Short answer: In Canada, Square charges 2.5% per in-person credit card sale and 0.75% + 7¢ per debit sale, with a free plan at $0 a month. Online, keyed-in and foreign cards cost more. The rates are simple. Whether they’re the cheapest for you depends on how much you process and how many customers pay by debit.
Square’s processing rates in Canada
| How the customer pays | Square’s rate |
|---|---|
| In person, credit card (tap, chip or swipe) | 2.5% per transaction |
| In person, debit | 0.75% + 7¢ per transaction |
| Online (Online Store, Online Checkout, invoices paid online) | 2.8% + 30¢ per transaction |
| Keyed in, card on file or Virtual Terminal | 3.3% + 15¢ per transaction |
| Cards issued outside Canada | An additional 1.5% |
Source: Square Canada pricing, checked November 10, 2026. Square says custom rates may be available on its Premium plan, pending eligibility.
Square’s monthly plans
- Free: $0 a month, no setup fees. You pay only the processing rates.
- Plus: from $35 a month, plus processing.
- Premium: custom pricing.
Hardware is bought separately; Square’s Canadian store lists the Square Reader at $69, Square Terminal at $399 and Square Register at $999.
Square through GT Payments
Square accounts set up through GT Payments are on our Fixed plan: 2.50% on credit and 0.75% + $0.07 on debit, with no monthly fee. That’s the same in-person rate as Square’s own pricing, so you don’t pay more to go through us. What you get on top is a person who sets it up with you (in person across the GTA), a support line answered 24/7, and a technician on-site within 2–4 hours across the GTA. For online, keyed-in or cross-border payments, ask us which rates apply to your account.
When Square isn’t the cheapest option
A flat 2.5% is easy to read, but you pay it on every credit card, including the basic cards that cost the least to accept. Two situations where another plan usually costs less:
- Lots of debit. At 0.75% + 7¢, a $40 debit sale costs 37¢. On our Variable or Surcharge plans (on Clover), the same debit sale costs a flat 5¢. Convenience stores and grocers notice this quickly.
- You want credit card fees off your books. Our Surcharge plan charges 2.40% to the cardholder where permitted, so your credit card cost is $0. See the surcharging rules.
Example: a shop with $20,000 in credit and $5,000 in debit a month, average sale $35 (about 143 debit sales). On a 2.5% / 0.75% + 7¢ structure that’s about $547.51 a month. On our Surcharge plan the shop pays about $7.15 in debit fees, and customers who pay by credit card pay the 2.40%. On Variable it’s the card networks’ interchange plus 0.20% on credit and about $7.15 on debit. Run your own numbers in the cost calculator.
If you like Square’s software, staying on Square is a perfectly good choice. If processing cost is what you’re trying to cut, compare it with Clover on Clover vs Square and Clover POS pricing.
Square fee questions
What does Square charge per transaction in Canada?
According to Square Canada’s pricing page: 2.5% for in-person credit cards, 0.75% + 7¢ for in-person debit, 2.8% + 30¢ online and 3.3% + 15¢ for keyed-in payments, with an additional 1.5% on cards issued outside Canada.
Does Square have a monthly fee in Canada?
Square’s Free plan is $0 a month. Square Plus starts at $35 a month, and Premium is custom-priced.
Is Square more expensive through GT Payments?
No. Square accounts through GT Payments are on our Fixed plan, 2.50% on credit and 0.75% + $0.07 on debit with no monthly fee, the same in-person rates Square publishes. We add in-person setup across the GTA and a 24/7 support line.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Square in Canada?
For debit-heavy businesses or anyone who wants credit card fees off their books, often yes: Clover on our Variable plan ($0.05 debit) or Surcharge plan (credit card fee paid by the cardholder where permitted) can cost much less per month. It depends on your card mix, so compare on a real statement.