In-Person Payments
$2.6 /mo
Save ~20% with annual billing
What's included:
- 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction
- Tap, dip, swipe payments
- Offline mode for 24 hours
- Free POS app
Sq
Square Pricing in 2026
Complete pricing breakdown for Square. Compare plans, features, and find the best value.
Quick Answer
How much does Square cost in 2026?
Square offers a FREE plan. Paid plans start at $2.6/month. 4 plans are available with one-time billing.
Free Tier Yes ✓
Starting Price Free
Plans 4 tiers
Billing Annual
Starting Price Free
Plans Available 4 plans
Annual Discount Save 20%
Best For Small businesses and retail needing quick payments without contracts
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person Payments ★ | $2.6/mo | 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction, Tap, dip, swipe payments |
| Online Payments | $2.9/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, eCommerce integration |
| Keyed-In Payments | $3.5/mo | 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction, Manual entry |
| ACH Bank Transfers | $1/mo | 1% per transaction (min $1), Bank-to-bank transfers |
Square Plans & Pricing
Online Payments
$2.9 /mo
Save ~20% with annual billing
What's included:
- 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- eCommerce integration
- Payment links
- Free online store setup
Keyed-In Payments
$3.5 /mo
Save ~20% with annual billing
What's included:
- 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction
- Manual entry
- Virtual terminal
- Phone orders
ACH Bank Transfers
$1 /mo
Save ~20% with annual billing
What's included:
- 1% per transaction (min $1)
- Bank-to-bank transfers
- Invoice payments only
- Lower processing fees
Prices shown are for monthly billing. Annual plans typically offer 10-20% savings.
How Square Pricing Compares
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sq Square Current | Free | Small businesses and retail needing quick payments without contracts | ||
| S Stripe | Free | SaaS companies | Compare | |
| P PayPal | Free | Small businesses | Compare | |
| Bt Braintree | Custom | E-commerce platforms needing PayPal/Venmo integration | Compare | |
| Pd Paddle | Custom | SaaS and subscription software companies | Compare | |
| FS FastSpring | Custom | SaaS companies selling globally | Compare |
Is Square Worth the Price?
Budget-Friendly
Square offers excellent value with a generous free tier and affordable paid plans starting at $0/mo. The free plan provides a solid foundation, making it easy to evaluate before committing. With 1 tiers available, there's a plan for most budgets.
Best Value Tier
In-Person Payments plan ($2.6/mo) — the only paid tier, includes all premium features
When NOT to Pay for Square
High-volume businesses needing advanced features
Square struggles with expansion, advanced analytics, and high sales volumes which can trigger payment holds. The one-size-fits-all model lacks customization for scaling enterprises.
Compare Shopify pricingBusinesses requiring robust customer support
Users report slow email responses (24-48 hours), no 24/7 phone support on all plans, and lack of dedicated representatives, leading to unresolved urgent problems.
High-risk industries or businesses with large transactions
Square prohibits high-risk industries and flags large transactions with frequent payment holds for 'suspicious activity' without clear communication or quick recourse, disrupting cash flow.
Compare PayPal pricingFrequent high-volume transactions
Flat-rate transaction fees are costlier for frequent or high-volume use compared to competitors. Manual card entries or instant transfers add extra charges like 1.5% for same-day payouts.
Features by Plan
| Feature | In-Person Payments | Online Payments | Keyed-In Payments | ACH Bank Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person payments Accept payments via hardware or Tap to Pay on iPhone/Android | ||||
| Online payments Free store setup, payment APIs, and payment links | ||||
| Remote payments Invoices, ACH, and virtual terminal for keyed-in cards | ||||
| Offline mode Store payments and receipts for 24 hours without service | ||||
| Instant fund access Square Checking account with immediate post-processing access | ||||
| Payment links and QR codes Share via email, text, or social media for sales | ||||
| Fraud protection Built-in encryption, tokenization, and dispute management | ||||
| Real-time reporting Insights, sales tracking, and customer data in Square Dashboard | ||||
| Buy now, pay later Integrated Afterpay for 4 interest-free installments | ||||
| APIs and SDKs Custom eCommerce, in-app, and POS integration tools | ||||
| Unified inventory sync Sync inventory and sales across online and in-person channels | ||||
| PCI compliance Built-in security standards and data protection |
Square Pros & Cons
Great Value If You Need
- No monthly fees or contracts with simple pay-per-use pricing
- Versatile payment acceptance anywhere - in-person, online, mobile, offline
- Instant fund access and free banking tools with Square Checking
- Easy setup with no coding required, works with phone alone
Consider Alternatives If
- Higher rates for keyed-in transactions (3.5%) and Afterpay (6%)
- Instant transfers incur fees with payout limits for new sellers
- Dependent on linked bank account for advanced banking features
- Offline storage limited to 24 hours only
Our Verdict
Square offers excellent value with its free tier and competitive paid plans. It's best suited for Small businesses and retail needing quick payments without contracts and Mobile vendors and food trucks using Tap to Pay on phones. Starting at $0/mo, it's accessible for most budgets.
Our Rating 4.6/5
Square Price vs Competitors
Square Pricing FAQ
How much does Square cost in 2026?
Square offers a FREE plan with basic features. Paid plans start at $2.6/month.
Does Square have a free plan or free tier?
Yes! Square offers a free In-Person Payments plan that includes: 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction, Tap, dip, swipe payments, Offline mode for 24 hours. Perfect for small businesses and retail needing quick payments without contracts.
What are the limits of Square's free plan?
The In-Person Payments plan (Free) includes: 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction; Tap, dip, swipe payments; Offline mode for 24 hours; Free POS app. Upgrade to paid plans for more features and higher limits.
Is Square worth it for small teams and personal use?
Square is excellent for small teams thanks to its free tier. Best for: Small businesses and retail needing quick payments without contracts and Mobile vendors and food trucks using Tap to Pay on phones. Highly rated (4.6/5).
Square vs Stripe pricing — which is cheaper?
Square starts at Free vs Stripe at Free. Square is more affordable. Compare features side-by-side to decide.
Does Square offer discounts for annual billing?
Yes, most payments tools including Square offer 10-20% discounts when you pay annually instead of monthly. This can save you $50-200 per year depending on your plan.