Square vs Stripe fees
Computed with the same calculators as the tool pages · updated
Square vs Stripe fees on a $100 online payment: Square takes $3.60 and Stripe takes $3.20. In person, on Square's own card reader, Square takes $2.75, which is where it is cheapest and what it was built for.
Fees on the same sale
| Sale | Square | Square in person | Stripe |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.63 6.3% | $0.41 4.1% (lowest) | $0.59 5.9% |
| $25.00 | $1.13 4.5% | $0.80 3.2% (lowest) | $1.03 4.1% |
| $50.00 | $1.95 3.9% | $1.45 2.9% (lowest) | $1.75 3.5% |
| $100.00 | $3.60 3.6% | $2.75 2.8% (lowest) | $3.20 3.2% |
| $250.00 | $8.55 3.4% | $6.65 2.7% (lowest) | $7.55 3.0% |
| $1,000.00 | $33.30 3.3% | $26.15 2.6% (lowest) | $29.30 2.9% |
Green is the lowest fee at that price. Assumptions: Square: online checkout rate, the like-for-like match for Stripe. Square in person: tapped, dipped or swiped on Square hardware. Stripe: US domestic card, no international or currency-conversion surcharge.
Online payments
On Square's free plan, online payments and invoices cost 3.3% plus 30¢; Stripe charges 2.9% plus 30¢. That makes Stripe $0.40 cheaper on every $100 taken online. Square's paid Plus and Premium plans bring its online rate down to 2.9% plus 30¢, level with Stripe.
In-person payments
Square's in-person rate of 2.6% plus 15¢ applies to cards tapped, dipped or swiped on Square hardware, and it undercuts both online rates. Typed-in card numbers cost more: 3.5% plus 15¢. The Square fee calculator lets you switch between them, and the Stripe fee calculator covers international cards.
Questions sellers ask
How much does Square take from a $100 sale?
$2.75 if the card is tapped or dipped on a Square reader, and $3.60 for an online payment. A card number typed in by hand costs $3.65.
How much is the Stripe fee for $1000?
$29.30 on a US card at 2.9% plus 30¢, so $970.70 arrives. An international card adds 1.5%, and currency conversion another 1%.
Is Square or Stripe cheaper?
For in-person sales Square is cheaper: $1.45 on $50 against Stripe's $1.75 online rate. Online, compare $1.95 on Square with $1.75 on Stripe.
What are the downsides of Stripe?
Stripe has no simple card reader and point-of-sale app to match Square's, needs more setup for a physical shop, and charges extra for international cards and currency conversion. For an online store it is usually the cheaper and more flexible choice.