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Square POS

A free plan, simple card rates and no contract, built for small shops, salons and food trucks

Rates verified October 14, 2026
POS Systems
See pricing

The Bottom Line

In-person card rate
2.6% + 15¢ (verified Oct 14, 2026). All rates and fees

Key facts

  • Free plan: $0 a month, 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person card sale, no contract.
  • Plus ($49) and Premium ($149) charge per location and only pay off at high card volume.
  • Next-business-day payouts are free; instant transfers cost 1.95%.

Pros

  • A $0 plan with no monthly fee and no contract
  • The same rate for every major card, with the whole price list on one page
  • Free next-business-day payouts, and instant transfer if you need it
  • Works on your phone with no hardware, or from a $59 reader

Cons

  • Online and invoice payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan
  • Paid plans are billed per location, so a second shop doubles the plan fee
  • Square can hold part of your card sales in a rolling reserve if it sees risk

At a glance

Rates verified October 14, 2026
In-person card rate
2.6% + 15¢ (Free plan)
Online or invoice rate
3.3% + 30¢
Keyed-in rate
3.5% + 15¢
Monthly software
Free $0, Plus $49, Premium $149 a month (per location)
Free plan
Yes
Card reader
$59 (Square Reader for contactless and chip)
Terminal
$299 (Square Terminal)
Register
$899 (Square Register, 2nd generation)
Payout speed
Next business day at no charge, or within minutes for a 1.95% fee
Contract
No locked-in contract. Cancel or switch plans anytime.
Best for
Retail shops, Restaurants and cafes, Service businesses, Mobile and pop-up sellers
Other fees to know
Instant transfer: 1.95%; Cards issued outside the US: +1.5%; Kitchen display app (paid plans): $30 a month per device on Plus, $20 on Premium; Chargebacks: no fee for dispute management; the disputed amount is held while the case runs
Countries
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, France, Spain and Japan (Square's region list)

Sources: squareup.com/us/en/pricing, squareup.com/us/en/hardware, read October 14, 2026

Is it worth it?

About $320 a month in card fees on $10,000 of in-person sales

A small shop taking $10,000 a month in card payments, in 400 sales of $25, would pay about $320 a month in total on the Free plan: $320 in card fees (2.6% + 15¢ on 400 sales of $25) and no monthly software fee. Hardware is not included, and rates change, so the date above matters.

Read this before you sign up

  • Square can place a rolling reserve on card payments, for example when you collect payment in advance of delivering goods or services, or when chargebacks rise. The money stays yours and is released on a rolling basis.
  • The Free plan has the highest in-person rate (2.6% + 15¢ against 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium). The paid plans are billed per location and only pay off at high card volume.
  • Extras are priced per device on paid plans only: the kitchen display app is $20 to $30 a month per device and the self-order kiosk app $30 to $50.
  • Cards issued outside the US carry an extra 1.5% fee.

Where these numbers come from

Checked October 14, 2026

Every rate and price on this page was read from the vendor's own pages on the dates below. Vendors change prices without notice, so check the current figure on their site before you decide.

What is Square POS?

Sources read on the date shown
Square is the easiest place to start for most small businesses. The Free plan costs $0 a month and you pay only when you take a payment: 2.6% + 15¢ for a card tapped, dipped or swiped, and 3.5% + 15¢ when you type the card number in. There is no contract, and you can switch plans or leave at any time. The paid plans cut the in-person rate to 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus ($49 a month per location) and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium ($149 a month per location). They also add extras such as kitchen display screens, and Premium adds 24/7 priority support and advanced reporting. At small volumes the Free plan costs less overall: the lower rate only covers the monthly fee once you take about $49,000 a month in cards on Plus, or about $74,500 a month on Premium. Money reaches your bank the next business day at no charge, or within minutes for a 1.95% fee. Hardware is optional: the contactless and chip reader is $59, the Terminal $299, and you can take payments on your own phone with no device at all. One thing to know: Square can hold back part of your card sales in a rolling reserve if it sees risk, for example when you take payment well before you deliver, so keep a cash buffer if you sell deposits or pre-orders.
Sourcesquareup.com ↗

Key details

Free plan: pay only when you take a paymentTap to Pay on iPhone and Android, no extra hardwareInvoices, payment links and a virtual terminalOnline site and store builderAppointment booking for service businessesOffline payments and next-day transfers on every planPayroll from $35 a month plus $6 per person paid

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Square POS FAQ

How much does Square charge per card sale?

On the Free plan: 2.6% + 15¢ when the card is tapped, dipped or swiped in person, 3.3% + 30¢ online or on an invoice, and 3.5% + 15¢ when you type the card in. Plus lowers the in-person rate to 2.5% + 15¢ and Premium to 2.4% + 15¢. Checked on Square's pricing page on October 14, 2026.

Does Square charge a monthly fee?

Not on the Free plan. Plus is $49 a month and Premium is $149 a month, both per location, and both start with a 30-day free trial.

Do I have to buy hardware to use Square?

No. You can take payments with invoices, payment links, a virtual terminal, or Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android. If you want a device, the contactless and chip Reader is $59, the Stand is $149, the Terminal is $299, the Handheld is $399 and the second-generation Register is $899.

How fast do I get my money from Square?

Transfers to your bank arrive the next business day at no charge. Instant transfers, which arrive within minutes, cost 1.95% of the amount.

Is there a contract with Square?

Square says there are no locked-in contracts and you can cancel or switch plans at any time.

Can Square hold my money?

In some cases, yes. Square can set aside a percentage of your card sales as a rolling reserve to cover possible chargebacks, for example if you take payment before delivering goods or services. The money still belongs to you and is released if no chargebacks occur.

Source: squareup.com