Bluevine vs. Square
Discover how Bluevine compares to Square, another online banking platform for businesses.
Open accountSmall differences that
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Bluevine is built for businesses like yours, which is why we prioritize what's important to you.
Earn up to 3.0% APY, right in your checking account¹ — no need to move funds.
Access lines of credit and term loans to help with cash flow management.
Access robust accounts payable with bill forwarding, auto capture, and more.
See how Bluevine stacks up.
Every business’s needs are unique—and every banking platform has differences that make it stand apart. Take a look at how Bluevine stacks up versus Square to decide which banking solution is best for your business.
 | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| APY | Up to 3.0%1 on checking balances | 0% APY on checking; 1.00% APY available only on a separate savings account |
| Account options | 3 plans, with waivable monthly fees of $0, $30, and $95 | 1 free plan; requires a Square seller account to open |
| Cash deposits | Yes, at AllPoint+ and Green Dot locations2 | Yes, at 70,000+ retail locations including Kroger, Walgreens, Dollar General, and 7-Eleven; free |
| FDIC insurance | Up to $3,000,000 via Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC3 | Up to $250,000 on checking (Sutton Bank); up to $2,500,000 on savings (Square Financial Services); both Member FDIC |
| Sub-accounts | Up to 20 with dedicated account numbers | Savings folders for organizing funds; no dedicated sub-account numbers for checking |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Monthly fees | No monthly fees on Standard plan4, waivable $30 fee for Plus plan, waivable $95 fee for Premier plan | $0; no monthly fees |
| Debit cards | Physical and virtual cards available for the whole team5 | Physical debit card; up to 5 cards total (1 primary + 4 team members); no standalone virtual cards (digital wallet supported) |
| User permissions | Custom permissions available, including accountants6 | Full access team member roles via Square Dashboard; no dedicated accountant access |
| Mobile check deposits | 97% of checks disbursed same day, can take up to 5 business days | Available via Square POS app; processing times may vary |
| ATM fees | No fees for in-network transactions2 | No ATM network; Square does not charge ATM fees, but third-party surcharges apply |
| Fraud protection | Fraud monitoring, card locking, ACH debit controls with Plus plan and positive pay for the Premier plan | Card lock, high-risk spend alerts, SMS alerts, two-step verification |
| Software integrations | QuickBooks Online7, Expensify, Shopify, Stripe, Xero, and more | QuickBooks, Xero, and Square ecosystem tools (POS, Payroll, Invoices) |
| Financing type(s) | Line of credit, plus term loans and SBA loans through partners8 | Invitation-only loans, flat-fee, repaid as % of daily Square card sales; no line of credit or SBA |
| Lending amounts | Credit lines up to $250,0008; term loans up to $500,000 through our lending partners9 | $100–$350,000; amount determined by Square based on sales history (invitation only) |
| Repayment terms | Weekly or monthly repayment terms over 3, 6, or 12 months | Automatic daily deduction from Square card sales; full repayment within 18 months; flat fee, no recurring interest |
| Unlimited invoicing | Yes | Yes; includes recurring invoices, estimates, contracts, and batch invoicing |
| Branded invoices | Yes, free | Yes; customizable with logo and fields |
| Payment links | Yes, managed directly in Bluevine dashboard | Yes, generated per invoice |
| Tap to Pay | Yes, accept contactless payments via Tap to Pay | Yes, via Square POS app on iPhone and Android |
| ACH direct debit | Yes, with a 1% fee across all plans (via Stripe)10 | Yes, with a 1% fee (minimum $1) via Square Invoices |
| AP offering | Bill forwarding, auto capture, approval workflows, and scheduling in all plans11 | Basic bill pay; upload bills or forward via email; no automated capture or approval workflows |
| International payments | Up to $25 per transfer, based on plan (+up to 1.5% if non-USD)12 | Not available; Square Checking does not support international wire transfers |
| Domestic outgoing wire fees | Up to $15 per transaction, based on plan13 | Not available; Square Checking does not support outgoing wire transfers |
Bluevine is the largest small business banking platform in the U.S.10
10+
years in business
900K+
years in business
$1.8B+
years in business
$16B
years in business
Is Bluevine or Square better for my business?
If you’re comparing Square vs. Bluevine, only you can decide which platform is better for your business. There are certain factors you might want to consider, including: whether earning APY directly on your checking balance matters to you (Bluevine offers up to 3.0% on checking; Square’s checking earns 0%); whether you need access to a line of credit or term loan (you can apply for both through Bluevine; Square offers only invitation-only flat-fee loans repaid through daily card sales); whether wire transfers are important for paying vendors or receiving payments (Bluevine supports both domestic and international wires; Square does not); and whether your business operates primarily within the Square POS ecosystem or uses a broader set of payment and banking tools. Read more about Bluevine’s products and services here.
What are the biggest differences between Bluevine and Square?
