Stripe vs Square
type: Article
description: Stripe excels for online businesses and developers with superior API flexibility and lower per-transaction fees (2.2% + $0.30), while Square dominates in-person retail with integrated hardware, offline capability, and all-in-one POS solutions. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per online transaction versus Square's 2.6% + $0.30, making Stripe 18% cheaper for digital payments.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-03-29T10:34:32.590Z
date created: 2026-03-29T10:34:32.590Z
date modified: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.471Z
content reference time: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.471Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Stripe
about: Square
abstract: Stripe excels for online businesses and developers with superior API flexibility and lower per-transaction fees (2.2% + $0.30), while Square dominates in-person retail with integrated hardware, offline capability, and all-in-one POS solutions. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per online transaction versus Square's 2.6% + $0.30, making Stripe 18% cheaper for digital payments.
text: Online Transaction Fee. In-Person Transaction Fee. API Documentation Quality. Hardware Integration. Offline Capability. Monthly Subscription Cost (Base). Merchant Count (2024)
conclusion text: Choose Stripe if you prioritize developer flexibility, cost efficiency for online payments, and subscription/SaaS billing—it's 18% cheaper per online transaction and offers superior API customization. Choose Square if you operate a physical retail location, need integrated hardware, offline functionality, and an all-in-one POS system with minimal technical setup.
additional property: In-Person Card Payment Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.7% + $0.05 | Square: 2.6% + $0.10
  value reference: Square
additional property: Customer Satisfaction Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 4.8/5 | Square: 4.2/5 stars
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: Global Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 135+ | Square: Not specified
additional property: Bitcoin Processing Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Standard rates apply | Square: 0% through 2026
additional property: API Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Highly Customizable | Square: Limited Custom Integration
additional property: POS Hardware Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Terminal API (custom builds) | Square: Full hardware suite included
additional property: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Complex (requires developers) | Square: Simple (plug-and-play)
additional property: Company Valuation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: $159 billion | Square: N/A
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 20.8-29% | Square: N/A
additional property: US Market Dominance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 45% | Square: N/A
additional property: Omnichannel Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Online-focused only | Square: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Readiness
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Mid-market optimized | Square: N/A
additional property: Developer Experience
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Excellent API documentation | Square: N/A
additional property: Regulatory Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Industry standard compliance | Square: N/A
additional property: Year Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2010 | Square: N/A
additional property: Transaction Fee (Credit Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | Square: N/A
additional property: ACH Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 0.8% (max $5) | Square: N/A
additional property: Supported Countries
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 195 | Square: N/A
additional property: API Documentation Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Excellent, comprehensive, interactive | Square: N/A
additional property: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 45+ | Square: N/A
additional property: Subscription Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Advanced with usage-based billing | Square: N/A
additional property: Dispute Resolution Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 20-45 | Square: N/A
additional property: Annual Transaction Volume (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 800+ | Square: N/A
additional property: Transaction Fee (Standard US Payment)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | Square: N/A
additional property: Average Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 4-6 weeks (developer-required) | Square: N/A
additional property: Countries with Tax Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Manual per-region (limited native support) | Square: N/A
additional property: Built-in Subscription Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Available via Billing product (separate setup) | Square: N/A
additional property: Merchant of Record Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Merchant handles compliance | Square: N/A
additional property: API Integrations & Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 1000+ via App Marketplace | Square: N/A
additional property: Customer Support Tier (Starter Plans)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Email + community documentation | Square: N/A
additional property: Online Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.2% + $0.30 | Square: 2.6% + $0.30
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: In-Person Swipe/Chip Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.7% + $0.05 | Square: 2.6% + $0.10
  value reference: Square
additional property: Monthly Base Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: $0 (pay-per-transaction) | Square: $0-$299 (tiered)
additional property: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 195 countries | Square: 38 countries
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: Currencies Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 135+ currencies | Square: 95+ currencies
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: Offline Payments
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Not available | Square: Full offline mode (Square Terminal)
additional property: API Documentation Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 4.8/5 (Developer-first design) | Square: 4.2/5 (Business-focused)
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: Active Merchants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 3+ million (2024) | Square: 1+ million (2024)
  value reference: Stripe
additional property: Card Payment Fee (Standard Rate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | Square: N/A
additional property: Monthly Base Fee (Minimum)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: $0 | Square: N/A
additional property: Native Revenue Recognition (ASC 606)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: Manual/Third-party integration required | Square: N/A
additional property: Dunning Retry Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 1-2 (email, webhook) | Square: N/A
additional property: Failed Payment Recovery Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 65-70% (with custom logic) | Square: N/A
additional property: Subscription Management Features (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 20-30 (requires Billing API integration) | Square: N/A
additional property: Payment Method Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 195 countries, 150+ methods | Square: N/A
additional property: API Response Time (p95)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 150ms | Square: N/A
additional property: Standard Transaction Fee (Card Payments)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | Square: N/A
additional property: Supported Payment Methods
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 135+ methods | Square: N/A
additional property: Geographic Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Stripe: 195+ countries | Square: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/stripe
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/stripe
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/square
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/square
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/square-vs-stripe
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/square-vs-stripe
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/adyen-vs-stripe
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/wordpress-vs-wix
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/canva-vs-photoshop
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-microsoft-teams
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-sketch
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/iphone-17-vs-samsung-s26
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mac-vs-windows
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/android-vs-ios
teaches: How to choose between Stripe and Square
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Stripe vs Square — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Stripe
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Developer-friendly payment platform with 135+ integrations, 99.99% uptime, and transparent pricing.
subject of: Stripe vs Square

