PayPal vs Square Payment Links

Stripe

Square Point of Sale

QuickBooks Online

Stripe is a financial infrastructure platform that enables businesses to accept payments online and in person. It offers a suite of APIs for payment processing, subscription management, fraud prevention, and financial services integration Stripe provides both developer-focused tools with extensive documentation and no-code solutions for businesses without technical staff.

Square Point of Sale is a POS solution for Android and iOS devices which includes tools for managing payments, digital receipts, inventory, reports, and more.

QuickBooks Online is an all-in-one online business software designed to help manage business finances. The platform is built to scale businesses, unlocking insights and providing the functionality of a larger team, all on one integrated platform.

Massage Therapist 

Its been 2wks with an "update in 3-5 business days" as my only response from their completely useless customer & robo services.

Analyst

Recently I encountered some technical issues (e.g. there is no option to choose credit when paying for services) and it was very difficult to reach customer service to address the issue.  

PayPal provides an end-to-end suite of tools that can integrate with a business's existing systems and service providers. Its network of shoppers and businesses provides AI-driven data insights to help businesses reach new customers and drive results.

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting

ACH Payment Processing

Activity Dashboard

Ad hoc Reporting

AI/Machine Learning

Alerts/Notifications

Anomaly Detection

Authentication

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Billing & Invoicing

Billing Portal

Cash Management

Check Fraud Detection

Compliance Management

Contact Database

Credit Card Processing

Customizable Dashboard

Customizable Invoices

Data Import/Export

Data Management

Data Security

Data Visualization

Debit/Credit Card Processing

Deferred Billing

Digital Wallet Payments

eCommerce Management

Electronic Payments

Electronic Signature

Expense Tracking

Financial Analysis

Financial Management

Financial Reporting

For Banking

For eCommerce

For Food Trucks

For Retail

For Small Businesses

Fraud Detection

In-Person Payments

Internal Fraud Monitoring

Inventory Management

Invoice Creation

Invoice History

Invoice Management

Invoice Processing

Marketing Reports

Mobile Access

Mobile Payments

Monitoring

Multi-Currency

Multi-Location

Multi-Period Recurring Billing

Multiple Payment Options

Online Invoicing

Online Payments

Order Management

Payment Fraud Prevention

Payment Gateway Integration

Payment Links

Payment Options

Payment Processing

Payment Tracking

PCI Compliance

Performance Management

Point of Sale (POS)

Product Catalog

Projections

Promotions Management

Real-time Alerts

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Receipt Management

Recurring Invoicing

Recurring/Subscription Billing

Refund Management

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Returns Management

Risk Analysis

Risk Management

Role-Based Permissions

Sales Reports

Sales Tax Management

Scheduled/Automated Reports

Search/Filter

Self Service Portal

Shipping Labels

Shipping Management

Social Media Integration

Status Tracking

Transaction History

Transaction Monitoring

Reviews for PayPal come from a wide variety of industries, including education management (5% of reviewers), information technology and services (5%), and marketing and advertising (5%). The most frequent use case for PayPal cited by reviewers is payment processing (67% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Some reviewers find PayPal offers strong value for money due to zero subscription fees, wide acceptance, and robust security. Reviewers indicate that high transaction fees, withdrawal limits, and slow refunds can diminish perceived value, especially for businesses.

Value for money

The PayPal integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Shopify (an eCommerce product rated 4.6 out of 5 for its integration with PayPal), WooCommerce (an eCommerce product, 4.8), and Wix (a website builder product, 4.6).

Integrations

PayPal is a payment processing program with key features that include online payments, data security, payment processing, payment fraud prevention, debit/credit card processing, mobile payments, and more.

PayPal

Web-based

iPhone

iPad

Android

Venmo

Payoneer

Cash App

Google Pay

Square Virtual Terminal

Stripe Billing

authorize.net

Wave

Square Payments

Amazon Pay

Squarespace

BILL Accounts Payable & Receivable

Shopify

Mercado Pago

Clover

 Point of Sale

Card Processing

PayPal and Venmo

Pay Later

Limited global accessibility

One of the things that I found bad, are the fees applied for transactions from PayPal to other payment platforms and in addition, PayPal is not available in all countries and for those who want to send money to people in non-eligible countries, you have to make a laborious and super tiring maneuver.

58% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s country availability. Users report that PayPal’s services are restricted or unavailable in certain countries, particularly in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and some regions in Asia and Latin America. Some reviewers say they cannot receive payments, link local bank accounts, or access full features due to regional limitations. They mention challenges with account management when moving between countries and frustration over the lack of support for local currencies or financial systems. These restrictions hinder business and personal transactions for many users.

Inconsistent fraud and dispute handling

Director of Food & Beverage

I received nothing from the company, no receipt, no tracking, nothing. When disputed with PayPal, suddenly a fictitious tracking number appears from USPS and when I checked with local Post Master, the tracking number was also fraudulent and yet PayPal denied my dispute because this "reputable company" sent them a confirmation of delivery that didn't exist.

66% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s fraud protection. Some users say the dispute process is slow, opaque, and often favors buyers, leading to losses for sellers even when evidence is provided. Reviewers indicate that fraudulent claims or unauthorized transactions can result in frozen accounts or withheld funds, sometimes for extended periods. They report difficulty reaching effective customer support and frustration with automated or generic responses. Users feel that scammers can exploit the system, and that resolution of fraud cases is unpredictable and time-consuming.

Slow and unpredictable refund process

Their payment processing is quite slow for business owners and people receiving payments as somebody can cancel a payment on the 29th day of receiving goods or services and get their money back instead of asking the merchants to refund the customer.

Producer

I had a year's worth of monthly payments that needed to be refunded but your service person said I could only get a refund for 6 months, then I was put on hold for over 30 minutes and then was dropped and had to call back in and never got resolve. Besides the poor customer service, not being able to get a refund beyond 6 months has cost me hundreds of dollars even though the company is willing to make the refund.

56% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s refund process. Users report that obtaining refunds can be slow, complicated, and sometimes requires extensive documentation or follow-up. Some reviewers say sellers are disadvantaged, as refunds may be issued without thorough investigation, leading to financial losses. They mention non-refundable transaction fees, lengthy waiting periods, and difficulties contacting customer support for resolution. Users also highlight issues with chargebacks, limitations on refund timeframes, and confusion over refund status, which they find disruptive to both buyers and sellers.

High and complex fee structure

Entrepreneur 

The one big con with PayPal is the fee you need to pay PayPal. When I sell something only and my customer want to pay with PayPal I need to up the price a little bit to make sure it will not go off my profit.

68% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s fees. Users report frustration with transaction fees that can be high, especially for small businesses, international transfers, or microtransactions. Some reviewers say the fee structure is confusing, with varying rates for different transaction types and additional charges for currency conversion or immediate transfers. They mention that both senders and receivers can be affected, and that fees sometimes reduce profits or require price adjustments. Reviewers often compare PayPal’s fees unfavorably to competitors, wishing for more transparency and lower costs.

Technical glitches and support delays

Copywriter

Paypal resolves issues using the following process- Charge you a random fee because they were unable to perform a simple request (your fault, apparently(- Direct you to an automated support bot system where you log a ticket, for no reason- Send you a generic, irrelevant response that doesn't help your problem- You call them instead: After being on hold for 3 hours, they give you a slightly different generic response and then charge you another fee

45% of reviewers feel negative about PayPal’s bugs and technical issues. Users report encountering glitches such as login problems, app crashes, and errors with payment processing or account verification. Some reviewers find that customer support is slow to respond, often providing generic or automated answers that do not resolve their problems. They mention long wait times for support, repeated explanations of issues, and inconsistent solutions. Users feel that technical problems and inadequate support can disrupt business operations and create unnecessary frustration.

Consistent transaction reliability

98% of reviewers feel positive about PayPal’s reliability. Reviewers indicate that PayPal consistently delivers dependable service for both personal and business transactions. They say the platform’s reputation for trustworthiness encourages clients to use it without hesitation. Some users report that PayPal rarely experiences downtime or technical failures, which they find essential for managing finances and conducting business globally. They appreciate real-time notifications and the ability to track account activity, which gives them peace of mind. Users think the platform’s long-standing presence and professional dispute resolution further reinforce its reliability.

Robust transaction security

96% of reviewers feel positive about PayPal’s safe transactions. Users think PayPal provides a strong sense of security when making purchases or handling business payments. Some reviewers find features like OTP registration, timely policy updates, and multi-step verification essential for protecting their financial information. They appreciate not having to share card details directly with merchants, which they say reduces exposure to fraud. Reviewers indicate that PayPal’s brand recognition and history contribute to their confidence in using the platform for both personal and business transactions.