In the comparison of Square vs. Bluevine, one of the biggest differences is where your money earns interest. With Square, your checking account earns 0% APY — any interest requires moving funds into a separate Square Savings account, which earns 1.00% APY. With Bluevine, you earn interest directly on your checking balance: the Standard plan earns 1.3% APY16 on checking balances that meet activity requirements, while Plus earns 1.75% APY17 and Premier earns 3.0% APY18 after a monthly fee. That means your operating cash is earning interest from the moment it hits your account — not just what you manually move to a separate savings product.
Another key difference is lending. You can apply for a Bluevine Line of Credit up to $250,000 and term loans up to $500,000 through lending partners. Square offers only invitation-only loans with flat fees repaid via a percentage of daily Square card sales — there is no line of credit, no SBA loan option, and you cannot apply proactively.
Finally, Bluevine includes accounts payable features — bill forwarding, auto capture, approval workflows, and scheduling — in all plans at no extra cost, plus support for domestic and international wire transfers. Square offers basic bill pay but does not support wire transfers of any kind, which can be a significant limitation for businesses that pay vendors or contractors outside the Square ecosystem.
Do I need to be a Square seller to use Square Banking?
Yes. Square Checking requires a Square seller account, which means your business must process payments through Square’s POS system to access their banking products. This can be a limitation for businesses that use other payment processors or want their banking separate from their point-of-sale platform. Bluevine, by contrast, is a standalone business banking platform — you do not need to use any specific payment processor or POS system to open an account.
What do I need to apply for a Bluevine Business Checking account?
Required documentation may vary slightly depending on what type of entity your business is, but this information broadly falls into three categories:
- Sign-in info: Full name, email address, mobile phone number, and a secure password.
- Business info: Trade name or DBA name, business address and phone number, EIN confirmation letter, annual revenue, entity type, and your industry.
- Personal info (you + anyone owning 25%+ of the business): Home address and phone number, date of birth, SSN, and ownership percentage of the business. We may also ask for the front and back of your driver’s license.
What are the differences between Bluevine Standard, Plus, and Premier?
We currently offer three Bluevine Business Checking plans: Standard, Plus, and Premier. Our Standard plan comes with 1.3% APY,16 no monthly fees, a three-month free membership to Xero,19 and FDIC insurance up to $3 million through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.3 With our Plus plan, you get all the great benefits of our Standard plan, and 1.75% APY,17 20% off most Standard payment fees, six months of Xero, and more for a waivable $30/month fee. Finally, with our Premier plan, you’ll enjoy 3.0% APY18 on all checking balances, 50% off most Standard payment fees, six months of Xero, and access to priority customer support for a waivable $95/month fee.
Are Bluevine accounts FDIC insured?
Yes, Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3,000,000 per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC and our program banks. $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance is offered by multiplying the standard $250,000 FDIC coverage across multiple banks.
How can my business be considered for all Bluevine Line of Credit repayment plans?
While being a Bluevine Business Checking customer is not required to apply for a line of credit, if you open a business checking account you’ll be considered for all our weekly and monthly repayment plans.
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Disclaimers
‡ The national average and comparison are based on interest rates paid by U.S. depository institutions as calculated by the FDIC.
◊ Applications are subject to credit approval. Rates and terms may vary based on your creditworthiness and are subject to change. Eligibility for the maximum funding amount is available only to applicants with the strongest credit profiles. Offerings and eligibility requirements vary by partner.
1 Premier and Plus plan customers automatically earn annual percentage yield (“APY”) on their available balances. Standard plan customers will earn interest on their available balances if they meet an eligibility requirement as detailed in the Terms of Interest Accrual which is incorporated as a part of the Bluevine Business Checking Account Agreement.
2 A $4.95 per transaction fee is applicable when depositing funds at Green Dot® locations. A fee of $1.00 plus 0.5% of your total deposit amount applies when depositing funds at Allpoint+ ATMs. Bluevine charges a $2.50 fee for ATM transactions outside of the MoneyPass® network. Additional third-party ATM fees may vary by ATM operator.
3 Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3,000,000 per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC and our program banks. $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance is offered by multiplying the standard $250,000 FDIC coverage across multiple banks. For complete details, please visit https://www.bluevine.com/business-checking/fdic-protection
4 No monthly fee only applies to the Bluevine Business Checking account Standard plan.
5 The Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard is issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated and may be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
6 Customers and Account Administrators are fully responsible for all activity and actions taken by any Additional User, as well as adherence to all terms and conditions. Bluevine and its partners are not responsible for any Additional User action or activity.
7 QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online are registered trademarks and service marks of Intuit Inc., displayed under license. Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC is not affiliated with this product.
8 Applications are subject to credit approval. Rates, credit lines, and terms may vary based on your creditworthiness and are subject to change. Eligibility for the lowest rates is available only to applicants with the strongest credit profiles. Factors include FICO score, time in business, monthly revenue, and payment history. Additional fees apply.
