Square vs Stripe

The small business savior that makes payments a breeze, but watch out for those sneaky fees meets the developer's best friend for payments, until you realize you're paying for every single api call. Here's our take.

Square

Nice Pick

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

Stripe

The developer's best friend for payments, until you realize you're paying for every single API call.

Pros

• Best DX
• Great docs
• Reliable
• All payment types
• Incredibly clean and well-documented APIs that just work
• Handles global compliance and fraud detection so you don't have to
• Seamless integration for subscriptions and recurring billing
• Extensive ecosystem with tools like Stripe Connect and Radar

Cons

• 2.9% + 30¢
• Complex for simple needs
• Account holds
• Transaction fees add up fast, especially for high-volume businesses
• Can get pricey for custom or advanced features beyond the basics

The Verdict

Use Square if: You want dead-simple setup with no technical skills required and can live with transaction fees can add up fast for high-volume sales.

Use Stripe if: You prioritize best dx over what Square offers.

The Bottom Line

Square wins

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