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What every guide covers
What transfers, and what doesn’tThe vendor’s own import path, step by step, plus the data you will rebuild by hand. Switching cost estimatorAn adjustable estimate of the hidden labor, cleanup and retraining cost, with its assumptions shown.
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Software IndexEvery tool we track in one sortable table: entry price, free plan, AI pricing and source. AI Pricing DatabaseHow each vendor bills its AI features: bundled, add-on, metered or quote.
Original research
The B2B SaaS Sticker Shock IndexCheapest published entry price in 18 categories, ranked.The AI TaxHow 19 AI features are actually billed: bundled, add-on or metered.The Real Cost of a 10-Person Startup StackThree software stacks priced at published entry prices.
Open data
Download the datasetsJSON and CSV under CC BY 4.0. Every value carries its source page and verification date. How we verify pricingThe research method behind every figure on the site.
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Security in every comparisonEach head-to-head now compares compliance, sign-in, offline and remote controls. Download the dataJSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0. Every value carries the vendor URL and quote.
PAYMENT PROCESSING · MIGRATION GUIDE

Switching from Square to PayPal

PayPal has no Square importer. You open a new PayPal Business account, add the PayPal checkout button, and run both in parallel briefly before cutting over.

Jump to migration steps Read the full comparison
By Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 23, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Switching from Square to PayPalVerified Sep 23, 2026

Quick verdict: Move to PayPal if buyer-side trust and recognition of the PayPal wallet matters for your conversion rate; you’ll pay a somewhat higher processing rate for it.

Estimate · your inputs

Switching Cost & Friction Estimator

Most buyers only budget for the new subscription. This estimates the hidden labor, data-cleanup, and retraining cost of actually making the switch.

25,000
10

Estimate assumes: 1 hour of data-mapping/cleaning labor per 2,000 records, a blended $75/hr ops rate, tiered migration & cleaning tooling fees, and 4 hours of retraining per seat at a $45/hr fully-loaded rate.

Estimated Migration Time —
Data Friction Rating —
Total Hidden Switching Cost $0

    Why teams move from Square to PayPal

    Buyer-side brand recognition

    Widely recognized wallet and checkout button.

    Buyer trust

    Some shoppers prefer or specifically look for PayPal.

    In-person hardware available

    Via PayPal Zettle.

    How the migration actually works

    PayPal Checkout’s rate (3.49% + 49¢) is higher than Square’s no-subscription rate on both the percentage and fixed fee.

    StepWhat you do
    1Sign up for a PayPal Business accountCreate your PayPal Business account and complete its verification process.
    2Add the PayPal buttonAdd the PayPal Checkout button to your site using its provided integration snippet or plugin.
    3Test with a small real transactionRun a small live transaction end to end to confirm the checkout, receipt and settlement all work correctly.
    4Run both processors in parallel brieflyKeep the old processor active for a short overlap window in case of a rollback, while directing new transactions to the new one.
    5Update any recurring billingRecreate subscriptions or saved payment methods in the new processor; card-on-file tokens do not transfer between processors.
    6Close the old accountOnce settlement is confirmed clean in the new processor, close or downgrade the old merchant account.

    What this path doesn’t do for you:

    Square’s unified online/in-person/POS account has no exact PayPal equivalent — PayPal’s in-person hardware (Zettle) is a separate product line.

    Pricing side by side

    PlanSquarePayPal
    Online rate3.3% + 30¢ (no subscription)3.49% + 49¢ (PayPal Checkout)
    In-person rate2.4–2.6% + 15¢Via PayPal Zettle, varies
    Monthly feeNone requiredNone required
    POS hardwareSold nativelySeparate Zettle product line
    Built forUnified online + in-person + POSOnline checkout, buyer-side brand recognition

    Rates checked on each vendor’s pricing page on September 23, 2026.

    Feature parity check

    CapabilitySquarePayPal
    Online rate3.3% + 30¢3.49% + 49¢
    Buyer recognitionLowerVery high
    In-person hardwareNativeVia Zettle, separate line

    Going the other direction, or want the full comparison first?

    Read the Square vs PayPal comparison Switching from PayPal to Square instead?

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does PayPal import Square transaction history?

    No. You open a new merchant account and set up fresh reporting.

    Will it cost more?

    Yes, on both the percentage and fixed fee — 3.49% + 49¢ against Square’s 3.3% + 30¢.

    Why would I pay more?

    If PayPal’s brand recognition measurably improves your checkout conversion rate, the fee difference may be worth it — test it for your own store.

    Do I need a new merchant account?

    Yes. Payment processing is tied to underwriting with each provider, so you set up a new merchant account, re-embed the new checkout code or buttons, and run both providers in parallel briefly to confirm settlement before fully switching.

    Canonical data for the tools on this page

    Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page, with the date each figure was last verified.

    SquarePricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›PayPalPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
    Square vs PayPalHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs StripeHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs CloverHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparisonStripe vs PayPalHead-to-head comparison
    PayPal to SquareSwitching guideClover to SquareSwitching guideShopify POS to SquareSwitching guideSquare to CloverSwitching guideSquare to Shopify POSSwitching guideSquare to StripeSwitching guide

    Sources

    Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

    Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

    Start with the job

    Guides for the jobs this software does

    Plain-language guides: the steps, what to check before you buy, common mistakes, and every tool it takes with verified prices.

    Take card paymentsAccept payments onlineSell onlineSell in person with a POSSend invoices and get paidPay bills and vendors on timeLet clients book appointments onlineAll 50 job guides
    Need sign-off?

    Turn this into a one-page decision brief

    Verified prices costed for your team size, a check against your must-have requirements, the questions to settle before you sign, and a source for every figure. Print it, or paste it into an email to whoever approves the spend.

    Build a decision brief

    From shortlist to switched

    Built for the leader who owns the selection, answers for the spend, drives the rollout, and lives with the results. HelpCompare covers the whole decision, not just the first step.

    01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.101 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.202 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
    Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
    About the author

    Bill Belcamino

    Founder and author, HelpCompare

    Engineer by training, operator by experience, marketer by choice. Bill spent nine years as an engineer at HP, was COO of Auctiva (the number one third-party selling platform on eBay, past 200,000 users) and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. Then he spent 13 years building his own web properties with his own money at stake. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

    “I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

    Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on September 23, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

    Read Bill’s story How we verify pricingSpot an error? Tell Bill