Square
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Cloud-based POS and payment platform owned by Block, Inc., designed for small business simplicity
image: ImageObject
  caption: Square
subject of: Stripe vs Square
image: ImageObject
  caption: Square

Stripe vs Square — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Stripe vs Square. Contains 136 attribute comparisons, 4 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: In-Person Card Payment Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reputation
variable measured: Global Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Bitcoin Processing Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cryptocurrency
variable measured: API Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: POS Hardware Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Company Valuation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Metrics
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: US Market Dominance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Geographic Strength
variable measured: Omnichannel Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Features
variable measured: Enterprise Readiness
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Target Market
variable measured: Developer Experience
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Regulatory Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Year Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Company History
variable measured: Transaction Fee (Credit Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: ACH Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported Countries
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: API Documentation Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Subscription Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Dispute Resolution Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Service
variable measured: Annual Transaction Volume (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Transaction Fee (Standard US Payment)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Average Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Countries with Tax Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compliance
variable measured: Built-in Subscription Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Merchant of Record Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compliance
variable measured: API Integrations & Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Customer Support Tier (Starter Plans)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Online Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: In-Person Swipe/Chip Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Currencies Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Support
variable measured: Offline Payments
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: API Documentation Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Active Merchants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Card Payment Fee (Standard Rate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Base Fee (Minimum)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Native Revenue Recognition (ASC 606)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Dunning Retry Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Failed Payment Recovery Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Subscription Management Features (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Payment Method Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: API Response Time (p95)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Standard Transaction Fee (Card Payments)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported Payment Methods
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Geographic Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Average Settlement Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Onboarding Time (SMB)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: API Documentation Quality (GitHub Stars)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Fortune 500 Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Adoption
variable measured: Annual Transaction Volume Processed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: Countries/Regions Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Tax Compliance Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Subscription Dunning Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: API Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Average Chargeback Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk Management
variable measured: Fraud Detection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Annual Transaction Volume (2024)
variable measured: Standard Transaction Fee
variable measured: Direct Acquiring Licenses
variable measured: Average API Response Time
variable measured: Typical Implementation Timeline
variable measured: Integration Marketplace Apps
variable measured: Supported Currencies
variable measured: Official SDKs and Libraries
variable measured: Monthly Minimum Fee
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/square-vs-stripe

Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Stripe vs Square.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Reputation
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Cryptocurrency
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Financial Metrics
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Geographic Strength
has defined term: Product Features
has defined term: Target Market
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Company History
has defined term: Coverage
has defined term: Customer Service
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Compliance
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Global Reach
has defined term: Global Support
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Risk Management
has defined term: Scale & Performance
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Geographic Coverage
has defined term: Payment Options
has defined term: Deployment Speed
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Enterprise
has defined term: Marketing
has defined term: Payments
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Hardware
has defined term: User Base
has defined term: Market History
has defined term: Customer Experience
has defined term: Total Cost
has defined term: Business Model
has defined term: Market Size

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reputation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reputation
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cryptocurrency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cryptocurrency
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Metrics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-metrics
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Geographic Strength
type: DefinedTerm
term code: geographic-strength
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-features
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Target Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: target-market
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Company History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: company-history
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: coverage
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-service
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compliance
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global-reach
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global-support
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-adoption
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk-management
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale & Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-&-performance
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Geographic Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: geographic-coverage
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payment Options
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payment-options
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment-speed
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Marketing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: marketing
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payments
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payments
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Hardware
type: DefinedTerm
term code: hardware
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Base
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-base
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-history
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-experience
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Total Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: total-cost
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business-model
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-size
in defined term set: Stripe vs Square — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.471Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: square-vs-stripe
main entity: Can I use Square and Stripe together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes — many businesses use both simultaneously. Square handles in-store POS and hardware payments while Stripe powers the online store checkout. The two platforms can operate independently for different sales channels.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has lower fees: Square or Stripe?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: For in-person payments, Square (2.6% + $0.10) is slightly cheaper than Stripe (2.7% + $0.05) for smaller transactions. For online payments, both charge 2.9% + $0.30. Stripe offers custom pricing (typically lower) for businesses processing over $1M/year.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Square work for online businesses?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Square does support online payments through Square Online (free website builder with e-commerce) and a basic API, but Stripe is significantly more powerful for custom online checkout, recurring billing, and marketplace payment flows. Square Online is best for existing Square brick-and-mortar sellers adding an e-commerce channel.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for a restaurant?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Square dominates restaurant payment processing. Square for Restaurants offers table management, floor plans, coursing, kitchen display systems, and a complete restaurant POS — all included. Stripe has no restaurant-specific POS tools.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Stripe and Square
type: HowTo
description: Stripe excels for online businesses and developers with superior API flexibility and lower per-transaction fees (2.2% + $0.30), while Square dominates in-person retail with integrated hardware, offline capability, and all-in-one POS solutions. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per online transaction versus Square's 2.6% + $0.30, making Stripe 18% cheaper for digital payments.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Online Transaction Fee
step: Consider: In-Person Transaction Fee
step: Consider: API Documentation Quality
step: Consider: Hardware Integration
step: Consider: Offline Capability
step: Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost (Base)
step: Consider: Merchant Count (2024)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Stripe if you prioritize developer flexibility, cost efficiency for online payments, and subscription/SaaS billing—it's 18% cheaper per online transaction and offers superior API customization. Choose Square if you operate a physical retail location, need integrated hardware, offline functionality, and an all-in-one POS system with minimal technical setup.

Consider: Online Transaction Fee
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Online Transaction Fee: Stripe has 2.2% + $0.30, while Square has 2.6% + $0.30.

Consider: In-Person Transaction Fee
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: In-Person Transaction Fee: Stripe has 2.7% + $0.05, while Square has 2.6% + $0.10.

Consider: API Documentation Quality
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: API Documentation Quality: Stripe has Extensive, developer-first (4.8/5 stars), while Square has Good but less comprehensive (4.2/5 stars).

