Simple vs Square: The 2026 Comparison
One flat rate. Every feature. No per-location fees.
Simple gives every business 2.39% flat processing with every feature included. Square gets you to a similar toolset only through its $49–$149/month per-location plans — and raised online rates again in January 2026.
Comparison data verified July 2026 from squareup.com. Square is a trademark of Block, Inc.
Key facts — Simple vs Square
- Simple charges 2.39% flat on all card transactions (in person and online) on every plan; Square charges 2.6% + 15¢ in person and 3.3% + 30¢ online on its Free plan as of January 2026.
- Square's lowest in-person rate (2.4% + 15¢) requires the Premium plan at $149/month per location; Simple's 2.39% rate applies at every plan starting at $39/month.
- Simple includes native delivery dispatch with your own drivers at no extra cost; Square charges $1.50 per delivery order plus courier fees (DoorDash from $6.99 per delivery, or Uber).
- Simple has no contracts and month-to-month billing; Square is also month-to-month, but its paid plans (Plus at $49 and Premium at $149 per location per month) are required for its lower rates and gated features.
- Simple includes task management, forms & checklists, expense management with live P&L, a branded customer support portal, and swim-lane service queues on every plan; Square does not sell these features at any tier.
Pricing at a glance
Every line, side by side — with Square's post-October 2025 plan structure and January 2026 rate hike.
| Simple | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Card processing (in person) | 2.39% — every plan | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium) |
| Card processing (online) | 2.39% — every plan | 3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (paid plans) |
| Keyed / card on file | 2.39% | 3.5% + 15¢ (all plans) |
| Software subscription | All features included | $0 / $49 / $149 per month per location |
| Users | Unlimited | Feature access tied to plan tier |
| Delivery dispatch | Included — your own drivers | $1.50/order fee + DoorDash from $6.99/delivery or Uber courier fees |
| Text marketing | Included | 500–2,500 free texts, then 1.5¢–3¢ per text |
| Onboarding | Migration support on every plan; white-glove on Large | Self-serve (implementation support only for $250k+/yr custom deals) |
In January 2026, Square raised its Free-plan online rate from 2.9% + 30¢ to 3.3% + 30¢ — a 14% increase. Simple's rate has one number: 2.39%.
Feature by feature
Grouped the same way as our pricing page — Core, Back Office, and Operations Hub.
Core
| Feature | Simple | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Point of Sale (sales, returns, exchanges) | Included | Included |
| Invoicing (invoices, estimates, recurring) | Included | Included (free) |
| E-commerce with drag-and-drop page builder | Included — per-location themes, scheduled homepages, built-in SEO tools | Basic Square Online sites, or sync your catalog to a Wix-built store |
| Appointments & online booking | Included | Included (advanced features on paid plans) |
| Loyalty program | Included | Plus plan ($49/mo per location) |
| Advanced discount engine (BOGO, bundles, smart clearance) | Included | Basic discounts; automatic discounts on Plus |
| Customer segmentation with live rule preview + AI recommendations | Included | Smart groups & filters |
| Text & email marketing | Included | Email on Plus; texts metered (3¢ or 1.5¢ each after free tier) |
Back Office
| Feature | Simple | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory: POs, transfers, audits, variants, vendors | Included | Plus plan ($49/mo per location) |
| Purchase-order returns & inventory rooms | Included | Not available |
| Expense management wired into live P&L | Included | Not available |
| Reports & analytics | Included | Depth gated by plan tier |
| Register with blind close & float accountability | Included | Basic cash drawer management |
| Store & multi-location management | Included, unlimited users | $49–$149/mo per each added location on paid plans |
| Transparent payment onboarding (live status + corrections) | Included | Instant signup; account holds are Square's most common complaint |
| Integrations hub | Included | Large app marketplace |
Operations Hub
| Feature | Simple | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Employee scheduler & shifts | Included | Plus plan ($49/mo per location) |
| Time clock with GPS + geofence + PTO | Included | Geofenced clock-in on Plus |
| Task management (recurring, read-&-sign) | Included | Not available |
| Forms & checklists with approvals | Included | Not available |
| Delivery & dispatch: your drivers, vehicles, map-drawn zones | Included | Third-party only: $1.50/order + courier fees |
| Service queues (swim lanes) | Included | Not available |
| Branded customer support portal + ticket inbox | Included | Not available |
| Help center builder | Included | Not available |
The details that matter
The delivery math
A delivery business doing 500 orders/month pays Square $750/month in dispatch fees alone ($1.50 × 500) — plus $6.99+ per DoorDash delivery, before processing.
Simple's dispatch — drivers, vehicles, zones, scheduling — is included.
The rate you actually get
To earn Square's best rate (2.4% + 15¢) you pay $149/month per location — $1,788/year per location. Simple gives every merchant 2.39% from day one.
Savings Calculator
Live math using verified July 2026 published rates.
Which of these do you use?
Simple
Processing only
$11,472
per year
Square
Processing + feature add-ons
$16,608
per year
Annual total: processing + on-toggle feature costs. Base software shown below.
Simple software
Square software
Free plan by default; $49/mo Plus and $149/mo Premium exist. Plus fee is counted above when a Plus-only feature is on.
You save
$5,136
per year vs Square
Not for sale at any price on Square
Estimates based on published July 2026 rates and typical published app pricing. Courier fees (DoorDash/Uber) excluded for Square delivery. Your actuals may vary.
Seven tools Square doesn't make
- Task management — Recurring tasks with read-&-sign accountability.
- Forms & checklists — Approvals, audits, and shift routines built in.
- Expense management — Receipts and vendor bills wired into live P&L.
- Delivery dispatch — Your drivers, vehicles, and map-drawn zones.
- Swim lanes — Service queues for salons, repair, and quick-serve.
- Support portal — Branded ticket inbox for your customers.
- Help center builder — Publish knowledge base articles in-app.
The bottom line
Square works for very small sellers who need a $0 entry point and little else. The moment you need loyalty, scheduling, or delivery, you're paying per month, per location, per feature — Simple includes all of it at 2.39%.
Frequently asked questions
Stop renting your rate.
Get everything, for 2.39%.
All Square pricing and feature information verified July 2026 from squareup.com and Square's published pricing policies. Details may change; we update this page regularly. Square is a trademark of Block, Inc., which does not endorse Simple.