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Paystack vs Square
Paystack and Square are both card processing platforms. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $985 on Paystack and $973.85 on Square, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $985 on Paystack and $973.85 on Square, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Both pay out via Bank transfer.
- Square is the older platform — founded in 2009, 6 years before Paystack (2015).
- Paystack is based in Nigeria, Square in United States.
Which should you choose?
Choose Paystack if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
Choose Square if…
- You prefer a long track record (since 2009).
Side by side
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Paystack
The Stripe-owned processor built for Africa - Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, and Kenyan businesses accept…
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Square
Take card payments in person or online - free card reader, invoices, and an online store, popular with local s…
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Card processing like Stripe | Card processing like Stripe |
| Category | Payments | Payments |
| Vetted | No | No |
| Work from home | Yes | No |
| Fees | From 1.5% per local transaction | 2.6% plus 15 cents per in-person charge (US Free plan) |
| Payout speed | — | Free next-business-day transfers |
| Withdraw via | Bank transfer | Bank transfer |
| Availability | Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast | US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and more |
| Local to | Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya | — |
| Founded | 2015 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Lagos, Nigeria | Oakland, United States |
| Popularity | 47 views · 0 likes | 40 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Paystack or Square?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $985 on Paystack and $973.85 on Square, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are Paystack and Square available?
Paystack: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast. Square: US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and more.