Square raised its Free plan online card rate from 2.9% to 3.3% + 30¢
With its Free/Plus/Premium plan overhaul, Square raised the Free plan's online checkout rate from 2.9% + 30¢ to 3.3% + 30¢ per transaction; the 2.9% + 30¢ rate now requires Plus ($49/mo) or the eCommerce API.
What changed
- Price increase, Jan 13, 2026
- Before: Free plan online: 2.9% + 30¢
- After: Free plan online: 3.3% + 30¢ (Plus/Premium 2.9% + 30¢)
- Existing customers: Applied to existing Free-plan sellers from January 13, 2026; no grandfathering reported
Cheaper alternatives to Square
At $10,000 a month in card sales, Square costs $350/mo. 1 payment provider costs less:
- PayPal: $347/mo (Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments (2.89% + $0.29))
Square alternatives: 4 payment providers compared, at every size.
Sources
Every price and change for Square: Square.