Square vs Recurly: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Square and Recurly comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need payment processing features specifically
- • Square is a payments and commerce platform for businesses
- • It provides payment processing, POS, and business management tools
Recurly
Automate exceptional digital subscription experiences to grow recurring revenue and improve retention.
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.5/10 vs 8.2/10)
- • You need crm features specifically
- • Automates subscription management and recurring billing for digital businesses.
- • Offers advanced churn mitigation, revenue recovery, and global payment capabilities.
| At a Glance |  Square | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Payment Processing | CRM |
Rating | 82/100 | 85/100 |
| Feature | Square | Recurly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 82 | 85 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Payment ProcessingE-commerce Platforms | CRMPayment Processing |
How Square and Recurly Compare
Square
Payment processing and POS systems
Free tier available · 82/100 score
Recurly
Automate exceptional digital subscription experiences to grow recurring revenue and improve retention.
Paid · 85/100 score
Square is a payment processing tool. Recurly is in crm.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Square has a free tier. Recurly is paid only.
Go with: Square
Want the highest-rated option?
Square: 82/100. Recurly: 85/100.
Go with: Recurly
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Recurly
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Square is freemium. Recurly is paid. Square lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Square is a payment processing tool. Recurly is in crm. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Recurly scores higher: 85/100 vs 82/100.
Key Takeaways
Recurly
- Higher score: 85/100 vs 82
- Our pick for this comparison
Square
- Has a free tier
- Better fit for payment processing
The Bottom Line
Recurly (85/100) is our pick. Square has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Square or Recurly better?
Recurly scores 85/100 in our evaluation. Square is freemium and Recurly is paid.
What are Square and Recurly used for?
Square: Payment processing and POS systems. Recurly: Automate exceptional digital subscription experiences to grow recurring revenue and improve retention..
What does Square cost vs Recurly?
Square is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Recurly is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.