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Most buyers should pick Square.
Square is the lower-commitment starting point for sellers who want a free POS plan and tools for teams, marketing, and cash flow. Elavon is worth comparing if you want published starting rates for in-person and online payments, plus payment gateways and 24/7/365 support. We can’t compare total processing costs from the published pricing: Square’s rates aren’t published here, and Elavon’s rates are starting rates. Check your actual terms before switching.
01Side by side
| Elavon | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | In-person starts at 2.60% + 12¢; online at 3.30% + 30¢ | Free plan; processing rates not published |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | Square Free includes POS, online site, and invoicing |
| Best for | Businesses needing online, in-person, or on-the-go payments | Sellers wanting POS plus business management tools |
| Core strength | Payment processing across online and in-person channels | POS, team, marketing, loyalty, and cash-flow tools |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Customized online reporting; payment gateways listed | App connections and Square AI business insights |
| Team/seat costs | Not published | Team tools listed; seat costs not published |
| Support | Customer support available 24/7/365 | 24/7 phone support on Square Premium |
Elavon Choose Elavon if
- Choose Elavon if you need published starting in-person processing rates.
- Choose Elavon if you want a published online starting rate.
- Choose Elavon if 24/7/365 customer support is a requirement.
Square Choose Square if
- Choose Square if you want a free POS plan to start.
- Choose Square if you need team management, marketing, and loyalty tools.
- Choose Square if you want app connections and Square AI business insights.
02Pricing compared
Square is the lower-commitment starting point: its Square Free plan is listed at $0 per month and includes a POS app, online site, item library, invoicing and booking, and checking and savings accounts. Prices for Square Plus and Premium subscriptions are not published on the vendor's site, and Square’s processing rates are not listed here. Square Pro offers custom pricing for businesses processing over $250,000 yearly.
Elavon publishes starting processing rates: 2.60% + 12¢ per qualified in-person transaction and 3.30% + 30¢ online. Its listed plans have no annual, batch, additional authorization, or cancellation fees. These are starting rates, not a complete quote; interchange-plus pricing is not published. We can’t say which provider costs less overall without Square’s rates and your actual Elavon terms. Compare processing, subscription, and add-on costs before switching.
03Features and depth
Square bundles payments with a broad set of seller tools. Its platform covers in-person and online sales, team administration, payroll and shift scheduling, marketing campaigns, loyalty programs, and cash-flow tools. It also lists app connections and Square AI for business insights. Square Plus and Premium add progressively more features, including loyalty and email campaigns on Plus, and phone support and advanced reporting on Premium. Some add-ons carry separate device or messaging fees.
Elavon’s listed toolkit centers on payment acceptance: online, in-person, and on-the-go payments, plus payment gateways and eCommerce tools. It also promotes customized online reporting, 24/7/365 customer support, and Quick Capital funding through Liberis, with payments that adjust to daily card sales. The published information does not establish how Elavon’s tools compare with Square’s in depth. Square’s review score is higher for features (8 versus 7), but that rating alone does not show which platform fits your workflows. Choose based on the tools you need, not the feature list’s length.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Square has the clearer entry point: its Free plan includes core POS and online selling tools, and the review scores it 8 for ease of use. Elavon’s ease-of-use score is 5. The published information does not describe setup steps, migration support, or training requirements, so those scores are a signal—not a guarantee about your rollout.
Square Pro lists onboarding and implementation support, technical specialists, and account management for businesses processing over $250,000 yearly. Elavon lists 24/7/365 customer support, but the source does not detail implementation help. Before switching, ask both providers what they will migrate, who handles setup, and what support is included in your quoted plan.
Questions people ask
What does Square charge for credit card processing?
The published Square pricing does not publish card-processing rates, so we can’t give a rate comparison with Elavon. Square Pro offers custom pricing for businesses processing over $250,000 yearly. Ask Square for rates based on your payment mix and compare the full quote with Elavon’s starting rates.
Does Costco use Elavon?
The published information does not say whether Costco uses Elavon. It describes Elavon’s payment processing and listed services, but does not identify its customers or name Costco. We can’t confirm that relationship from these sources.
What is the downside of using Square?
The published review advises checking Square’s full payment costs and account-risk trade-offs, but does not give details about specific account risks. Its processing rates are also not published on the vendor's site. Get the full fee schedule and clarify account terms before committing.
What are some payment apps similar to Square?
Elavon is the other payment provider in this comparison, with online, in-person, and on-the-go processing. The published sources don’t name other Square alternatives, so we can’t recommend a wider list based on this material. Compare providers against your sales channels and required tools.