Moneris vs Square

Compare Moneris vs. Square

Find out why Canadian businesses trust Moneris, the commerce solutions provider behind 1 in 3 transactions in Canada2.
Talk to an expert Order now

Is Moneris better than Square for Canadian businesses?

As Canada’s #1 merchant acquirer2, Moneris processes over 5 billion transactions a year1. While Square may be chosen for quick, entry-level payment tools, Moneris provides simple, cost-effective options to get started alongside a broader suite of commerce solutions that can support increasing operational complexity over time. From simplified onboarding, advanced fraud protection and 24/7 local bilingual support (English, French), Moneris supports Canadian businesses through every stage of their growth. 

 

What Moneris offers?

Moneris brings together a connected set of commerce solutions built around the way businesses sell today. From in-person and online POS solutions to mobile payments, kiosks, gift cards, loyalty tools and more. Moneris helps businesses create smoother customer experiences across channels. Essential features such as advanced fraud protection and 24/7 expert support provide businesses with a reliable, scalable foundation for everyday operations.

 

What Square offers?

Like Moneris, Square offers the ability to accept payments in person and online, supported by POS hardware, software and tools.

However, that simplicity may not suit every business equally. As operational needs become more complex, many Canadian businesses prefer the flexibility, tailored support or broader commerce setup that a standardized platform cannot provide.

Discover payment solutions that grow with your business


  • Moneris
  • Square
What sets Moneris apart: Scalable commerce solutions without the friction.
Explore how Moneris pairs bank-backed stability with trusted support and the commerce tools Canadian businesses rely on to keep moving.

Devices

  • Moneris

    Product description hidden.

    Product price hidden.

    Product button hidden.

  • Square

    Product description hidden.

    Product price hidden.

    Product button hidden.

Capability

Canadian payment expertise
25 years of Canadian commerce experience
Limited
Serves Canadian businesses through a global platform
24/7 Local Canadian support
Limited
Support available; 24/7 phone support on select plans/products
Online sign-up
Onsite installation and support
X
Omnichannel commerce
Integrated hardware and payments
Ecommerce solutions
Hosted payment pages
Recurring payments
Advanced reporting dashboards
End-to-end ecosystem
Yes (third-party partners) and the Moneris Go App Marketplace for terminals)
Bilingual (English and French) support
24/7 support in English and French
Limited
English and French support pages; 24/7 phone support for select plans/products

Hardware

Flexible Hardware options
Multiple options
Limited lineup
Connectivity options
Wi-Fi, LTE, Ethernet, Bluetooth
Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Operating system
Android-based
Proprietary
PCI compliance
Dedicated PIN pad option
Offers dedicated standalone with Moneris Go PIN Pad
PIN entry available through select Square checkout hardware, not a dedicated equivalent

Pricing

Pricing model
Flat-rate and simplified options
Free plan, plus plan
Custom pricing
Available based on business needs
Premium plan available only for businesses processing over $250,000 annually
Order now Talk to an expert

Why Canadian businesses choose Moneris over Square

Value Props Icon Image

Built for Canadian businesses

For over 25 years, we’ve proudly provided commerce solutions designed for the unique needs of Canadian businesses and the communities they serve.
Value Props Icon Image

24/7 local support

Connect to real people in real time with bilingual customer support that’s there for you when you really need it—all day, every day.
Value Props Icon Image

Fraud protection 

Our ecommerce solutions come equipped with fraud prevention tools, like Kount® Essential and 3-D Secure 2.0.4
Value Props Icon Image

Built for what comes next

We facilitate a seamless transition from your first "Open" sign to enterprise-level operations. As your business grows, Moneris helps you manage more locations, transactions and day-to-day complexity.
Value Props Icon Image

Unified commerce setup

Fragmented systems create friction; unified systems create flow. We help eliminate the manual reconciliation that slows down scaling businesses.
Order now Talk to an expert

From independent businesses to national franchises, Moneris builds payment solutions tailored to your industry.

Beyond the simple transaction lies a scalable commerce engine designed to power growth. We deliver industry-specific tools to help you scale your business with confidence.
Retail ⟶ Restaurants ⟶ Professional services ⟶ Not-for-profit ⟶ Trades ⟶ Public sector ⟶ Enterprise ⟶ Small business ⟶ Health and beauty ⟶

Sync your operations with the industry-leading software you depend on.

Connect Moneris with trusted retail, restaurant and business software partners to streamline operations, simplify payments and support growth.

Transparent pricing designed for your operations—with zero hidden fees.

From growing businesses to established ventures, Moneris offers pricing options designed around your unique needs instead of a one-size-fits-all model.

Card-present

2.65%

+ $0.10
Per credit card transaction
Sign up online

Accept in-person payments with a Moneris point-of-sale device.

2.65% + $0.10
per successful credit card transaction

Interac® Debit: $0.12
per successful debit transaction

Card-not-present

2.85%

+ $0.30
Per credit card transaction
Sign up online

Accept payments made through your website or by phone. 

2.85% + $0.30
per successful credit card transaction

Interac® Debit: $1.00
per successful debit transaction

Frequently asked questions about why business choose Moneris over Square

Order now Talk to an expert


Read why Canadian businesses trust Moneris to support their operations.

  • We’ve been with Moneris since the beginning. They were just the way to go. In recent years, we’ve received a lot of calls from alternative payment processors, selling us their business and telling us why we should switch over. But everything has been running smoothly, especially in the last year, and we’re happy with our experience
    denise hayes

    Nancy Condon

    Co owner, Gingerbread Toys

  • The City was seeking consumer location and spending data to help them gain greater insights surrounding the impact of the pandemic and reached out to Moneris to help fill the gap.

    Kevin Dekok

    Economic Development Officer, City of Brantford

  • Having the reporting available on all of our devices throughout the restaurant makes it especially convenient for us to quickly gauge how the restaurant is performing on any given day.

    Rosemary Woods

    Co-Founder & Co-Owner, Funky Chow Kitchen

Ready to power your next phase of success with Moneris?

Fill out the form and a Moneris expert will get back to you shortly.

By clicking the button, you confirm that you accept our Privacy Notice.

MONERIS and MONERIS & Design are registered trademarks of Moneris Solutions Corporation. All other marks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners.

1 Moneris data, 2025.

2 Nilson Report, October 2025, Issue 1294.

3 Moneris Raises the Bar for Payment Data and Device Security with New PCI Validated P2PE Solution 

4 Fraud prevention tools are only included with flat-rate pricing and can only be used for ecommerce, not in-person.