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As of 6 Nov 2026, the main Square alternatives for online sellers are Vezmo, at 2.79% + $0.29 per card payment with invoices and checkout built in, including in countries Square doesn't serve; PayPal; Helcim, with interchange-plus pricing in the US and Canada; Shopify Payments; SumUp; and Authorize.net. A $100 sale on a US card costs $3.60 on Square's Free plan, $3.08 with Vezmo and about $1.19 to $3.82 with Helcim, by card. In person, Square is still stronger.
When is Square the right choice, and when isn't it?
Square is built for selling in person: card readers, a point of sale and in-person rates from 2.6% + 15¢ on its Free plan. Online, its own US price list charges more, and its card payments work in only 8 countries. Here is what Square's US pricing page listed on 6 Nov 2026.
| How the customer pays | Square Free | Square Plus ($49 a month per location) | On $100, Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Online or an invoice, by card | 3.3% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | $3.60 |
| Your own site or app, through Square's payments APIs | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | $3.20 |
| A card issued outside the US | +1.5% | +1.5% | +$1.50 |
| An invoice paid from a US bank (ACH) | 1%, $1 minimum, no cap | 1%, $1 minimum, $10 cap | $1.00 |
| In person, tap, dip or swipe (for comparison) | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.5% + 15¢ | $2.75 |
- Only 8 countries: Square's help center says card payments work in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK, Ireland, France and Spain, that it doesn't support card processing outside them, and that you must be located in the country where you activated your account.
- Transfers: Square sends money to your bank the next business day for free, or instantly for a fee.
If you sell mostly in person in one of those countries, Square is hard to beat, and you can keep it at the counter. If most of your sales are online, or your business is outside those 8 countries, the options below are worth comparing. For a head-to-head, see Vezmo vs Square.
How did we choose and rank these options?
Vezmo wrote this list and is one of the options in it. Every price and rule about another company comes from that company's own pricing or help page, opened on 6 Nov 2026, and each entry says what to watch for. We looked only at ways to get paid online: checkout on your site, invoices and payment links.
- Where it signs up businesses: a lower price doesn't help if you can't open an account where your business is.
- What a $100 online sale on a US card costs on its published US price list, worked out from the rate and the fixed fee.
- What you pay every month, before any sale.
- Invoices and payment links, for selling without a full online store.
Our order: Vezmo first, because it's ours: 2.79% + $0.29 per card payment with no monthly fee on Free, and it signs up businesses in many countries Square doesn't serve. Then PayPal, for a button many buyers already know. Then Helcim's interchange-plus in the US and Canada, which it says comes to below 2.5% online for most merchants. Shopify Payments next, because it needs a Shopify store. SumUp's online rate is the highest flat rate here, and Authorize.net adds $25 a month. No option wins on every point, so read each one's Best for line before its rank.
The 6 best Square alternatives for online sellers
- 1
Vezmo
Open todayBest for online sellers in countries Square doesn't serveVezmo is a financial technology company, not a bank. VezmoPay takes cards, ACH, Apple Pay and Google Pay through invoices, payment links, checkout and the WooCommerce plugin; a Shopify app is coming soon. It has no card readers or POS.
- Who can sign up
- Businesses, including freelancers, in the US, Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, Kenya, Vietnam, the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and more; checked when you apply.
- $100 online sale
- $3.08 on a US card (2.79% + $0.29). +1% for cards issued outside the US. Optional fraud screening and approval optimization add-ons are extra.
- Invoices
- Invoices, payment links, subscriptions and checkout, built in. ACH costs 0.9% + $1.00, capped at $10.00.
- Monthly fee
- Free $0, with a $15 upkeep fee only in a quarter when the account is quiet; Grow $29 and Pro $99 a month are optional.
- Payouts
- Free to your bank, when you choose.
Watch for: Rates are starting rates, confirmed in writing when we approve your account. We or our partners may hold a payout or place a reserve, for example while we review an account or to cover disputes.
2PayPal
Open todayBest for a checkout button buyers already knowPayPal adds its own checkout button, card payments and invoices, and many buyers already have an account. What you pay depends on how the buyer pays.
- Who can sign up
- Businesses in the countries PayPal serves. Its help center says members in some countries and regions can only send payments, not receive them.
- $100 online sale
- $3.48 by card (2.99% + $0.49), $3.98 when the buyer pays with PayPal (3.49% + $0.49), or $3.18 with advanced card processing (2.89% + $0.29) if PayPal approves your application. Payments from abroad add 1.50%.
- Invoices
- The same card and PayPal rates; 1%, capped at $10, when a US customer pays by bank (ACH).
- Monthly fee
- None for checkout, invoices or advanced card processing; Payments Pro is $30 a month.
- Payouts
- A standard transfer to your bank is free when no conversion is involved; an instant transfer costs 1.50%.
Watch for: The lowest card rate, 2.89% + $0.29, needs a separate application, and PayPal decides who qualifies.
3Helcim
Open todayBest for US and Canadian businesses that want interchange-plus pricingHelcim passes on what the card networks charge (interchange) and adds a published margin that falls as your volume grows. Online invoicing, payment pages, payment requests and an online store builder are included.
