9 Best Online Payment Processing Services of July 2025
These payment processing services open up your business to online customers. Just make sure they integrate with your e-commerce platform.
Online payment processing is a must for e-commerce businesses and physical stores with an online presence. The best online payment processing services offer some combination of competitive processing rates, e-commerce integrations and solid customer support. Many of the options bundle payment gateways
Businesses with a brick-and-mortar location in addition to an online store may consider products that also sell their own payment processing hardware. That way you can be sure that your card readers and point-of-sale terminals are compatible with your online payment system.
Here are our top picks for online payment processing services.
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Best Online Payment Processing Services
| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Helcim on Helcim's secure website | Interchange-plus credit card processing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim's secure website | |
 Square on Square's secure website | Hybrid businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | on Square's secure website | |
 Stripe on Stripe Payments' secure website | API customization | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | on Stripe Payments' secure website | |
 Shopify Payments on Shopify Payments' secure website | E-commerce platform integration | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39 Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan. | on Shopify Payments' secure website | |
 Stax on Stax's secure website | Membership-style pricing | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99 and up. | on Stax's secure website | |
 PaymentCloud on PaymentCloud's secure website | High-risk merchants | 2.4% + $0.10 to 3.5% + $0.25 on average. | $0 to $50. | on PaymentCloud's secure website | |
 Adyen | Omnichannel commerce | 0.6% + $0.13 Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx. | $0 | ||
 Amazon Pay | Streamlined checkout | 2.9% + $0.30 For online and mobile. | $0 | ||
 BlueSnap | Splitting payments with other vendors | 2.9% + $0.30 Or customized rate for large-volume businesses. | $0 |
Best Online Payment Processing Services
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
Learn moreon Helcim's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Offers free POS software.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Helcim
Best for Interchange-plus credit card processing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Offers free POS software.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
on Square's website
Pros
- Offers a free mobile card reader and free POS software plan.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- No chargeback or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Complex businesses might prefer a processor that integrates with more specialized POS systems.
Square
Best for Hybrid businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
on Square's website
Pros
- Offers a free mobile card reader and free POS software plan.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- No chargeback or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Complex businesses might prefer a processor that integrates with more specialized POS systems.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
on Stripe's website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Stripe
Best for API customization
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
on Stripe's website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- Hundreds of e-commerce website templates available.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Shopify Payments
Best for E-commerce platform integration
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- Hundreds of e-commerce website templates available.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15
Online: 0% + $0.15
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
on Stax's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
- Compatible with POS system providers, such as Clover.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Stax
Best for Membership-style pricing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15
Online: 0% + $0.15
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
on Stax's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
- Compatible with POS system providers, such as Clover.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Payment processing fees
2.4% + $0.10
to 3.5% + $0.25 on average.
Monthly fee
$0
to $50.
on PaymentCloud's website
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- New merchants may qualify for a free terminal.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- Website isn’t transparent about processing rates.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
PaymentCloud
Best for High-risk merchants
Payment processing fees
2.4% + $0.10
to 3.5% + $0.25 on average.
Monthly fee
$0
to $50.
on PaymentCloud's website
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- New merchants may qualify for a free terminal.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- Website isn’t transparent about processing rates.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
Payment processing fees
0.6% + $0.13
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly subscription or termination fees.
- Consolidate data across multiple online and in-person sales channels.
- Global payment options available.
Cons
- Pricing models differ by card, which can be confusing.
- No accounting integrations.
- Must give at least two months’ notice before terminating contract.
- Must reach out for hardware costs.
Adyen
Best for Omnichannel commerce
Payment processing fees
0.6% + $0.13
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly subscription or termination fees.
- Consolidate data across multiple online and in-person sales channels.
- Global payment options available.
Cons
- Pricing models differ by card, which can be confusing.
- No accounting integrations.
- Must give at least two months’ notice before terminating contract.
- Must reach out for hardware costs.
Pros
- Easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Supports global customers and currencies.
- No monthly subscription costs or termination fees.
- Alexa voice integration to place and track orders.
Cons
- Reserve policy delays payouts, especially for newer accounts.
- No third-party accounting integrations.
Amazon Pay
Best for Streamlined checkout
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
For online and mobile.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- Easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Supports global customers and currencies.
- No monthly subscription costs or termination fees.
- Alexa voice integration to place and track orders.
Cons
- Reserve policy delays payouts, especially for newer accounts.
- No third-party accounting integrations.
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
Or customized rate for large-volume businesses.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- Customer support by phone, message and chat.
Cons
- No online store hosting.
- No proprietary POS.
BlueSnap
Best for Splitting payments with other vendors
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
Or customized rate for large-volume businesses.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- Customer support by phone, message and chat.
Cons
- No online store hosting.
- No proprietary POS.
Our picks for best online payment processing services
Square
Best for hybrid businesses
Why we like it: Square charges simple, flat-rate processing fees and integrates with several platforms, allowing you to make online sales through multiple channels. For example, with a Mailchimp integration, you can use the email platform to create landing pages for selling items and accepting payments. Read our full Square review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
» MORE: How much does Square cost?
