Jake Tech Lab

Stripe vs Square

Square comes out ahead of Stripe on 4 of the 7 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.

Stripe
Stripe
6.6
Fair
3 of 7 rounds
vs
SquareWinner
Square
6.6
Fair
4 of 7 rounds

The verdict

Square takes it, 4–3 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Square takes 4 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose Stripe if…

  • • You want Stripe's edge on what an online card sale costs and taking bank (ach) payments

Choose Square if…

  • • You want Square's edge on what customers say on trustpilot and what a lost chargeback costs

Round by round

  1. Round 1What customers say on TrustpilotSquare wins
    Stripe5/10

    1.6 out of 5

    TrustScore from 17,521 reviews on Trustpilot

    • 1.6 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Square8/10

    3.7 out of 5

    TrustScore from 7,486 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

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

  2. Round 2What an online card sale costsStripe wins
    Stripe8/10

    2.9% + 30¢

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

    Source: stripe.com ↗

    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 ↗

    Stripe wins this round on what the published sources say.

  3. Round 3What a lost chargeback costsSquare wins
    Stripe5/10

    $15 per dispute (+$15 if contested)

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

    • $15 per dispute (+$15 if contested), against No chargeback fee

    Source: stripe.com ↗

    Square8/10

    No chargeback fee

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

  4. Round 4What a tap or swipe in store costsSquare wins
    Stripe5/10

    2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal)

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

    • 2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal), against 2.6% + 15¢ (Square Free)

    Source: stripe.com ↗

    Square8/10

    2.6% + 15¢ (Square Free)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

  5. Round 5Taking bank (ACH) paymentsStripe wins
    Stripe8/10

    0.8% ($5 cap)

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

    Source: stripe.com ↗

    Square5/10

    1% ($1 min, via invoice)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    • 1% ($1 min, via invoice), against 0.8% ($5 cap)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Stripe wins this round on what the published sources say.

  6. Round 6Getting your money instantlyStripe wins
    Stripe8/10

    1.5% Instant Payouts (min 50¢)

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

    Source: docs.stripe.com ↗

    Square5/10

    1.95% instant transfer

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    • 1.95% instant transfer, against 1.5% Instant Payouts (min 50¢)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Stripe wins this round on what the published sources say.

  7. Round 7How fast your money reaches the bankSquare wins
    Stripe5/10

    2 business days

    Standard pay-as-you-go pricing (US)

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

    Source: docs.stripe.com ↗

    Square8/10

    Next business day (free)

    Square Free ($0/mo. per location)

    Source: squareup.com ↗

    Square wins this round on what the published sources say.

StripeStripe
Check price
SquareSquare
Check price

Side by side

StripeStripe
Check price
SquareBest for what it costs just to have an accountSquare
Check price
Overall score
6.6
6.6
Price
See price
See price
What customers say on Trustpilot
6.3
7.1
The fixed fee on every sale
6.4
6.0
What it costs just to have an account
7.3
7.3
Taking bank (ACH) payments
6.2
5.0
What a lost chargeback costs
6.7
8.0
Head-to-head findings
What customers say on Trustpilot
1.6 out of 5
3.7 out of 5
The fixed fee on every sale
30 cents
30¢ per online sale
What it costs just to have an account
No monthly fee
$0/month (Square Free)
Taking bank (ACH) payments
0.8% ($5 cap)
1% ($1 min, via invoice)
What a lost chargeback costs
$15 per dispute (+$15 if contested)
No chargeback fee
How fast your money reaches the bank
2 business days
Next business day (free)
What an online card sale costs
2.9%
3.3% + 30¢ (Square Free)
How easy it is to use
4.5 out of 5
4.6 out of 5
Record
Head-to-head record
2–5
5–2
Head-to-heads won
29 %
71 %
Rounds won
36 %
45 %
Pros
      Cons
      • 2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal), against 2.29% + 9¢ (PayPal POS)
      • 1.6 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
      • $15 per dispute (+$15 if contested), against No chargeback fee
      • 2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal), against 2.6% + 15¢ (Square Free)
      • 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)
      Add a third option to this comparison →

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