Square review

Square makes the most sense for a seller who takes payments at markets, in a shop or on invoices as well as online. The Square Free plan costs $0 per location and covers card payments online, by invoice and in person, so one account and one catalog handle every channel. The trade-off is the online rate: card payments made online or through an invoice cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Free, falling to 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus at $49 per location per month or Premium at $149. Payments taken through Square's APIs cost 2.9% + 30¢ on every plan. Payouts are simple to understand: standard transfers arrive the next business day, and instant or same-day transfers cost 1.95% per transfer. Square also states it won't hold funds based on the amount, frequency or type of transaction. For a purely online store, Stripe's flat 2.9% + 30¢ without a subscription is usually cheaper.

Who it is for

sellers who sell both online and in person

Price

Square Free $0 per month (3.3% + 30¢ online); Plus $49 and Premium $149 per location per month (2.9% + 30¢ online).

$0/mo. per location $49/mo. per location $149/mo. per location
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Square Free plan at $0 per month per location
• Online and invoice card payments 3.3% + 30¢ on Free, 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium
• In-person tap, dip or swipe from 2.6% + 15¢ on Free
• Standard next-business-day transfers to a linked bank account
• Instant and same-day transfers for a 1.95% fee per transfer

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free plan covers online, invoice and in-person payments
• Strength: Square says it won't hold funds based on amount, frequency or type of transaction
• Strength: Online API payments cost 2.9% + 30¢ on every plan
• Weakness: Online card rate on the Free plan is 3.3% + 30¢
• Weakness: Plus and Premium fees apply to each location
• Weakness: Instant transfers cost 1.95% per transfer

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, Square Free at $0/mo. per location
• Online rate: 3.3% + 30¢ on Free, 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans
• Standard transfer: Next business day
• Instant transfer fee: 1.95%

Where it ranks

Square is No. 4 in our Best Payment Gateways for Small Business verdict.