PayPal vs Square
PayPal 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). PayPal suits Stores wanting buyer trust, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
PayPal vs Square at a glance
| Measure | PayPal | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 21,200 | 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 | Stores wanting buyer trust | Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs |
| PayPal & Venmo checkout | ||
| Pay Later (BNPL) | ||
| Buyer & seller protection | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Global currencies | ||
| In-person & online payments | ||
| Free POS software | ||
| Flat-rate fees | ||
| Hardware ecosystem | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
PayPal
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Custom | — |
| Advanced | Custom | — |
Square
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Online | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Choose PayPal if…
- Massive brand trust matters to you.
- Boosts conversion matters to you.
- Easy setup 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.
- Higher fees would be a problem.
PayPal
Pros
- Massive brand trust
- Boosts conversion
- Easy setup
Cons
- Higher fees
- Account holds can be frustrating
Square
Pros
- Great for in-person
- Transparent flat fees
- Free POS
Cons
- Less developer-flexible
- Funds holds for new accounts
Frequently asked questions
Is PayPal better than Square?+
Square rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5). PayPal suits Stores wanting buyer trust, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
Which is cheaper, PayPal or Square?+
PayPal starts at Custom and Square starts at Free.
Do PayPal or Square have a free plan?+
Square has a free tier; PayPal does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, PayPal or Square?+
Square, at 4.5/5 across 12,600 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for PayPal.
What is PayPal best for, and what is Square best for?+
PayPal is aimed at Stores wanting buyer trust (boosting checkout trust, small stores). Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs (brick-and-mortar + online, restaurants).