Stripe vs Square Processing Fees
Two fee schedules, read straight off each company's own pricing page. Here is where they line up and where they part ways in structure.
Two common card processors for small US businesses publish fees in very different shapes. This page lines up Stripe vs Square processing fees using only what each company's own pricing page states. Neither page states a verdict, and neither does this one. The point is to see how each schedule is built, then hold both against your own sales.
Two different ways to price
Stripe's pricing page says standard pricing is pay-as-you-go. You pay a fee per transaction. It depends on how your customer pays. Stripe's pricing page says its standard plan has no setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees.
Square's pricing page says processing fees vary based on the Square plan you choose. Plans start at no cost, and Square's pricing page says with Square Free there are no monthly subscription costs. You only pay processing fees when you take a payment. Square Plus and Square Premium charge a monthly fee per location.
So the first structural difference: Stripe has one published rate per payment type. Square has a range for in-person and online card payments, and where you land in it depends on the plan you choose.
In-person card payments
Stripe's pricing page says in-person card payments cost 2.7% + 5¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards.
Square's pricing page says in-person card payments run from 2.6% + 15¢ to 2.4% + 15¢, depending on the plan. Square's pricing page says tap, dip, or swipe fees apply to in-person payments when a card is present.
Note the shape of these two numbers. Stripe's percentage is higher than either end of Square's range, but its flat part is a nickel against Square's dime and a half. On a small ticket, the flat part does more work. On a large ticket, the percentage does. For more detail on each schedule alone, see Stripe's payment fees and Square's rates and fees.
Online and invoice card payments
Stripe's pricing page says its standard online rate is 2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards.
Square's pricing page says online and invoice card payments run from 3.3% + 30¢ to 2.9% + 30¢, depending on the plan. Square's pricing page says online fees apply to card payments made online or through an invoice. Square's pricing page also says card payments through its payments APIs cost 2.9% + 30¢.
At one end of Square's range, the stated rate matches Stripe's. Stripe's standard online rate is one figure, not a range by plan. If you sell online, also read Square's online store fees and Stripe's checkout fees.
Manually entered and card-on-file payments
Stripe's pricing page says manually entered cards add 0.5% to the online card rate. That puts keyed entry above the tap rate. The surcharge is an add-on, not a separate flat rate.
Square's pricing page says manual entry or card on file payments cost 3.5% + 15¢. That is a flat stated rate, not an add-on.
Do many of your sales come by phone or from cards kept on file? This is one of the clearest differences between the two pages. Check it against how you take payments before anything else.
ACH and bank transfer fees
Stripe's pricing page says ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8% with a $5.00 cap.
Square's pricing page says ACH bank transfers on invoices cost 1% with a $1 minimum.
The two caps work in opposite directions. Stripe's page states a maximum, so the percentage stops growing on large transfers. Square's page states a minimum, so small transfers pay at least a dollar. A business with large invoices and one with small ones will read these two lines very differently. For more, see Stripe's bank transfer fees.
Monthly fees, setup fees and contracts
Stripe's pricing page says Stripe does not charge setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees like closure fees.
Square's pricing page says its plans start at no cost and have no hidden fees or locked-in contracts. Square's pricing page says the monthly fee per location is $0, $49 or $149, and Square Plus and Square Premium charge it per location. Square's pricing page says you can cancel or switch plans anytime.
Square's pricing page also says you do not need to purchase hardware to take payments. Every plan includes end-to-end encrypted payments, active fraud prevention, next day transfers, and offline payments.
The trade each page describes is plain. Stripe's page offers one schedule with nothing monthly. Square's page offers a range of rates by plan, and Square Plus and Square Premium bill per location. A shop with one spot and a shop with several will read that trade differently.
International cards and currency conversion
Stripe's pricing page says international cards add 1.5% and currency conversion adds 1%.
Square's pricing page says an extra fee applies to credit or debit cards issued outside the United States.
Do you often sell to travelers or buyers abroad? Check each company's page for the current added amounts before you sign up. Both pages describe these as additions on top of the domestic rate.
Refunds
Stripe's pricing page says that for all other payment methods there are no fees for issuing refunds. But Stripe's pricing page says businesses on standard pricing may face fees for refunds when bank transfers are used. Stripe's pricing page also says the fees from the original sale are not returned. That covers payment processing, Connect and currency conversion fees.
Square's refund terms are covered on their own page. For a deeper look at each company's refund rules, see Stripe's refund fees and Square's refund fees.
Custom pricing paths
Both companies describe a way off the published rates for large volumes.
Stripe's pricing page says Stripe offers custom pricing for businesses with large processing volumes, and eligibility varies by market. Stripe's pricing page says it offers volume-based discounts based on volume tiers, commitments, and product usage. Stripe's pricing page says custom packages can include IC+ pricing, discounted flat rates, subscriptions, and buy-rates for platforms.
Square's pricing page says businesses that process over $250,000 per year can talk to its team about custom pricing and processing fees.
How to line these numbers up against your own sales
Start with your sales mix. What share of your revenue is tapped in person, keyed in by hand, or taken online? Each schedule prices those three differently. The gaps between them are not the same for both companies.
Then pull your average ticket. The flat part of each rate matters more on a $6 coffee than on a $600 repair. Run a typical month of sales through both stated schedules. Add the monthly fee per location for the Square plan you would choose.
Then check your entry methods and your invoice amounts. A shop full of phone orders reads the manual-entry lines first. A business with large ACH invoices reads the cap and the minimum before anything else.
Last, remember that both companies can change these numbers. Stripe's pricing page says all fees for standard pricing are listed on its website. Square posts its current rates on its own pricing page. Check both pages on the day you decide. To see Square's fees on their own, read how much Square charges in fees.