Three-point summary
- AirPAY and Square both allow Japanese merchants to begin cashless acceptance with limited fixed software cost, but their strengths differ.
- AirPAY is a natural fit for an AirREGI store that values Japanese e-money and QR coverage and can operate with three or six settlements monthly.
- AirPAY's 2.48% and Square's 2.5% rates each have eligibility conditions.
Decision summary
AirPAY is a natural fit for an AirREGI store that values Japanese e-money and QR coverage and can operate with three or six settlements monthly.
- Card, e-money, and QR mix
- Eligibility for discounted rates
- Required hardware and peripherals
- AirPAY fits AirREGI users, stores emphasizing domestic e-money and QR methods, and Apple-device operations.
- Square fits businesses that want to integrate POS, payments, ecommerce, and invoices over time or select dedicated hardware with published pricing.
- Recheck current pricing and billing terms on the official site
- Confirm cancellation, migration, and data-retention conditions
- Verify that required features are included in the selected plan
- Card, e-money, and QR mix
- Eligibility for discounted rates
- Required hardware and peripherals
- Buyers choosing only the lowest headline price
- Teams that will not check migration, cancellation, or data-retention terms
- Readers unable to recheck changes after the verification date
Research policy: For AirPAY vs Square: Fees, Hardware, Settlement, and POS Fit, we prioritized the provider-owned sources listed below. Recheck prices, features, and terms on the official site before purchase.
Pricing: We use the provider’s official currency and do not publish independent exchange-rate conversions.
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Verdict: choose around the existing workflow and future channels
AirPAY is a natural fit for an AirREGI store that values Japanese e-money and QR coverage and can operate with three or six settlements monthly.
Square is easier to understand when the business wants POS and payments from one provider and expects to add online selling, invoices, or appointments.
Fee comparison: do not decide from the minimum headline
AirPAY's 2.48% and Square's 2.5% rates each have eligibility conditions. Other brands, e-money, QR, online, and manually entered transactions can use different rates, so a weighted sales model is required.
A zero monthly fee does not eliminate iPad, reader, terminal, printer, connectivity, or industry-software cost. Compare a three-year total.
| Criterion | AirPAY | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | JPY 0 | Standard payment and POS software at JPY 0 |
| Major in-person cards | 3.24% standard; 2.48% with conditions and approval | 2.5% for eligible merchants and brands; 3.25% or higher otherwise |
| Hardware | Compatible iPad or iPhone plus reader and peripherals | Reader, Stand, Terminal, and other published hardware options |
| Settlement | Three or six deposits monthly depending on bank | Next business day for two named banks; weekly for other supported banks |
| POS integration | Centered on AirREGI | Square POS in the same ecosystem |
| Online expansion | Separate online function and settlement rules | Online store, invoices, and payment links under one account |
Settlement and working capital
AirPAY deposits six times monthly for selected major banks and three times monthly for other supported banks. Square documents next-business-day deposits for two named banks and weekly Friday deposits for other supported banks.
A business with short supplier or payroll cycles may value settlement speed more than a small processing-rate difference. Model the maximum outstanding balance.
Hardware and counter design
AirPAY combines a compatible Apple device and reader and can transfer the amount from AirREGI, helping unify checkout for an AirREGI user.
Square offers a small reader, a stand, and a printer-equipped terminal, with published prices that simplify the initial hardware budget.
Best-fit stores
AirPAY fits AirREGI users, stores emphasizing domestic e-money and QR methods, and Apple-device operations.
Square fits businesses that want to integrate POS, payments, ecommerce, and invoices over time or select dedicated hardware with published pricing.
Build a comparable model
Segment the last three months of sales by payment method, apply the relevant rate, and add devices, tablets, printers, subscriptions, paid features, and the cash-flow effect of settlement timing.
- Card, e-money, and QR mix
- Eligibility for discounted rates
- Required hardware and peripherals
- Settlement bank and frequency
- Refund, outage, and support procedures
Frequently asked questions
Should I simply choose the lowest processing rate?
No. Compare the effective cost including eligibility, payment mix, hardware, subscriptions, settlement, and integration.
Should POS and payments come from one provider?
One provider can simplify amount transfer and support, but also compare functionality, rates, and portability.
Which sales data is needed for a comparison?
Prepare at least three months of value and transaction count by card brand, e-money, QR, cash, and in-person or online channel.
Research scope and verification
- Official sources
- 7 sources
- Last verified
- July 20, 2026
- Topic guide
- Cashless Payment Services
We prioritize provider-owned pricing, product, and help pages and limit claims to what those sources support.
Official sources
Next action
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