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Software · head to head

Stripe vs Square

S

Stripe

Software

Financial infrastructure for the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Square logo

Square

Software

Powering the economy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Stripe requires developer setup and API integration for most use cases; Square plus plan pricing not specified in documentation
  • They diverge on capability: Stripe covers Subscription billing, Square covers Point of sale.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stripe and Square actually diverge.

Attributes where Stripe and Square differ
AttributeStripeSquare
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidPOS (Mobile app), Web
Founded20102009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Stripe

  • Subscription billing
  • Terminal (in-person payments)
  • Fraud prevention
  • 3D Secure
  • Global payouts
  • Financial reporting
  • Shopify
  • Salesforce

Only in Square

  • Point of sale
  • Payroll
  • Banking
  • Wix
  • PCI DSS
  • EMV compliant
  • Web support
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Payment processing
  • Invoicing
  • WooCommerce
  • QuickBooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Stripe

  • Online paymentsnot Square
  • Subscription managementnot Square
  • Marketplace paymentsnot Square
  • Global expansionnot Square
  • Platform monetizationnot Square

Square

  • Accept payments with all-in-one POS applicationnot Stripe
  • Online ordering and basic website creationnot Stripe
  • Invoicing and appointment bookingnot Stripe
  • Staff scheduling and loyalty programmesnot Stripe

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Stripe

  • Requires developer setup and API integration for most use cases
  • Dispute fee of $15 per chargeback is standard industry cost
  • Limited offline payment capabilities

Square

  • Plus plan pricing not specified in documentation
  • Processing fees differ by tier but exact rates not detailed
  • Free plan pricing mentioned but specific features for Plus unclear
  • Text marketing charged at 3¢ per message after first 500 included

Pricing, plan by plan

Stripe

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Stripe review.

Square

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Square review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Stripe if

  • You need subscription billing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want terminal (in-person payments).
Stripe review

Choose Square if

  • You need point of sale.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on POS (Mobile app), Web.
  • You also want payroll.
Square review

Questions people ask

Is Stripe or Square better?
Neither clearly leads. Stripe starts at Free and Square at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stripe or Square?
Stripe starts at Free and Square at Free.
Does Stripe or Square run on more platforms?
Stripe runs on Web, iOS, Android. Square runs on POS (Mobile app), Web.
Can I use Stripe for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Stripe best used for?
Stripe is most often used for online payments, subscription management, marketplace payments, global expansion. Of those, online payments and subscription management are not what Square is typically brought in for.
What can Stripe do that Square cannot?
Stripe covers Subscription billing, Terminal (in-person payments), Fraud prevention, 3D Secure. Square covers Point of sale, Payroll, Banking, Wix. Both handle Payment processing, Invoicing, WooCommerce, QuickBooks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stripe: What are Stripe's transaction fees?

Standard US rates are 2.9% plus 30 cents for online card payments, 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person, 3.4% plus 30 cents for keyed/phone transactions, and 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH payments.

Source
Stripe: How many currencies and countries does it support?

Stripe accepts 135+ currencies and supports payment acceptance in 40+ countries through Stripe Connect, enabling sellers to onboard and receive payouts in minutes.

Source
Stripe: What payment methods are supported?

Stripe supports dozens of payment methods including credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, and local payment options, with additional support through partnerships with Meta and Google.

Source
Stripe: Are there monthly fees or contracts?

No. Stripe charges no monthly fees or contracts, only per-transaction fees and dispute fees, making costs fully transparent and variable.

Source
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Related pages

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