Braintree vs Square
Braintree rates 4.3/5 and starts at Custom. Square rates 4.5/5 and starts at Free. Square is the higher rated. Only Square has a free tier.
Square rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5). Braintree suits Growing platforms & marketplaces, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
Braintree vs Square at a glance
| Measure | Braintree | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 1,900 | 12,600 |
| Starting price | Custom | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Starting price | Custom | Free |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Growing platforms & marketplaces | Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs |
| Cards, PayPal & Venmo | ||
| Marketplace payouts | ||
| Drop-in UI | ||
| Recurring billing | ||
| Fraud tools | ||
| In-person & online payments | ||
| Free POS software | ||
| Flat-rate fees | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Hardware ecosystem | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
Braintree
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Custom | — |
Square
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Online | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Choose Braintree if…
- Native PayPal/Venmo matters to you.
- Good docs matters to you.
- Marketplace support matters to you.
- Less developer-flexible would be a problem.
Choose Square if…
- Great for in-person matters to you.
- Transparent flat fees matters to you.
- Free POS matters to you.
- Overlaps with Stripe/PayPal would be a problem.
Braintree
Pros
- Native PayPal/Venmo
- Good docs
- Marketplace support
Cons
- Overlaps with Stripe/PayPal
- Setup heavier than PayPal
Square
Pros
- Great for in-person
- Transparent flat fees
- Free POS
Cons
- Less developer-flexible
- Funds holds for new accounts
Frequently asked questions
Is Braintree better than Square?+
Square rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5). Braintree suits Growing platforms & marketplaces, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
Which is cheaper, Braintree or Square?+
Braintree starts at Custom and Square starts at Free.
Do Braintree or Square have a free plan?+
Square has a free tier; Braintree does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Braintree or Square?+
Square, at 4.5/5 across 12,600 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for Braintree.
What is Braintree best for, and what is Square best for?+
Braintree is aimed at Growing platforms & marketplaces (marketplaces, subscription apps). Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs (brick-and-mortar + online, restaurants).