JIM vs Square: Tap to Pay Fees Compared (2026)
JIM charges 1.99% per Tap to Pay sale with no fixed fee, and Square's free plan charges 2.6% + 15¢ for every in-person tap. On a $50 sale, you pay $1.00 with JIM and $1.45 with Square, based on each company's published pricing.
On a $2,000 month, JIM keeps $24.00 more in your pocket when you spend from the Jim Card. Need the money in a bank the same day? JIM still costs $21.76 less than Square's instant transfer.
This comparison is updated every year with each company's published fees. Last reviewed: November 2026.
How do JIM and Square fees compare in 2026?
Compare the in-person rate first, since that is where a phone-based seller makes most sales. JIM wins that line by 0.61 percentage points plus Square's 15¢ fixed fee on every tap.
| JIM | Square (Free plan) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay, per sale | 1.99% | 2.6% + 15¢ |
| Fixed fee per sale | $0 | 15¢ |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 (Plus $49, Premium $149 per location) |
| Hardware | None, your phone | None for Tap to Pay; readers optional |
| Money available | Jim balance in seconds | Next business day to your bank |
Source: Square's official pricing and transfers pages, accessed November 2026. JIM: jim.com/pricing and the JIM Help Center fee table.
What do JIM and Square cost on a $50 sale and a $2,000 month?
JIM costs less on every in-person sale, and the gap grows with small tickets, where Square's 15¢ fixed fee weighs more. Suppose a mobile seller makes 80 Tap to Pay sales of $25 in a month, $2,000 in total.
| Example | JIM | Square (Free plan) |
|---|---|---|
| One $25 tap | $0.50 | $0.80 |
| One $50 tap | $1.00 | $1.45 |
| 80 taps of $25, money kept in the app | $40.00 | $64.00 |
| Same month, all money to a bank the same day | $79.99 (one Same Day ACH) | $101.75 (instant transfer, 1.95%) |
Spend from the Jim Card and you keep $24.00 more than with Square on that month. Need the money in the bank the same day? JIM costs $21.76 less than Square's instant transfer.
Example math: each sale's fee rounded to the cent, times 80 sales. JIM's ACH fee is 1.99% of the $1,960.00 left after sale fees, plus $0.99. Square's instant fee is 1.95% of $1,936.00. Read how card processing fees work for the parts of each fee.
How fast do you get your money with JIM vs Square?
JIM is faster to spend: each sale lands in your Jim balance in seconds, and the free virtual Jim Card spends it right away. Square sends money to an outside bank account as soon as the next business day, or instantly for 1.95% of the amount.
Which business fits JIM, and which needs something else?
JIM fits solo sellers who take payments in person on a phone. You need to be 18 or older, sell in one of the 50 U.S. states, and run a sole proprietorship or an LLC with one owner. You do not need a bank account, a reader or a subscription (JIM's seller requirements).
JIM does not support corporations, tablets or typed-in card numbers, so a counter with staff and chip-insert hardware needs a broader point-of-sale setup. If you work alone with a phone, JIM covers contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay at 1.99%, with money in seconds.
| Profile | Deciding criterion | JIM when... | Consider an alternative if... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile seller, tickets under $100 | Fee per sale | You take taps and spend from the Jim Card | You need chip-insert or swipe hardware |
| Seller without a bank account | Where the money goes | You want to sell and spend without opening a bank account | You need to withdraw cash at an ATM |
| Business structure | Who can sign up | You are a sole proprietor or single-owner LLC | Your business is a corporation |
How do you switch from Square to JIM?
Run JIM next to your current setup for one week before you switch. You keep selling while you check the fees and payout on your own sales.
Should you choose JIM or Square?
Choose JIM if you sell in person on a phone and spend most of your sales from a card: you saw $40.00 in fees against $64.00 on a $2,000 month. Look at a broader point-of-sale system only if you need chip-insert counter hardware or your business is a corporation.
JIM Tap to Pay charges 1.99% per sale with no monthly fee and no reader, and the money lands in seconds. Start with a $1 test sale and check the numbers on your own tickets. See every fee at jim.com/pricing, and read more on accepting cards without a card reader.
Sell and get paid in seconds with Jim
