Square vs Authorize.Net

Round by round

1. Round 1What customers say on TrustpilotSquare wins
   Square8/10

   3.7 out of 5

   TrustScore from 7,486 reviews on Trustpilot

   Source: trustpilot.com ↗

   Authorize.Net5/10

   1.6 out of 5

   TrustScore from 92 reviews on Trustpilot

   • 1.6 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5

   Source: trustpilot.com ↗

   Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

2. Round 2What it costs just to have an accountSquare wins
   Square8/10

   $0/month (Square Free)

   Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Authorize.Net5/10

   $25/month

   All-in-one (merchant account + gateway), billed monthly (eCheck rate is in the FAQ What forms of payment does Authorize accept?)

   • $25/month, against $0/month (Square Free)

   Source: authorize.net ↗

   Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

3. Round 3What an online card sale costsAuthorize.Net wins
   Square5/10

   3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free)

   Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

   • 3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free), against 2.9% + 30¢

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Authorize.Net8/10

   2.9% + 30¢

   All-in-one (merchant account + gateway), billed monthly (eCheck rate is in the FAQ What forms of payment does Authorize accept?)

   Source: authorize.net ↗

   Authorize.Net wins this round on what the published sources say.

4. Round 4Taking bank (ACH) paymentsAuthorize.Net wins
   Square5/10

   1% ($1 min, via invoice)

   Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

   • 1% ($1 min, via invoice), against 0.75% (eCheck add-on)

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Authorize.Net8/10

   0.75% (eCheck add-on)

   All-in-one (merchant account + gateway), billed monthly (eCheck rate is in the FAQ What forms of payment does Authorize accept?)

   Source: authorize.net ↗

   Authorize.Net wins this round on what the published sources say.

5. Round 5How fast your money reaches the bankSquare wins
   Square8/10

   Next business day (free)

   Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Authorize.Net5/10

   Varies by provider (3-5 business days typical)

   Pricing page FAQ

   • 2-3 business days, against Next business day (free)

   Source: authorize.net ↗

   Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

6. Round 6The fixed fee on every saleTie
   Square7/10

   30¢ per online sale

   Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

   Source: squareup.com ↗

   Authorize.Net7/10

   30¢ per sale

   All-in-one (merchant account + gateway), billed monthly (eCheck rate is in the FAQ What forms of payment does Authorize accept?)

   Source: authorize.net ↗

   Nothing to separate them here.

Side by side

Best for what it costs just to have an accountSquare

Check price

Authorize.Net

Check price

Overall score

6.6

6.6

Price

See price

See price

What customers say on Trustpilot

7.1

6.2

The fixed fee on every sale

6.0

6.8

What it costs just to have an account

7.3

5.0

Taking bank (ACH) payments

5.0

7.2

What a lost chargeback costs

8.0

8.0

Head-to-head findings

What customers say on Trustpilot

3.7 out of 5

1.6 out of 5

The fixed fee on every sale

30¢ per online sale

30 cents

What it costs just to have an account

$0/month (Square Free)

$25

Taking bank (ACH) payments

1% ($1 min, via invoice)

0.75% (eCheck add-on)

What a lost chargeback costs

No chargeback fee

Not stated

How fast your money reaches the bank

Next business day (free)

Varies by provider (3-5 business days typical)

What an online card sale costs

3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free)

2.9%

How easy it is to use

4.6 out of 5

4.3 out of 5

Record

Head-to-head record

5–2

3–4

Head-to-heads won

71 %

43 %

Rounds won

45 %

40 %

Pros

• all-in-one rate
• no chargeback fee on credit cards

Cons

• 3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free), against 2.9% + 30¢
• 1% ($1 min, via invoice), against 0.8% ($5 cap)
• 1.95% instant transfer, against 1.5% Instant Payouts (min 50¢)
• 3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free), against 2.99% + 49¢ (card payments)

• $25, against No monthly fee
• 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
• 2-3 business days, against 2 business days
• 1.6 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5

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