9 Applications are subject to credit approval. Rates and terms may vary based on your creditworthiness and are subject to change. Eligibility for the maximum funding amount is available only to applicants with the strongest credit profiles. Offerings and eligibility requirements vary by partner.
10 Invoices processed with standard ACH, cash, and other payment forms outside of Stripe are free. Payments processed through your linked Stripe account will incur a fee based on the payment type: credit card, debit card, and digital wallet payments have a 2.9% + $0.60 fee, while ACH direct debit payments have a 1% fee. In-person payments processed via Tap to Pay will incur a fee of 2.7% + $0.30.
11 Payment fees depend on your selected account plan. Check payments sent from your Bluevine dashboard have a $1.50 fee per check. Plus and Premier plans come with a limited number of free check payments. The fee will apply for each additional check payment. Same-day ACH payments have a fee of up to $10, and must be submitted by 2:00pm ET to arrive same-day. Outgoing wires have a fee of up to $15.
12 International payments sent in U.S. dollars come with a fee of up to $25 USD per payment, depending on your selected account plan. For payments sent in a foreign currency, also pay up to 1.5% of payment amount as converted to USD. The only eligible funding method for outgoing international payments is Bluevine Business Checking accounts. Incoming international payments come with a fee of up to $15 USD per payment, depending on your selected account plan. Payments are sent out and received from 8am–5pm ET every business day. Timing may vary based on sender or recipient bank and country, and whether payment is sent during business hours. International payments are available to most businesses, subject to eligibility determined by Bluevine. Exceptions include businesses based in Nevada or in the categories of finance, insurance, or mining.
13 Outgoing wires have a fee of up to $15, depending on your selected account plan.
14 As compared to publicly available data on the number of lifetime customer accounts held by other U.S. banking platforms dedicated to small businesses that offer both checking and lending services, as of January 2026.
15 Customer and lending statistics include Paycheck Protection Program.
16 Standard plan customers will earn 1.3% annual percentage yield (APY) on total balances up to $250,000 for a given month only if they meet at least one Eligibility Requirement during that month’s Eligibility Period as described in the Terms of Interest Accrual. No interest earned on balances over $250,000. The national average and comparison are based on interest rates paid by U.S. depository institutions as calculated by the FDIC.
17 Bluevine Plus customers will earn 1.75% annual percentage yield (“APY”) on total Bluevine Business Checking balances up to $250,000. No interest earned on balances over $250,000. Any interest accrued and payable for an account or sub-account will be paid to your main account.
18 Bluevine Premier customers will earn 3.0% annual percentage yield (“APY”) on total Bluevine Business Checking balances. Any interest accrued and payable for an account or sub-account will be paid to your main account. Enrollment in Bluevine Premier is not required to receive increased FDIC insurance coverage. Customers automatically receive increased FDIC coverage unless they have opted out of the Bluevine Business Checking Account Agreement Sweep Program.
19 Review Xero Trial Promotional Terms.
Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance only covers the failure of an FDIC-insured bank. FDIC insurance is available through pass-through insurance at Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, if certain conditions have been met. Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3,000,000 per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC and our program banks. The Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® and Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard® are issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated and may be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Mastercard, Mastercard Easy Savings, Mastercard Airport Concierge, Priceless Surprises and the circles design are registered trademarks and Mastercard ID Theft Protection is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Application is subject to approval. No monthly or maintenance fees. Card Replacement Fees and Wire Transfer Fees may apply.
Banking Services for payments made via ACH or wire from the Bluevine Business Checking Account are provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Money transmission services for International Payments are provided by a third party and are also subject to their applicable terms and conditions.
The Bluevine Line of Credit is issued by Celtic Bank and is serviced by Bluevine. Applications are subject to credit approval. Rates, credit lines, and terms may vary based on your creditworthiness and are subject to change. Additional fees apply. Other commercial credit products are offered by a variety of Bluevine’s third party partners. Bluevine is not involved in the issuance or servicing of these products. Offerings and eligibility requirements vary by partner.
Certain financing may be made or arranged pursuant to California Financing Law-License No. 6054789.
Payment processing services are provided by Stripe, Inc., N.A. Bluevine Inc. Payment processing services are available to most businesses, subject to eligibility determined by Bluevine.
Tap to Pay is only available on supported devices and may require upgrading to the latest version of the Bluevine app and your phone’s operating system. Some Android devices may not be compatible. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Tap to Pay on iPhone requires a supported payment app. Some contactless cards may not be accepted by your payment app. Transaction limits may apply. The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC. Tap to Pay on iPhone is not available in all markets. For Tap to Pay on iPhone countries and regions, see here.
All other product names, logos, brands, trademarks, and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.
® 2026 Bluevine Inc. All Rights Reserved. “Bluevine” and the Bluevine logo are registered trademarks of Bluevine Inc.