Best Merchant Services of November 2025

The best merchant services have competitive processing fees and let you accept a range of payments. You can often get everything you need (e.g., POS system, merchant account, card processing) from a single provider.
Advertiser icon
Close
Advertiser icon
Close
Best all-in-one payments service
Square
Best all-in-one payments service

Square

Square

on Square's website

Best overall POS system

Square POS

Best for Brick-and-mortar retail stores

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on Square's website

Best overall POS system

Square POS

Best for Brick-and-mortar retail stores

Best for Brick-and-mortar retail stores

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on Square's website

Helcim

Best for High-volume businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$0

on Helcim's website

Helcim

Best for High-volume businesses

Best for High-volume businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$0

on Helcim's website

Stripe

Best for Service-based businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

on Stripe's website

Stripe

Best for Service-based businesses

Best for Service-based businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

on Stripe's website

Chase Payment Solutions℠

Best for Built-in banking partner

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.25

Monthly fee
$0

for in-person payments; $9.95 and up for e-commerce payments.

on Chase's website

Chase Payment Solutions℠

Best for Built-in banking partner

Best for Built-in banking partner

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.25

Monthly fee
$0

for in-person payments; $9.95 and up for e-commerce payments.

on Chase's website

U.S. Bank Merchant Services

Best for Fast deposits

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on U.S. Bank's website, Member FDIC

U.S. Bank Merchant Services

Best for Fast deposits

Best for Fast deposits

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$0

and up.

on U.S. Bank's website, Member FDIC

Finix

Best for Quickly growing businesses

4.8

 
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$79

and up.

on Finix's website

Finix

Best for Quickly growing businesses

Best for Quickly growing businesses

4.8

 
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15

Plus interchange

Monthly fee
$79

and up.

on Finix's website

Payment Depot

Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates

Payment processing fees
0.2% + $0.00

to 1.95%, plus interchange.

Monthly fee
$0

on Payment Depot's website

Payment Depot

Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates

Best for Tailored interchange-plus rates

Payment processing fees
0.2% + $0.00

to 1.95%, plus interchange.

Monthly fee
$0

on Payment Depot's website

Shopify Retail POS

Best for Online retail businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$39

and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.

on Shopify's website

Shopify Retail POS

Best for Online retail businesses

Best for Online retail businesses

Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee
$39

and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.

on Shopify's website

Toast POS

Best for Full-service restaurants

Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15

if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.

Monthly fee
$0

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast's website

Toast POS

Best for Full-service restaurants

Best for Full-service restaurants

Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15

if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.

Monthly fee
$0

Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.

on Toast's website

Logo iconJump to

How we choose the best merchant services

Our writers and editors gather more than 30 pieces of data for each merchant service we rate. To make our list, products must earn at least four stars and do the following:
  • Not charge a monthly fee. 
  • Have competitive processing rates in at least one of their plans.  
  • Be transparent about their rates and other monthly fees.  
  • Process a variety of transactions (e.g., in-person, online, invoiced).
  • Sell POS hardware. 
All of our picks meet most of that criteria. We may make exceptions if products excel in a particular industry or stand out for a specific feature. We also include options with different pricing structures. High-volume businesses, for example, may benefit from an interchange-plus model over a flat-rate one.
We rate products based on their lowest-tier, least expensive plans.
Merchant service providers with 5 stars are outstanding. They offer competitive in-person and online processing rates, built-in POS system features and free software plans. Plus, they can accommodate a variety of business types. 
Merchant service providers with 4.0 to 4.9 stars are great to excellent. Typically, they have competitive pricing and robust POS features. However, they may have longer-term contracts or fall short when it comes to integrations and/or pricing transparency.
Merchant service providers with 3.0 to 3.9 stars may be good for specific types of businesses, but typically aren’t a universally great fit. Whereas 4-star providers are lacking in just a few areas, these processors fall short in more categories.
Merchant service providers with 2.9 stars or fewer don’t offer competitive rates or include the same core POS features that competitors do. We usually don’t recommend these products for small businesses.

What merchant services we consider

NerdWallet’s editorial team has evaluated more than 40 merchant service providers. This list names standalone payment processors and POS system providers with built-in payment processing capabilities.
We focus on big names in both of those spaces. These include Square, Clover and Stripe. But we also look at products made specifically for businesses in more niche spaces, like high-risk industries and nonprofits.
We base our coverage on research, as well as conversations with business owners. We factor in our own experiences with these products as consumers, too.
Adyen. Amazon Pay. Authorize.net. Braintree. Cash App. Chase Payment Solutions. Clover. DaySmart Salon. Dharma Merchant Services. eHopper. Finix. Helcim. IT Retail. Lavu. Lightspeed Retail. Lightspeed Restaurant. Loyverse. mPower Beverage. National Processing. Payanywhere. Payline Data. Paymentcloud. Payment Depot. Payoneer. PayPal. Paysafe. POS Nation. QuickBooks Payments. Shopify Payments. Square Retail. Square Food and Beverage. SumUp. Stax. Stripe. Toast. TouchBistro. U.S. Bank Merchant Services. Venmo. VizyPay. Worldpay. Zelle.

