Square
Square's cheapest published rate is 2.4% + 15c (Square Premium tap/dip). Pricing model: flat-rate. Monthly fee: $0. Dispute fee: $0 (Square absorbs chargeback fees, up to $250/mo in protection). Cross-border: Not supported (US-only for most processing). FX: n/a.
Tier table (vendor-published)
| Tier | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tap/dip/swipe (Free) | 2.6% + 15c | - |
| Tap/dip/swipe (Plus) | 2.5% + 15c | - |
| Tap/dip/swipe (Premium) | 2.4% + 15c | - |
| Manually keyed | 3.5% + 15c | - |
| Online / invoices | 2.9% + 30c | - |
Source: https://squareup.com/us/en/pricing (verified 2026-06-19).
What Square is best for
- SMB in-person retail and food where free hardware and zero monthly fees outweigh the higher per-transaction rate.
- Low-volume merchants who would not break the monthly minimum on a subscription model like Stax.
- Merchants who value Square's chargeback-protection allowance (up to $250/mo).
Hidden costs and gotchas
Free plan 2.6% + 15c; Plus and Premium tiers lower the in-person rate. No monthly fee on Free plan.
- Online rate is 2.9% + 30c, not the 2.6% + 15c headline that applies in-person.
- Manually keyed transactions are 3.5% + 15c, the dearest channel.
- Cross-border processing is not supported for most US accounts.
- Hardware: Reader $0/$59, Terminal $299, Register $799 upfront.
When this vendor wins, when it loses
FAQ
What's Square's cheapest card-present rate?
Square Premium drops tap/dip/swipe to 2.4% + 15c. Plus is 2.5% + 15c. Free plan is 2.6% + 15c.
Does Square charge chargeback fees?
No. Square absorbs chargeback fees and gives up to $250/mo of dispute protection at no charge.
Is Square viable above $1M/yr?
Yes for in-person, but Helcim's interchange-plus tier (IC + 0.15% + 6c) typically beats Square on raw cost above ~$300K/yr.
See the full vendor index, run the cross-vendor cost calculator, or read how we verify every rate.