Squareup.com Explained: Fees, Features & Plans (2026)

Updated June 2026 • Verified Q2 2026

What You Can Do with Squareup.com?

Squareup.com is the official website for Square, a financial technology company that helps small businesses accept payments, run point-of-sale transactions, send invoices, and manage day-to-day operations. Square is owned by Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.).

If you’re here wondering “What exactly does Square do?”, you’re not alone. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur, freelancer, or brick-and-mortar shop owner, Square offers a wide range of free and low-cost tools to help run your business.

On Squareup.com, you can:

• Sign up for a free account
• Accept payments in-person or online
• Use virtual terminals and send professional invoices
• Track sales, inventory, and customer data
• Explore Square’s hardware (like card readers and POS systems)

👉 Looking specifically for a POS system? Check out our in-depth Square POS review for pricing, pros & cons, and how it compares to alternatives.

Who is Square Best For?

Square is best for small businesses and individuals who need a simple, affordable, and flexible payment processing solution. The company’s transparent pricing model, user-friendly interface, and range of features make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes and types, including retail stores, restaurants, food trucks, service providers, and online sellers.

Square is ideal for businesses that need to manage both in-person sales and online transactions.

Square is also a good option for businesses that need to process payments on the go, as it offers a mobile card reader and a mobile app that lets businesses accept payments using their smartphone or tablet.

Squareup.com Pros vs. Cons

Square Pricing Overview

Square restructured its pricing in October 2025. The company now offers three subscription tiers, Free, Plus, and Premium, each with different monthly fees and processing rates.

Square Subscription Plans

Square Processing Fees by Payment Type

Businesses processing over $250K/year may qualify for custom rates. Prices subject to change at any time.

Square Key Features

• Payment Processing: Accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless payments.
• Virtual Terminal: Accept payments over the phone or manually through a web browser.
• Point-of-Sale Software: Square’s POS system tracks sales, manages inventory, and prints custom receipts.
• Square Online: Free ecommerce tools to build an online store.
• Invoicing: Send professional invoices with flexible payment options.
• Hardware Options: Card readers, terminals, and receipt printers.
• Employee Management: Manage staff logins, track hours, and set permissions.
• Reporting & Analytics: View performance metrics by product, employee, or timeframe.
• Inventory Management: Track stock levels and set low-inventory alerts.
• App Integrations: Connect Square to QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and more.
• Gift Cards: Sell and redeem digital or physical gift cards.
• Customer Directory: Store customer profiles and purchase history.
• Square Appointments: Built-in scheduling software.

Square Business Services

Square Capital and Funding

Square Capital offers funding options for small businesses with loans up to $350,000. Repayment is automatic via a percentage of daily sales, with no fixed monthly payments, and the loan must be fully repaid within 18 months. Eligibility is based on your Square sales history.

Square Payroll

Square Payroll is a full-service payroll solution starting at $35/month plus $6 per person paid. It handles pay calculations, tax filings, benefits administration, and workers’ comp insurance.

Square Banking

Square Checking is a free business checking account with instant access to Square sales, with no waiting for next-day deposits. Square Savings offers a 1.00% APY on balances over $10, with no monthly fees and no minimum to open.

Square Hardware

Square sells a full hardware lineup, far more than we can list here. These are some of its most popular options for new and growing businesses:

*Prices subject to change at any time. See our current Square hardware deals and promos for the latest costs and kit options.

For a full breakdown of Square’s plans and processing rates, see our Square POS pricing guide.

Top Alternatives to Square

Clover POS
Toast POS
TouchBistro POS
SumUp
PayPal Zettle

FAQs about Squareup.com

Our Verdict

Square is a strong choice for small businesses and solo operators looking for a flexible, affordable payment system. The free plan makes it easy to start, and the flat-rate pricing is simple to understand.

Square’s fees did rise with the October 2025 restructure: the in-person rate is 2.6% + 15¢, and online transactions on the Free plan are 3.3% + 30¢. For businesses with higher volume, the Plus ($49/mo) or Premium ($149/mo) plans bring those rates down. What stands out is how much Square keeps adding, payments, banking, payroll, lending, and an expanding POS, so it’s a platform that grows with your business rather than one you outgrow.

Square isn’t ideal for businesses that need heavy customization or negotiated processing rates. But for most small businesses, the ease of use, free POS app, and integrated tools make it well worth considering.

Expert Rating: ⭐ 9/10. A genuinely free, no-contract platform that keeps expanding, payments, POS, banking, payroll, and lending in one ecosystem. Higher flat-rate fees at volume are the main caveat, but for value, simplicity, and room to grow, Square is one of the easiest first choices for a small business.

About the Author

Jason Feemster
POS systems expert and founder of POSUSA.com, a trusted industry resource since 2011. With over a decade of hands-on experience testing and reviewing point-of-sale systems, he helps business owners choose solutions that actually fit their needs.