Consider: Hardware Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Hardware Integration: Stripe has Requires third-party partnerships, while Square has Integrated readers (Square Reader, Terminal, Contactless).

Consider: Offline Capability
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Offline Capability: Stripe has Not available, while Square has Full offline mode with Square Terminal.

Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost (Base)
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Monthly Subscription Cost (Base): Stripe has $0 (pay-per-transaction), while Square has $0-$299 (depending on plan).

Consider: Merchant Count (2024)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Merchant Count (2024): Stripe has Over 3 million, while Square has Over 1 million.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Stripe is better than Square
review body: Stripe excels for online businesses and developers with superior API flexibility and lower per-transaction fees (2.2% + $0.30), while Square dominates in-person retail with integrated hardware, offline capability, and all-in-one POS solutions. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per online transaction versus Square's 2.6% + $0.30, making Stripe 18% cheaper for digital payments.
date published: 2026-03-29
date modified: 2026-08-18
review rating: Rating
  rating: MIXTURE
  best rating: TRUE
  worst rating: FALSE
  alternate name: Depends on use case — see analysis
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
item reviewed: Stripe is better than Square
  type: Claim
  language: en-US
  text: Stripe excels for online businesses and developers with superior API flexibility and lower per-transaction fees (2.2% + $0.30), while Square dominates in-person retail with integrated hardware, offline capability, and all-in-one POS solutions. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per online transaction versu
  author: Internet consensus
  appearance: square-vs-stripe
  first appearance: square-vs-stripe

Average Settlement Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 1-2 days | Square: N/A

Onboarding Time (SMB)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 0.5-2 days | Square: N/A

API Documentation Quality (GitHub Stars)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 12,400+ | Square: N/A

Fortune 500 Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: ~200 | Square: N/A

Annual Transaction Volume Processed
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: $300+ | Square: N/A

Countries/Regions Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 195+ | Square: N/A

Tax Compliance Automation
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: Manual; requires third-party integration | Square: N/A

Subscription Dunning Automation
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: Requires Stripe Billing addon | Square: N/A

API Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: Steep; requires advanced developer knowledge | Square: N/A

Average Chargeback Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 0.5-0.9% | Square: N/A

Fraud Detection
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 3D Secure 2.0, Radar machine learning | Square: N/A

Annual Transaction Volume (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: $1.2 trillion | Square: N/A

Standard Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 2.2% + $0.30 | Square: N/A

Direct Acquiring Licenses
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 30+ countries | Square: N/A

Average API Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 100-150ms | Square: N/A

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 1-3 days | Square: N/A

Integration Marketplace Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 7,000+ apps | Square: N/A

Supported Currencies
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 135+ currencies | Square: Primarily USD, CAD, AUD
value reference: Stripe

Official SDKs and Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 50+ SDKs | Square: N/A

Monthly Minimum Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: $0 | Square: N/A

Settlement Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 1-2 business days | Square: N/A

ACH Direct Transfer Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 0.8% | Square: N/A

Chargeback Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: $15 | Square: N/A

Base Transaction Fee (US)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 2.2% | Square: N/A

Fixed Transaction Fee (US)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: $0.30 | Square: N/A

Countries with Direct Acquiring
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 135+ | Square: N/A

Payment Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 135+ | Square: N/A

Pre-Built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 135+ | Square: N/A

Typical Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 2-3 weeks | Square: 1-2 weeks
value reference: Square

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 99.99% | Square: N/A

Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: 28% | Square: N/A

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Free

Transaction Fee (Online Payments)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Maximum Clients
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Varies by plan

Waitlist & Cancellation Policy Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: No

Built-in Email Marketing
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: No (3rd party required)

Inventory Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Yes (multi-location)

No-Show Reduction (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: ~10% (basic reminders)

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $49 (Plus plan)

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 3.3% + $0.30

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 4 (in-person, online, invoices, social)

