Jim vs Square (2026): Fees, Payouts, and Which One to Pick
By Justin Dabish, Founder
Jim and Square both let you take cards on your phone with no hardware. Jim wins the headline rate. Square wins on getting your money to the bank. Which one costs less depends on one question: do you spend your sales from a card, or do they need to reach a bank account?
How does Jim compare to Square?
| Jim | Square free plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay rate | 1.99% | 2.6% + 15 cents |
| Online / payment link | 4.99% + $0.30 | 3.3% + 30 cents |
| Where sales land | Jim Visa Prepaid Card | Your bank account |
| Bank deposit cost | 1.99% + $0.99 per transfer | Free, next business day |
| Instant payout | Free to the Jim Card | 1.95% per transfer |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 (paid plans $49 to $149 per location) |
| Inventory, staff, loyalty | No | Yes, some on paid plans |
| Support | Chat and email | Phone, chat, email |
Sources: jim.com/pricing, help.jim.com, squareup.com, verified October 2026.
The fee math on a $10,000 month
| Scenario | Jim | Square |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 in taps, spent from the card or left in Square | $199.00 | $297.50 at a $40 average ticket |
| $10,000 in taps, all moved to a bank | $398.00 | $297.50 |
Square's figure is 2.6% of $10,000 ($260) plus 250 sales x 15 cents ($37.50). Jim's banked figure adds 1.99% of the remaining $9,801 plus four $0.99 transfers.
At a $40 average ticket, a business that banks its sales pays Square about $100 a month less than Jim.
Small tickets change the math
Square's 15-cent fee hits small sales hardest. On an $8 coffee, Square costs about 36 cents and Jim about 16 cents. If you sell many small items and spend from the Jim Card, Jim wins clearly. Even banked, Jim stays cheaper than Square below an average sale of about $11, because Square's 15 cents per sale outweighs Jim's transfer fee.
Getting paid: card vs bank
Jim puts money on its prepaid card in seconds for free. Square puts money in your bank the next business day for free, or in minutes for 1.95%. If you need cash in a bank account fast, Square's instant transfer (1.95%) and Jim's bank transfer (1.99% + $0.99) cost about the same, but Square's free standard deposit has no Jim equivalent.
Features beyond payments
Square is a full point of sale: item library, inventory, team management, online store, and an app marketplace, with more on paid plans. Jim covers taps, payment links, booking, and a simple AI website. If you need to track stock or staff, Jim is not built for it.
Is Jim better than Square?
Jim is better for a seller who takes small, occasional payments and spends from the card. Square is better for a business that banks its sales or needs POS features. Neither offers a rate below 2% that reaches your bank.
A third option: Simple
Simple charges 2.19% on every transaction, in person and online, with no per-sale fee, Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, and next-day deposits to your bank. On the same $10,000 of banked taps at a $40 average ticket, Simple costs $219, against $297.50 at Square and $398 at Jim. Plans start at $29 a month, with staff tools from $99. Compare: Simple vs Square, Simple vs Jim.
The bottom line
Spend from the card and sell small tickets: Jim. Bank your sales and want a full free POS: Square. Bank your sales and want the lowest rate: Simple.
Frequently asked questions
Per tap, yes: 1.99% vs 2.6% + 15 cents. Once you move Jim sales to a bank at 1.99% + $0.99 per transfer, Square costs less for any business averaging more than about $11 a sale.
Standard next-business-day deposits are free. Instant and same-day transfers cost 1.95%.
Yes. Some vendors use Jim for small taps they spend from the card and Square for sales they bank.
For a few small sales spent from the card, Jim. For steady sales you deposit to a bank, Square or Simple.
Yes. Both offer Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android.
Pricing verified October 18, 2026 from jim.com, help.jim.com and squareup.com. Jim and Square are trademarks of their owners, which do not endorse Simple.