The short answer: online, Stripe wins every time (2.9% vs 3.3%). In person, it's a split decision with an exact tie at $100 — below that Stripe is cheaper, above it Square is. The rest is about your business, not the rates.
Most comparisons give you a vague "it depends." Here's the actual math, so you can stop wondering.
The rates, side by side (2026)
| Square (Free plan) | Stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| In-person | 2.6% + $0.15 | 2.7% + $0.05 |
| Online | 3.3% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 ✓ |
| Keyed / manual | 3.5% + $0.15 | 3.4% + $0.30 |
Note: Square overhauled pricing in October 2025 — its online rate jumped from 2.9% to 3.3% on the Free plan. Many old guides still show the pre-2025 numbers.
Online: Stripe wins, no contest
Same $0.30 fixed fee, but Stripe's 2.9% beats Square's 3.3% at every amount. On a $100 online sale: Stripe takes $3.20, Square takes $3.60. That's $0.40 per sale — $400 per 1,000 sales — for literally the same transaction.
If you sell mostly online, this article is over. Pick Stripe. The rest below is for in-person sellers.
In person: the $100 tie point
Here's the interesting bit. Square has the lower percentage (2.6% vs 2.7%) but the higher fixed fee ($0.15 vs $0.05). Those two differences cancel out at exactly $100:
| Sale | Square fee | Stripe fee | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.41 | $0.32 ✓ | Stripe |
| $50 | $1.45 | $1.40 ✓ | Stripe |
| $100 | $2.75 | $2.75 | Tie |
| $500 | $13.15 ✓ | $13.55 | Square |
| $1,000 | $26.15 ✓ | $27.05 | Square |
So: coffee shop with $8 average tickets → Stripe. Furniture store with $600 tickets → Square. Right around $100 → flip a coin on fees and decide on features.
Beyond the rates
- Hardware: Square's free card reader and POS ecosystem is the reason most in-person sellers choose it — Stripe's Terminal hardware costs more upfront.
- Online tools: Stripe's API and checkout are the developer standard. If you need subscriptions, complex billing, or global payments, Stripe's toolkit is deeper.
- Simplicity: Square is the easier all-in-one for non-technical sellers — POS, inventory, and payments in one account.
- Monthly plans: Square's Plus plan ($49/mo) drops online to 2.9% + $0.30 — matching Stripe — but only makes sense above a certain volume.
Run your own numbers
Plug your real average ticket into both calculators — 30 seconds, honest answer.
Square calculator → Stripe calculator →Quick answers
Is Square cheaper than Stripe?
Online: no, Stripe is cheaper at every amount. In person: it depends on your ticket size — under $100 Stripe wins, over $100 Square wins, at $100 it's a tie.
Why is Square's online rate so high now?
Square raised it from 2.9% to 3.3% in its October 2025 pricing overhaul. That's what flipped online decisively toward Stripe.
Can I use both?
Many sellers do — Square for the counter, Stripe for the website. Nothing stops you from picking the cheaper rate per channel.
Rates: Square Free plan and Stripe US, verified October 2026. Processors change pricing periodically — verify current rates before deciding.