8 Best Online Payment Processing Services of 2026
We looked at more than 25 processors to find the best options for online sales. All our picks let you customize the online checkout experience. Most combine free monthly plans with live support too.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Stripe
Best for Overall online payment processing service
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Learn more on Stripe's website
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Developer tools provide a high degree of customizability.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Phone and email support only available as add-ons.
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Helcim
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
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
- No monthly fees.
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
Cons
- No full POS register options available.
- Deposits may take up to two business days.
Square
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
for Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
on Square's website
Pros
- Has a free POS plan.
- Free next-day deposits.
- Shipping discounts.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or chargebacks.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Shopify Payments
Best for Building your own online store
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
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Shipping discounts (up to 87%).
- No fees for PCI compliance or termination.
- Access to Shop Pay accelerated checkout.
- Lets you choose from more than 1,000 website themes.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
Cons
- Payouts can take up to five business days.
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- E-commerce plans can be expensive, especially if you opt for the POS Pro add-on.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
PayPal
Best for Brand recognition
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
on PayPal's website
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Accepts a variety of payment methods, including Venmo and PayPal.
Cons
- Deposits may take up to three business days.
- Online processing options can be difficult to grasp.
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
- Free next-day deposits.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- Phone, email and live chat support on weekdays.
- Subscription model can help high-volume businesses save money.
Cons
- Charges $10/month PCI compliance fee.
- Accounting software integrations may cost extra.
Amazon Pay
Best for Increasing conversion
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
For online and mobile.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Provides easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Phone support seven days a week, plus 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits may take three to five business days.
- Lacks accounting integrations.
PaymentCloud
Best for High-risk merchants
Payment processing fees
3.5% + $0.00
and up on average.
Monthly fee
$5
to $20.
on PaymentCloud's website
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Must reach out for processing fee quotes.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
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No monthly fee option - No PCI compliance fee
- No termination fee
- No setup fee
- Retail-specific tools
- Loyalty programs
- Mobile card readers
- POS registers
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Stripe
Best for Overall online payment processing service
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
- No monthly fees.
- Developer tools provide a high degree of customizability.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Phone and email support only available as add-ons.
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Stripe takes the top spot thanks to its versatility in the online payments space. It works for retailers and service-based industries alike, and you can integrate it into most existing websites.
Stripe also has a range of customizability options. If you don’t want to implement your own code, you can embed Stripe’s pre-built checkout module into your website. Or, you can use developer expertise to build your own flow from scratch. This gives you as much — or as little — control over the checkout process as you’d like.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Developer tools provide a high degree of customizability.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Phone and email support only available as add-ons.
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Stripe takes the top spot thanks to its versatility in the online payments space. It works for retailers and service-based industries alike, and you can integrate it into most existing websites.
Stripe also has a range of customizability options. If you don’t want to implement your own code, you can embed Stripe’s pre-built checkout module into your website. Or, you can use developer expertise to build your own flow from scratch. This gives you as much — or as little — control over the checkout process as you’d like.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Developer tools provide a high degree of customizability.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Phone and email support only available as add-ons.
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Helcim
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
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
- No monthly fees.
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
Cons
- No full POS register options available.
- Deposits may take up to two business days.
Helcim is different from most payment processors on this list because it uses interchange-plus pricing. That means its fees change from one transaction to the next. If someone pays with a debit card, for example, you’ll typically pay less than you would for a credit card purchase. These savings start to pile up for high-volume businesses.
Helcim lets you create your own online retail store or hosted payments page. The latter is better suited to service-based businesses. If you already have your own website, you can embed one of Helcim’s checkout modules in it.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
Cons
- No full POS register options available.
- Deposits may take up to two business days.
Helcim is different from most payment processors on this list because it uses interchange-plus pricing. That means its fees change from one transaction to the next. If someone pays with a debit card, for example, you’ll typically pay less than you would for a credit card purchase. These savings start to pile up for high-volume businesses.
Helcim lets you create your own online retail store or hosted payments page. The latter is better suited to service-based businesses. If you already have your own website, you can embed one of Helcim’s checkout modules in it.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Automatically applies volume discounts.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
Cons
- No full POS register options available.
- Deposits may take up to two business days.
Square
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
for Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
on Square's website
Pros
- Has a free POS plan.
- Free next-day deposits.
- Shipping discounts.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or chargebacks.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square is a top choice for businesses that need an in-store POS solution and online processing. Its plans are built to help you manage your business and its employees — not just to facilitate payments.
You’ll also find a large selection of hardware options. These include countertop registers with customer-facing screens, mobile readers and handheld terminals. Lots of online payment processors only offer mobile readers. This makes them less ideal for brick-and-mortar businesses that need more robust setups.
Additionally, each Square plan lets you build an online store for free. This is great for businesses looking for a no-code option. Just know that you need to subscribe to the Plus plan or up to connect the store to your own custom domain.
Pros
- Has a free POS plan.
- Free next-day deposits.
- Shipping discounts.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or chargebacks.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square is a top choice for businesses that need an in-store POS solution and online processing. Its plans are built to help you manage your business and its employees — not just to facilitate payments.
