Braintree vs Square: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Braintree and Square. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Braintree starts at $10/mo, making it $25/mo cheaper than Square ($35/mo). Braintree offers a free plan.
Last updated: July 2, 2026
Square - Square wins for physical retail; Braintree wins for online or app-based payment processing.
Braintree vs Square: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Braintree | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $10/mo | $35/mo |
| Number of Plans | 5 | 2 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Braintree is the more affordable option, starting at $10/mo compared to Square's $35/mo. Both are Payment & Billing tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 21 features compared.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Payment & Billing needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Braintree Try free |  Square Try free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Starter $10/monthCheapest $120 / year Includes
| Square Payroll $35/month $5 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Pro $30/monthCheapest $360 / year Includes
| - |
| Tier 4 | BusinessPopular $100/monthCheapest $1200 / year Includes
| - |
| Tier 5 | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
| - |
← Swipe to compare plans →
Ready to get started? Try either tool free — no credit card required.
Square
Square wins for physical retail; Braintree wins for online or app-based payment processing.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Try Square freeFree plan availableWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Braintree if:
- •You need a developer-grade payment API for a custom online checkout experience
- •You want competitive card-not-present rates and PayPal/Venmo integration
- •You are building a custom app and need flexible payment APIs
Choose Square if:
- •You run a physical retail business and need POS hardware and point-of-sale features
- •You want Square's inventory management, employee scheduling, and CRM tools
- •You need free card readers and a turnkey POS setup
Square is built for physical retail with POS hardware and in-person payments. Braintree is built for online and app-based payments. Square charges 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person and 2.9% + $0.30 online. Braintree charges 2.59% + $0.49 online. For brick-and-mortar businesses, Square's hardware and tooling are irreplaceable. For online-only businesses, Braintree is more flexible and similarly priced.
Frequently Asked Questions: Braintree vs Square
Which is cheaper, Braintree or Square?
How many pricing plans does Braintree have vs Square?
Does Braintree or Square offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Braintree or Square?
What is the most popular Braintree plan?
Does Braintree or Square offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Braintree and Square compare for Payment & Billing?
Sources
- Braintree Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
- Square Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
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