Software Alternatives & Startups

Propel VS Square

Compare Propel VS Square and see what are their differences

Propel

Salesforce-native PLM, QMS, and PIM. Connect your product and commercial teams seamlessly to create winning products.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Free trial $73 / Monthly (Per User)
Square

Square helps millions of sellers run their business-from secure credit card processing to point of sale solutions. Get paid faster with Square. Sign up today!

Rating
0 reviews
This page does not exist

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Square seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 41 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 41
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
197 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Propel
Square
Website propelsoftware.com squareup.com
Pricing
Free trial $73 / Monthly (Per User) Official pricing
—
Company Startup from the United States Startup from the United States
Listed in

About Propel and Square

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Propel
Square

Propel Software connects product lifecycle management (PLM), product information management (PIM), and quality management (QMS) on a single cloud-native platform, unifying teams, processes, and information with a continuous product thread and embedded collaboration from concept to customer....

Read more about Propel

No description of Square yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Propel 7 features
Square 6 features
  • Cloud-Based
    Propel is cloud-based, allowing access from anywhere with an internet connection, facilitating remote work and collaboration.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Propel offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which reduces the learning curve for new users.
  • Salesforce Integration
    Propel seamlessly integrates with Salesforce, enabling unified data and streamlined processes for organizations already using Salesforce.
  • Customizable Workflows
    Propel provides customizable workflows, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their specific processes and needs.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    The platform supports real-time collaboration, helping teams to work together efficiently and stay updated on project developments.
  • Comprehensive PLM Features
    Propel offers a wide range of PLM features including document management, change management, and Bill of Materials (BOM) management.
  • Scalability
    The system is designed to scale as your business grows, making it a suitable option for both small enterprises and large corporations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Propel can be costly, particularly for small businesses or startups, considering subscription fees and potential customization costs.
  • Dependency on Internet
    As a cloud-based solution, functions completely depend on internet connectivity, which can be a drawback in areas with unstable connections.
  • Complex Implementation
    Implementing Propel can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant resources and expertise to set up.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Users cannot access or modify data offline, which can restrict productivity when internet access is unavailable.
  • Customization Constraints
    While customizable, there may be limitations in how much you can adapt the platform to specific, less common workflows or requirements.
  • Training Requirements
    Despite its user-friendly interface, some training is still necessary for users to become proficient with all of Propel's features.
  • Integration Complexity
    Integrating Propel with other enterprise systems besides Salesforce might require additional technical effort and resources.
  • Ease of Use
    Square's platform is known for being user-friendly and easy to set up, making it accessible for small business owners with little technical expertise.
  • Transparent Pricing
    Square offers straightforward, flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees, which helps businesses understand their costs upfront.
  • Integrated Solutions
    Square provides a comprehensive suite of tools including POS systems, online store, invoicing, payroll, and more, enabling seamless business operations.
  • No Long-Term Contracts
    Square does not require long-term contracts or commitments, allowing businesses flexibility in choosing their service provider.
  • Omnichannel Capabilities
    Square supports sales across various channels, including in-person, online, and mobile, offering versatility for different business models.
  • Next-Day Deposits
    Square offers next-day deposits, ensuring that businesses have quick access to their funds, which is critical for cash flow management.

Possible disadvantages

  • Processing Fees
    While the pricing is transparent, the fees per transaction can add up, especially for businesses with high sales volumes or low margins.
  • Account Stability
    Some users have reported sudden holds or terminations of their Square accounts, which can disrupt business operations.
  • Limited Customer Support
    Square's customer support can be limited, particularly for smaller businesses or during high-demand periods, which can affect issue resolution time.
  • Additional Costs for Advanced Features
    Some advanced features and integrations may incur additional costs, making it more expensive for businesses that need these functionalities.
  • Geographic Limitations
    Square is primarily available in certain countries, which may be restrictive for businesses with international operations or customers.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Propel
Square

Overall verdict

  • Propel is a strong option for companies looking to enhance their PLM and PIM capabilities. It is well-suited for those that require a robust, cloud-based solution capable of supporting end-to-end product management processes. Its ease of use and integration options make it a compelling choice for businesses operating in fast-paced, innovative environments.

Why this product is good

  • Propel (propelsoftware.com) is highly regarded for its ability to streamline product lifecycle management (PLM) and product information management (PIM) processes. It offers a cloud-based platform that is both flexible and scalable, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. Propel's features include comprehensive collaboration tools, easy integration with other enterprise systems like Salesforce, and a user-friendly interface. It enables teams to efficiently manage complex product records, improve product development processes, and enhance communication across the organization.

Recommended for

  • Manufacturing companies seeking to optimize their product development cycle.
  • Businesses that need a scalable solution to manage large volumes of product data.
  • Organizations already using Salesforce that want seamless integration with PLM tools.
  • Companies looking for a user-friendly platform to improve cross-functional collaboration and communication.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Square is generally considered a good choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one payment and business management solution. It is particularly praised for its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and reliable customer support.

Why this product is good

  • Square, known for its point of sale solutions, has built a strong reputation for its ease of use, transparent pricing, and comprehensive features suited for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers seamless integration with various hardware, software, and payment processing services, which are particularly appreciated by users who want a straightforward setup. The platform also provides useful analytics, invoicing, and inventory management features that help businesses efficiently manage their operations.

