Stripe vs Square
Stripe and Square serve different payment mixes — direct comparison depends on your business model.
The card processing standard. Strict underwriting.
POS-first, online included. No chargeback fee.
Rate card
Published list rates per supported rail.
| Rail | Stripe | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Card payments | 2.90% + $0.30 | 2.90% + $0.30 |
| Crypto payments | Not supported | Not supported |
| Chargeback fee | $15.00 | None |
| Payout delay | T+2 | T+1 |
Monthly fee scenarios
What each provider would charge on $100,000/month, $75 average ticket, with fiat settlement enabled.
| Payment mix | Stripe | Square |
|---|---|---|
| All cards | $3,300.00 | $3,300.00 |
| 80% cards / 20% crypto | $2,640.00 (covers 80%) | $2,640.00 (covers 80%) |
| 50% cards / 50% crypto | $1,650.00 (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 | Stripe | 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 — Stripe or Square?
Stripe and Square serve different payment mixes — direct comparison depends on your business model.
Can Stripe and Square both process card payments?
Stripe accepts card payments. Square accepts card payments. If your business runs primarily on cards, this is the first filter.
Do Stripe and Square support high-risk merchants (iGaming, adult, forex)?
Stripe 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 Stripe versus Square?
Stripe typically pays out at T+2. Square typically pays out at T+1 (same-day available). Faster payouts reduce your working-capital cost — quantify it with the Payout Timing tool.