Payline Data Review 2023: Features, Cost, Alternatives
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Payline Data is a Chicago-based payment processor that can accept most credit and debit card payments as well as e-checks and ACH transfers. Payline’s affordable and transparent pricing helps business owners accurately calculate their payment processing fees, and its user-friendly interface makes it a good option for small-business owners.
Payline Data |
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Deciding factors
Payment processing cost |
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Monthly fee |
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Hardware cost | Payline Data offers a variety of card readers from Ingenico, Magtek, IDTech, and Clover. It also sells Clover point-of-sale hardware, though you might save money by purchasing directly from Clover. |
Contract length | Month to month. No fee to cancel. |
Customer service | 24/7 phone support and online knowledgebase. Clients get a dedicated account manager. |
How Payline Data works
Payline Data is a front-end processor, meaning it connects your business to credit card networks and provides authorization and settlement services with your merchant account. It directly integrates into most shopping carts and POS systems.
Depending on the nature of your business and the sales channels you use, Payline offers several methods to make sure you’re able to accept payments from your customers. Payline provides solutions for in-store, online and mobile payments, as well as payment solutions for high-risk merchants, enterprise businesses and health care services.
Payline Data partners with Verifi’s Cardholder Dispute Resolution Network to offer fraud and chargeback protection. For extra security, Payline requires all customers to verify their CVV at check out and uses an AVS check system to confirm address information.
Payment gateways
If you’re an e-commerce merchant, you’ll need a payment gateway in order to accept payments online. Payline Data provides an in-house solution that integrates with a variety of e-commerce platforms and shopping carts, including Shopify and BigCommerce. You can use it to accept credit, debit and electronic payments, process invoices and arrange recurring payments. The company also offers an API that allows developers to integrate Payline Data’s payments system into additional software products.
You can expect funds from your merchant account to be deposited into your business bank account by the next day.
Payline Data pricing
Payline Data’s pricing is affordable and transparent. The platform charges a monthly fee for in-person and online transactions, plus a per-transaction fee on top of the interchange rate for the credit card used. The first month is free.
Interchange plus 0.4% and 10 cents for in-person transactions, and $10 per month.
Interchange plus 0.75% and 20 cents for online transactions, and $20 per month.
Pricing varies by card type for manually keyed transactions.
It’s important to note that the plan offerings — in-person for brick-and-mortar merchants and online for e-commerce businesses — can’t be combined.
Both online and in-person plans are month-to-month and can be canceled at any time for no additional fee.
PCI compliance is free.
Each chargeback is $25.
Paying the monthly fee for both plans isn’t ideal; Payline Data is a better option for businesses that require only in-person or online sales, but not both.
Payline Data hardware
Payline offers a variety of card readers from Ingenico, Magtek, IDTech, and Clover. It also sells Clover point-of-sale hardware, though you might save money by purchasing it directly from Clover.
Payline Data pros
Price
Not only are Payline Data’s prices affordable, but also they’re explicitly stated on the website — including interchange rates, per-transaction fees and other fees. The free calculator helps determine your monthly total. Also, if an issue ever arises with your service, you can stop using Payline at no cost.
Customer service
Payline Data provides a dedicated account manager for each merchant account, with a calendar service that customers can use to schedule a call-back in as soon as 15 minutes. According to a Payline Data representative, customers can expect to get a response to all phone and email questions within 24 hours. Account managers also offer a free onboarding session for new Payline users.
Payline Data cons
Negative reviews
Some reviews of Payline Data have been less than positive, citing unexpected fees and a lack of transparency from sales representatives. Though there are many positive reviews as well, some customers attested that they continued being charged monthly despite canceling their Payline Data accounts.
Payline Data alternatives
Square
Payment processing fees:
2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Why we like it: Square’s rates are a bit higher than Payline’s. However, Square doesn’t charge a monthly fee and provides a full range of POS hardware and software for a variety of businesses. If you want to have all your commerce needs met with one vendor, Square is a good way to go.
Read our full Square POS review.
Square Payments Shop Now on Square's website |
PayPal Zettle
Payment processing fees:
2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing transactions.
Why we like it: PayPal is one of the largest payment processors in the world, and it offers per-transaction fees that are similar to Square’s. Like Payline Data, it has solutions for brick-and-mortar and e-commerce merchants, plus mobile payments, invoicing and ACH transfers. PayPal also offers financing options, shipping services and a debit card. Like Payline Data, PayPal integrates with most POS systems — all of which make it a solid option for small-to-medium businesses.
Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
A version of this article was first published on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.
