Clearo vs. Square: which one actually costs less?
Square is simple. Clearo is transparent. Here's what that means for your bottom line.
The short version
Square charges a flat 2.6% + 10¢ on every in-person transaction and 2.9% + 30¢ online. That rate never changes regardless of what the card network actually charges.
Clearo uses interchange-plus pricing, which passes through the card network's actual cost and adds a small, fixed margin. For most businesses processing over $8,000-$10,000 per month, interchange-plus costs meaningfully less.
| Feature | Square | Clearo Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat rate (2.6% + 10¢ in-person) | Interchange-plus (lower total cost) |
| Monthly fees | $0 (free tier), $60+ (Plus) | Custom — ask for a quote |
| Contracts | None | None |
| Cancellation fees | None | None |
| Dedicated account manager | ||
| Pricing transparency | Single rate, no markup visibility | Full interchange breakdown on every statement |
| Phone support | Limited — primarily digital | Direct access to your account rep |
| Best for | Very small businesses, pop-ups | Businesses processing $10K+/month |
Where Square wins
Square is great if you're just getting started. Zero monthly fees, a free card reader, and a simple setup process. If you're a side hustle or a small vendor doing under $5K a month, Square's simplicity is hard to beat.
Square also offers a POS software ecosystem — appointment booking, inventory, team management — bundled into higher-tier plans.
Where Clearo wins
Once your monthly volume passes $8K-$10K, Square's flat rate starts working against you. You're paying the same percentage whether a customer uses a basic debit card (interchange cost: ~0.5%) or a high-end rewards card (interchange cost: ~2.3%).
For a business processing $25K/month, the difference between Square's flat rate and Clearo's interchange-plus is typically $200-400 per month in savings. That's $2,400-$4,800 per year.
You also get a person. Not a chatbot. Not a ticket queue. A rep who knows your account, catches rate changes, and picks up when you call.
Who should choose Clearo
If you process more than $10K/month in card payments and want lower costs with real human support, Clearo is the better deal.
If you're a weekend market vendor or a brand-new business with minimal sales volume, stick with Square until you outgrow it.
Want the exact numbers for your business? Book a free call and we'll do a side-by-side using your actual volume.
Let's talk about your payments
Tell us a bit about your business and how you currently take payments. A Clearo rep will reach out within one business day with a personalized recommendation — no generic pitch, no pressure.
If we can save you money and improve your setup, we'll show you exactly how. If we can't, we'll tell you that too.