What are merchant services?
Our Nerdy picks for
Best Merchant Services
Calculate your monthly cost estimate
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 Overall option | In-person: 0.3% + $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 |
Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Flat-rate option | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.6% + $0.30 | $0 Free plan; $29 Plus plan; Custom plan available. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website | ||
Dharma Merchant Services | 4.5/5 Best for E-commerce | In-person: 0.15% + $0.08 Online: 0.2% + $0.11 Plus interchange | $25 for most industries; $20 for nonprofits. | |||
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Flat rate for online sales | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | ||
Payment Depot Learn more on Payment Depot's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Large transaction amounts | N/A plus interchange (no markup). | $79 and up. | Learn more on Payment Depot's secure website | ||
PaymentCloud Learn more on PaymentCloud's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for High-risk businesses | N/A | $10 and up. | Learn more on PaymentCloud's secure website | ||
National Processing Learn more on National Processing's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Customized rates | 0.12% + $0.06 plus interchange; varies by business and transaction type. | $10 and up. | Learn more on National Processing's secure website | ||
QuickBooks Payments | 5.0/5 Best for QuickBooks loyalists | In-person: 2.4% + $0.25 Online: 2.9% + $0.25 | $0 QuickBooks subscription required. |
Our pick for
Overall option
Helcim
on Helcim's secure website
In-person: 0.3% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
$0
Pros
- Low processing fees.
- Transparent pricing.
- Volume discounts.
- No contracts.
- No monthly fees.
- No cancellation fees.
- Free virtual terminal.
- Fully hosted online store options.
Cons
- Customer support isn't available 24/7.
- No free card reader.
Our pick for
Flat-rate option
Square POS
on Square POS's secure website
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.6% + $0.30
$0
Free plan; $29 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- Low transaction rates.
- No long-term contracts.
- Quick setup.
- Free card reader.
- Free virtual terminal.
- Free dispute management services for chargebacks.
- No processing fees on customer refunds.
Cons
- 24/7 live phone support is not available for payments.
- Readers are not compatible with Windows devices.
Our pick for
E-commerce
Dharma Merchant Services
In-person: 0.15% + $0.08
Online: 0.2% + $0.11
Plus interchange
$25
for most industries; $20 for nonprofits.
Pros
- Low processing rates.
- Pricing transparency.
- Specializes in e-commerce.
- Reduced rates for large monthly processing volume.
- 24-hour help lines.
- Virtual terminal included.
Cons
- Monthly fee.
- Account closure fee of $49.
Our pick for
Flat rate for online sales
Stripe
on Stripe Payments' secure website
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
$0
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Low transaction rates.
- Supports over 135 currencies.
- Your account can be terminated at any time.
- Developer platform.
- Support is available 24/7 by phone request, chat and email.
- Tools to customize payment flows on your website.
Cons
- No free reader.
- Virtual terminal allows the customer to enter card information but not the merchant.
Our pick for
Large transaction amounts
Payment Depot
on Payment Depot's secure website
N/A
plus interchange (no markup).
$79
and up.
Pros
- Simple and transparent pricing model.
- Custom plans are available.
- No cancellation fees.
- Free virtual terminal.
- Satisfaction guarantee with option for refund of membership fee.
- Customer support is available 24/7.
Cons
- Monthly membership fees.
- A 20% restocking fee for returned terminals.
Our pick for
High-risk businesses
PaymentCloud
on PaymentCloud's secure website
N/A
$10
and up.
Pros
- Specializes in high-risk merchant accounts.
- Card reader and terminal included with account.
- Cancellation fees are waived.
- Free rate review and analysis.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Chargeback prevention tools.
Cons
- Processing rates and hardware costs not available on website.
- Monthly volume limit may apply.
Our pick for
Customized rates
National Processing
on National Processing's secure website
0.12% + $0.06
plus interchange; varies by business and transaction type.
$10
and up.
Pros
- Customized rates based on industry.
- No monthly minimum processing volume.
- High-risk payment processor.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Offers a virtual terminal.
Cons
- Monthly fees.
- Contract with possible early termination and restocking fees.
Our pick for
QuickBooks loyalists
QuickBooks Payments
on NerdWallet's secure website
In-person: 2.4% + $0.25
Online: 2.9% + $0.25
$0
QuickBooks subscription required.
Pros
- No contract.
- No cancellation fees.
- Competitive pricing.
- Instant deposits are available for an extra 1% fee.
- Invoice formatting lets customers pay online.
Cons
- QuickBooks Desktop users and new customers may pay higher fees.
- 24/7 phone support is not available.
Got feedback on these products?
Tell our Nerds what you think about the offerings here to help us refine our product evaluations.
- Interchange plus 0.3% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if less than $25,000 in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online transaction (if less than $25,000 in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per manually keyed transaction (if less than $25,000 in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments.
- $109 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
- $79 for a mobile thermal printer.
- 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.
- 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.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $60 for Square Restaurant and Retail Plus plans.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $49 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer.
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system.
- $659-$1,479 for various bundles of stands, cash drawers, printers and card readers.
- Interchange plus 0.15% + 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.20% + 11 cents for online transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.25% + 8 cents for in-person AmEx transactions.
- Interchange plus; 0.30% + 11 cents for online AmEx transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.15% + 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.20% + 11 cents for online transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.25% + 8 cents for in-person AmEx transactions.
- Interchange plus; 0.30% + 11 cents for online AmEx transactions.
- $149 for Walker 2 chip, swipe and NFC card reader.
- $295 for FD-150, Verifone Engage V200c or Dejavoo Z11 chip-and-pin card reader with printer.
- $369 for Ingenico Desk/5000 card reader.
- $480 for FD-150, or V200c or Z11 card reader with separate pinpad.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile card reader with printer.
- $899 for Clover Mini POS device.
- $1,649 for Clover Station Solo POS bundle.
- $1,999 for Clover Station Duo POS bundle.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.9% plus 30 cents for international cards or currency conversion.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.9% plus 30 cents for international cards or currency conversion.
- $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).
- $59 for Stripe Reader M2.
- $249 for BBPOS WisePOS E card reader.
- $79 if you process up to $250,000 per year.
- Custom quote if you process more than $250,000 per year.
- Cash Discount: interchange only.
- Restaurant: interchange plus 0.14% and 7 cents per transaction.
- Retail: interchange plus 0.18% and 10 cents per transaction.
- E-commerce: interchange plus 0.29% and 15 cents per transaction.
- Nonprofit: interchange plus 0.12% and 6 cents per transaction.
- ACH: interchange plus 0%-1.5% and 48 cents per transaction.
- Subscription: interchange plus 9 cents per transaction.
- Subscription Plus: interchange plus 5 cents per transaction.
- $0 for Cash Discount plan.
- $9.95 for Restaurant, Retail, E-commerce or Nonprofit plans.
- $15 for ACH processing.
- $59 for Subscription plan.
- $199 for Subscription Plus plan.
- Custom pricing available.
- Pay as you go: 2.7% for in-person transactions; 3.5% per keyed transaction.
- Pay monthly: $20 per month; 2.3% plus 25 cents for in-person transaction; 3.2% plus 25 cents per keyed transaction.
- 1% for ACH transactions.
- 2.4% plus 25 cents for in-person payments.
- 2.9% plus 25 cents for online and invoiced payments.
- 3.4% plus 25 cents for manually keyed payments.
- 1% for ACH transactions.
- 2.4% plus 30 cents per swiped transaction.
- 3.5% plus 30 cents per keyed-in transaction.
- 3.5% plus 30 cents per invoiced transaction.
- 1.6% plus 30 cents per swiped transaction.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents per keyed-in transaction.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents per invoiced transaction.
- $1,200 one-time fee for POS Basic.
- $1,700 one-time for POS Pro.
- $1,900 one-time for POS Multi-Store.
- $39 for QuickBooks charging stand.
- $49 for QuickBooks card reader.
- $79 for QuickBooks card reader with charging stand.