Square vs Stripe
Find the right payment processing platform for your business.
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How Square works
Square provides every business owner with the right solution to take credit and debit card payments in-person, online or both. Square also provides business solutions including POS hardware, marketing tools, online store builder, appointments, invoices, inventory management and business loans. Square’s flexible solutions help small businesses hit the ground running with transparent rates and no lock-in contracts or added fees.
How Stripe works
Stripe provides software and API’s to accept payments and send payouts. In addition, Stripe also offers pre-built integrations with third-parties, like Wordpress, or allows your developers to build your own checkout option with multi-currency support. Similar to Square, Stripe also offers a flat rate pay-as-you-go model. However unlike Square, it charges £15 for chargebacks.
Why people choose Square
Square can help you process nearly any kind of payment, any way you want, integrating seamlessly with all the tools to help you run your business. Simplicity is a necessity for any business that’s getting started. You can start taking payments right away without worrying about contracts or hidden fees, no matter whether you sell in person, online or on-the-go. Square also offers fast access to your funds with Square Instant Transfers and allows you to transfer your money into an external bank account as quickly as the next day as standard. Even if you’re not tech savvy, you can still expand your business with Square because it’s so intuitive and simple to use.
Square can help transform your business with innovative payment processing, both physically and digitally. If you’re still unsure about which solution is right for your business, the Square sales team can help you find the best fit.
Customer relationships
Keep new and existing customers coming back with tools that grow your business.
Omnichannel solutions for your business
Business solutions to sell anywhere and get paid anytime.
Develop on the platform that sellers trust
Build omnichannel experiences that connect more customers and businesses.
Square vs Stripe: a closer look
Fees
Both companies offer flat rate pay-as-you-go transparent pricing, so you don’t have to worry about any hidden costs or surprises.
| Square | Stripe | |
| UK & EEA online payments cost: | 1.9% until 17 November 2022* | 1.4% + 20p for UK (+1.1% for EEA cards) |
| International online payments cost: | 2.9% until 17 November 2022* | 2.9% + 20p |
| In-person payments cost: | 1.75% for all cards | 1.4% + 10p per European card & 2.9% + 10p per non-European card |
| Chargeback fees: | none | £15 |
| PCI Compliance | PCI compliance and encryption included as standard | 4p per authorisation for point-to-point encryption |
| Refunds: | No charge | No additional charge, but Stripe keeps the fees from the original charge |
| Hardware: | £16 - £599 (+ VAT) | £49+VAT - £179+VAT |
*From 17 November 2022 onwards, 1.4% + 25p for transactions with UK cards and 2.5% + 25p for transactions with non-UK cards. Consult the FAQ page to learn more
Hardware
Square is well known for its innovative, simple-to-use POS systems and kits. While Stripe offers only two different types of terminals, Square provides businesses with a wider array of POS and KDS hardware that best meets their needs.
Security
Both Square and Stripe take security very seriously with end-to-end data encryption. Square software maintains Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) and handles all PCI compliance instead of merchants. On the other hand Stripe members must go through an annual PCI compliance validation.
Online store, pay links and payment API
Square offers a free online store and online ordering page builder with integrated credit card payment. If you already have an existing eCommerce you can easily add Square payments with third-party integrations or by using the API. Square also offers flexible pay links that you can use as embedded buttons, payment links or QR codes for online uses or for print pieces. With Stripe you can use their API or their pre-built checkout on your existing website. And similarly to Square Online Checkout you can use payment links.
Hardware for selling anywhere.
We design and build our hardware in-house, so it all works together seamlessly.
Take contactless payments anywhere with a card reader that pairs directly with your device.
Take payments, print receipts and run your business with a powerful and portable payment terminal.
Get an all-in-one POS register with a dedicated customer display that lets you start selling right out of the box.
Turn your iPad into a point of sale and take every kind of payment.
Square business solutions
Point-of-sale solutions
The flexible and customisable POS system built for UK businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Online booking software
An app that turns your device into an appointment scheduling powerhouse.
Resources to keep you up to date and on top.
It’s your business. We just want to help you keep doing it.
How Square works
Square connects all sides of your business with easy-to-use tools designed to give you time to focus on what you do best.
Business types
Square business software offers solutions that are essential for all business types, no matter what shape or size.
Compare Square
Learn more about how Square stacks up against other payment providers and business solution tools.
Competitive data on this page was collected as of 19 August 2022 and it is subject to change or update without notice. Square does not make any representations as to the completeness or accuracy of the information on this page.