Overview
SquadTrip supports two payment processors: Stripe and Square. All traveler payments flow through your connected gateway and transfer directly to your bank account. Stripe is the default and supports the widest range of payment methods including Buy Now, Pay Later. Square is available as an alternative for card payments and Apple Pay.
Stripe (Default Payment Processor)
Stripe is the primary payment processor. All organizers connect a Stripe account before publishing their first trip.
Payment methods through Stripe:
Method | Details |
Credit and Debit Cards | All major card brands |
Apple Pay | One-tap checkout on supported devices |
Klarna | Buy Now, Pay Later. Supports USD and GBP |
Afterpay | Buy Now, Pay Later. Supports USD, CAD, GBP, AUD, NZD |
Affirm | Buy Now, Pay Later. USD only |
Stripe handles automatic fund transfers to your bank account, typically arriving 2 business days after the charge.
Square (Alternative Payment Processor)
Square is available as an additional or alternative payment gateway.
Payment methods through Square:
Method | Details |
Credit and Debit Cards | All major card brands |
Apple Pay | One-tap checkout on supported devices |
Buy Now, Pay Later options (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm) are not available through Square -- they require a Stripe connection.
Stripe vs Square: One Gateway at a Time
You connect one payment gateway at a time -- either Stripe or Square, not both simultaneously:
Stripe is the primary gateway and supports all payment methods (cards, Apple Pay, BNPL)
Square is available as a fallback if Stripe has restricted or rejected your account
Square supports card payments only -- no BNPL or Apple Pay
Important Notes
Every organizer must connect at least one payment gateway before publishing a trip
Stripe is required if you want to offer BNPL payment options
Both gateways are covered by SquadTrip's standard 6% processing fee
International cards incur an additional 1.5% fee, and currency conversion adds 1% -- both deducted from the organizer's payout
SquadTrip never has access to your payment gateway account or payout schedule
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Stripe connection fails during setup | Ensure you are using a supported browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge). Clear cache and cookies, then retry. If the issue persists, verify your Stripe account is fully activated at dashboard.stripe.com. |
Square not appearing as a payment option | Square must be connected separately from Stripe. Go to your Payments page and click "Connect Square." If you do not see the option, contact [email protected]. |
BNPL options not showing at checkout | BNPL requires a Stripe connection and a supported currency (USD or GBP). EUR is not supported for BNPL. Verify these conditions are met and that BNPL is enabled on your trip's payment settings. |
Funds not depositing to bank account | Check your payout schedule in your Stripe or Square dashboard. Initial payouts may take 7-14 days. If deposits have stopped, verify your bank account is still linked in your gateway dashboard. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need both Stripe and Square, or is one enough? A: You only use one gateway at a time. Most organizers use Stripe since it supports all payment methods including BNPL and Apple Pay. Square is available as a fallback if Stripe restricts your account, but only supports card payments.
Q: Does SquadTrip charge different fees for Stripe vs. Square? A: No. The same 6% processing fee applies regardless of which gateway processes the payment. The fee covers all standard card and Apple Pay transactions. BNPL adds a separate 4% convenience fee charged to the traveler.
Q: Can I switch from Stripe to Square (or vice versa) after publishing? A: Yes. You can connect or disconnect gateways from the Payments page at any time. Note that disconnecting Stripe removes access to BNPL options for future bookings. Existing payment records are not affected.
Q: Where do my funds go after a traveler pays? A: Funds go directly to the bank account connected to your payment gateway. Stripe transfers automatically (typically 2-day rolling deposits). Square follows its own payout schedule. SquadTrip never holds or has access to your funds.
Q: Can travelers see which payment processor I use? A: No. Travelers see the checkout form and available payment methods, but the underlying processor (Stripe or Square) is not displayed. The experience is seamless regardless of which gateway you use.
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