2.6%+15¢
Square in-person rate
3.5%+15¢
Square keyed-in rate
$799
Square Register price
$0
ClickWerxs hardware lock-in
Square is great for getting started. But these common pain points push growing businesses to explore alternatives.
Square charges 2.6% + $0.15 for in-person and 2.9% + $0.30 for online — the same rate whether you process $5K or $500K per month. Interchange-plus pricing becomes dramatically cheaper as volume increases. Merchants processing over $250K/year almost always overpay with Square.
Even Square's Premium plan at $149/month only reduces in-person rates to 2.4% + $0.15 — still far above interchange-plus for most card types.
Square maintains one of the broadest restricted businesses lists in the industry, covering dozens of legitimate business categories. If your business falls into any restricted category — even one you consider routine — you need an alternative that will actually review your application.
Every piece of Square hardware — readers, terminals, and registers — only works with Square. If you switch processors, that $49 reader, $299 Terminal, or $799 Register becomes unusable. This lock-in is by design.
Square's automated systems can deactivate accounts without warning. Merchants report receiving generic one-line emails with no explanation, no appeal process, and phone support immediately cut off. Some have waited 120+ days for their funds — even with zero chargebacks.
Square doesn't offer any mechanism for passing processing fees to customers. For service businesses, contractors, and retailers where surcharging is common, this is a meaningful cost disadvantage.
Phone support is limited to Monday-Friday, 6am-6pm PST on standard plans. 24/7 phone support requires the Premium plan at $149/month. No dedicated account managers on any plan below Premium.
Before you switch from Square, evaluate potential alternatives against these critical criteria.
The single biggest factor in cost savings. Interchange-plus passes the actual card cost through with a fixed markup — saving 20-35% vs Square's flat rate at volume. Look for full statement transparency showing every transaction's interchange category.
Your POS terminals should work with any processor. Avoid proprietary lock-in that forces you to rebuy hardware every time you switch.
Don't just look for a processor that 'allows' your industry — find one that specializes in it with dedicated banking relationships.
A named person who knows your business, picks up the phone, and handles technical issues. Not a phone tree, not business-hours-only chat.
The ability to pass fees to customers can eliminate processing costs entirely.
Look for processors that communicate before taking action — no automated shutdowns, no generic deactivation emails, no surprise holds without a conversation.
Enterprise-grade payment processing built for businesses that outgrew their starter processor. Here's what ClickWerxs offers that Square can't.
Every transaction shows the actual interchange cost plus a transparent markup. Debit cards at interchange cost as little as 0.05% + $0.21 — not the 2.6% + $0.15 Square charges. On $80K/month, merchants typically save $600-$1,000 monthly.
ClickWerxs works with Dejavoo, PAX, Clover, and other major terminal brands. Your hardware investment isn't locked to a single processor. Free terminal programs available for qualifying merchants.
ClickWerxs works with merchants in categories Square categorically bans. Each application is reviewed individually by an underwriting team with dedicated banking relationships — not declined based on a category code.
Every ClickWerxs merchant gets a named account manager who knows your business. Not a call center, not a phone tree, not available only on premium plans — your person, from the start.
Eliminate up to 100% of your processing fees with fully compliant cash discount and surcharge programs. Square offers nothing comparable.
The transition is simpler than you think. Most merchants complete it in under a week with zero downtime.
Review your Square processing statements and calculate your effective rate. Include keyed-in transactions (3.5% + $0.15) and invoices (3.3% + $0.30) — these are often where the most savings hide.
Submit your business details and recent processing history. ClickWerxs approval typically takes 24-48 hours, and your dedicated account manager handles the entire underwriting process.
Receive and configure your new POS terminals. If you have existing non-Square hardware, it may be compatible. Your account manager handles programming and testing.
Start processing through your new provider. Keep Square active during the transition period. Phase it out at your own pace once you're confident in the new setup.
Your account manager walks through your first interchange-plus statement to confirm savings. See exactly what each transaction costs vs. what you were paying Square.
“Square deactivated us with a one-line email. $14K held for 90 days, zero chargebacks. ClickWerxs approved us in 24 hours.”
Anthony M.
Specialty Retailer, Portland OR
“Paying Square 3.5% on phone orders was killing us. ClickWerxs charges interchange-plus on everything — saved $400/month immediately.”
Linda P.
Home Services, Dallas TX
“We run three restaurants doing $80K/month combined. Switching from Square's flat rate to interchange-plus saves us over $800 a month.”
James K.
Restaurant Group, Chicago IL
“The hardware freedom was huge for us. We kept our existing Clover terminals and just switched processors. No new equipment costs.”
Maria G.
Boutique Owner, Santa Fe NM
“Cash discount program through ClickWerxs cut our processing costs to nearly zero. Square doesn't even offer that option.”
Robert F.
Auto Detail Shop, Tampa FL
“Square deactivated us with a one-line email. $14K held for 90 days, zero chargebacks. ClickWerxs approved us in 24 hours.”
Anthony M.
Specialty Retailer, Portland OR
“Paying Square 3.5% on phone orders was killing us. ClickWerxs charges interchange-plus on everything — saved $400/month immediately.”
Linda P.
Home Services, Dallas TX
“We run three restaurants doing $80K/month combined. Switching from Square's flat rate to interchange-plus saves us over $800 a month.”
James K.
Restaurant Group, Chicago IL
“The hardware freedom was huge for us. We kept our existing Clover terminals and just switched processors. No new equipment costs.”
Maria G.
Boutique Owner, Santa Fe NM
“Cash discount program through ClickWerxs cut our processing costs to nearly zero. Square doesn't even offer that option.”
Robert F.
Auto Detail Shop, Tampa FL
Send us your Square processing volume and we'll calculate exactly how much you'd save with interchange-plus pricing. No contracts, no commitment.