Square
POS System
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3 min read
TL;DR
Perfect for small businesses seeking easy payments with no contracts or hidden fees, but not ideal for high-risk or high-volume merchants due to risk of account holds.
About
Square offers simple, transparent payment processing ideal for small businesses. Flat-rate pricing, no monthly fees, and excellent software make it a top choice — but account holds and limited support are key concerns.
Products & Services
PAYMENT PROCESSING
Square Payments
2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 2.9% + $0.30 online, 3.5% + $0.15 keyed, 1% ACH transfers
Square’s core payment processing service, supporting in-person, online, and remote payments with flat-rate pricing and free POS software.
Key Features
- In-person card payments (EMV, contactless, magstripe)
- Online payments (eCommerce, invoices, virtual terminal)
- POS software (inventory, reporting, customer management)
- Next-business-day payouts
- Chargeback protection and dispute management
Pricing
Square Payments
PAYMENT PROCESSING
2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 2.9% + $0.30 online, 3.5% + $0.15 keyed, 1% ACH transfers
Platform Ratings
Aggregated Trust Score
Based on 6,239 reviews across 2 rating platforms
2.7
out of 5
Overall Rating
Better Business Bureau
539 reviews
Reviewer Notes
Square holds an A+ BBB rating, but customer reviews are overwhelmingly negative, with complaints mostly focused on account holds and frozen funds.
Trustpilot
5,700 reviews
Reviewer Notes
Trustpilot reviews are largely positive, praising ease of use and functionality, but a minority report frustrations with account holds and support responsiveness.
Industry Ratings
The Strawhecker Group
Top Innovator Award (2023)
The Strawhecker Group recognized Square for its innovation in POS technology and seamless payment integration. Square consistently scores well in TSG’s benchmarks for SMB-focused payment technology.
Payments Source
Positive Mention (No Formal Score)
Payments Source often references Square as a leader in innovation within the payments space. While no numeric rating is provided, they consistently cite Square’s influence in expanding small business access to card payments.
Card Payment Options
B-
Once rated an 'F' due to numerous complaints about withheld funds and poor customer service, Square's rating at Card Payment Options has improved after better communication practices and policy changes.
CardFellow
4/5
CardFellow commends Square’s pricing transparency and flexibility, but highlights that Square's flat rates are less competitive for high-volume merchants. The review also flags risk of sudden account termination.
Processing Rates
Online Transactions
Card-not-present, e-commerce, and online payments
2.9% + $0.30
Per transaction
In-Person Transactions
Card-present retail and point-of-sale transactions
2.6% + $0.15
Per transaction
Keyed Transactions
Manually entered card-not-present transactions
3.5% + $0.15
Per transaction
International Transactions
Cross-border and foreign currency transactions
No added fee
Per transaction
Payouts
Standard Payout Time
Next business day
Regular deposit schedule to your bank account
Expedited Payout Time
Instant (1.5% fee)
Faster deposit option (may have additional fees)
Minimum Payout Amount
$10
Minimum balance required before payout
Contract Terms
Flexible Contract Terms
This provider offers month-to-month terms with no long-term commitment.
Contract Length
Required commitment period
Month-to-month
Cancellation Process
How to terminate your account
Cancel any time via dashboard
Support Options
Available Support Channels
Phone
Available
Email
Available
Help Center
Available
Community Forum
Available
Support Hours
M-F 6am-6pm PT (phone)
Response Time
Within 1 business day (email)
Developer Tools
API Documentation
https://developer.squareup.com/docs
SDKs and Libraries
Node.js
Python
Ruby
PHP
Java
C#
Webhooks
Supported
Testing Environment
Available
Security & Compliance
PCI Compliance
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance level
Level 1
Fraud Prevention
Fraud detection and prevention tools
Real-time machine learning monitoring
Data Encryption
Encryption standards for data at rest and in transit
End-to-end encryption
Tokenization
Supported
Replace sensitive card data with secure tokens
Accepted Payment Types
Credit & Debit Cards
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Discover
Digital Wallets
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Bank Transfers
ACH
Alternative Payment Methods
Cash App Pay
Square Gift Cards
Integrations
E-commerce Platforms
Compatible shopping cart and online store platforms
Square OnlineWooCommerceWix
3 integrations available
Accounting Software
Sync transactions with your accounting tools
QuickBooksXero
2 integrations available
CRM Systems
Connect with customer relationship management platforms
MailchimpZoho
2 integrations available
Other Integrations
Additional third-party integrations and tools
IFTTTZapier
2 integrations available
Special Features
Subscription Management
Manage recurring subscriptions and billing cycles
Supported
Invoicing
Create and send professional invoices
Supported
Virtual Terminal
Accept payments manually via web interface
Supported
Recurring Billing
Automated recurring payment processing
Supported
Support & Contact
Support Types
phoneemailkb
Quality Assessment
Adequate for basics; poor for complex issues.
Square Pricing Calculator
Estimate your monthly costs
This calculator provides an estimate based on available pricing information. Actual costs may vary. Contact Square for a personalized quote.
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Estimated Monthly Cost
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Effective Rate
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Number of Transactions200