Flexible invoicing tools

Owner

I love being able to send out invoices and have split payments for my customers and also being able to send out reminders for those that are forgetful.

93% of reviewers feel positive about PayPal’s invoicing capabilities. Users say they can easily create, customize, and send invoices, which streamlines payment collection for small businesses and freelancers. Some reviewers appreciate features like recurring invoices, payment reminders, and the ability to include branding or templates. They indicate that clients can pay invoices without needing a PayPal account, which they find convenient. Reviewers mention that managing invoices and tracking payments is straightforward, helping them stay organized and maintain professional relationships.

Student

The system works well for everyday transactions, invoicing, and international payments. While fees and customer support response times could be improved, PayPal remains a trusted solution thanks to its security, wide acceptance, and convenience.

Data Encoder

From a business perspective, the Invoicing tool is a standout feature—it’s clean, calculates tax automatically, and looks professional to high-end clients.

Training and Development Manager

The feature I love the most about Paypal is the Paypal Buyer Protection, where you get reimbursed for unresolved disputes for undelivered items, defective items purchased or items which are fairly different to their descriptions.

Licensed Massage Therapist

I like it’s pay in 4 feature when I’m really in a pinch especially around the holidays, it allows ease of payment between friends and family and really has been a reliable source of being able to pay someone remotely in my 10 years using it

Co-CEO

Occasionally I will use it for business transactions, such as selling items online, where the invoicing feature is both easier to use than any other money transfer but also safer because it keeps a record of who is sending what for what. While the app gives me fits every time I have to transfer money out of PayPal to my bank, on the whole it's been an excellent addition to my financial management tools.

Commercial Director

The high cross-border transaction cost does not give good value to us as our B2B volume increases and the customer care is aggravatingly slow when we face some unforeseen bugs and problems when it comes to processing complicated refunds in case of damaged shipments.

HR Manager

The ability to integrate with various tools and e-commerce systems adds to its value, and the mobile app makes it easy to stay on top of transactions in real time. While fees and occasional account limitations can be a drawback, the overall convenience, reliability, and accessibility of PayPal make it a practical and effective solution for everyday payment needs.

Lash extension supplier

I have always used PayPal as I feel it is a lot safer when ordering products from overseas as there is more protection and I have also integrated it into my websites and booking apps due to its ease of use and accessible invoicing , refunds , customer support , bugs and issues value for money and customization.

Process Engineer

I first made a PayPal account when I started buying and selling on eBay many years ago. Since that time the number of both online vendors and private individuals who have made PayPal accounts continually rises so that more and more transactions can be processed using PayPal as opposed to other less common payment methods

Engineer

You can also maintain a balance in your PayPal account by topping it up, receiving payments from other users, and then transferring that balance wherever you want or reusing it for payments.

Creative

Unexpected Account Holds: PayPal’s automated security systems can freeze funds or place temporary holds on accounts, which can disrupt cash flow for small businesses.

billing specialist

It has pay later options, credit card options, you can connect to your bank account, you can send money and many more options.

HR Coordinator

PayPal offers a variety of services, but mostly it secures online transactions. When paying at almost all retailers or providers you can opt to securely pay via PayPal instead of entering your credit or debit card details.

Systems administrator

As a regular user, I like that PayPal keeps my card and bank details hidden from merchants and offers buyer‑protection style tools, which gives me peace of mind when shopping online.

Customer Relations Manager

PayPal has simplified the process of handling payments and refund to our service customers without having to go through an elaborate merchant configuration and rigorous training.

Legal Secretary

When yku use PayPal for business payments, ie receiving payments from customers, they take a large percentage of the payment compared to other payments services.

It removes the friction of sharing bank details and provides a layer of security that clients trust. While the customer service and fees leave room for improvement, the platform’s reliability and ease of use make it an essential tool for anyone working or shopping internationally.

Vice President

PayPal allows us to track and provide receipts to donors and easily account for transactions into our main account.

Software developer

I currently have 3 active PI4 accounts but then when trying the option for a purchase for far less than my available loan option amount I reason a denial reason of “Application information tied to unusual activity” but I can get no details of what the unusual activity actually is.

PayPal vs Square Payment Links Comparison (2026)

PayPal

Square Payment Links

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives