Moneta vs Square
Compare payment processing fees and features. See how much your business can save by switching from Square to Moneta's zero-fee stablecoin payments.
Savings Calculator
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Detailed Fee Comparison
| Fee Type | Moneta | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee (%) | 0% | 2.6% |
| Fixed Fee per Transaction | ~$0.001 | $0.10 |
| Chargeback Fee | N/A | $15-25 |
| Settlement Time | Instant | 2-7 days |
| Withdrawal Fee | $0 | Varies |
Feature Comparison
Real-World Savings Scenarios
Coffee Shop
$15,000/month
A local coffee shop using Square POS. At 2.6% + $0.10, processing fees on $15K monthly equal $400+ eating into thin margins.
Food Truck
$8,000/month
A mobile food vendor relying on Square readers. Processing fees of $200+ monthly reduce already-tight food truck profits.
Retail Boutique
$30,000/month
A small retail store with Square POS. Monthly processing fees of $800+ could fund additional inventory or marketing.
Service Business
$20,000/month
A salon or spa using Square appointments and payments. 2.6% on $20K monthly equals $520 in fees.
Pros and Cons
Moneta
Pros
- Zero transaction fees (vs 2.6% + $0.10)
- Instant settlement at no extra cost
- No chargeback risk
- Self-custody of funds
- No hardware required
- Works globally
- No account holds
- Same fee regardless of transaction size
Cons
- No card payment acceptance
- No POS hardware or software
- No business management tools
- Recipients need crypto wallets
- No payroll integration
- No business lending
Square
Pros
- Simple, transparent flat-rate pricing
- Free POS software
- Affordable card readers
- Comprehensive business tools
- Square Capital lending
- Payroll integration
- Appointment scheduling
- Inventory management
Cons
- 2.6% + $0.10 in-person fees
- 2.9% + $0.30 online fees
- 1.75% for instant deposits
- 1-2 day standard settlement
- Chargeback fees and risk
- Account holds possible
- Higher fees for keyed transactions
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Moneta if you:
- Want to eliminate payment processing fees
- Have crypto-accepting customers
- Need instant settlement without fees
- Process primarily online payments
- Want to avoid chargeback risk
- Don't need POS hardware
- Prefer self-custody of funds
Choose Square if you:
- Need card payment acceptance
- Want POS hardware and software
- Need comprehensive business tools
- Require payroll integration
- Want access to business lending
- Prefer all-in-one business platform
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Moneta compare to Square for small businesses?
Square is excellent for small businesses needing POS hardware, software, and card acceptance. Moneta offers zero fees but requires customers to pay with stablecoins. For card-paying customers, Square is necessary. For crypto-accepting customers or B2B payments, Moneta eliminates fees entirely.
Can I use Moneta instead of Square for my retail store?
It depends on your customers. If they pay with cards, you need Square or similar. If you can accept stablecoin payments (increasingly common), Moneta saves 2.6%+ on every transaction. Some businesses offer both options and incentivize crypto payments with discounts.
What about Square's instant deposits?
Square charges 1.75% for instant deposits; otherwise, funds arrive in 1-2 business days. Moneta settles instantly by default at no extra cost. If cash flow is critical, Moneta's free instant settlement is a significant advantage.
Does Moneta offer business tools like Square?
Square provides comprehensive business software—POS, inventory, payroll, appointments, and more. Moneta focuses purely on payment processing. Many businesses use Square for operations and Moneta for fee-free payments where possible.
How do chargebacks compare?
Square processes card payments subject to chargebacks. Moneta uses irreversible stablecoin transactions—no chargebacks possible. For businesses with chargeback issues (common in certain industries), Moneta eliminates this risk entirely.
Is Square Capital available with Moneta?
Square offers business loans based on your processing history. Moneta doesn't offer financing. If you need access to capital, Square's integrated lending is valuable. However, the 2.6% you save with Moneta could fund growth without debt.
About Square
Square (now Block, Inc.) is a financial services company founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey. Known for its iconic card readers, Square provides payment processing, point-of-sale systems, and business software for small to medium businesses. Square's flat-rate pricing is simple and transparent, but the 2.6% + $0.10 fee structure can significantly impact margins, especially for businesses with thin profit margins or high transaction volumes.
Ready to switch from Square?
Join thousands of businesses saving $3,239/year by switching to zero-fee stablecoin payments.
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