Square vs Helix
The Real Comparison for Home Daycare Providers

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

The verdict for home daycare providers: Square is solid software, but at $29/month it costs $1,168 over 3 years. Helix does most of what Square does for $279 once. For solo home daycare providers and small teams, Helix is the better deal.

Choose Helix if:

  • You're done paying monthly forever
  • You're a solo operator or small team (1-5)
  • You need Invoicing, scheduler, Connect CRM 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 Helix doesn't have yet

What Square Actually Costs Home Daycare Providers

The 3-Year Damage

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

Helix: $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

FeatureSquareHelix
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. Helix does 90% of what Square does — for 10% of the 3-year cost. And I actually own it."
— Daycare provider

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 Helix — 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 Helix.
4
Cancel Square — Cancel paid subscriptions. Keep free account for records access.
✓ 30-day money-back guarantee. Zero risk.
Home Daycare Providers are switching from Square every week.

The math doesn't lie.

What This Means for Home Daycare Providers

You watch 6 kids in your home Monday through Friday. Two parents are a week late on tuition. You need to buy more snacks, art supplies, and diapers — all business expenses you're tracking in a shoebox. Little Emma's mom wants to switch from full-time to three days a week. You need to adjust her invoice, update the schedule, and figure out if you can fill those two open days. Brightwheel charges $20+/month and half the features are for centers with multiple classrooms and staff. You're one person in your living room.

Home Daycare Providers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Collecting tuition on time from parents who pay late or forget. Brightwheel costs $20+/month for features designed for larger centers. Tracking meal expenses and supply costs against tuition revenue. Managing attendance records for licensing and tax deduction purposes. Square charges $29/month on top of these daily realities. The median daycare provider earns $28,000/year — $348/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.

Helix is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for home daycare providers. You own it like you own your Childproofing equipment and safety supplies.

FAQ

Is Helix really a Square replacement?

For solo home daycare providers 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 Helix doesn't?

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

How fast does Helix pay for itself?

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

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. Helix 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 Helix. I own my tools now. No more renting software."
— Daycare provider, Helix owner

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

Own your tools. Stop renting your software.

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

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