Stripe vs. Square: Which payment platform is right for your business? [2025]

Square and Stripe serve different business needs with their respective strengths in in-person and online payments, making them suitable for brick-and-mortar and online-first businesses, respectively. Square provides a comprehensive business platform with a user-friendly all-in-one POS system, integrated marketing tools, and straightforward pricing, making it ideal for local service businesses without technical expertise. It supports features like appointment scheduling, inventory management, and CRM, and is widely used in physical retail settings. In contrast, Stripe excels in supporting online businesses with global ambitions, offering developer-friendly infrastructure, advanced subscription tools, and extensive international payment capabilities. Its platform allows for highly customizable checkout experiences and integration with a wide range of third-party applications, making it suitable for tech-savvy companies looking to expand internationally. Stripe's pricing includes additional fees for international cards and currency conversion, while Square offers transparent pricing with no chargeback fees, making it more appealing for small, local businesses.