Square vs Stripe

Find the right payment processing platform for your business.

How Square works

Square provides every business owner with the right solution to take credit and debit card payments in person, online and in-app. Square also provides APIs and business solutions including subscriptions management, POS software and hardware, marketing tools, online store builder, appointments, invoices, inventory management and business loans. Flexible solutions from Square help businesses hit the ground running with transparent rates, PCI compliance for free and no lock-in contracts or added fees.

For API users, Square offers an open platform that enables developers to build omnichannel experiences, leverage functionalities of a dedicated developer dashboard and contact technical developer support. For those who wish to keep development to a minimum, the suite of pre-built integrations on Square’s App Marketplace simplifies connecting to the most popular business apps.

How Stripe works

Stripe provides software and APIs 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 £20 for chargebacks and does not include PCI compliance.

Why people choose Square

Square can help you process all kinds of payments, 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 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 working day as standard, for free

Square also offers loyalty and marketing functionalities, as well as subscriptions management, fraud protection, business financing and invoicing capabilities, among many other features, to help you manage all aspects of your business, online and offline. Square products can be integrated into your existing systems via our 25+ APIs, or even used by companies without developer teams, because our tools are so intuitive and simple to use.

If you can rely on a development team, we offer dedicated developer support via Slack, forum and online form, as well as an advanced developer dashboard and extensive documentation, tutorials and sample code to help you seamlessly manage all elements of your business.

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.

Take payments anywhere

Accept in-person or online payments with Square.

Integrate with Square APIs

Leverage our APIs for online, in-app and in-person payments.

How Square compares to Stripe*

Fees

Trustpilot scores Square: 4.2 Stripe 3.3
UK card online payments cost: 1.4% + 25p Standard UK cards: 1.5% + 20p and Premium UK cards: 1.9% + 20p
International card online payments cost: 2.5% + 25p 2.5% + 20p and Non-EEA cards: 3.25% + 20p
Recurring transactions: Transaction cost Transaction cost + 0.5%
In-person payments cost: 1.75% for all cards 1.4% + 10p per EEA cards & 2.9% + 10p per non-EEA cards
Chargeback fees: none £20
PCI Compliance PCI compliance and encryption included as standard 4p per authorisation for point-to-point encryption
Next business day transfer as standard:
Yes
Yes
Instant transfers - access funds in minutes (for a fee):
Yes
Yes
Hardware: £19 - £599 (+ VAT) £49+VAT - £179+VAT

Features and solutions

  Square Stripe
Business financing:
Yes
Yes
Free POS App:
Yes
No
All-in-one till system with customer display and built-in software:
Yes
No
Physical and eGift cards:
Yes
No
Offline mode: Yes with Square Terminal and Square Register
No
Free online store:
Yes
No
Website templates:
Yes
No
Payment links:
Yes
Yes
Bespoke retail POS system:
Yes
No
Bespoke restaurant POS system:
Yes
No
Kitchen display system:
Yes
No
Loyalty programme software:
Yes
No
Email marketing software:
Yes
No
Team management:
Yes
No
Inventory management:
Yes
Yes
Connects with 100+ apps in the app marketplace including popular accounting, order ahead, eCommerce and booking platforms:
Yes
Yes
25+ APIs for custom online, mobile and in-person workflows:
Yes
Yes
Dedicated 24/7 priority customer support team and phone line: Yes via paid plans, Square Terminal and Square Register Yes
Dedicated developer support: Yes via forum, online form and Slack Yes via Discord

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.

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 APIs 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 Payment Links you can use payment links.

Hardware for selling anywhere.

We design and build our hardware in-house, so it all works together seamlessly.

Square Reader

Take contactless payments anywhere with a card reader that pairs directly with your device.

Square Terminal

Take payments, print receipts and run your business with a powerful and portable payment terminal.

Square Register

Get an all-in-one POS register with a dedicated customer display that lets you start selling straight out of the box.

Square Stand

Turn your iPad into a point of sale and take every type of payment.

Start with Square today

Business and payments solutions that work for you.

Square business solutions

Point-of-sale solutions

The flexible and customisable POS system built for UK businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Invoices

Send digital invoices, accept and track payments.

Online booking software

An app that turns your device into an appointment scheduling powerhouse.

Marketing tools

Reach more customers and automate your campaigns.

Frequently asked questions

(by people thinking about switching from Stripe to Square)

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 2nd Feb 2023 and it is based on information found on stripe.com/gb. This information 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.