Pmnts vs Square Invoices
Square Invoices is free, and for most people the subscription line isn't where the money goes.
As of August 2026, Square's own pricing documentation puts invoice card payments at 3.3% + 30¢ on the free and Plus plans, dropping to 2.9% + 30¢ on Premium. Stripe's standard US rate — what a Pmnts invoice is paid at — is 2.9% + 30¢. That's 40 basis points. On $2,250 of card payments a month the gap alone is $9, the entire Pmnts subscription; on $10,000 a month it's about $40. Getting Square down to the same rate means moving up to its Premium plan.
Branding is the other common complaint: users describe the invoices as "not fully customizable as far as adding logo and other colors". Pmnts gives you eight templates with your logo and brand color on Pro, for $9 a month or $90 a year.
Side by side
The whole comparison
| Compared on | Square Invoices | Pmnts |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 to send; the lower card rate requires the Premium plan | $9/mo or $90/yr |
| What's capped | Nothing on invoice count | Nothing on Pro |
| Payment fees | 3.3% + 30¢ on invoice card payments | 2.9% + 30¢ — Stripe's US rate, in your own Stripe account |
| Automated reminders | Included | Included on Pro |
| Branding | Users report limited control over logo and colors | Eight templates, your logo, your brand color |
| What you give up by switching | In-person card payments, Square hardware and POS, one dashboard for counter and invoice sales | All of it — Pmnts is invoices only |
Prices, plan limits and payment rates as of August 2026, taken from each product's published pricing. They change — check both before you decide.
Be honest
When Square Invoices is the better choice
Three cases where switching to Pmnts would be a downgrade. If any of them is you, stay put — Square Invoices is the right tool.
You already take Square payments in person
Counter sales and invoices in one dashboard, one deposit, one thing to reconcile. Splitting that to save 40 basis points is usually a bad trade.
You want hardware
Readers, terminals, tap to pay on a phone. Pmnts has no in-person anything — it's an invoice link and a PDF.
Your customer list already lives in Square
Directory, purchase history, cards on file. Pmnts starts empty and you add clients as you invoice them.
What you'd actually get
Everything Pmnts does
It's a short list on purpose. Pmnts is not accounting software: no expenses, no time tracking, no bookkeeping, no payroll, no teams.
- 2.9% + 30¢ instead of 3.3% + 30¢, through your own Stripe account
- Eight templates with your logo and brand color, on Pro
- Unlimited invoices, emailed with the PDF attached
- Automated reminders and recurring invoices
- CSV export of everything you've billed
FAQ
Questions people ask before moving
How much does the fee difference actually cost me?
It's 40 basis points. At $2,250 a month in card payments that's about $9 — the whole Pmnts subscription. At $10,000 a month it's about $40. Below roughly $2,250 a month, Square's free tier works out cheaper overall. Rates as of August 2026.
Can I keep Square for in-person sales and use Pmnts for invoices?
You can, but you'd be reconciling two systems and two payouts. It's usually only worth it when invoice volume is large next to counter sales.
Do my clients need an account to pay a Pmnts invoice?
No. Every invoice is a link plus a PDF attachment. They open it in a browser and pay by card — there's nothing to sign up for.
Send one invoice and see.
Pro is $9 a month, or $90 a year, as of August 2026. There is a free tier too — the current limits are on the pricing page.
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