Best Square alternatives

Square: All-in-one point of sale and payments for in-person businesses.. If you’re weighing up Square, here are 8 payment processors worth comparing on fees, features, and verified merchant reviews, especially for in-person and retail pos.

Why consider alternatives to Square?

  • Account stability concerns for some sellers
  • Less suited to complex online needs

8 alternatives to Square

Compare side by side
Helcim logo

Helcim

Verified

Transparent interchange-plus pricing with automatic volume discounts.

Interchange + 0.50% + $0.25

online rate

$0

monthly fee

Next day

payout

Growing SMBs
Transparent pricing
Omnichannel
Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 4 reviews.
Compare Square vs Helcim

Subscription-style pricing that passes interchange straight through.

Interchange + $0.15

online rate

$99

monthly fee

Next day

payout

High volume
Predictable cost
Established businesses
Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 4 reviews.
Compare Square vs Stax
Payment Depot logo
No reviews

Stax-owned US merchant account provider that dropped the flat membership fee it was built on. Pricing is now interchange-plus, quoted account by account.

Custom quote

online rate

Custom quote

monthly fee

Varies

payout

Small Business
Retail Storefronts
Ecommerce
+1
Compare Square vs Payment Depot
PayJunction logo
No reviews

US merchant services provider offering paperless card and ACH processing on month-to-month terms with no cancellation fee.

From 1.49% + $0.15

online rate

None above $10k volume

monthly fee

2-day

payout

Healthcare practices
Auto repair shops
Professional services
Compare Square vs PayJunction
Merchant One logo
No reviews

Merchant One is a Miami Beach-based ISO that resells Wells Fargo merchant accounts with tiered pricing, Clover hardware and a $13.95 monthly fee.

0.29% to 1.99% qualified

online rate

$13.95

monthly fee

Varies

payout

Small business
Retail
Restaurants
Compare Square vs Merchant One
PaymentCloud logo
No reviews

US merchant services provider that specializes in placing high-risk and hard-to-approve businesses with acquiring banks and gateways.

Custom quote

online rate

$5 to $25 reported

monthly fee

2-day

payout

High-risk merchants
CBD and hemp
Firearms
+1
Compare Square vs PaymentCloud
Fluid Pay logo
No reviews

A partner-only white-label payment gateway for ISOs, agents and software platforms that has never boarded a merchant directly.

No gateway markup

online rate

Not published

monthly fee

Varies

payout

ISOs and agents
Software platforms
White-label resellers
Compare Square vs Fluid Pay
Windcave logo
No reviews

New Zealand-based omnichannel processor and acquirer covering online, in-store and unattended payments in more than 40 countries.

Custom quote

online rate

Custom quote

monthly fee

Next day

payout

Omnichannel retail
Unattended payments
Enterprise
+1
Compare Square vs Windcave

Square alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Square?
Helcim is one of the most-compared Square alternatives, but the best choice depends on your pricing model, payment methods, and integrations. Compare each option side by side before deciding.
Why do merchants look for Square alternatives?
Merchants usually switch to lower processing fees, get better support, avoid restrictive contract or reserve terms, or find payment methods and integrations that fit their business more closely.
How do I compare Square with its alternatives?
Use the side-by-side compare tool to line up Square against any alternative on pricing, payment methods, integrations, features, and company facts, then read verified merchant reviews for each.

Alternatives to other processors

Not sure which processor fits?

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