Clearo vs. Square: which one costs less for your business?
Square charges one flat rate per sale. Clearo charges each card's interchange and network fees, plus a markup. Here's how the two compare on the same sale.
The short version
Square charges a flat rate on every sale. When we checked Square's US pricing page on , it listed in-person rates of 2.6% + 15¢ on the Free plan, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus ($49 a month per location) and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium ($149 a month per location). Online sales have their own rates on the same page, and Square lists its Canadian fees separately.
Clearo uses interchange-plus pricing instead: you pay each card's interchange and network fees, plus a markup quoted for your business. Your cost follows the cards your customers use, so it can come in under a flat rate or over it, depending on your volume and card mix.
| Feature | Square | Clearo Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | A flat rate on each sale, set by plan and by whether the sale is in person or online | Interchange-plus: each card's interchange and network fees, plus a markup |
| Where you find the price | Published on Square's pricing page | Quoted for your business, based on your volume and card mix |
| What you get | Square's own POS software, hardware and processing | Processing and a merchant account, with terminals from authorized partners such as Clover and Helcim |
| Long-term contract | None: Square says you can cancel or switch anytime | None, and no cancellation fee |
| Good fit for | New and occasional sellers, and anyone who wants software, hardware and payments from one company | Businesses that want interchange-plus pricing and a dedicated rep |
When Square is a good fit
When we checked Square's pricing page on , its Free plan had no monthly fee, so you'd pay only when you take a payment. If you're just starting out, sell at weekend markets or take cards now and then, that's hard to argue with.
Square also sells its own POS software and hardware, and its paid plans add features for food, retail and appointment-based businesses. If you want one company for the register, the software and the payments, Square is set up for exactly that.
When Clearo is a good fit
Here's one in-person sale under both models: a customer taps a debit card to pay $100. At the Free plan's 2.6% + 15¢ on Square's US pricing page (checked ), that sale costs $2.75. Square's help center says it processes all card types at the same standard rates, so a premium rewards card would cost you the same.
On interchange-plus, that sale costs the card's interchange and network fees, plus your processor's markup. If the debit card comes from a bank with $10 billion or more in assets, the Federal Reserve's Regulation II caps its interchange at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale, plus up to 1 cent for fraud prevention: at most 27 cents on $100. Credit cards aren't covered by that cap, and their interchange depends on the card.
So which model costs less over a month comes down to your card mix, your average ticket, your volume and the markup you're quoted. Our interchange-plus vs flat-rate guide works through examples at several ticket sizes, including one where the flat rate wins.
Every Clearo client gets a dedicated rep, and we supply POS terminals from authorized partners such as Clover and Helcim. A free statement review shows what interchange-plus would cost on your own sales before you decide.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Clearo if you want interchange-plus pricing, a dedicated rep and no long-term contract, and a statement review shows interchange-plus can cost less for your card mix and volume.
Stay with Square if you're just starting out, take cards now and then, or want your POS software, hardware and payments from one company.
Not sure which side you're on? Book a free call and we'll price both models on your own statement.
Related Services
Everything you need to accept payments and reduce costs.
Payment Processing
Transparent interchange-plus pricing
Merchant Services
Full merchant services stack for small business
Credit Card Processing Fees
Understand fees and lower your effective rate
POS Terminals
Countertop, wireless, and portable terminals
Online Payments
Secure website checkout and payment gateway
Mobile Payments
Accept payments from phone or tablet
Virtual Terminal
Phone and remote payment processing
ACH Payment Processing
Bank-to-bank payments for invoices and B2B
Chargeback Management
Tools and a rep to keep disputes in check
PCI Compliance
Support for keeping card data secure
Surcharging Program
Pass processing costs to credit card users
Pricing
See our interchange-plus rates and how we compare
Other industries we serve
Clearo works with businesses across the US and Canada. Find your industry below.
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