PayPal vs Square
Square comes out cheaper in most scenarios where both can serve 100% of the payment mix.
Consumer trust on checkout. Highest list rate in this set.
POS-first, online included. No chargeback fee.
Rate card
Published list rates per supported rail.
| Rail | PayPal | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Card payments | 3.49% + $0.49 | 2.90% + $0.30 |
| Crypto payments | Not supported | Not supported |
| Chargeback fee | $20.00 | None |
| Payout delay | T+1 | T+1 |
Monthly fee scenarios
What each provider would charge on $100,000/month, $75 average ticket, with fiat settlement enabled.
| Payment mix | PayPal | Square |
|---|---|---|
| All cards | $4,143.33 | $3,300.00 |
| 80% cards / 20% crypto | $3,314.67 (covers 80%) | $2,640.00 (covers 80%) |
| 50% cards / 50% crypto | $2,071.67 (covers 50%) | $1,650.00 (covers 50%) |
| All crypto | Doesn't serve this mix | Doesn't serve this mix |
Want different numbers? Run the full calculator →
Feature comparison
| Feature | PayPal | Square |
|---|---|---|
| High-risk friendly | — | — |
| Accepts cards | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accepts crypto | — | — |
| Same-day payouts | ✓ | ✓ |
| No chargeback fees | — | ✓ |
| Auto-fiat conversion (no markup) | — | — |
| Global tax & compliance handled | — | — |
| No monthly minimum | ✓ | ✓ |
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Talk to a specialist →Frequently asked questions
What's cheaper — PayPal or Square?
Square comes out cheaper in most scenarios where both can serve 100% of the payment mix.
Can PayPal and Square both process card payments?
PayPal accepts card payments. Square accepts card payments. If your business runs primarily on cards, this is the first filter.
Do PayPal and Square support high-risk merchants (iGaming, adult, forex)?
PayPal is not high-risk friendly — it won't onboard merchants in regulated or sensitive categories. Square is not high-risk friendly. Run the eligibility quiz on the calculator page for a tailored answer.
How fast are payouts with PayPal versus Square?
PayPal typically pays out at T+1 (same-day available). Square typically pays out at T+1 (same-day available). Faster payouts reduce your working-capital cost — quantify it with the Payout Timing tool.