From security to speed and reliability, choosing the right payment processor is crucial for any business.

Both Stripe and Square offer online and in-person payment tools, from payment links and mobile readers to full point-of-sale systems. Their standard pricing is similar in some situations, but the total cost depends on where and how your customers pay.

However, each has different strengths for different business cases. Square often works well for retail stores, restaurants, service providers, and other businesses that sell face to face. Stripe often fits online businesses, companies serving international customers, and teams that need more control over checkout. This article provides a side-by-side comparison of pricing, ease of use, online versus in-person transactions, security, customer support, and how to choose between the two.

	Stripe	Square
Pricing	Online domestic cards: 2.9% + 30¢. In-person cards through Stripe Terminal: 2.7% + 5¢. International cards add 1.5%, plus 1% when currency conversion is required.	On Square Free, in-person cards are 2.6% + 15¢ and online or invoice card payments are 3.3% + 30¢. Online API payments are 2.9% + 30¢. Paid plans offer lower rates for some transactions.
Hardware	Stripe Reader M2 costs $59. Stripe Reader S700 and S710 cost $299. Tap to Pay is also available on compatible devices.	The first Square Reader for magstripe is free, and additional readers cost $10. The contactless and chip reader costs $59, with more advanced POS hardware available.
Supported Currencies	Supports processing and displaying prices in 135+ currencies, along with 100+ payment methods across its broader platform.	Payments are processed in the seller account’s currency. International cards are accepted, but one account does not process payments in multiple currencies.
Security	PCI DSS Level 1 certification, encryption, tokenization, Radar fraud protection, and 3D Secure support.	PCI DSS Level 1 security, end-to-end encryption, active fraud prevention, dispute management, and 3D Secure support.
Customer Support	24/7 phone, chat, and email support.	Chat and email support, with phone availability based on the plan. Square Premium includes 24/7 phone support.
Payment Acceptance Options	Major cards, digital wallets, bank-based methods, local payment methods, buy-now-pay-later options, and more. Availability varies by country and integration.	Major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, Afterpay, ACH through invoices, and more. Availability varies by country and sales channel.

Pricing shown reflects standard U.S. rates checked on July 20, 2026. Rates can vary by country, plan, transaction type, payment method, and account agreement. Review each provider’s current pricing before making a final decision.

Features: Stripe vs. Square

When evaluating Square and Stripe for your small business, consider the features and capabilities that match your business model, sales channels, payment volume, technical resources, and plans for growth. Both companies support online and in-person payments, but they approach those needs differently.

POS hardware and availability

Stripe supports in-person payments through Stripe Terminal. The mobile Stripe Reader M2 costs $59, while the touchscreen Stripe Reader S700 and S710 cost $299. Businesses can also accept contactless payments on compatible phones with Tap to Pay. Stripe Terminal can unify online and in-person payment data, but it works more like a customizable payments platform than a ready-to-use retail system. Depending on the setup, a business may use Stripe’s no-code option, a compatible third-party POS product, or developer resources to build a tailored checkout experience.

Square offers a broader ready-to-use hardware lineup. The first Square Reader for magstripe is free, and additional readers cost $10. The Square Reader for contactless and chip costs $59 and accepts chip cards, contactless cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Square also offers Square Stand, Square Terminal, Square Handheld, Square Register, and Tap to Pay on compatible phones. Its hardware works with Square’s POS software, inventory, appointments, invoicing, ordering, customer-management, and staff tools, which can reduce the number of separate systems a business needs to manage.

Supported currencies and international payments

Stripe supports processing and displaying prices in more than 135 currencies, along with more than 100 payment methods across its broader platform. This makes it a strong option for businesses selling across multiple markets or offering local payment methods. For U.S. accounts, Stripe adds 1.5% for international cards and another 1% when currency conversion is required.

Square can accept many internationally issued cards, but payments are processed in the currency tied to the seller’s account and location. The customer’s bank handles any necessary conversion. Square also adds 1.5% for cards issued outside the United States. This setup is often more straightforward for businesses operating primarily in one country, but it offers less flexibility for businesses that want to present and process prices in multiple currencies from one account.

