Payment gateways are a must, especially for businesses that sell online, but you’ll want to understand the total cost associated with them before committing to one. To find the cheapest payment gateway, look for competitive processing fees and low-cost (or even free) monthly software plans. And try to avoid products that charge additional fees for things like setup.
Many companies offer payment gateways and payment processing services in tandem — payment gateways let customers securely enter their card information online, whereas payment processors move that information to and from financial institutions. Consider the overall product’s pricing structure and your business’s monthly sales volume to find the best option.
Here are some of the cheapest payment gateways for your small business.
Cheapest Payment Gateways
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helcim Learn more on Helcim's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.5/5 Best for Transparent interchange-plus pricing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Helcim's secure website |
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Customized checkout pages | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | ||
Stax by Fattmerchant Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for High sales volumes | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Plus interchange | $99 and up. | Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | ||
Chase Payment Solutions℠ Learn more on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Quick payouts | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.25 | $0 Monthly fee in some instances. | Learn more on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website | ||
Braintree | Best for Alternative payment options | 2.59% + $0.49 credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only). | $0 | |||
Adyen | 5.0/5 Best for Overall payment gateway | 0% + $0.13 Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx. | $0 |
Our pick for
Transparent interchange-plus pricing
Helcim
Learn more
on Helcim's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Helcim offers transparent, competitive pricing and an all-inclusive platform. It's not the most affordable option for businesses with low sales volumes, but it's an excellent choice for most other small-business owners.
Pros
- Pricing is transparent.
- Offers all-inclusive platform.
Cons
- Potentially expensive for low-volume businesses.
Our pick for
Customized checkout pages
Stripe
Learn more
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Monthly fee
$0
With Stripe Terminal, you can integrate in-person payments into your online payment setup. Transparent pricing and customizable features make it a good choice for online-first businesses looking to extend to in-person sales. However, many features — including connecting hardware to software — require coding experience or “no-code” integrations.
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Competitive pricing.
Cons
- Prioritizes online merchants.
- Requires developer experience.
Our pick for
High sales volumes
Stax by Fattmerchant
Learn more
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
Stax is known for its pricing. It may be a good fit for businesses processing at least $5,000 in credit card transactions monthly.
Pros
- No markup on interchange rate.
- Unique add-on features.
Cons
- Not a good option for businesses with low sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
Our pick for
Quick payouts
Chase Payment Solutions℠
Learn more
on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Monthly fee in some instances.
Chase Payment Solutions offers a familiar name and top-of-the-line technology, but limited hardware options and the company’s reseller program could make alternatives better options for some businesses.
Pros
- Big, recognizable name.
- Two-in-one processor and acquiring bank.
Cons
- Reseller programs complicate buying process.
- Pricing is relatively unclear.
Our pick for
Alternative payment options
Braintree
Payment processing fees
2.59% + $0.49
credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only).
Monthly fee
$0
Braintree, which is owned by PayPal, rivals Stripe from a customization standpoint. But unlike Stripe, Braintree allows customers to pay with PayPal and Venmo, another PayPal-owned entity — so you get those options plus the ones Stripe offers (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) all via one gateway.
Pros
- Transparent, competitive pricing.
- No contracts or early termination fees.
- No monthly, PCI compliance or minimum transaction fees.
- Accepts PayPal and Venmo in addition to credit and debit cards.
- Simple checkout page that looks good on web and mobile.
Cons
- Requires web development.
- Not suited for brick and mortar stores.
Our pick for
Overall payment gateway
Adyen
Payment processing fees
0% + $0.13
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Monthly fee
$0
Adyen offers low prices and doesn’t have any monthly fees. It also offers support for in-person payments. If you’re an omnichannel merchant, Adyen has tools that connect your sales data, wherever you sell.
Pros
- No monthly, setup, integration or closure fees.
- Payments accepted across online, in-store and app payment channels.
- Global payment options available.
- 24/7 customer support.
Cons
- Complex pricing model.
- Monthly minimums might exclude some small businesses. Minimums vary and require contacting Adyen to learn more.
Adyen: Best overall payment gateway
Pricing type: Interchange plus.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 13 cents per transaction for Visa and Mastercard.
- 3.3% plus 23 cents for American Express.
- 3%-12% plus 13 cents for other payment methods, depending on transaction type.
- 40 cents per transaction for ACH direct payment.
Monthly fee: None.
Why we like it: Adyen's slim margin on top of standard bank and card network fees is among the lowest we've seen. However, there are monthly transaction volume minimums, and you'll need to contact Adyen to see if you qualify. Read NerdWallet's complete Adyen review.
Pros:
- Low pricing.
- No monthly fees or termination fees.
Cons:
- Adyen has monthly minimums, which vary by industry and business model. This means some smaller businesses might not be able to use Adyen.
- Some information, such as what your monthly minimums could be, isn't available on Adyen's website.
Helcim: Best for transparent interchange-plus pricing
Pricing type: Interchange plus.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments.
Monthly fee: None.
Why we like it: Helcim offers low interchange rates, and its website shows exactly what you'll pay for any card a customer uses. Read NerdWallet's complete Helcim review.
Pros:
- No contracts, no monthly fees and no minimums.
- Pricing is easy to understand.
Cons:
- Helcim offers better rates for businesses with higher volume, but you'll need to do more than $50,000 in monthly card sales before the first price reduction kicks in. That amount might be tough to reach for some small businesses.
Braintree: Best for alternative payment options
Pricing type: Flat rate.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.59% plus 49 cents per transaction for credit cards, debit cards and digital wallets.
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for Venmo (U.S. only).
