FeeSlip / PayPal vs Square
PayPal vs Square fees
Put in your sale and see which one leaves you more money.
Square is cheaper online: $3.60 on $100 on its Free plan, against PayPal Checkout's $3.98. In person, PayPal's QR code rate is lower at $2.38.
PayPal vs Square on common amounts (online)
| Sale | Square Online, Free plan | PayPal Goods & Services | PayPal Checkout |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.63 | $0.79 | $0.84 |
| $25.00 | $1.13 | $1.24 | $1.36 |
| $50.00 | $1.95 | $1.99 | $2.24 |
| $100.00 | $3.60 | $3.48 | $3.98 |
| $250.00 | $8.55 | $7.97 | $9.22 |
| $500.00 | $16.80 | $15.44 | $17.94 |
| $1,000.00 | $33.30 | $30.39 | $35.39 |
| $5,000.00 | $165.30 | $149.99 | $174.99 |
Which should you pick?
For a shop with a card reader, Square is the stronger all-round system. If customers mostly pay with PayPal or Venmo, PayPal's QR payments are the cheapest in-person option among the three.
Common questions
Which is cheaper for invoices, PayPal or Square?
Square on the Free plan charges 3.3% + $0.30 for card invoices and PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49, so Square is cheaper. Square also offers ACH bank payments on invoices for 1% with a $1 minimum.
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Rates are each processor's standard published US pricing, checked October 2026. Your rate can differ if you have negotiated or custom pricing, so confirm against your own statement. FeeSlip is independent and not affiliated with PayPal, Stripe or Square.