How we keep our picks up to date

NerdWallet has a full-time team of small-business writers and editors. We keep an eye on the merchant services landscape by regularly reviewing product information. This mostly includes checking for rate changes and new POS plan features.
We do at least one full audit annually. But we aim to update pricing changes as soon as they happen. We also interview business owners and ask how they accept payments. Most often, this influences our take on a product’s usability.

What are merchant services?

Merchant services is the umbrella term for a group of products that help you accept payments. Most businesses need the following merchant services:
  • Credit card processing capabilities. 
  • Merchant accounts.
  • POS systems. 
You may need other merchant services depending on the transaction types you accept. In-person transactions may also involve extra credit card readers and other POS hardware. Services for online transactions, on the other hand, likely require e-commerce platforms and payment gateways.
There are also extra tools and capabilities that fall under merchant services. These include gift cards, loyalty programs and fraud protection, among other features.

What’s the cheapest merchant service for small business?

No merchant service will be the cheapest option for all businesses across the board. To get the best deal, follow these steps:
  1. Look for competitive payment processing rates. In-person rates should be around 2.6% plus 10 cents and online rates should be about 2.9% plus 30 cents. Sometimes, providers with slightly higher rates can still offer great value, though. For example, we think Square’s free POS features make up for its slightly higher rates.  
  2. Compare payment processing models. Interchange-plus processors can be more cost-efficient than flat-rate processors for high-volume businesses. We’d consider your business to be high volume if your average transaction amounts exceed $50 and you do more than $8,000 in card transactions monthly. You can compare rates across multiple providers with our credit card processing fees calculator.
  3. Find a free POS software plan. Most of the providers we list offer these. However, there can be benefits to choosing paid options. For example, you can often unlock lower rates and additional features by upgrading plans. POS software costs come in the form of a monthly, recurring fee. 
  4. Compare POS hardware costs. This is a one-time fee, unless you finance your POS equipment. Card readers are usually less expensive than countertop register systems. Overall, equipment can range anywhere from around $50 to more than $1,000 depending on what you need. Prices also fluctuate from one provider to the next.

What’s the difference between merchant services and merchant accounts?

Merchant services refers to a range of items that help businesses accept payments. Merchant accounts are one of those products.
In addition to merchant accounts, merchant services include payment processing services and POS systems. These are all part of your payments infrastructure.
Merchant accounts are where funds from your credit card sales get deposited. From there, you can transfer that money to your business bank account and withdraw it.

What are the different types of merchant accounts?

There are two main types of merchant accounts: dedicated and shared. You own a dedicated account by yourself. Shared accounts, on the other hand, combine multiple businesses’ funds together.
Applying for a dedicated account is more intensive than applying for a shared one. And it may take more time. But having a dedicated account helps minimize the chances of your payment processor freezing or shutting down your account due to flagged transactions. Examples include Helcim, Chase Payment Solutions and U.S. Bank Merchant Services.
You can get a shared merchant account from a payment service provider (PSPs). Businesses can almost instantaneously begin processing credit card transactions with a shared merchant account, but it can be riskier. The threshold for account freezes is often lower than it is for dedicated accounts. PSP examples include Square, Stripe and Shopify.

Do you need a dedicated merchant account?

You need some sort of merchant account to accept customer payments. But it doesn’t have to be a dedicated one. In fact, any business you notice using Square, for example, uses a shared merchant account.
However, a dedicated merchant account can benefit larger small businesses or quickly growing ones. That’s because dedicated account providers offer a more personalized approach. This could mean less account freezes, better customer service and the option to negotiate rates.

How to choose the best merchant service for your small business

Before committing to a merchant services provider, consider the following factors:
  1. Weigh different payment processing models. Interchange-plus and subscription models can be more ideal for high-volume businesses. Otherwise, flat-rate models make it easier to predict processing costs. 
  2. Confirm your pick supports all of your sales channels. Different payment methods include online and in-person payments, contactless payments, digital wallets, QR codes and PayPal.
  3. Consider all associated costs. Take into account the upfront costs for POS hardware. The same goes for the ongoing subscription costs with POS software plans. Similarly, compare different providers' per-transaction rates and fees. There could also be fees for PCI compliance, chargebacks, setup and merchant account maintenance.
  4. Make sure your provider is compatible with your POS system. It’s most convenient to use a merchant services provider that offers POS systems and payment processing services under the same umbrella. If that’s not an option, make sure the processor integrates with your POS system and, preferably, your accounting software.
  5. Check customer service availability. Think about which days and times you accept the highest volume of transactions, and check to see if live customer support is available then. Live chat and phone support are ideal so that you can reach a representative immediately. Some merchant services providers also assign businesses dedicated account managers for one-on-one support.
Last updated on October 30, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Merchant services help facilitate the payment process so that merchants can collect funds from card transactions.
Merchant services include payment processing, merchant and business bank accounts and point-of-sale solutions. Some examples of merchant services providers include Helcim, Square and Stripe.
If you’d like to accept credit and debit card payments — and not just cash — your business likely needs a merchant services provider. In addition to helping your business accept card payments, merchant services can also make the checkout process more efficient by offering user-friendly POS hardware, collecting sales data, syncing that data with your accounting software and providing customer support.

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.