The 2026 rates, side by side
All three are good products — that's not the question. The question is what they cost. Here are the published in-person card rates as of mid-2026 (online and keyed-in rates run higher on every platform):
| Platform | In-person rate | Software cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square (Free plan) | 2.6% + 15¢ | $0/mo | Paid plans ($49–$149/mo) lower the rate to 2.5%–2.4% + 15¢ |
| Toast (Starter) | ~3.09% + 15¢ | $0/mo | "Free" hardware is paid for through the higher rate; Core plan (~$69/mo) drops it to ~2.49% + 15¢ |
| Clover | ~2.3%–2.5% + 10¢ | ~$15–$85+/mo by plan | Also sold through banks and ISOs, where rates vary by reseller |
Rates move. These are the published rates as of July 2026 — platforms adjust pricing periodically, and negotiated or reseller pricing varies. The math below is the part that doesn't change: a percentage of every sale, every day, forever.
What those percentages cost in real money
Percentages hide the damage. Convert them to dollars for a business doing $25,000/month in card sales with an average ticket of $30 (about 833 transactions/month):
| Platform | Monthly processing cost | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Square Free (2.6% + 15¢) | ~$775 | ~$9,300 |
| Toast Starter (3.09% + 15¢) | ~$897 | ~$10,770 |
| Clover restaurant plan (2.3% + 10¢, ~$60/mo software) | ~$718 | ~$8,620 |
| Dual pricing program | ~$0 | ~$0 |
That's the whole argument in one table. At flat rates, this business hands its processor $8,600–$10,800 a year. Under a compliant dual pricing program, the customers who choose to pay by credit card cover the processing cost, and the business keeps that money.
Why flat rates feel cheap but aren't
Flat-rate pricing won because it's easy to understand: one rate, no statement to decode. But three things are buried in that simplicity:
- You pay the worst-case rate on every card. A flat 2.6% charges you the same whether the customer used a cheap debit card (true cost well under 1%) or a premium rewards card. The platform pockets the spread.
- The "free" hardware isn't free. Toast's Starter plan is the clearest example: hardware costs are recovered through a ~3.09% rate. You're financing the terminal through your sales, indefinitely.
- It scales against you. Grow from $25K to $50K a month and your processing bill doubles too — there's no volume relief unless you renegotiate onto a different pricing model.
If you want to see what your current provider is really charging, our guide to reading your merchant statement shows you how to calculate your effective rate in two minutes.
How dual pricing changes the math
Dual pricing displays a cash price and a card price — like a gas station. Card-paying customers pay a few percent more, which covers the processing cost of their transaction. Cash and debit customers pay less. The business's own processing expense drops to approximately $0/month.
It's not the right fit for everyone. It shines for in-person businesses with everyday ticket sizes — restaurants, barbershops, salons, retail, auto repair. For card-not-present or high-ticket B2B businesses, a transparent interchange-plus rate usually wins instead. An honest analysis starts from your statement, not from a product.
"But I like my POS" — you may not have to give it up
The rate and the software are separate questions more often than owners think. Clover hardware, for example, is sold through many providers at many different rates — the device on your counter doesn't dictate what you pay. And modern dual-pricing terminals handle the countertop basics (orders, tips, receipts) that most small shops actually use. The right first step is knowing your number: what you pay today, and what you'd pay after switching. Then the software question becomes easy to answer.
Common questions
Are Square, Toast, or Clover ripping me off?+
No — they're charging exactly what they publish. The issue isn't dishonesty; it's that flat-rate simplicity carries a premium, and the premium compounds with your volume. Many businesses outgrow it without noticing.
Can I run dual pricing on Square, Toast, or Clover?+
These platforms offer limited or no support for true compliant dual pricing (some offer surcharging in eligible states, which is a different, more restricted model). Dedicated dual-pricing programs use terminals configured for two-price display and compliant receipts.
What does switching actually involve?+
Through Oluwa Group: a free statement analysis first, then — if the numbers make sense — approval typically within 48 hours, a free configured terminal, signage, and no long-term contract. If the numbers don't make sense, we tell you that too.
What if most of my customers pay by card?+
That's exactly when dual pricing saves the most — every card transaction is one you're no longer paying for. Businesses with heavy card volume see the biggest line-item change on their first statement.
Find out what you'd actually save
Send us one recent processing statement — Square, Toast, Clover, or anyone else. We'll show you your true effective rate and what the same month looks like under dual pricing. Free, no obligation.
Get a free statement analysisNext read: What is dual pricing? Cash discount programs, explained