 or full refund

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