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 pricing 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.
Related Services
Everything you need to accept payments and reduce costs.
Payment Processing
Transparent interchange-plus pricing
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
Surcharging Program
Pass processing costs to credit card users
Pricing
See our interchange-plus rates and how we compare
More Comparisons
Other Industries We Serve
Clearo works with businesses across Canada — find your industry below.
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.
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