Square's US processing fees in 2026
| Payment type | Square Free | Square Plus | Square Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap, dip or swipe | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.5% + 15¢ | 2.4% + 15¢ |
| Online or invoice (card) | 3.3% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Online API | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Manual entry or card on file | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ |
| Afterpay | 6% + 30¢ | 6% + 30¢ | 6% + 30¢ |
| ACH bank transfer via invoice | 1%, $1 minimum | 1%, $1 minimum, $10 cap | 1%, $1 minimum, $10 cap |
| ACH bank transfer via API | 1%, $1 minimum, $5 cap | ||
| Cash or check | Free | ||
| Plan fee | $0/mo | $49/mo per location | $149/mo per location |
When does Square Plus or Premium pay for itself?
For in-person payments, Plus saves 0.1 percentage points and Premium 0.2 points compared with Square Free. On processing alone, Plus breaks even at $49,000 a month of in-person card sales per location, and Premium needs $74,500 a month to beat Free. For online card payments, Plus and Premium cut 3.3% to 2.9%, so Plus breaks even at about $12,250 a month of online sales. People usually upgrade for the extra features, not only the lower rates. The comparison table above prices your own volume on each plan.
Square says businesses processing over $250,000 a year can ask for custom pricing. This calculator uses the standard published rates.
Sources (official Square pages, checked 25 October 2026): Square payment processing fees; Square pricing and plans. Hardware, add-on software, instant transfers, chargebacks and custom pricing aren't included.
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FAQ
How much does Square charge per transaction in 2026?
On Square Free, in-person card payments cost 2.6% + 15¢ and online or invoice card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢. Square Plus charges 2.5% + 15¢ in person and 2.9% + 30¢ online. Square Premium charges 2.4% + 15¢ in person and 2.9% + 30¢ online.
How much are Square Plus and Square Premium?
Square Plus is $49 a month per location and Square Premium is $149 a month per location. Square Free has no monthly fee. Plus and Premium each come with a 30-day free trial.
What does Square charge for manually keyed cards?
3.5% + 15¢ on every plan, for manually entered cards and cards on file.
Does Square charge for cash payments?
No. Cash and check payments are free.
Is Square cheaper than Stripe or PayPal online?
Square's online card rate is 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus, Premium and through the API, and 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free. Compare your exact mix with our Stripe vs PayPal calculator.