Compare PayPal Virtual Terminal vs. Square POS

PayPal Virtual Terminal is an online payment processing tool that enables businesses to manually accept credit and debit card payments directly through a web browser. The platform is ideal for merchants that handle phone orders, invoices, custom services, wholesale transactions, or situations where customers are not physically present. Businesses can process payments without investing in expensive point-of-sale hardware, software installations, or complicated technical integrations. By logging into a PayPal Business account, users can quickly access the Virtual Terminal interface, enter customer payment details, and complete transactions securely. The optional Quick Order form helps streamline the checkout process by allowing businesses to save customer contact and shipping information for faster order entry. After processing a payment, merchants can immediately email receipts, print packing slips, and generate PayPal Shipping labels from the same platform. Approved payments are usually deposited into the account within minutes, allowing businesses to maintain better control over cash flow and daily operations. The system also includes detailed reporting tools that automatically organize Virtual Terminal activity alongside other PayPal transactions for simplified accounting and tracking. Businesses benefit from straightforward pricing with a fixed transaction fee structure and no recurring monthly subscription charges. Since the service works entirely through a browser, merchants can access the platform from virtually anywhere with an internet connection. PayPal Virtual Terminal gives businesses a convenient and professional way to handle manual payment processing while supporting flexible customer payment experiences.

Square POS is a simple, intuitive point-of sale (POS) solution. It provides a rich set of tools for inventory tracking, sales tracking, online payment processing and digital receipts. Square POS is available for Android and iOS devices. It records transactions offline by storing data locally, then automatically syncing information when there is an Internet connection. Square POS allows users to manage details such as names, prices and quantities. It also offers features such as a barcode scanner and discounts, credit card processing and gift cards, refunds and more.