Square vs. Stripe (2025 comparison)

Square and Stripe are two of the biggest names in payment processing platforms, and for good reason. They help businesses accept payments quickly and securely, whether online or in person. But even though they might seem similar on the surface, Square and Stripe have some important differences that could make one a better fit for your business in 2025.

If you’re wondering which processor to choose, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a full comparison of Square and Stripe, based on real-world use, features, pricing, and how easy they are to use. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which payment processor fits your business needs best.

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Square vs. Stripe: the basics

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Square and Stripe both offer powerful tools for collecting payments. But the way they deliver those services—and who they’re best suited for—is very different. Square is designed to be simple and all-in-one. You can sell online or in-person, use their POS hardware, manage inventory, and even build a website—all within Square’s platform. It’s especially friendly to small business owners who want something easy to set up and manage on their own. Stripe is known for its flexibility and international reach. It’s often the go-to choice for developers and tech-savvy businesses that want to create a custom payment experience. Stripe supports a huge range of payment methods and currencies, making it a great fit for global companies and ecommerce startups. Let’s dive deeper into how they stack up.

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Ease of use and setup

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One of the first things most business owners care about is how easy it is to get started. With Square, setup is simple and user-friendly. You can create an account, link your bank, set up your products, and start accepting payments all in a single afternoon. The dashboard is clean and easy to understand, even if you’re not super tech-savvy. It also comes with free tools to build an online store or send invoices. Stripe takes a bit more effort to get going—especially if you want a fully custom checkout experience. While the platform is incredibly powerful, it’s really designed with developers in mind. If you don’t have someone on your team who knows code, you may need to hire help to get everything working just right.

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Winner: Square

Square is much easier to set up, especially for beginners or small teams without developers.

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Features and tools

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Both Stripe and Square offer strong features, but they focus on different things.

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Square:

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Square includes:

• Free POS app
• Inventory management
• Appointment booking
• Loyalty programs
• Invoicing and gift cards
• Staff management
• E-commerce site builder
  

These features are built directly into the dashboard, which makes Square feel like an all-in-one business software solution. If you’re running a restaurant, salon, or retail store, Square has tailored tools ready to go.

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Stripe:

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Stripe focuses on:

• Developer tools for custom checkout flows
• Global payment methods
• Recurring payments/subscriptions
• APIs for custom integration
• Invoicing and billing
• Fraud prevention with Stripe Radar
• Advanced reporting
  

Stripe doesn’t have its own inventory system, but you can connect third-party tools like WooCommerce or Shopify. Stripe’s tools shine when you want to build a very specific or unique checkout process.

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Winner: It depends

Square is better for businesses that want a complete system with built-in tools. Stripe is better if you need a flexible, custom-built ecommerce solution.

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Payment types and global support

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When it comes to payment options, Stripe wins by a mile.

With Stripe, you can accept:

• All major credit/debit cards
• Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Buy now, pay later options
• ACH transfers
• Bank debits
• PayPal, Venmo, Amazon Pay
• 135+ currencies
  

It also lets customers save payment info, making repeat checkouts faster. For more information about Stripe's payment methods, visit this page.

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Square, while solid for local businesses, is more limited. You can accept:

• Credit/debit cards
• Apple Pay, Google Pay
• Cash App Pay
• Gift cards
  

But Square only supports payments in a few currencies and doesn’t integrate with PayPal or Venmo. If your business is global or wants to offer many payment types, that can be a dealbreaker.

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Winner: Stripe

Stripe’s international reach and variety of payment methods make it the better choice for online businesses and global ecommerce startups.

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Checkout and customization

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Customization matters if you want your brand to shine during checkout. Stripe offers customizable checkout pages. You can tweak colors, fonts, and layout—or even build a completely unique experience using Stripe Elements or APIs. It’s very flexible, though often requires a developer to get the most out of it.

