Jake Tech Lab

Square vs Helcim

Helcim comes out ahead of Square on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.

Square
Square
6.6
Fair
1 of 6 rounds
vs
HelcimWinner
Helcim
7.2
Good
3 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Helcim takes it, 3–1 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Helcim takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose Square if…

  • • You want Square's edge on what a lost chargeback costs

Choose Helcim if…

  • • You want Helcim's edge on what customers say on trustpilot and the fixed fee on every sale

Round by round

  1. Round 1What customers say on TrustpilotHelcim wins
    Square5/10

    3.7 out of 5

    TrustScore from 7,486 reviews on Trustpilot

    • 3.7 out of 5, against 4 out of 5

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Helcim8/10

    4 out of 5

    TrustScore from 1,092 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

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

  2. Round 2The fixed fee on every saleHelcim wins
    Square5/10

    30¢ per online sale

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    • 30¢ per online sale, against 25¢ (keyed & online)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Helcim8/10

    25¢ (keyed & online)

    Interchange-plus, $0-$50K monthly card volume tier (no plan; rates are Helcim's markup on top of interchange; open the FAQ 'What are Helcim's credit card processing fees?')

    Source: helcim.com ↗

    Helcim wins this round on what the published sources say.

  3. Round 3What a lost chargeback costsSquare wins
    Square8/10

    No chargeback fee

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Helcim5/10

    $15 if lost ($0 if won)

    Interchange-plus, $0-$50K monthly card volume tier (no plan; rates are Helcim's markup on top of interchange; open the FAQ 'What are Helcim's credit card processing fees?')

    • $15 if lost ($0 if won), against No chargeback fee

    Source: helcim.com ↗

    Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

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

    1% ($1 min, via invoice)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    • 1% ($1 min, via invoice), against 0.5% + 25¢ (capped at $6)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Helcim8/10

    0.5% + 25¢ (capped at $6)

    Interchange-plus, $0-$50K monthly card volume tier (no plan; rates are Helcim's markup on top of interchange; open the FAQ 'What are Helcim's credit card processing fees?')

    Source: helcim.com ↗

    Helcim wins this round on what the published sources say.

  5. Round 5What it costs just to have an accountTie
    Square7/10

    $0/month (Square Free)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Helcim7/10

    No monthly fee

    Interchange-plus, $0-$50K monthly card volume tier (no plan; rates are Helcim's markup on top of interchange; open the FAQ 'What are Helcim's credit card processing fees?')

    Source: helcim.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

  6. Round 6How fast your money reaches the bankTie
    Square7/10

    Next business day (free)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Helcim7/10

    Next business morning (free)

    Interchange-plus, $0-$50K monthly card volume tier (no plan; rates are Helcim's markup on top of interchange; open the FAQ 'What are Helcim's credit card processing fees?')

    Source: helcim.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

SquareSquare
Check price
HelcimHelcim
Check price

Side by side

SquareBest for what it costs just to have an accountSquare
Check price
HelcimTop ratedHelcim
Check price
Overall score
6.6
7.2
Best
Price
See price
See price
What customers say on Trustpilot
7.1
8.0
The fixed fee on every sale
6.0
7.4
What it costs just to have an account
7.3
7.2
Taking bank (ACH) payments
5.0
8.0
What a lost chargeback costs
8.0
6.2
Head-to-head findings
What customers say on Trustpilot
3.7 out of 5
4 out of 5
The fixed fee on every sale
30¢ per online sale
25¢ (keyed & online)
What it costs just to have an account
$0/month (Square Free)
No monthly fee
Taking bank (ACH) payments
1% ($1 min, via invoice)
0.5% + 25¢ (capped at $6)
What a lost chargeback costs
No chargeback fee
$15 if lost ($0 if won)
How fast your money reaches the bank
Next business day (free)
Next business morning (free)
What an online card sale costs
3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free)
—
How easy it is to use
4.6 out of 5
3.9 out of 5
Record
Head-to-head record
5–2
5–1
Head-to-heads won
71 %
83 %
Rounds won
45 %
56 %
Pros
      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)
      • $15 if lost ($0 if won), against No chargeback fee
      • 25 cents, against 13 cents
      • 3.7 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
      • 3.9 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
      Add a third option to this comparison →

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