Pricing

Both Stripe and Square use pay-as-you-go processing, but their headline rates do not tell the whole story. An in-person tap, online form payment, manually entered card, saved card, and international transaction can each have a different cost.

Here is how the pricing breaks down for each:

Square

• Transaction fees: On Square Free, in-person tap, dip, or swipe payments cost 2.6% + 15¢. Online or invoice card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢, while Online API payments cost 2.9% + 30¢. Manually entered and card-on-file payments cost 3.5% + 15¢. Square Plus and Premium lower some in-person and online rates, and cards issued outside the United States add 1.5%.

• Monthly fees: Square Free costs $0 per month per location. Square Plus costs $49 per month per location, and Square Premium costs $149 per month per location. The paid plans include lower processing rates and additional POS, marketing, loyalty, staff, inventory, reporting, and industry-specific features. Compare the subscription cost with the processing savings and software your business would otherwise purchase separately.

• Hardware costs: The first magstripe reader is free, additional magstripe readers cost $10, and the contactless and chip reader costs $59. Larger devices include Square Stand at $149, Square Terminal at $299, Square Handheld at $399, and Square Register at $899. Hardware prices and financing offers can change, so review Square’s current hardware options before purchasing.

Review the latest rates on the Square pricing page.

Stripe

• Transaction fees: Standard online domestic card payments cost 2.9% + 30¢. Manually entered cards add 0.5%, international cards add 1.5%, and currency conversion adds 1% when required. Stripe Terminal charges 2.7% + 5¢ for successful in-person domestic card transactions. Custom pricing is available for businesses with high payment volume or specialized needs.

• Monthly fees: Standard Stripe Payments has no setup or monthly fee. Optional products and services, such as subscriptions, invoicing, custom domains, advanced fraud tools, and other add-ons, can carry separate charges.

• Hardware costs: Stripe Reader M2 costs $59, while Stripe Reader S700 and S710 cost $299. Stripe also supports Tap to Pay on compatible devices, though additional authorization fees can apply. Its hardware lineup is narrower than Square’s, but it offers more options for businesses that want to connect in-person payments to a custom or third-party POS experience.

Review the latest rates on the Stripe pricing page.

Dispute costs also differ. Square manages card disputes without an added chargeback fee. Stripe charges $15 when a card dispute is received and another $15 when a business manually counters it; Stripe returns the countered fee when the business wins. Neither provider is automatically less expensive for every business, so calculate the total using your expected mix of online, in-person, international, manually entered, and card-on-file transactions, along with software, hardware, and optional product costs.

Security

Payment security is a shared responsibility. Both Square and Stripe use secure payment components, encryption, fraud monitoring, and tools designed to reduce how much sensitive card information a business handles directly.

Square

• PCI Compliance: Square’s card-processing systems meet Level 1 PCI Data Security Standards. When a business uses Square’s system to store, process, and transmit card data, Square manages much of the compliance work, but the business should still protect account access, devices, employee permissions, and customer information.

• Encryption and Tokenization: Square uses end-to-end encryption and tokenization to protect payment data. Card information is encrypted from the point of capture, and sensitive card data is not stored on the seller’s device after processing.

• Fraud Detection and Prevention: Square includes active fraud prevention and dispute-management tools with its payment system. It also supports 3D Secure when authentication requirements or configured risk rules apply, rather than presenting a challenge for every transaction.

Stripe

• PCI Compliance: Stripe is certified as a PCI Level 1 service provider. PCI compliance remains a shared responsibility, so businesses must use a compliant integration and complete any required annual validation. Stripe-hosted and tokenized integrations such as Checkout and Elements can reduce the business’s compliance scope because sensitive payment data can go directly to Stripe.

• Use of Advanced Encryption: Stripe encrypts payment data in transit and uses tokenization to limit direct handling of card information. The exact compliance burden depends on the integration method a business chooses.

