Stripe vs Square: which should you choose?
Both now offer online and in-person payments, but they started from opposite ends: Stripe as a developer-first online gateway, Square as an in-person card reader that grew into a full POS. That history still shows in where each is strongest.
Quick verdict
Your primary sales channel should decide this, not a single "winner." Stripe is the stronger, cheaper choice for online and custom-checkout sales. Square is the stronger, simpler choice for face-to-face sales, with a clearer path into full retail/restaurant POS software.
Who should choose Stripe
Businesses selling primarily online, needing a custom checkout, subscription billing, or developer-level control over the payment flow.
Who should choose Square
Businesses selling primarily face-to-face, wanting the simplest possible setup and a mature upgrade path into full POS software.
Different rates for different channels
| Category | Stripe | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Online, UK cards | 1.5% + 20p | Not its primary channel (Square Online exists but is a secondary product) |
| In-person, UK/EEA cards | 1.4% + 10p (via Stripe Terminal) + £7/reader/month connectivity | 1.75%, no fixed fee, no connectivity fee |
| Monthly fee | £0 (plus £7/mo per Terminal reader if used in-person) | £0 (Retail Plus £49/mo optional) |
| Online sales at £5,000/month, £35 avg (Stripe, 1.5%+20p) | £104.60/month |
| Same volume in-person (Square, 1.75%) | £87.50/month |
Stripe's fixed 20p per transaction adds up on lower-ticket online sales; Square's flat % with no fixed fee is simpler to reason about for in-person sales specifically.
Terminal cost (if selling in person)
Stripe
BBPOS WisePad 3 £49; Stripe Reader S700/S710 £229 — plus a £7/month connectivity fee per reader, on top of the hardware cost.
Square
Reader £19+VAT, Terminal £149+VAT, Register £649+VAT — no separate connectivity fee.
Getting your money
Stripe
Rolling 2-business-day payouts standard (new accounts may see longer initial holds, up to ~7 days); Instant Payouts available for a fee.
Square
Next business day as standard; instant transfer available for a fee.
What you're signing up to
Stripe
No contract, no setup fee — pay-as-you-go, with custom Interchange++ pricing available for high-volume merchants via sales.
Square
No contract, no setup fee.
Which fits your business?
Ecommerce / SaaS
Stripe — developer APIs, subscription billing, custom checkout flows.
Retail shop or café
Square — simpler in-person setup with no connectivity fee.
Selling both online and in-person
Either — Stripe with Stripe Terminal, or Square with Square Online; pick based on which channel is primary.
Final recommendation
Don't think of this as "which is better" — think about where most of your sales actually happen. If it's online, Stripe's lower online rate and developer flexibility win. If it's face-to-face, Square's simpler in-person pricing and hardware range win. Omnichannel businesses can reasonably use either, or even both for their respective strengths.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stripe or Square cheaper?
Stripe is cheaper for online sales (1.5%+20p); Square is often simpler and cheaper for in-person sales (1.75% flat, no fixed fee or connectivity charge).
Can I use both channels with either provider?
Yes — Stripe has Stripe Terminal for in-person, Square has Square Online for ecommerce — but each is more mature in its original channel.
Comparing gateways for a purely online store?
See our full payment gateways comparison.
Methodology: Figures pulled directly from stripe.com/gb/pricing and squareup.com/gb official pricing pages on 30 July 2026. See our Editorial Policy.