Square vs Stripe
Square scores higher overall (81 vs 74), but the right choice depends on your size and card mix. The best starting point in payments — unbeatable free tooling and effortless setup, at a flat rate you will eventually outgrow.
Updated 2026-07-30Square
Flat-rate simplicity with free POS software
81/ 100
4.4Merchant Score
- Pricing
- 3.5
- Features
- 4.5
- Ease of use
- 4.8
- Customer support
- 3.3
- User reviews
- 4.0
- Pricing model
- Flat rate
- Headline rate
- 3.3% + $0.30 online · 2.6% + $0.15 in person
- Monthly fee
- None
- Contract
- None — month to month
- Payouts
- 1-2 business days
- Hardware
- Reader free, terminal $299
Strong fit for
- New businesses taking their first card payment
- Sellers under ~$10k/month who value predictability
- Pop-ups, markets, and mobile sellers
Stripe
Developer-first payments infrastructure
74/ 100
3.5Merchant Score
- Pricing
- 3.1
- Features
- 4.6
- Ease of use
- 3.8
- Customer support
- 3.2
- User reviews
- 3.9
- Pricing model
- Flat rate
- Headline rate
- 2.9% + $0.30
- Monthly fee
- None
- Contract
- None — pay as you go
- Payouts
- 2 business days standard
- Hardware
- Terminal readers from $59
Strong fit for
- SaaS and platforms with engineering teams
- Custom checkout and marketplace builds
- International online sellers
Which one is cheaper for your business?
Averages hide your card mix. Upload one statement and we project your exact costs on Square, Stripe, and every other provider we track.
Get your free rate report