Skip to main content
Payment & Billing

Lago vs Square: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Lago and Square. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Lago starts at Custom pricing and Square starts at $35/mo. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Lago vs Square: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureLagoSquare
Starting PriceCustom pricing$35/mo
Number of Plans42
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelopen-sourceusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Lago and Square are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Payment & Billing tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 7 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Square stands out with a free plan for getting started. Lago uses open-source pricing while Square uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

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
Tier 1
Key features
Custom pricing
Start with Key features
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • End-to-end encrypted payments
  • Active fraud prevention
  • Next day transfers
  • Offline payments
Start with Free
Tier 2
Lago shines when billing gets complex
Custom pricing
Start with Lago shines when billing gets complex
Square Payroll
$35/monthCheapest
$5 / year
Includes
  • Full-service payroll
  • Starting at $35 per month
  • $6 per person paid
Start with Square Payroll
Tier 3
Enterprise-grade security and privacy
Custom pricing
Start with Enterprise-grade security and privacy
Tier 4
Lago solves complex billing.
Custom pricing
Start with Lago solves complex billing.

Swipe to compare plans →

Lago

Open-source metering and usage-based billing platform

View all Lago plans

Square

Payment processing for in-person and online transactions

View all Square plans
Our Pick

Square

Square offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Square

Try Square free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Lago if:

  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Lago offers negotiated terms for large deployments
  • You prioritize Lago's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Choose Square if:

  • You need a free plan with End-to-end encrypted payments, Active fraud prevention—Square offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You want more features built-in—Square offers 7 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Square's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Square offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Lago requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Square a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Square's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $35/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Lago's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Square's 2 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Lago's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Square is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

ShareShare

Frequently Asked Questions: Lago vs Square

How many pricing plans does Lago have vs Square?
Lago offers 4 pricing plans, while Square offers 2 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Lago or Square offer a free plan?
Square offers a free plan, while Lago does not. If budget is a concern, Square lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for Lago or Square?
Both Lago and Square offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
Does Lago or Square offer custom enterprise pricing?
Lago offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Square lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do Lago and Square use?
Lago uses a open-source pricing model, while Square uses usage-based pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Lago and Square compare for Payment & Billing?
Both Lago and Square are Payment & Billing tools. Lago offers 4 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Square offers 2 plans starting at $35/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Payment & Billing needs.

Sources

  1. Lago Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Square Official PricingVendor pricing page

Track Price Changes

Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.