Adyen vs Square: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adyen and Square side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Square leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Adyen
Accept global payments with unified commerce
Best for you if:
- • You want true unified platform
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Adyen | Square |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan, paid from $49/mo, billed monthly Plus plan |
Category | E-commerce Payment Processing | Payment Processing E-commerce |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.0 · Capterra 4.6 · SourceForge 4.0 76 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 1,211 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Potential for minimum transaction volume requirements | n/a |
Choose Adyen or Square?
Choose Adyen if
- You want true unified platform
- You want global coverage
- You work in e-commerce, not payment processing
Choose Square if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want easy payment processing
- You want POS hardware
- You work in payment processing, not e-commerce
In-Depth Analysis
Adyen
Accept global payments with unified commerce
Adyen's transaction-based pricing of $0.13 + payment method fee is fair and transparent, especially with no setup or monthly fees.
Watch out
Potential for minimum transaction volume requirements
Strengths
- Pro: True unified platform
- Pro: Global coverage
- Pro: Enterprise-grade
- Pro: Great analytics
Weaknesses
- Con: Enterprise pricing
- Con: Minimum volume requirements
- Con: Complex integration
Key features
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Square's pricing is generally fair, especially for small businesses.
Strengths
- Pro: Easy payment processing
- Pro: POS hardware
- Pro: Good for small business
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Many features
Weaknesses
- Con: Account holds possible
- Con: Not for high-risk
- Con: International limited
- Con: Support varies
- Con: Fees add up
Key features
Plans and prices: Adyen vs Square
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adyen |
| adyen.com/pricing read Sep 29, 2026 |
| Square |
| squareup.com/pricing read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adyen pricing and Square pricing.
Key Takeaways
Adyen
- Choose if you want accept global payments with unified commerce
Square
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Square leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Square has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 76 reviews for Adyen, 4.6/5 from 1,211 reviews for Square).
- Square starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; Adyen has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Square has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Adyen and Square compare in 2026?
On the data below, Square leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Square has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 76 reviews for Adyen, 4.6/5 from 1,211 reviews for Square). Square starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; Adyen has no public paid plan price on file. Only Square has a free plan.
What are Adyen and Square used for?
Adyen: Accept global payments with unified commerce. Square: Payment processing and POS systems.
What does Adyen cost vs Square?
Adyen has no public paid-plan price on file. Square's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $49/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 29, 2026.
What's the main difference between Adyen and Square?
Adyen's main strength: true unified platform. Square's main strength: easy payment processing.