PayPalvsSquare
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
PayPal
- Account frozen with funds held for 180 days(10/10)
- Account limited or closed without explanation(9/10)
- Service outages during peak hours frustrate users(7/10)
Square
- Random account freezes without warning(10/10)
- Payment holds delay business cash flow(9/10)
- Major service outages affect payments(9/10)
- KDS stops working when internet goes down(8/10)
PayPal
- Customer support rated 1.3/5 on Trustpilot(9/10)
- Dispute resolution takes weeks with no human review(7/10)
Square
- Customer service is unhelpful and repetitive(9/10)
- No transparency on account issues(9/10)
PayPal
- International fees add 4.49% plus currency conversion markup(8/10)
- Dispute fees up to $30 for high-volume merchants(7/10)
- PayPal Credit has predatory interest rates(8/10)
Square
- Processing fees not refunded on refunds(8/10)
- Transaction fees increased in 2025(7/10)
- Hardware is expensive and proprietary(6/10)
- Add-on features require extra fees(6/10)
PayPal
- Buyer protection often favors buyers over sellers unfairly(8/10)
- Instant transfer costs 1.75% of amount(5/10)
- Updating bank accounts takes up to 2 days(4/10)
Square
- App glitches and freezing issues(7/10)
- Register lacks features iPad app has(5/10)
PayPal
- Scammers exploit buyer protection loopholes(7/10)
Square
No signals
PayPal
No signals
Square
- Android app removed from non-Square hardware(7/10)
PayPal
No signals
Square
- Cannot process international payments(7/10)
PayPal
No signals
Square
- Connectivity issues cause abandoned sales(8/10)
Pricing Comparison
PayPal
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, International fees high, Account freeze risk, Support issues
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: 2.99% + fixed fee, No PayPal brand trust benefit, Same account freeze risks
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction, Hardware cost upfront, Limited geographic availability
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: 5% + $0.05 per transaction, Must qualify and apply, Not automatic
Square
Users: Unlimited
Limits: Limited reporting, No advanced inventory, Basic marketing tools only, No loyalty program
Users: Unlimited
Limits: Some advanced features still require Premium, No custom pricing
Users: Unlimited
Limits: Custom pricing only for $250K+ annual volume
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PayPal | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Trust | ||
| Consumer trust Highest brand recognition | ||
| Payments | ||
| In-person payments 2.6% + $0.15 per transaction | ||
| Online payments 3.3% + $0.30 (Free) or 2.9% + $0.30 (Plus) | ||
| International payments US only - major limitation | ||
| Next-day deposits Free; instant transfer costs 1.75% | ||
| Fast fund access 21-day holds, reserves | ||
| Coverage | ||
| Global acceptance Millions of merchants | ||
| Security | ||
| Buyer protection Up to $20,000 | ||
| Seller protection Favors buyers heavily | ||
| Mobile | ||
| Mobile apps iOS and Android | ||
| POS | ||
| Free POS software Basic features on Free tier | ||
| Inventory management Basic on Free, advanced on Plus | ||
| P2P | ||
| Venmo P2P Free personal transfers | ||
| Hardware | ||
| In-person POS Zettle system | ||
| Reliability | ||
| Offline mode Limited - KDS doesn't work offline | ||
| Account stability Freezes, 180-day holds | ||
| Pricing | ||
| No monthly fees Pay per transaction | ||
| Low international fees 6-8% total | ||
| Transparent fees Hidden international costs | ||
| Marketing | ||
| Customer loyalty program Plus plan and above | ||
| Features | ||
| Invoicing Send invoices | ||
| Support | ||
| Responsive support 1.3/5 rating, AI-only | ||
| Human support Automated responses only | ||
| Clear dispute process Weeks, changing staff | ||
| Business Tools | ||
| Payroll integration Additional cost | ||
| Integrations | ||
| API access Available for developers | ||