- Who can sign up
- Small and medium-sized businesses in the US and Canada.
- $100 online sale
- Interchange + 0.50% + 25¢ on keyed and online payments up to $50,000 a month: $0.75 plus the card's own interchange. From Helcim's Visa table, that's about $1.19 on a debit card, $3.07 on a rewards card and $3.82 on a business card. Helcim says most merchants' keyed and online rate comes to below 2.5%.
- Invoices
- Included. ACH payments cost 0.5% + 25¢, capped at $6.
- Monthly fee
- None, and no setup, PCI or cancellation fee. A lost chargeback costs $15.
- Payouts
- Next-business-morning deposits, free.
Watch for: Your price changes with each card's interchange, so you can't quote one figure per sale in advance the way you can with a flat rate.
4Shopify Payments
Open todayBest for online stores built on Shopify, in its countriesShopify's own payment processing, built into Shopify checkout. You need a Shopify plan, and it works only where Shopify lists your country.
- Who can sign up
- Businesses located in the 41 countries and regions on Shopify's list, in a business category it supports.
- $100 online sale
- $3.20 on the Basic plan (2.9% + 30¢), or $3.80 on a premium card (3.5% + 30¢), on Shopify's US pricing; 2.7% + 30¢ on Grow and 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced. International cards add 1%.
- Monthly fee
- A Shopify plan: Basic is $39 a month, or $29 a month paid yearly; Grow is $105, or $79 paid yearly.
- Payouts
- Bank account, verification and payout details depend on your country; Shopify has a page for each.
Watch for: If you use another payment provider on Shopify instead, Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee: 2% on Basic. See Shopify Payments alternatives.
5SumUp
Open todayBest for small sellers who want simple payment links and invoicesSumUp is best known for its card readers, and its free plan also includes payment links and invoicing.
- Who can sign up
- Businesses in its 38 markets across Europe, the US, Latin America, Canada and Australia.
- $100 online sale
- $3.65 (3.5% + 15¢ for online or manually entered payments, on its US pricing). In person, 2.6% + 10¢.
- Invoices
- Payment links and invoicing on the free plan.
- Monthly fee
- $0 on the free plan; POS Plus is $49 a month.
- Payouts
- Next-day payouts with all its products.
Watch for: Its online rate is the highest flat rate in this list.
6Authorize.net
Open todayBest for businesses that need a payment gateway for their own merchant accountAuthorize.net sells an all-in-one plan with a merchant account, or a gateway-only plan if you already have a merchant account from a bank or processor.
- Who can sign up
- Businesses physically located in the US and Canada, according to its contact page.
- $100 online sale
- $3.20 on the all-in-one plan (2.9% + 30¢, subject to eligibility). Gateway only: 10¢ per transaction plus a 10¢ daily batch fee, on top of your merchant account's own fees.
- Invoices
- Digital invoicing is included; eCheck payments cost 0.75%, for businesses based in the US.
- Monthly fee
- $25 a month on every plan; no setup fee.
- Payouts
- The all-in-one merchant account deposits card payments into your business bank account.
Watch for: The $25 a month weighs most at low volume: at 10 sales a month, it adds $2.50 to each one.
How do they compare side by side?
- Vezmo2.79% + $0.29 a sale; no monthly fee on Free$308.00
- HelcimInterchange + 0.50% + 25¢, by card: ≈ $119 all debit, ≈ $307 all rewards cards, ≈ $382 all business cards; no monthly fee≈ $119 to $382
- PayPal, advanced cards2.89% + $0.29, if PayPal approves you$318.00
Square, through its APIs2.9% + 30¢ on any plan, from your own site$320.00- Authorize.net2.9% + 30¢, plus $25 a month$345.00
- PayPal, standard cards2.99% + $0.49$348.00
- Square Free, Online or invoice3.3% + 30¢$360.00
- SumUp3.5% + 15¢$365.00
- Square Plus, Online or invoice2.9% + 30¢, plus $49 a month$369.00
Card fees before optional add-ons, conversion and cards from abroad. Helcim's range is worked out from its own Visa interchange table, plus Visa's network fees and Helcim's margin. Shopify Payments isn't in the bars because it needs a Shopify plan: on Basic, its 2.9% + 30¢ comes to $320 (3.5% + 30¢ on premium cards), plus the plan. Each figure is from the company's own US page, listed under Sources. Vezmo's rate is a starting rate, confirmed when we approve your account.