• Fraud Protection: Radar uses machine-learning risk analysis and built-in rules to screen transactions. Businesses can also use configurable rules and 3D Secure when regulations, card issuers, Stripe’s risk systems, or the business require additional authentication.

Both platforms offer strong payment security. Square packages security closely with its POS hardware and operating tools, while Stripe provides more control over integrations and fraud rules. In either case, businesses still need secure passwords, appropriate employee access, protected devices, and sound data-handling practices.

Customer Support

For small business owners, responsive support matters when a payment fails, a payout is delayed, or an integration stops working as expected. Square and Stripe both offer several support channels, but availability and the kind of help they emphasize differ.

Square

• Channels: Square provides chat, email, a support center, and phone support. On Square Free, phone support is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, for the first 90 days. Square Plus includes phone support during those weekday hours, while Square Premium includes 24/7 phone support.

• Forums: Square maintains a seller community where business owners can compare experiences, share practices, and find answers to common questions. Its support resources cover payment processing as well as the broader Square ecosystem, including POS, inventory, appointments, ordering, staff, and customer-management tools.

Stripe

• Channels: Stripe provides 24/7 support by phone, chat, and email. This corrects the common impression that Stripe support is primarily email-based; customers can contact Stripe directly through all three channels.

• Documentation Support: Stripe maintains extensive product documentation, implementation guides, API references, and code examples. These resources are especially useful for businesses with developers or technical partners, though small businesses using prebuilt integrations can still contact support directly.

The right support model depends on who will configure and troubleshoot the processor, when the business operates, and whether help is more likely to involve a complete POS system or a customized technical integration. Stripe offers broader around-the-clock channel availability, while Square’s phone access depends on the selected plan.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business

Choosing between Square and Stripe means looking closely at how your business operates today and where it plans to grow.

Some basic criteria to consider when selecting a solution include:

• Assess Your Sales Channels: Square is often a direct fit for businesses with a brick-and-mortar location, counter service, appointments, markets, or events because its POS hardware and operating tools work together. Stripe offers more flexibility for website, app, subscription, platform, and international payments, while still supporting in-person sales through Terminal.

• Consider Technical Resources: Square’s ready-to-use setup can suit businesses with limited technical resources. Stripe provides prebuilt tools as well, but its deeper customization options are most useful when a business has developer support or a technical partner.

• Evaluate Growth Plans: Consider whether growth means adding locations, staff, inventory, appointments, or restaurant tools, where Square’s integrated ecosystem may help, or expanding into new markets, currencies, payment methods, and custom checkout experiences, where Stripe may offer more flexibility. Also calculate your likely transaction mix instead of comparing only one advertised rate.

• Review Security and Support Needs: Both platforms provide strong security, but the setup still matters. Decide whether your team needs Square’s integrated POS and operations support, Stripe’s technical documentation and customization, or a particular level of phone availability.

Integrate with Stripe or Square with Cognito Forms

When running your eCommerce site, you want customer information, orders, and payments to stay connected. Cognito Forms lets you add Stripe or Square to an order form, registration form, donation form, booking form, or other payment form, so the form entry and payment status remain together.

Stripe is available on every Cognito Forms plan. Cognito Forms adds a 2% convenience fee to successful Stripe transactions on the Individual plan and 1% on the Pro plan. Team and Enterprise organizations do not pay an additional Cognito Forms fee above Stripe’s processing charges. Square is available on Team and Enterprise, also without an additional Cognito Forms fee above Square’s charges.

With either supported processor, you can calculate totals from customer selections, require payment only when certain conditions are met, send confirmation emails and receipts, view payment status with the related entry, and issue supported refunds from the Entries page. Card on File is available on Team and Enterprise for Stripe and Square. The Stripe integration also supports Apple Pay and Google Pay when the customer’s device, browser, and wallet setup meet the requirements.

Still undecided between Square and Stripe? Start with where your customers pay, the tools your business needs around the transaction, the Cognito Forms plan that supports your preferred processor, and the complete cost of your expected payment mix.