Independent Audit Report
Puzzle
VS
Square

A comprehensive 20-point independent audit covering fees, FX rates, settlement architecture, regulatory standing, customer protection, and real-world performance benchmarks.

20 Audit Criteria Independent Analysis Current Verified Data Live Benchmarks
TL;DR
Square wins with 4/5 stars — best for Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, . ⬇ Scroll for full 20-point audit
Best For
Puzzle vs Square
Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, a... vs Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, onlin...
Fee Structure
Puzzle vs Square
Pricing varies; likely tiered based on team size and feature... vs Free plan: 2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 3.3% + $0.30 online; Plus...
Rating
Puzzle vs Square
3/5 ★ vs 4/5 ★
Puzzle
Project Management & Collaboration Software — Limited Consumer Data
Best For Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, and collaboration tools
Core Fee Pricing varies; likely tiered based on team size and features; no public pricing immediately available
Settlement Real-time task updates; collaboration features; integrations with common business tools
Visit Puzzle ↗
Square
SMB Point-of-Sale & Payment Processing Platform
Best For Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, payroll, and hardware ecosystem without a monthly commitment
Core Fee Free plan: 2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 3.3% + $0.30 online; Plus plan $49/month (2.5% + $0.15 in-person); Premium $149/month (2.4% + $0.15 in-person); rates updated January 2026
Settlement Next-business-day deposits standard; instant deposits available for 1.75% fee; real-time transaction tracking in the Square Dashboard
Visit Square ↗
What This Audit Doesn't Cover: Real-time currency fluctuations, promotional offers, region-specific pricing, or temporary fee waivers. Always verify current rates, fees, and features directly with Puzzle and Square before making any financial decision.
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
20 Criteria Compared
Audit Criterion Puzzle Square
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars)
3/5
Puzzle: rated on fees, features, safety & ease of use
4/5
Square: rated on fees, features, safety & ease of use
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international
Pricing varies; likely tiered based on team size and features; no public pricing immediately available Free plan: 2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 3.3% + $0.30 online; Plus plan $49/month (2.5% + $0.15 in-person); Premium $149/month (2.4% + $0.15 in-person); rates updated January 2026
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate
Puzzle charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app
Square charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges
Custom/tiered pricing — Puzzle's fee structure depends on your account tier or usage volume.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up
No monthly fees — Square does not charge recurring maintenance fees.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs
Puzzle does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Puzzle app for current card fees
Square does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Square app for current card fees
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time
Puzzle
Real-time task updates; collaboration features; integrations
VS
Square
Next-business-day deposits standard; instant deposits availa
✓ Square is faster (instant vs Real-time task updates; collab)
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time
Puzzle supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates
Square supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate
Puzzle publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Puzzle status page for incident history
Square publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Square status page for incident history
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions
Standard SaaS security; user permissions and access controls; data encryption
✓ Licensed
PCI DSS Level 1 compliant; end-to-end encryption on all transactions; subsidiary of Block Inc. (NYSE: SQ); 2FA and fraud monitoring
✓ Licensed
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme
Puzzle holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Puzzle
Square holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Square
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation
Puzzle supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account
Square supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring
Puzzle employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring
Square employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition
Puzzle
Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, and collaboration tools
Square
Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, payroll, and hardware ecosystem without a monthly commitment
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category
Project Management & Collaboration Software — Limited Consumer Data SMB Point-of-Sale & Payment Processing Platform
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps
Puzzle withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits
Square withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage
Puzzle supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Puzzle official site for full currency list
Square supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Square official site for full currency list
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction
Puzzle app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store
Square app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA
Puzzle offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Puzzle help centre for current support options
Square routes support through its official help channels. Priority queue access varies by plan.
Check Square help centre for current support options
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission
Puzzle KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Puzzle app
Square KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Square app
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation
Square WINS with 4/5 stars vs 3/5.

Why: Square excels at Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, payroll, and hardware ecosystem without a monthly commitment.

✓ Choose Square if Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, payroll, and hardware ecosystem without a monthly commitment
➜ Puzzle is still solid for Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, and collaboration tools
Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees
Visit Puzzle ↗ Visit Square ↗

Choose Puzzle If:

  • You need Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, a
  • You prefer Pricing varies; likely tiered based on t
  • You value Real-time task updates; collaboration fe

Choose Square If:

  • You need Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, onlin
  • You prefer Free plan: 2.6% + $0.15 in-person, 3.3%
  • You value Next-business-day deposits standard; ins
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Puzzle — Best For
Teams wanting organized project management, task tracking, and collaboration tools
✓ Strong in its core category
Square — Best For
Small and medium businesses needing an all-in-one POS, online store, invoicing, payroll, and hardware ecosystem without a monthly commitment
✓ Strong in its core category

Not sure which is right for you?

Take our 2-minute financial literacy quiz to understand which platforms align with your income profile and goals.

From the WealthBlueprint Library

Before you decide, here's some context worth reading.

📖 Business Funding Without a Bank 📖 Can VOO Make You a Millionaire?
More Comparisons Worth Reading

Thinking about Square? Our readers who compared these two also read these.

🔍 Karat vs Stash: Independent Audit 🔍 Karat vs Streitwise: Independent Audit