Stripe or Square, which boosts your business best?
- Noham Layani
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
Let's imagine two SMEs. One sells exclusively online (SaaS or marketplace), the other also operates physically (showroom, pop-up store).
Their challenge : improve cash flow , reduce payment times, prevent fraud and transform disputes into opportunities.
This is where Stripe and Square stand out, not just as payment processors, but as levers of financial performance.
Stripe: the solution tailored for international e-commerce and proactive flow management
At Stripe Tour Paris 2025, Stripe unveiled more than 15 new features for French businesses: an AI foundation model for payments , more than 125 payment methods available (including meal vouchers and open banking), Stripe Orchestration , Stripe Capital , Stripe Tax in 102 countries , and above all the ability to hold and spend multi-currency balances and stablecoins .
Stripe manages more than $1.4 trillion in payment volume each year and serves more than 100,000 companies in France, including many scale-ups and CAC40 players.
The advantages for your SMEs:
Automation of invoicing and reminders (Billing & Invoicing).
AI-driven customer disputes (Smart Disputes), with 13% additional success gains.
Fraud Radar applied to SEPA/ACH payment , reducing incidents by 20-42% depending on the Stripe channel.
Multi-acquirer reporting and optimization via Orchestration.
Access to financing (Stripe Capital) directly in the Dashboard.
💡Perfect for high-growth structures, SaaS models, marketplaces or international e-commerce, especially those selling in the US and Canada.
Square: The power of a ready-to-use omnichannel checkout system
Square , a subsidiary of Block, serves more than 4 million merchants worldwide , and in 2024 generated $7.68 billion in revenue, processing $228 billion in transactions .
Highlights:
Complete cash register solution (free readers, Terminal, Register, Stand) without subscription or complex configuration.
Native features : inventory management, customer appointments, loyalty programs, offline payment, integrated analytics.
Simple pricing : typically 2.6% + €0.10 per in-person transaction, with no hidden fees, and near-immediate or instant deposits (for a fee).
Ease of use : intuitive interface, suitable even without a technical team.
💡Suitable for omnichannel SMEs, retail businesses, B2C services and traditional retail.
Comparison table
Stripe excels at internationalization, cash management, anti-fraud AI, and recurring subscriptions. Square excels at point-of-sale experience, fast setup, and autonomy.
Criteria | Stripe | Square |
Target audience | SaaS, marketplaces, e-commerce, international models | Retail, restaurants, local services |
Set up | Often requires integrator or tech team | Turnkey, easy installation |
Payments accepted | +125 methods (cards, wallets, SEPA, crypto, meal vouchers, etc.) | Cards + NFC + gift vouchers (limited international options) |
Physical collection | Possible via Stripe Terminal (but limited) | Highly developed, complete hardware (readers, cash registers, screens) |
Key Features | Billing, Tax, Capital, Orchestration, Smart Disputes, Radar, Treasury | Cash register, inventory management, loyalty, appointments, integrated analytics |
Internationalization | Excellent – multi-currency, localizations, robust API | Medium – local market oriented solution |
Anti-fraud & disputes | Built-in AI, predictive models, Smart Disputes | Basic (classic chargeback, no AI engine) |
Transfer times | D+2 or instant (with fees) | Instant or within 1 business day |
Pricing | Variable depending on services, à la carte | Simple: 2.6% + €0.10/transaction (physical) |
Scalability | Very strong, used by Amazon, Shopify, Doctolib | Good for VSEs/SMEs, less suitable for complex structures |
Concrete cases: two SMEs, two uses, two performance levers
🌐 Case 1 — A SaaS startup optimizes its cash flow with Stripe
Context :
A SaaS HR startup (turnover: €2.8 million) invoices in several currencies to clients in Europe and North America (US and Canada).
It faces unpaid bills, recurring disputes and complex tax management.
Solutions deployed :
Stripe Billing to automate subscriptions.
Smart Disputes (AI) to better manage disputes.
Stripe Tax to automate international VAT.
Orchestration to maximize accepted payments.
Results :
+14% cash flow, -23% lost disputes, zero VAT errors.
🛍️ Case 2 — An omnichannel decor brand adopts Square to streamline its sales
Context :
An e-commerce SME (turnover: €1.2 million) opens a showroom in Lyon.
Objective: to unify physical and online sales without a tech team.
Solutions deployed :
Square Register + mobile reader.
Shopify inventory sync.
Integrated analytics + customer loyalty.
Results :
+31% in-store conversion, 100% synchronized inventory, immediate handling.
Why Blendy supports your choices
At Blendy, a digital and international accounting expert , we understand these crucial issues for high-potential SMEs. Our approach:
Preliminary audit of needs : international e-commerce or physical sales?
Setup on Stripe : Stripe Billing setup, AI dispute management, tax automation, multi-currency, stablecoins.
Square Implementation : Choosing the right hardware, POS configuration, inventory management, operational interface, team training.
Ongoing support : continuous optimization, interpretation of KPIs, accounting integration, support in disputes or additional developments.
We help companies identify the right tool for their model, then transform it into a lever for cash flow, visibility and operational efficiency.
In conclusion
Stripe is a sophisticated infrastructure, ideal if your model is digital or international with complex needs (recurring, marketplace, taxes, stablecoins).
Square is a turnkey ecosystem, perfect for SMEs wishing to sell without technical complexity, with physical cash register requirements.
Whatever your business strategy, Blendy guides you so that your payment solution becomes a strategic asset for cash flow, growth and performance.
Want to learn more? Contact the Blendy team to build your borderless financial environment together.
Together, let's make your financial management an undeniable strategic asset.
With Blendy, international digital CPA take advantage of digital accounting to accelerate your financial process and develop your business.
Pennylane, Dext, QuickBooks and Stripe certified, we support digital, e-Commerce, ESN, SaaS companies in France and internationally.