Stripe
Best for API customization
Why we like it: Stripe makes it easy to customize the payment process to fit your business. With extensive documentation and a system designed for developers, you can tweak Stripe’s interface to give your customers a branded checkout experience within your own application. Read our full Stripe review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
» MORE: A full breakdown of Stripe fees
Shopify Payments
Best for e-commerce platform integration
Why we like it: Shopify's setup offers a good foundation for e-commerce businesses. It has competitive transaction fees, 24/7 customer support and the ability to create an online store with strong analytics. Even the free version of its POS requires purchase of one of its monthly e-commerce plans, so it's best suited for businesses already using Shopify. Read our full Shopify Payments review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
Amazon Pay
Best for streamlined checkout
Why we like it: Amazon Pay lets consumers pay small businesses using the payment information saved on their Amazon accounts. This eliminates the need for new customers to enter their payment details, which can speed up the checkout process, and provides payment security associated with the Amazon name. Adding the Amazon Pay button to your website is also relatively easy. Read our full Amazon Pay review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
BlueSnap
Best for splitting payments with other vendors
Why we like it: For businesses that have revenue-sharing contracts with vendors, BlueSnap could be a good option. Instead of having to wait for a payment to hit your bank account and then sending a portion to another vendor for a commission, you can set up the vendor to automatically receive its portion when the payment is received.
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
Helcim
Best for interchange-plus credit card processing
Why we like it: Helcim stands out as a low-cost payment processing option for both online and in-person transactions, thanks to its interchange-plus pricing model and lack of PCI compliance, setup or cancellation fees. Businesses processing more than $50,000 in credit card transactions each month will experience the greatest savings. For businesses processing online payments, Helcim offers tools for online checkout and subscriptions, as well as hosted payment pages.
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
» MORE: Best point-of-sale systems
Adyen
Best for omnichannel commerce
Why we like it: In addition to solid payment processing options, Adyen offers an omnichannel commerce tool, Unified Commerce, that can help you combine data from online and offline sources for better data insights. For businesses that also have in-store sales, this is a great feature. Read our full Adyen review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
PaymentCloud
Best for high-risk merchants
Why we like it: PaymentCloud offers services for high-risk merchants that might otherwise struggle to find payment processors. Working with businesses in multiple high-risk industries, such as CBD and supplement distribution, makes the company a competitive option. Read our full PaymentCloud review
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
Stax
Best for membership-style pricing
Why we like it: Small online businesses with high sales volume may benefit from Stax’s membership-style pricing structure and e-commerce integrations. Instead of charging a flat rate for all transactions, Stax charges a monthly fee and then passes interchange savings to the merchant.
Monthly fees
Processing fees
Supported payments
Integrations
Didn’t find what you’re looking for?
Explore NerdWallet’s collection of top credit card processing companies
What are online payment processing services?
Online payment processing lets you accept debit card, ACH and credit card payments from customers shopping online. The full process involves a few different phases behind the scenes.
Generally, online credit card processing services provide a payment gateway for the customer, which allows them to securely enter their card information online. The gateway then passes that information along to the payment processor. And from there, the processor verifies that the transaction is legitimate and oversees the transfer of funds from the customer’s bank (also known as the issuing bank) to the business’s bank account. Deposit times range from same-day to multiple business days, depending on the online payment processing service.
Your role in the process is to subscribe to an online credit card processing service, sync it with your website and customize your customers’ checkout experience, if desired.
How do you accept payments online?
This guide provides the background knowledge you need to factor in payment processing costs, pricing models and online payment method options to find the right fit for your business.
What do you need to accept payments online?
To accept payments online, expect to subscribe to the following products. Most online payment processing services offer all-in-one solutions to make the process simpler.
- Merchant account: Before credit card funds reach your business’s bank account, where you can withdraw them, they’re held in a merchant account.
Payment service providers - Payment gateway: Payment gateways are like messengers for online transactions — they securely capture customers’ credit card information and send it to the payment processor.
- Online payment processor: Processors’ main job is to facilitate the flow of funds from the customer’s bank account (issuing bank) to the business’s bank account (acquiring bank). Our explainer on
how payment processors work
How do payment gateways work?
Payment processing services and payment gateways are often provided in tandem, but they play two different roles in the overall process.
How to choose an online payment processing service
Here are several factors to consider while comparing online payment processing services.
Your sales channels
If your business completes sales entirely online, you can keep it simple by sticking with a payment processing service that specializes in online transactions.
If you also process in-person transactions, you might choose an option that offers in-house POS hardware
Cost
Going with your e-commerce platform’s in-house payment processing service is likely the easiest option, and it might even save you time. But it’s possible that integrating with a third-party processor could save you money in the long run. That’s why it’s important to forecast your monthly sales volume and average purchase price, so that you can confidently run the numbers and decide which option is most cost-effective.
You can also keep costs down by avoiding services that charge additional fees for PCI compliance, termination or setup.
Integrations
Scrolling through your e-commerce platform’s payments integrations is an easy way to narrow down your options. Not all platforms are compatible with multiple online credit card processing services. If you sell goods or services in-person, too, make sure the payment processing service integrates with your POS hardware.
Customer service
If your online business’s payment processing services crash, you could miss out on valuable sales. Make sure your online credit card processing service offers phone support or live chat options in case you need a quick fix. Reading reviews can be a great way of gauging the quality of a product’s customer support, too.
If you’re still deciding which service is right for you, NerdWallet’s online payment processor quiz can help you land on the best match.
Methodology
NerdWallet’s ratings of payment processing providers reward 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