# Stripe vs Square

Title: Stripe vs Square: fees

Description: Stripe vs Square: Stripe is 2.9% + $0.30. Square is 3.3% + $0.30 online · 2.6% + $0.15 in person. Disputes: Stripe $15, Square $0 Square dispute fee.

Stripe vs Square compares published lines. Stripe's US domestic cards are 2.9% + $0.30, read November 9, 2026. Square is listed at 3.3% + $0.30 online · 2.6% + $0.15 in person. Dispute fees that day: Stripe $15 received, and Square $0 Square dispute fee.

# Stripe vs Square

Online-first processing compared with a point-of-sale-first processor.

[Square](https://squareup.com/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com)

Square is the better default when the sale happens in person. Stripe is the better default when the sale happens online and you want developer tools. Square's free-plan online rate, 3.3% + $0.30, is more expensive than Stripe. Square's online API rate matches Stripe's domestic headline.

| Feature | Stripe | Square |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Card rate | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.3% + $0.30 online · 2.6% + $0.15 in person |
| Dispute fee | $15 received | $0 Square dispute fee |
| Pricing | Flat rate | Flat rate |
| Payout | Standard schedule free. Instant 1.5%, minimum $0.50. | As soon as the next business day, on the fee schedule we read. |
| Region | Global. Rates here are the US list prices. | Rates here are Square's US fees. |
| Underwriting | Instant signup. Stripe can review, restrict, or close the account later. | Instant signup, with later review. |
| Merchant of record | No | No |
| In the fee calculator | Yes | Yes |

## Pricing

- Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30
- Square: 3.3% + $0.30 online · 2.6% + $0.15 in person

## With Stripe

The business is online, low risk, and you may want billing, tax, or Connect later.

## With Square

You sell at a counter. Square Free in-person pricing is 2.6% + $0.15, and the point-of-sale software is the product. Square also publishes no dispute-management fee, which matters if you actually get disputes.

## On the pricing page

- **Square Free, online or invoices.** 3.3% + $0.30
- **Square Free, online API.** 2.9% + $0.30
- **Square Free, tap, dip, or swipe.** 2.6% + $0.15
- **International cards.** +1.5%
- **Dispute management.** No Square fee. Square says it covers the fee for disputes you challenge together. The disputed amount is held.

## Questions

### Is Square lower than Stripe on the published line?

At $10,000 a month and a $50 ticket, Square Free, online or invoices is $390.00 and Stripe is $350.00, using rates read on November 9, 2026. US Square Free. Plus and Premium publish a lower online rate and charge a monthly plan fee. See Square's pricing page.

### What is Square's dispute fee versus Stripe's?

Square lists $0 Square dispute fee. Stripe lists $15 when a dispute is received. Both lines were read on November 9, 2026.

### How does Square underwrite compared with Stripe?

Instant signup, with later review. Stripe signs businesses up quickly and can review them later. A listing on this page is not an approval.

### When should you keep Stripe instead of Square?

The business is online, low risk, and you may want billing, tax, or Connect later.

### When should you choose Square?

You sell at a counter. Square Free in-person pricing is 2.6% + $0.15, and the point-of-sale software is the product. Square also publishes no dispute-management fee, which matters if you actually get disputes.

### Can Stripe card tokens move to Square?

This page does not claim that Square imports Stripe tokens. Ask in writing. Stripe's data export page, read on November 10, 2026, says Stripe transfers card data only to a PCI DSS Level 1 processor.

## Sources

Last verified November 9, 2026.

- Stripe: https://stripe.com/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Stripe pricing: https://stripe.com/pricing?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Square: https://squareup.com/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Square pricing: https://squareup.com/us/en/pricing?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Stripe: payment data export: https://docs.stripe.com/get-started/data-migrations/pan-export?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Square: Square Free, online or invoices: https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5068-what-are-square-s-fees?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com
- Square: Dispute management: https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/3882-payment-disputes-walkthrough?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripealternatives.com

## Related

- [Stripe pricing profile](/alternatives/stripe.md)
- [Square profile](/alternatives/square.md)
- [How to switch from Stripe](/guides/switching-from-stripe.md)
- [How Stripe's US fees add up](/guides/stripe-fees-explained.md)
- [Fee calculator](/tools/fee-calculator.md)
- [Lowest published fees](/best/lowest-fees.md)
- [All Stripe comparisons](/compare.md)
- [Stripe vs Adyen](/compare/stripe-vs-adyen.md)
- [Stripe vs Braintree](/compare/stripe-vs-braintree.md)
- [Stripe vs Paddle](/compare/stripe-vs-paddle.md)