Square gives you a pre-built checkout with fewer customization options. You can upload your logo, set colors, and organize your items, but it’s more rigid compared to Stripe. That said, it still looks professional and is perfect for businesses that want something simple and fast.

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Winner: Stripe

Stripe’s checkout is more flexible and powerful, especially for businesses with technical resources.

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Inventory management

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If you sell physical products, inventory tools are key. Square has built-in inventory tracking. You can add items, track stock levels, get alerts when you’re running low, and manage variants like sizes or colors. For restaurants or retailers, you can even customize menus or item groups. It’s all included in your dashboard—no extra work or integrations needed. Stripe doesn’t come with inventory features. You’ll need to integrate with other platforms like Shopify, Ecwid, or apps from the Stripe ecosystem. It works, but it’s not as seamless.

Winner: Square

Square has a strong edge in inventory management, especially for retail businesses and product-focused ecommerce platforms.

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Point of sale (POS) and hardware

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For businesses that sell in person, the hardware setup really matters. Square is a clear leader in this area. They offer:

• Free card reader with signup
• Contactless chip readers
• Square Stand for iPads
• Square Terminal
• Square Register
• Restaurant kits and retail bundles
  

These tools are reliable, easy to use, and tailored for specific business types. Square also supports tap-to-pay on phones and QR code payments. Stripe supports in-person payments, too—but its hardware options are more limited. You can buy Stripe Reader devices for mobile or countertop setups, but it doesn’t have the same level of POS terminals or tailored kits. You can still use Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android, but that’s about it.

Winner: Square

Square has better and more varied hardware for in-person sales, making it ideal for retail and service-based businesses.

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Pricing and fees

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Both Stripe and Square have similar online transaction pricing: 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale

For in-person payments, things are a little different.

Square:

• 2.6% + 10¢ for card-present transactions
• 3.5% + 15¢ for keyed-in payments
  

Stripe:

• 2.7% + 5¢ per transaction
• 2.9% + 30¢ for online sales
• 10¢ extra for Tap to Pay
  

If most of your sales are small (under $50), Stripe may save you a few cents per sale. But if you’re using Tap to Pay or keying in lots of payments, Square is the better deal. There are no monthly fees for basic accounts on either platform, though both offer add-ons or premium services at extra cost.

Winner: It depends

Stripe is cheaper for small, quick sales. Square is more affordable for Tap to Pay and larger in-person purchases. Both offer transparent payment processing fees.

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Developer friendliness

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If you want full control over your checkout experience, Stripe is the better choice. Its APIs, documentation, and developer tools are widely praised in the tech community. You can build just about anything—from custom ecommerce platforms to mobile apps. Square also has APIs and SDKs, but they’re more limited in scope. It’s better suited to plug-and-play setups than custom coding projects.

Winner: Stripe

Stripe is the clear winner for developers and businesses wanting to build their own checkout flows and custom integrations.

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Customer support

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Both companies offer support via email and chat. Square also provides phone support during business hours, which many users appreciate. Stripe recently added 24/7 chat and email support, though phone support can be limited depending on your account type. Both platforms have active help centers and community forums.

Winner: It depends

Support is solid on both platforms, but Square wins for phone support; Stripe wins for 24/7 availability.

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Conclusion: Which one is right for you?

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Choose Square if you…

• Run a retail store, café, or restaurant
• Need a full POS setup with hardware
• Want built-in inventory and staff management
• Prefer a platform that’s easy to use without coding
• Offer in-person services or appointments
  

Choose Stripe if you…

• Sell products or services online
• Serve international customers
• Want to accept PayPal, Venmo, and other niche payments
• Plan to build a custom checkout experience
• Handle recurring or subscription payments

Both Square and Stripe are excellent payment processors—it really just comes down to your business type and goals. Square is ideal for brick-and-mortar and service-based businesses. Stripe is better suited for online-first or international brands that want flexibility and scalability. In 2025, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But with this detailed comparison and review, you should feel confident making the choice that works best for your business.

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Need help choosing or integrating the right payment platform?

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