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Stax and Square use different pricing models: Stax charges a monthly subscription plus direct-cost interchange and a flat transaction fee, while Square offers a no-subscription Free plan with percentage-plus-fixed-fee processing and paid plans with lower published rates. Neither is automatically cheaper. The better fit depends on your transaction volume, average ticket, payment channels, software needs, and the fees in your actual quote or statement.
This comparison reflects the providers’ published US pages checked October 7, 2026. Rates, plans, equipment, eligibility, and terms can change; confirm current details directly before switching.
How do Stax and Square fees compare?
Stax Pay’s published pricing combines a monthly subscription, direct-cost interchange with no percentage markup, and a flat transaction charge. Square’s published rates combine a percentage and a fixed amount per payment; Square Free has no monthly subscription fee, while Plus and Premium charge monthly fees per location.
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Stax lists subscription tiers based on annual processing volume. The subscription does not include the per-transaction charges shown below, and the listed amounts should not be treated as a complete estimate of account costs.
#1 Best Overall
- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
- Accept contactless payments, chip cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay from anywhere, with improved connectivity, extended battery life, and enhanced security. Pay one low rate for every tap or dip.
- No long-term commitments or contracts, no monthly fees- and with offline payments, keep taking payments for up to 24 hours.
- Safely and securely accepts payments anywhere. Plus, get data security, 24/7 fraud prevention, and payment-dispute management at no extra cost.
- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
| Annual processing volume | Published monthly subscription | Published transaction charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $150,000 | $99/month | $0.08 card-present; $0.15 card-not-present |
| $150,000–$250,000 | $139/month | $0.08 card-present; $0.15 card-not-present |
| Above $250,000 | $199+/month; custom quotes for higher volumes | $0.08 card-present; $0.15 card-not-present |
These are Stax Payments’ published US prices, checked in 2026. The transaction charges are in addition to direct-cost interchange, and the subscription figures do not establish your full account cost. Confirm the quote and any applicable account charges with Stax. Stax pricing
Square
Square’s US pricing page lists the following card-present and online rates by plan. Other payment types, including keyed transactions and ACH, have distinct prices, so these figures should not be applied to those transactions.
Rank #2
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
| Square plan | Card-present (tap, dip, or swipe) | Online | Monthly subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 2.6% + 15¢ | 3.3% + 30¢ | No monthly subscription cost |
| Plus | 2.5% + 15¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | Monthly charge; applies per location |
| Premium | 2.4% + 15¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | Monthly charge; applies per location |
These rates are from Square’s published US plans page checked October 7, 2026. Square states: “With Square Free, there are no monthly subscription costs — you only pay processing fees when you take a payment.” The page lists monthly charges for Plus and Premium but does not give their amounts in the pricing information summarized here. Check the current Square plans and pricing for plan charges and other payment types.
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Which is cheaper for your business?
There is no reliable universal break-even point from the published headline rates alone. A useful comparison requires your own transaction data and full fee details, rather than just comparing a subscription against a percentage rate.
Rank #3
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Get set up quickly with no long-term commitments. Download the Square Point of Sale app for free, create an account, and start taking payments anywhere.
- Run your business all in one place with the free Square Point of Sale app. Track your sales, manage inventory, accept tips, send receipts digitally, and more.
- Works with Apple devices with a Lightning connector.
- Monthly volume and transaction count: A given dollar volume can mean many small payments or fewer large ones, changing the effect of fixed per-transaction charges.
- Average ticket and payment channel: Separate in-person, online, keyed, and ACH activity. The published prices vary by channel and payment type.
- Card mix and interchange: Stax’s pricing passes through direct-cost interchange, so the interchange on your actual card mix matters.
- Subscription and location costs: Include Stax’s subscription and any Square paid-plan charges for each location.
- All statement charges: Stax documentation says statements can include categories such as PCI, disputes, equipment, account updater, minimum billing, and other adjustments. Review your own statement and ask about any charges in the proposed account terms. Stax fee statement documentation
For a fair estimate, compare the same month of processing under each provider’s current quote, using transaction count, average ticket, payment channel, card mix, plan and location fees, required software, equipment, and other statement charges. A generic rate comparison cannot account for negotiated rates or your actual interchange and fee profile.
What software and business tools do they include?
Stax Pay
Stax says its subscription includes invoicing, payment links and hosted payment pages, recurring billing, analytics, data exports, integrations, fraud protection, and support. Confirm the exact feature package and account terms for the offer you receive. Stax pricing
Rank #4
- Pay one transparent rate per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
- Works in conjunction with most downloadable Square point-of-sale apps on your device. Customers can pay, tip and sign directly on your device. Track payments in cash, gift cards and more. Also lets you send receipts via e-mail or text message, makes it easy to apply discounts, keeps a data and sales history log and more.
- Accepts magstripe credit card payments, including those from Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express (fees apply).
- App sends deposits to your bank account within 1 to 2 business days, or enjoy instant deposits (fees apply).
Square
Square presents a broader business toolkit that includes point-of-sale software, online selling, item and inventory tools, invoicing, booking, and payment-related services. Its paid plans add features such as industry-specific POS tools, loyalty and marketing features, and lower published processing rates; Premium lists 24/7 priority support. Features and charges depend on plan and location, so choose based on tools your business will actually use, not the plan label alone. Square plans and pricing
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Stax equipment
Stax’s equipment page lists a Dejavoo QD2 wireless terminal for $495, a Dejavoo QD4 countertop terminal for $310, and a SwipeSimple B350 reader for $125. The page describes the QD2 and QD4 as accepting chip, swipe, and contactless payments, and the B350 as connecting by Bluetooth to iOS or Android. Prices and availability may change; confirm compatibility and total cost with Stax before buying. Stax equipment
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
Square hardware-free and reader options
Square says hardware is not required to accept payments. Its listed options include invoices, payment links, a virtual terminal, and Tap to Pay on supported iPhone and Android devices. Square also offers a magstripe reader for use with a compatible phone or tablet. Check device and payment-method compatibility for your setup; do not assume Square hardware works with Stax. Square fee calculator and hardware-free options · Square magstripe reader
How to decide between Stax and Square
- Gather a representative processing statement. Record monthly volume, transaction count, average ticket, channel mix, card mix, and all listed fees.
- Get current plan and account costs. Confirm Stax’s subscription, transaction charges, interchange treatment, and additional account charges, as well as Square’s per-location plan charges and channel-specific prices.
- List the software you actually need. Include POS, online selling, inventory, invoicing, booking, recurring billing, analytics, and support requirements.
- Add equipment costs and compatibility. Compare the hardware each setup requires, if any, and verify that it supports your devices and payment methods.
- Model the same payment activity for both providers. Include subscriptions, per-location costs, processing, interchange where applicable, equipment, and any other quoted fees before choosing.
The published figures are provider prices, not an independent comparison or a guarantee of what a particular merchant will pay. A current written quote and your own fee statement are the most useful basis for a decision.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