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: ~300 apps

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Multiple with basic sync

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $299 (Premium plan)

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 34 new features and improvements

Base Monthly Cost (Single Location)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0 (Lite plan)

Card-Present Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Maximum Locations Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Unlimited (with basic reporting)

Inventory Variance Reporting
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Not available

Employee Scheduling Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Basic time tracking only

Mobile POS Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Full mobile POS with Square Reader

Customer Acquisition Cost (Industry Avg)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 12M+ businesses using; free-to-try model

Setup Time (typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Less than 1 hour

Payment Processing Fee (Card-Present)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Monthly Hardware Lease Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0 (purchase model)

Contract Term Length
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Month-to-month

Inventory SKU Limit (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 100 SKUs

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 1,200+ integrations

Available Terminal Hardware Models
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 4 certified models

Multi-Location Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Unlimited (via separate accounts)

In-Person Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Minimum POS Hardware Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $49 (reader only)

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 3+ million merchants

Year Founded
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2009

Inventory Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Advanced (Multi-location sync, SKU tracking)

Credit Card Processing Fee (Visa/Mastercard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6-2.9%

Monthly Base Fee (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0

Third-Party App Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 1,000+

Built-in Inventory Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Limited (requires Plus plan)

Employee Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Basic timekeeping only

Customer Satisfaction Rating (2024-2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 4.6/5

Average Monthly Cost (100 transactions)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $27.50 + fees

Card Transaction Fee (In-Person)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0 (free tier)

Annual Revenue Per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $3,500 average

Kitchen Display System
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Not included

Inventory Tracking Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Item-level only

Active Merchant Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 3+ million sellers

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 3,000+ apps

Upfront Equipment Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0-$299

Monthly Base Subscription Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: $0

Swiped Card Transaction Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 2.6% + $0.10

App Marketplace Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 300+

Offline Mode Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Limited (30-day sync window)

Mobile/Cloud-First Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: Mobile-first (iOS/Android app priority)

ACH Bank Transfer Fees
type: PropertyValue
value: Stripe: N/A | Square: 1% + $0.05

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

Stripe — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Square — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Stripe vs Square
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/square-vs-stripe
object: Stripe
object: Square

Annual Transaction Volume (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale & Performance

Standard Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Direct Acquiring Licenses
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Average API Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Integration Marketplace Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Supported Currencies
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Official SDKs and Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Monthly Minimum Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Settlement Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operations

ACH Direct Transfer Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Chargeback Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Base Transaction Fee (US)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Fixed Transaction Fee (US)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Countries with Direct Acquiring
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Geographic Coverage

Payment Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payment Options

Pre-Built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Typical Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment Speed

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fee (Online Payments)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Clients
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Waitlist & Cancellation Policy Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Built-in Email Marketing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Marketing

Inventory Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

No-Show Reduction (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Base Monthly Cost (Single Location)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Card-Present Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Locations Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Inventory Variance Reporting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Employee Scheduling Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile POS Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Acquisition Cost (Industry Avg)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Setup Time (typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Payment Processing Fee (Card-Present)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Hardware Lease Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Contract Term Length
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

Inventory SKU Limit (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Available Terminal Hardware Models
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Hardware

Multi-Location Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

In-Person Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Minimum POS Hardware Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Hardware

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Base

Year Founded
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market History

Inventory Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Credit Card Processing Fee (Visa/Mastercard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Fee (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Third-Party App Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Built-in Inventory Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Employee Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Satisfaction Rating (2024-2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Experience

Average Monthly Cost (100 transactions)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Total Cost

Card Transaction Fee (In-Person)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Revenue Per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Business Model

Kitchen Display System
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Inventory Tracking Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Active Merchant Locations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Size

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Upfront Equipment Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Subscription Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Swiped Card Transaction Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

App Marketplace Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Offline Mode Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile/Cloud-First Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

ACH Bank Transfer Fees
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing