Square vs PayPal

The small business savior that makes payments a breeze, but watch out for those sneaky fees meets the og of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees. Here's our take.

Square

The small business savior that makes payments a breeze, but watch out for those sneaky fees.

Pros

• Dead-simple setup with no technical skills required
• All-in-one ecosystem from POS to payroll
• Transparent pricing with no long-term contracts

Cons

• Transaction fees can add up fast for high-volume sales
• Limited customization options for larger businesses

PayPal

Nice Pick

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.

Pros

• Near-universal acceptance for online transactions
• Built-in fraud protection and buyer/seller safeguards
• Easy integration with most e-commerce platforms

Cons

• Transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses
• Account freezes and disputes can be a nightmare to resolve

The Verdict

Use PayPal if: You want near-universal acceptance for online transactions and can live with transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses.

Use Square if: You prioritize dead-simple setup with no technical skills required over what PayPal offers.

The Bottom Line

PayPal wins

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.