PayPal vs Square
PayPal and Square are both payments & billing tools. PayPal is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Square is aimed at small businesses. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Free | Freemium · $49 |
| Starting price | Not published | $49/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers | Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 1998 | US · 2009 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose PayPal if
Merchants wanting trusted checkout options.
- Trusted brand increases conversion
- Global reach
- Easy setup
Look elsewhere if: Sole processor for high-volume SaaS.
Choose Square if
Small brick-and-mortar businesses in supported countries.
- Free POS software
- Simple flat-rate pricing
- All-in-one for small businesses
Look elsewhere if: Online-only SaaS (Stripe).
PayPal vs Square pricing
PayPal
- Business account$0Free to open; fees per transaction
- Checkout3.49% + fixed fee/per transactionUS domestic; cards 2.99% + fixed fee; +1.50% international
Square
- Square Free$0In-person 2.6% + 15¢, online 3.3% + 30¢
- Square Plus$49/location/moIn-person 2.5% + 15¢, online 2.9% + 30¢
- Square Premium$149/location/moLowest fees: in-person 2.4% + 15¢, online 2.9% + 30¢
- Square ProCustomFor businesses processing over $250K/year
PayPal · Key features
- PayPal and Venmo checkout
- Card processing
- Pay Later options
- Invoices and payment links
- Buyer and seller protection
- Multi-currency
Cons
- High fees
- Account holds and disputes
- Developer experience behind Stripe
Square · Key features
- POS software and hardware
- Online store and invoices
- Appointments and loyalty
- Payroll and team management
- Banking and loans
- Restaurant and retail features
Cons
- Limited country availability
- Fees higher than interchange-plus at scale
- Account holds possible
PayPal vs Square: FAQ
Do PayPal and Square have a free plan?
Yes, both PayPal and Square have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.