Recommended for

    Square is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, especially in the retail, food and beverage, and service industries, who need a versatile and scalable payment processing and business management solution. It is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a cloud-based service with seamless integration across multiple devices.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Propel 1 video + Add
Square 9 videos + Add

Propel Overview

Square vs PayPal 2020: A Side by Side Comparison

More videos

  • - Square Mobile Credit Card Reader Review | Squareup Demo | Pros & Cons
  • - I switched from Square to Paymentech. IMO, Squareup merchant services is garbage.
  • - What is Square - Square Review - Square Pricing Plans Explained
  • - 6 days left to dump Square merchant services before they begin screwing small businesses
  • - Square Eftpos Terminal Review 2023
  • - Square Review | Is It the BEST POS System for Online Payments & Invoicing?
  • - Square For Small Business: Is Square Right For You? [Square Explained]

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Propel
Square
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Propel and Square.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Propel's answer

  • Med Tech (over 40% of our customer base) such as Breg Inc., Inari Medical, Guardant Health, Advanced Sterilization Products, Yukon Medical
  • High Tech such as Savant Systems (parent company of GE Lighting), Formlabs, Desktop Metal
  • Industrial Manufacturers such as MSA Safety, Walmart ASR (formerly Alert Innovation), Meyer Sound, Blentech, AMS Technologies
  • Consumer Goods such as Sunday, Mary Ruth Organics

What makes your product unique?

Propel's answer

Propel is built on Salesforce to help companies efficiently connect product and commercial data. By being built on the world's most secure CRM system, product companies can focus less on securing product data and learning a complicated user interface, and focus more on launching new products faster, increasing company-wide collaboration, and dominating their market with winning products.

Note: You don't have to be a Salesforce user to use Propel.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Propel's answer

Discrete manufacturers primarily in the Med Tech, High Tech, Industrial, and Consumer Goods spaces. Product companies that struggle with connecting their product and commercial teams and need a solution to bring new products to market faster, address quality issues by ensuring customer feedback reaches product teams, and need to enrich their product data with the most accurate and up-to-date information. We serve Startups, SMBs, and Enterprise companies.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Propel's answer

We are a modern, Cloud-based, future-focused solution that helps you scale easily as your business grows. Our competitors are mostly legacy systems built over 30 years ago that don't understand the needs of today's product companies. Some competitors are still On-Prem, while others have shifted from On-Prem to Cloud and haven't truly lost On-Prem headaches such as the difficulty to collaborate effectively, organize vital product data and make sense of it, generate reports, etc. Combine that with soaring costs for upgrades and maintenance and you're headed for a disaster.

Propel was built in the Cloud from the start (since 2015) and we have three new releases every year to ensure our PLM, QMS, and PIM is up-to-date with features that customers want to see. On top of that, we ensure all product data is connected, from product lifecycle management data to quality data to product information management. We also offer the ability to manage suppliers securely, BOM, CAPAs, CAD integrations, and much more.

What's the story behind your product?

Propel's answer

Our founders came from Oracle Agile, so our product feels very familiar to Oracle Agile but without the crowded interface and inefficiencies of Agile PLM. Propel was founded in 2015 with the vision to help product companies innovate faster by collaborating in a more efficient manner.

User comments

Share your experience with using Propel and Square. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Propel no reviews yet
Square no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Propel yet. Be the first one to post

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Propel 0 mentions
Square 41 mentions

Tracking Propel since Mar 2021.

  • Advertisement - Help Finding a Global Entry Appointment
    This is an advertisement and I want to provide all the details.. I am a software developer and avid traveler. I own this website and am the sole developer who wrote the entire software! This idea came about when I signed up for Global... Source: over 3 years ago
  • How common is card/contactless payment?
    And now with Square it's dirt simple to accept credit card transactions, and the software even integrates into the NFC transceiver in modern iPhones--so even street vendors and local artists accept contactless payment cards. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • FREE GAME 💳💰💰
    Https://squareup.com/us/en - Better with aged account and/or verified business. Do custom amount charges on phone and type in card info manually. Source: almost 4 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Propel and Square

When comparing Propel and Square, you can also consider the following products.

  • Enovia

    ENOVIA offers product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions fostering innovation and operational excellence across industries.

    Compare Enovia to Propel or Square:

  • Lightspeed

    Retail point-of-sale, inventory management, and omnichannel payment processing systems.

    Compare Lightspeed to Propel or Square:

  • PTC Windchill

    Windchill offers breakthrough Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) capabilities, unleashing more data to more stakeholders throughout your organization through a single source of truth for product data and processes.

    Compare PTC Windchill to Propel or Square:

  • Toast

    Built to make restaurants better. Toast gives your restaurant the technology you need to succeed in today's fast-paced environment.

    Compare Toast to Propel or Square:

  • SAP PLM

    SAP Product Lifecycle Management (SAP PLM) application provides you with a 360-degree-support for all product-related processes - from the first product idea, through manufacturing to product service.

    Compare SAP PLM to Propel or Square:

  • Heartland Retail

    Heartland Retail (previously Springboard Retail) POS software a robust, user-friendly cloud point of sale solution designed for the business of retail. A complete retail management platform built for growing single, multi and franchise brands.

    Compare Heartland Retail to Propel or Square: