Square vs Stripe
Find the right payment processing platform for your business.
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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 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.
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 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.
Online store, pay links and payment API
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.
Take contactless payments anywhere with a card reader that pairs directly with your device.
Take payments, print receipts and run your business with a powerful and portable payment terminal.
Get an all-in-one POS register with a dedicated customer display that lets you start selling straight out of the box.
Turn your iPad into a point of sale and take every type of payment.
Square business solutions
Point-of-sale solutions
The flexible and customisable POS system built for UK businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Online booking software
An app that turns your device into an appointment scheduling powerhouse.
Frequently asked questions
(by people thinking about switching from Stripe to Square)
Switching is easier than you think. A Square implementation expert will help you set up hardware and software, connect your existing apps and services, train your staff and get the most out of Square.
There is no Square-Stripe integration, but it’s simple to switch from Stripe to Square for your in-person and eCommerce platform. Connect with our team for more information about switching to Square.
The opposite – they’re free to use. You just pay transaction fees when you process payments at one rate for in-person card payments at 1.75%. For online and in-app payments you pay 1.4% + 25p for transactions with UK cards and 2.5% + 25p for transactions with non-UK cards.
Learn more about how our fees work. There are no other fees or long-term contracts. We also have custom pricing for businesses that make over £200,000 in annual sales –- connect with us for more information.
You can go from downloading Square POS to making your first sale in minutes by signing up for your free account here. Our hardware works out of the box with no configuration required. You can create your own site with our website builder on Square Online or leverage our Developer APIs to integrate with your existing website or system.
Our Support Centre can help with general questions, and once you have signed up for an account, you can contact our highly trained customer support team via phone or email.
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.