QuickBooks Payments vs Square Payments: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of QuickBooks Payments and Square Payments — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: QuickBooks Payments wins on our scorecard (7.5/10 vs 7.3/10).
| Scored on | QuickBooks Payments | Square Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 7 |
| Customer support | 5 | 6 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Monthly Base Fee | $0 (with QBO subscription) | — |
| ACH Transfer Fee | 1% (Max $15) | — |
| Invoiced Credit Card | 2.99% | — |
| Keyed-in Rate | 3.5% | — |
| Per-Transaction Fee | $0.25 - $0.30 | — |
| Standard In-Person Rate | — | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Keyed-in / Online Rate | — | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Monthly Subscription | — | $0 (Basic) |
| Instant Transfer Fee | — | 1.75% per transfer |
QuickBooks Payments in one paragraph
The ultimate time-saver for service-based businesses, provided you can stomach the occasional 'verification hold' and higher card-entry fees.
Skip it if: Skip it if you run a high-volume, low-margin retail shop where every 0.1% of processing fee determines your rent money.
Square Payments in one paragraph
Square is the gold standard for startups and small retailers who value simplicity over the absolute lowest possible processing rate.
Skip it if: Do not use Square if you sell high-ticket items over $5,000, as their fraud bots are aggressive with fund holds.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, QuickBooks Payments or Square Payments?
On our five-axis scorecard, QuickBooks Payments scores higher (7.5/10 vs 7.3/10). The ultimate time-saver for service-based businesses, provided you can stomach the occasional 'verification hold' and higher card-entry fees.
Who should skip QuickBooks Payments?
Skip it if you run a high-volume, low-margin retail shop where every 0.1% of processing fee determines your rent money.
Who should skip Square Payments?
Do not use Square if you sell high-ticket items over $5,000, as their fraud bots are aggressive with fund holds.