Adyen vs Square Payments: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Adyen and Square Payments — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Square Payments wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10).
| Scored on | Adyen | Square Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 7 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 5 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 9 | 7 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 9 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | — |
| Processing fee | $0.13 per transaction | — |
| Payment Method Fee | Interchange + Markup (Varies) | — |
| Setup Fee | $0 | — |
| Monthly Fee | — | $0 (Basic) |
| In-person Rate | — | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Online/Keyed Rate | — | 2.9% - 3.5% + 15¢ |
| Instant Transfer Fee | — | 1.75% per transfer |
Adyen in one paragraph
Adyen is a powerhouse for businesses scaling globally that are tired of flat-rate processors eating their margins, provided they can handle the technical setup.
Skip it if: Skip it if you are a local-only service business doing less than $10,000 a month in credit card sales.
Square Payments in one paragraph
Square is the gold standard for speed and simplicity, though you pay a premium in transaction fees for the convenience.
Skip it if: Skip it if your business processes more than $20,000 per month, as you'll save thousands elsewhere with interchange-plus pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Adyen or Square Payments?
On our five-axis scorecard, Square Payments scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10). Square is the gold standard for speed and simplicity, though you pay a premium in transaction fees for the convenience.
Who should skip Adyen?
Skip it if you are a local-only service business doing less than $10,000 a month in credit card sales.
Who should skip Square Payments?
Skip it if your business processes more than $20,000 per month, as you'll save thousands elsewhere with interchange-plus pricing.