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Stripe vs. Square
Two payment processing options with vastly different coding requirements.
Updated
Stripe is a well known payment platform with customers around the world. Square might not be accessible in as many countries, but it has impressive features for a small business. And you don’t need any technical experience to get started.
How do Stripe and Square compare?
Which should I choose? | Choose Stripe if you have the technical know-how for website development. | Choose Square if you’re a small business with sales totaling less than $250,000 annually. |
Overview | A good option for an online store with a global audience. | A good option for brick-and-mortar startups launching an online store. |
Products |
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Price starts at | 2.9% + 30¢ per successful card charge | 2.6% + 10¢ for payment processing, POS software included |
Contract required? | No | No |
Processing time | 2 business days | Next day |
High-risk merchants accepted? | No | No |
Pros |
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Cons |
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Tools |
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BBB letter rating | A+ | A+ |
Trustpilot rating | ★★★★★ 2.3/5 | ★★★★★ 4.8/5 |
Reputation and customer reviews | Reviews for Stripe are mixed. While many customers rave about its smooth onboarding process, many negative reviews cite transaction holds, account cancelations and payout delays, which are common complaints of third-party processors. | Reviews are mixed. While many customers praise its knowledgeable and helpful customer service team, some sellers are upset about Square’s policy to freeze funds with little warning. |
Support |
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Bottom line
Stripe may be a good option for an international business that has technical experience with coding and web development. But if you’re new to e-commerce and looking for a clean, fully integrated system, Square might be the better option — just watch out for its funds reserve policy.
To make sure you’re choosing the right provider, explore other payment processing options for the business solution that suits your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stripe offer loyalty programs?
Yes. You can build a store rewards program using the Stripe plug-in myCred.
What do I need to get started with Stripe?
Since Stripe is a payment processor, you’ll need a website and an online store. Fortunately, Stripe integrates with several e-commerce platforms.
What add-on’s does Square offer?
Square offers a marketing service to help grow your business, payroll tools, loyalty programs and comprehensive team management resources.
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