Square Rates and Fees

Square offers a free credit card reader. But there are transaction rates and processing fees you need to be aware of.

Square's pricing depends on the hardware and the method used to capture the credit card information.

Over-the-phone credit card transactions cost more than in-person swipe, tapped, or dipped transactions. Square magstripe and chip reader transactions cost more than Square Terminal or Register transactions.

Keep reading to learn how Square's rates work.

Square Reader: Free Mobile Credit Card Reader

• Pay 2.6% + 15¢ Per Swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express
• Accept Credit Cards Anywhere
• Fast Setup, No Commitments

Click Here to Get Free Reader

Square Flat-Rate Pricing

Square offers unified software plans designed to help businesses grow and thrive, with three simple options starting at $0 (Free), $49/mo (Plus), and $149/mo (Premium). Businesses that process over $250,000 per year can contact the Square Sales team for custom pricing.

Square charges 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), and 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium) for the following in-person transactions:

• Swiped
  
• Chip
  
• Contactless payments
  
• Prepaid gift cards
  
• Virtual Terminal swiped or chip payments

The platform charges the same rate for every credit card brand—Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover credit cards. This is rare among credit card processors, since many charge more for AMEX and Discover.

Square Manual Credit Card Transaction Pricing

Any keyed-in, card-not-present, or card on file transactions have a transaction fee of 3.5% + $0.15. These higher processing fees are for added security, since keyed-in transactions have a higher likelihood of fraud.

It includes the following:

• Over-the-phone transactions
  
• Keyed-in transactions via POS
  
• Keyed-in transactions via virtual terminal

Square Register and Terminal Credit Card Pricing

In-person transactions with the Square Register or Square Terminal are 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), and 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium).

Square's countertop terminal collects payments and prints receipts. The Register is an all-in-one POS and payment terminal. Each device comes with Square's 24/7 fraud protection and phone support.

Square E-Commerce Pricing

While many people use Square for in-person transactions, Square also offers e-commerce payment processing. Fees for e-commerce payments are 3.3% + 30¢ (Free) and 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus/Premium).

Setting up an e-commerce store with Square is fairly simple, though it comes with plenty of customization options and no setup fee.

Square Hardware Fees

Square offers a variety of hardware options to help businesses of all sizes and needs operate efficiently. The prices are as follows:

• Magstripe Reader
  First reader is free, additional readers cost $10

• Contact and Chip Reader
  $59

• Square Stand for Contactless & Chip
  $149 or $14/month over 12 months (does not include iPad)

• Square Terminal
  $299 or $27/month over 12 months

• Square Register
  $799 or $39/month over 24 months

Are There Hidden Fees?

While Square's pricing has gotten a little more complex since it started, the platform still has no hidden fees. The pay-as-you-go pricing means you can cancel at any time and only pay for transactions that you process.

Square does not charge:

• Setup fees
  
• POS fees
  
• Chargeback or refund fees
  
• Inactivity fees
  
• PCI compliance fees

All businesses are charged according to the same pricing model, including nonprofit charities.

Square for Every Business Type

Whether you run a retail store, restaurant, or service-based business, Square provides tools designed to fit your operations and scale with your growth.

Retail
Manage inventory, purchase orders, employees, and vendors with this brick-and-mortar store POS system. There is no limit on the number of employees you can manage, and all inventory seamlessly integrates from all channels.

Restaurant
Manage menus, table layouts, employees, and inventory all in one POS system. Plus and Premium plans include features like course management, seat-level ordering, and advanced kitchen tools.

Appointments
Simplify scheduling, payments, and client management. Paid tiers unlock features such as multi-staff appointment booking, waitlists, and no-show protection.

Square Payroll
Offered as a separate add-on, Full-service payroll costs $35 per month plus $6 per person, while contractor-only payroll is $6 per person per month.^[1]

Manage your employees' payroll and benefits all from one location. Set up direct deposit, manage tax paperwork, and keep track of sick and vacation time, both for salary and hourly employees.

Email Marketing
Included in Plus and Premium plans. Engage customers with built-in email marketing tools to send promotions, track performance, and automate follow-ups directly from your Square Dashboard.

Loyalty
Included in Plus and Premium plans. Encourage repeat business with integrated loyalty programs. Customize rewards, track redemptions, and measure the impact of your loyalty campaigns.

Bottom Line

Square's transparency, lack of hidden fees, and clear pricing are perfect for businesses looking for an all-in-one payment processing provider.

Most new companies stick with Square's credit card processing services and free POS. But consider your business's needs when choosing the best Square hardware and services for you.

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