Square: Pricing, Features & Alternatives
Square is an all-in-one commerce platform for in-person and online payments, with POS hardware, invoicing, online checkout, and a free base plan. Fees are 2.6% + 15¢ in person and 3.3% + 30¢ for online/invoice card payments.
Who it’s for: Shops, restaurants and service businesses taking card payments in person and online, with POS hardware.
Category
Payment Gateway
Pricing
From $49/mo
Free tier
No
Best for
Payment Gateway: in-person, POS, small business
Square at a Glance
- What it is
- Payments and point of sale
- Merchant of record
- No
- Online card fee
- 3.3% + 30¢ on Free; 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium
- Monthly fee
- $0, $49 or $149 per location
- Built for
- In-person and online sellers
Checked November 2026 against Square pricing (US).
Square Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| FreePopular | $0/mo · 2.6% + 15¢ in person, 3.3% + 30¢ online |
| Plus | $49 / month per location · 2.5% + 15¢ in person, 2.9% + 30¢ online |
| Premium | $149 / month per location · 2.4% + 15¢ in person, 2.9% + 30¢ online |
Pricing summary: From $49/mo. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.
Key Square Features
- Square Free: $0 a month; 2.6% + 15¢ in person, 3.3% + 30¢ online and invoices
- Square Plus: $49 a month per location; 2.5% + 15¢ in person, 2.9% + 30¢ online
- Square Premium: $149 a month per location; 2.4% + 15¢ in person, 2.9% + 30¢ online
- Manually entered or card-on-file payments: 3.5% + 15¢
Pros
- +Great for in-person + online
- +No monthly base fee
- +Hardware ecosystem
- +Easy setup
Cons
- −Free plan online rate is 3.3% + 30¢
- −Less developer-centric
Best Square Alternatives
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Square Compared
Square FAQ
What is Square used for?⌄
Square is a payment gateway tool. All-in-one payments for in-person and online: POS hardware, invoicing, and a free plan.
Is Square free?⌄
Square does not offer a permanent free tier; paid plans start at $49/month.
How much does Square cost?⌄
Square plans start at $49/month. Some usage is billed pay-as-you-go.
What are the best Square alternatives?⌄
Popular Square alternatives include Polar, Razorpay, Chargebee, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle. Compare pricing and features on our Square alternatives page.
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