Square vs Gumroad — which takes less?
| Square | Gumroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.9% + $0.30 online / 2.6% + $0.15 in person | 10% + $0.50 platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing |
| $100 → fees | $3.20 | $13.70 |
| $100 → net | $96.80 | $86.30 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Square fees | Square net | Gumroad fees | Gumroad net | Difference | Square charge→net | Gumroad charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.59 | $9.41 | $2.09 | $7.91 | square +$1.50 | $10.61 | $12.40 |
| $25.00 | $1.03 | $23.97 | $4.03 | $20.97 | square +$3.00 | $26.06 | $29.63 |
| $50.00 | $1.75 | $48.25 | $7.25 | $42.75 | square +$5.50 | $51.81 | $58.33 |
| $100.00 | $3.20 | $96.80 | $13.70 | $86.30 | square +$10.50 | $103.30 | $115.73 |
| $250.00 | $7.55 | $242.45 | $33.05 | $216.95 | square +$25.50 | $257.78 | $287.95 |
| $500.00 | $14.80 | $485.20 | $65.30 | $434.70 | square +$50.50 | $515.25 | $574.98 |
| $1,000.00 | $29.30 | $970.70 | $129.80 | $870.20 | square +$100.50 | $1,030.18 | $1,149.03 |
Square formula
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
2.9% + $0.30 online / 2.6% + $0.15 in person — verified 2026-11-10
Gumroad formula
10% + $0.50 platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing; payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
10% + $0.50 platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing — verified 2026-11-10
Square fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $3.20 fees → $96.80 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $103.30.
Hidden fees to watch
- Keyed-in and card-on-file payments cost 3.5% + $0.15 — the most expensive Square channel.
- Afterpay/BNPL orders cost 6% + $0.30, more than double the online card rate.
- Square keeps the processing fee when you refund a customer.
- Instant transfers cost 1.75% of the transfer amount (standard next-day deposits are free).
- Square Payroll, Loyalty and advanced POS tiers bill separately from processing.
Gumroad fee formula & hidden costs
10% + $0.50 platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing; payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $13.70 fees → $86.30 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $115.73.
Hidden fees to watch
- The 10% + $0.50 platform fee sits ON TOP of 2.9% + $0.30 card processing — 12.9% + $0.80 all-in.
- Discover marketplace sales cost a flat 30% total.
- On small products the $0.80 fixed stack hurts: a $5 download loses $1.45 (29%).
- Gumroad keeps processing fees on refunds.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Square or Gumroad?
Square takes $3.20 (net $96.80); Gumroad takes $13.70 (net $86.30). Square wins by $10.50 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Square or Gumroad?
Square: 2.9% + $0.30 online / 2.6% + $0.15 in person. Gumroad: 10% + $0.50 platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Square and Gumroad?
At $100, Square takes 3.2% vs Gumroad at 13.7% — a 10.5 point gap before modifiers.