Does Square have a free plan?

Square has no monthly subscription fee. You pay per transaction: 2.6% + $0.30 for online, 2.65% for in-person, 3.5% + $0.15 for keyed-in card payments. The Square Online store and POS system are free to set up. You only pay when you process transactions.

How does Square compare to Stripe?

Square charges 2.6% + $0.30 online vs Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30. For 100 transactions at $50 each ($5,000 total): Square costs ~$170, Stripe costs ~$215. Square is 20% cheaper. Stripe has better developer tools and international reach; Square is simpler for small businesses and retail.

Are there hidden fees in Square?

Square's primary fee is the per-transaction percentage. Additional paid services: Square Online Basic ($20/mo), ACH transfers ($1/day), Square Invoice payment collection (2.9% + $0.30), Square Terminal hardware rentals ($0-10/mo). No minimum monthly spend, but Invoices and some features cost extra.

Can you use Square internationally?

Square operates primarily in the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. For other countries, PayPal or Stripe is required. If you're accepting international payments from these countries, Square works. Otherwise, you need an alternative.

Square Pricing 2026 — Payment Processing Fees & Costs

Square Payment Processing Rates (2026)

Square's main pricing model is per-transaction fees. No monthly subscription. Additional services have separate fees:

Transaction Type	Rate	Example: $100 sale
Online (Card entered manually)	2.6% + $0.30	$2.90
In-person (Card swiped/tapped)	2.65%	$2.65
Keyed-in (Phone order)	3.5% + $0.15	$3.65
ACH Bank Transfer	$1/day (optional service)	$1

💡 Note: No minimums, no monthly fees. You pay only on transactions you process.

Real-World Square Cost Scenarios

What you actually pay at different monthly volumes:

Small business: $5,000/month in sales

Sale volume $5,000/mo

Transaction count (avg $50 orders) 100 transactions

Processing fee (2.6% + $0.30) $170/mo

Annual cost $2,040

Best for: Local retail, small e-commerce, service providers.

Growing business: $30,000/month in sales

Sale volume $30,000/mo

Transaction count (avg $50 orders) 600 transactions

Processing fee (2.6% + $0.30) $1,020/mo

Annual cost $12,240

At this volume, Square Online Basic ($20/mo) makes sense. Total: $12,480/year.

High-volume business: $100,000/month in sales

Sale volume $100,000/mo

Transaction count (avg $50 orders) 2,000 transactions

Processing fee (2.6% + $0.30) $3,400/mo

Annual cost $40,800

At this scale, negotiate volume discounts. Consider Stripe's enterprise pricing or Square's Plus plan ($99/mo for advanced features).

Square vs Stripe vs PayPal

Comparison of the three largest payment processors:

Feature	Square	Stripe	PayPal
Online rate	2.6% + $0.30	2.9% + $0.30	2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee	$0	$0	$0
$5,000/mo cost	$170/mo	$215/mo	$215/mo
Free tier	✓ Yes	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
POS system	✓ Free	✗ Extra	✗ Extra
Online store	✓ Free basic	✗ Via Shopify	✓ Limited
In-person cards	✓ 2.65%	✓ 2.7%	✓ 2.7%
International reach	Limited (US, Canada, AU, JP)	✓ 40+ countries	✓ 200+ countries

Quick takeaway: Square is cheapest for US small businesses. Stripe for developers and international. PayPal for maximum reach.

Square Products & Additional Costs

Square Online: Free basic store (no transaction limit). Plus plan $20/mo (email/SMS marketing, advanced inventory, reviews).
Square Point of Sale: Free to download. Hardware: Terminal (no cost, pay-as-you-go), Stand ($49), Reader ($29 one-time).
Square Invoices: Free to send. Customers pay 2.9% + $0.30 if paying by card.
Square Payroll: $35/month for first user, $10/mo per additional user. Includes payroll processing, tax filings, 1099 handling.
Square Cash Advance: Borrow up to $250K against future revenue. 5–8% of revenue repaid (interest-free).

Track Square Pricing Changes

Square occasionally adjusts its transaction fees and adds new features. Get alerts the moment rates change or new paid plans are introduced.

Monitor pricing 24/7 → Set price alert