| Option | Who can sign up | $100 sale, US card | Invoices | Monthly fee | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vezmo | US, Mexico, Philippines, Kenya, Vietnam and more | $3.08 | Yes; ACH max $10 | $0 on Free* | Free, when you choose |
| Square | 8 countries | $3.60 on Free; $3.20 via APIs | Yes; ACH 1% | $0; Plus $49 | Next day, free |
| PayPal | Where PayPal serves | $3.48; $3.18 if approved | Yes; ACH max $10 | None | Standard, free |
| Helcim | US, Canada | ≈ $1.19–$3.82, by card | Yes; ACH max $6 | None | Next morning, free |
| Shopify Payments | 41 countries | $3.20 on Basic; $3.80 premium cards | Store checkout | Plan from $29 | By country |
| SumUp | 38 markets | $3.65 | Yes | $0 | Next day |
| Authorize.net | US, Canada | $3.20 | Yes; eCheck 0.75% | $25 | To your bank |
* On Vezmo's Free plan, a $15 upkeep fee applies only in a quarter when the account is quiet; Grow ($29 a month) and Pro ($99) are optional. PayPal's $3.18 is its advanced card rate, which needs PayPal's approval; when the buyer pays with PayPal, the fee is $3.98. Each option's full prices are in its card above.
Which one fits your business?
- 1Keep Square at the counter if you sell in personThis guide compares online selling only. Helcim and SumUp also sell card readers, but Vezmo, PayPal's online checkout and Authorize.net's gateway don't replace a point of sale. Many businesses keep Square for in-person sales and add a second provider for online sales.
- 2Check where your business is registeredHelcim and Authorize.net sign up businesses in the US and Canada, Square in 8 countries and Shopify Payments in 41 countries and regions. Elsewhere, look at Vezmo, PayPal and SumUp's markets.
- 3Add up a month, not one saleAt 100 sales of $100 on US cards, card fees plus monthly fees come to about $119 to $382 with Helcim, depending on the cards, $308 with Vezmo, $345 with Authorize.net, $348 with PayPal's standard card rate, $360 on Square Free and $369 on Square Plus. A monthly fee matters more when you sell less.
- 4Match how your customers payCustomers who already have PayPal may expect its button. Business clients paying large invoices often prefer a bank payment: compare ACH caps ($10 at PayPal and Vezmo, $6 at Helcim, none on Square's Free plan).
- 5Move one channel firstStart with invoices or one product page, check that payments and payouts work, then move the rest of your online sales.
Selling on Shopify from a country where Shopify Payments isn't available? See Shopify Payments alternatives. Comparing PayPal on its own? See Vezmo vs PayPal.
Questions
What is the best Square alternative for selling online?
It depends on where your business is and how customers pay. Vezmo suits online sellers, including in countries Square doesn't serve, at 2.79% + $0.29 per sale on a US-issued card; PayPal's button is one many buyers already know; Helcim's interchange-plus pricing suits US and Canadian businesses with steady volume; Shopify Payments suits Shopify stores in its 41 countries and regions.
Which Square alternative has the lowest online fees?
It depends on the card and where your business is registered. Flat rates for a $100 sale on a US-issued card: $3.08 with Vezmo, $3.18 with PayPal's advanced card processing if PayPal approves you, $3.20 through Square's APIs, with Shopify Payments on Basic or with Authorize.net (plus $25 a month), $3.48 with PayPal's standard card rate, $3.60 on Square Free and $3.65 with SumUp. Helcim, for US and Canadian businesses, charges interchange plus 0.50% + 25¢: about $1.19 on a $100 Visa debit card, $3.07 on a rewards card and $3.82 on a business card, from its own tables, and it says most merchants' online rate comes to below 2.5%.
Can I use Square outside the US?
Only in 8 countries. Square's help center says card payments work in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK, Ireland, France and Spain, and that it doesn't support card processing outside them.
Can I keep Square in person and use something else online?
Yes. Many businesses keep Square's readers for in-person sales and use another provider for online checkout, invoices and payment links. You then have two dashboards and two payouts to reconcile.
Which Square alternatives work outside the US and Canada?
Businesses in Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, Kenya, Vietnam, the UAE and more can apply to Vezmo. Helcim and Authorize.net sign up businesses in the US and Canada. PayPal serves many countries, though in some its members can only send payments; SumUp lists 38 markets and Shopify Payments 41 countries and regions.
Does Vezmo have card readers or a POS?
No. Vezmo is for getting paid online: invoices, payment links, checkout, subscriptions and the WooCommerce plugin, with a Shopify app coming soon. For in-person sales, keep Square or another point of sale.
Is Vezmo a bank?
No. Vezmo is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking, stablecoin and card services are provided by regulated partners & Banks.
Sources
Each one is the organization’s own page, checked 6 Nov 2026. Rules and fees change, so check them before you act.
- Square: Pricing (US)
- Square help: Accept payment cards with Square
- PayPal: Merchant fees (US, updated 4 Nov 2026)
- PayPal help: Why does my account have only send capabilities?
- Helcim: Pricing
- Helcim: Business restrictions and acceptable use policy
- Authorize.net: Pricing
- Authorize.net: Contact us
- SumUp: Pricing (US)
- SumUp: About us
- Shopify: Pricing (US)
- Shopify help: Supported countries for Shopify Payments
- Vezmo: VezmoPay pricing
- Vezmo: Pricing
- Helcim: Visa USA interchange rates
Vezmo is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking, stablecoin and card services are provided by regulated partners & Banks. Last reviewed 7 Nov 2026.