- 0.75% for ACH (maximum fee of $5). Discounts available for enterprise businesses.
Monthly fee: None if you use Braintree as a processor; $49 per month and 10 cents per transaction if you use a different merchant account.
Why we like it: Braintree is owned by PayPal and benefits from its additional built-in payment options, like Venmo and "buy now, pay later." It's cheaper than the PayPal-branded payment gateway, Payflow, but requires coding skills. Read NerdWallet's complete Braintree review.
Pros:
- Includes alternative payment methods, like the PayPal button, Venmo and buy now, pay later.
- You can use Braintree as your payment gateway and another company as your payment processor. In this case, Braintree's services will cost $49 per month and 10 cents per transaction.
- It accepts payments in over 130 currencies and is available in more than 45 countries.
Cons
- Requires coding skills to implement.
- Unlikely to be the cheapest option for businesses with lower receipt averages.
Stripe: Best for customized checkout pages
Pricing type: Flat rate.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 4.4% plus 30 cents for international card transactions.
Monthly fee:
- $0 for standard Stripe Connect.
- $2 per account for Stripe Express (for marketplaces) or Stripe Custom (the white-label option that allows businesses to customize the checkout process).
Why we like it: Like Braintree, Stripe offers a payment gateway with a high level of customization. They both also use flat rates. Stripe's variable rate is higher than Braintree's, but the flat rate is lower, making it the cheaper option if your average transaction is under $61. Read NerdWallet's complete Stripe Payments review.
Pros:
- Stripe is coder-friendly, which is great if you build your own site.
- Flat-rate pricing makes costs predictable.
Cons:
- It can require coding skills to implement.
- Stripe Checkout, which requires minimal tech expertise, costs $10 per month to host on your site.
- Likely more expensive than interchange plus pricing.
Stax: Best for high sales volumes
Pricing type: Interchange plus.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Monthly fee: Monthly subscriptions start at $99.
Why we like it: Stax's rate doesn't add a percentage margin to the interchange rate — it adds only a fee of either 8 cents for in-person transactions or 15 cents for manually keyed transactions. However, there's a monthly fee that can be hefty for some. On the other hand, it could be cost-effective if you're spreading it across a high sales volume. Read NerdWallet's complete Stax review.
Pros:
- No interchange markup.
Cons:
- A high monthly fee makes the total cost less compelling for businesses with lower sales volume.
Chase Payment Solutions: Best for quick payouts
Pricing type: Flat rate. Interchange-plus is available for larger businesses.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 25 cents per transaction for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for keyed transactions.
Monthly fee: Monthly fee in some instances.
Why we like it: This payment gateway combines Chase and Authorize.net services. It's a nickel cheaper per transaction compared with working directly with Authorize.net. In addition, if you use a Chase business checking account, you'll get your money the next day — faster than the industry standard of two business days. Read NerdWallet's complete Chase Payment Solutions review.
Pros:
- Competitive flat-rate pricing.
- Next-day payouts.
Cons:
- You must use other Chase products to get the quickest deposits.
- There can be a monthly fee.
Payment gateways are typically bundled with payment processing services and usually involve a monthly subscription fee and a per-transaction fee. Subscription fees can cost anywhere from $0 to $99 or more each month. Per-transaction fees can be flat-rate or interchange-plus.
Under a flat-rate pricing model, you’ll typically pay a percentage of the total transaction cost plus a fixed amount. For example, with a fee of 2.9% + 30 cents per online transaction, you'd pay $3.20 to process a customer's $100 online order.
Other companies use an interchange-plus pricing structure. This model is more complicated, as prices vary based on so-called interchange fees that depend on factors like card and transaction type. A fee under this model may look like the interchange cost plus a markup — for instance, interchange plus 25 cents. That means, for a $100 transaction, you could pay $1.45 (if the interchange fee was 1.15% + 5 cents), $3.50 (3.15% + 10 cents) or an entirely different amount.
Interchange-plus pricing is more transparent because you can see where processors are charging markups. It may also be cheaper for your business depending on your underlying transactions, but you’ll have to do some math to be sure.
The cheapest payment gateway for your business will depend on the product’s pricing type (flat rate or interchange-plus) and your business’s monthly sales volume, among other factors. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all option.
Here are some additional tips to help you track down the right solution:
Know what type of service you need
Not all payment gateways work the same way. Some will redirect customers away from your site to the gateway's site for payment, which can negatively affect completion rates. Others have pre-built payment gateways you can embed directly on your website. White-label gateways allow you to build a custom checkout experience on your site, which can be a good addition but one that requires technical skills.
It's important to confirm that the gateway will work the way you expect and have a price tag you're comfortable with.
Look for transparency
It's easiest to compare prices when they're published. A company that uses custom pricing or requires you to call for a quote might have a reasonable price, but it takes more time to compare. Aside from monthly and processing fees, look for other fees that could impact your costs.
Avoid those extra fees (most of the time)
There's no getting around paying a per-transaction fee. But most businesses can avoid companies that charge additional fees, like fees for setup or PCI compliance, a process that keeps card data secure.
However, not all fees should be avoided equally. Before you rule out every payment gateway that charges a monthly fee for service, consider the total costs. Companies with monthly fees sometimes offer great per-transaction fees. Depending on your sales information, you might come out ahead, even after paying a monthly fee. The only way to know for sure is to run your numbers. Use this calculator to estimate your costs:
Last updated on September 19, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet’s ratings of payment processing providers rewards companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including overall cost, hardware and software options, system capabilities, customer service, contract requirements and integrations. Learn more about how we rate payment processing providers.
These ratings are a guide, but fees, hardware, software and contract requirements can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.