You’ll also find a large selection of hardware options. These include countertop registers with customer-facing screens, mobile readers and handheld terminals. Lots of online payment processors only offer mobile readers. This makes them less ideal for brick-and-mortar businesses that need more robust setups.
Additionally, each Square plan lets you build an online store for free. This is great for businesses looking for a no-code option. Just know that you need to subscribe to the Plus plan or up to connect the store to your own custom domain.
Pros
- Has a free POS plan.
- Free next-day deposits.
- Shipping discounts.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or chargebacks.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Shopify Payments
Best for Building your own online store
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
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Shipping discounts (up to 87%).
- No fees for PCI compliance or termination.
- Access to Shop Pay accelerated checkout.
- Lets you choose from more than 1,000 website themes.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
Cons
- Payouts can take up to five business days.
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- E-commerce plans can be expensive, especially if you opt for the POS Pro add-on.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
If you haven’t already created your website, Shopify has the best online store building tools of the bunch. With more than 1,000 themes to choose from, Shopify makes it easy to create a professional-looking site with little know-how.
All Shopify merchants also get access to Shop Pay, the company’s accelerated checkout service. Customers can use it to save their checkout information and complete their purchases in a click or two.
Pros
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Shipping discounts (up to 87%).
- No fees for PCI compliance or termination.
- Access to Shop Pay accelerated checkout.
- Lets you choose from more than 1,000 website themes.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
Cons
- Payouts can take up to five business days.
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- E-commerce plans can be expensive, especially if you opt for the POS Pro add-on.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
If you haven’t already created your website, Shopify has the best online store building tools of the bunch. With more than 1,000 themes to choose from, Shopify makes it easy to create a professional-looking site with little know-how.
All Shopify merchants also get access to Shop Pay, the company’s accelerated checkout service. Customers can use it to save their checkout information and complete their purchases in a click or two.
Pros
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Shipping discounts (up to 87%).
- No fees for PCI compliance or termination.
- Access to Shop Pay accelerated checkout.
- Lets you choose from more than 1,000 website themes.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
Cons
- Payouts can take up to five business days.
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- E-commerce plans can be expensive, especially if you opt for the POS Pro add-on.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
PayPal
Best for Brand recognition
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
on PayPal's website
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Accepts a variety of payment methods, including Venmo and PayPal.
Cons
- Deposits may take up to three business days.
- Online processing options can be difficult to grasp.
With 439 million users worldwide, it’s safe to say that PayPal has become a household name. And customers often trust what they’re familiar with. If you’d like to offer alternative payment options that people know, PayPal is a great choice. On top of card payments, you can also use it to accept PayPal and Venmo.
PayPal doesn’t really help you build an online store, but you can embed its checkout form into existing sites. Or, you can send payment links.
Just know that PayPal’s online rates can be confusing. It offers two different options: PayPal Checkout and Expanded Checkout.
The former charges 2.99% plus 49 cents per online transaction. Expanded Checkout is cheaper at 2.89% plus 29 cents. But it doesn’t come with advanced fraud protection like PayPal Checkout does. You’ll pay even more when online shoppers check out using PayPal or Venmo (3.49% plus 49 cents). Competitors, like Stripe, have more straightforward rates.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Accepts a variety of payment methods, including Venmo and PayPal.
Cons
- Deposits may take up to three business days.
- Online processing options can be difficult to grasp.
With 439 million users worldwide, it’s safe to say that PayPal has become a household name. And customers often trust what they’re familiar with. If you’d like to offer alternative payment options that people know, PayPal is a great choice. On top of card payments, you can also use it to accept PayPal and Venmo.
PayPal doesn’t really help you build an online store, but you can embed its checkout form into existing sites. Or, you can send payment links.
Just know that PayPal’s online rates can be confusing. It offers two different options: PayPal Checkout and Expanded Checkout.
The former charges 2.99% plus 49 cents per online transaction. Expanded Checkout is cheaper at 2.89% plus 29 cents. But it doesn’t come with advanced fraud protection like PayPal Checkout does. You’ll pay even more when online shoppers check out using PayPal or Venmo (3.49% plus 49 cents). Competitors, like Stripe, have more straightforward rates.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Accepts a variety of payment methods, including Venmo and PayPal.
Cons
- Deposits may take up to three business days.
- Online processing options can be difficult to grasp.
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
- Free next-day deposits.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- Phone, email and live chat support on weekdays.
- Subscription model can help high-volume businesses save money.
Cons
- Charges $10/month PCI compliance fee.
- Accounting software integrations may cost extra.
Stax charges a monthly fee in exchange for very low processing rates. This model makes sense for high-volume businesses with otherwise large payment processing bills.
Unlike some other picks on the list, Stax doesn’t help you create an e-commerce page for your business. You can, however, use it to embed hosted payment pages on existing sites or send payment links.
Pros
- Free next-day deposits.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- Phone, email and live chat support on weekdays.
- Subscription model can help high-volume businesses save money.
Cons
- Charges $10/month PCI compliance fee.
- Accounting software integrations may cost extra.
Stax charges a monthly fee in exchange for very low processing rates. This model makes sense for high-volume businesses with otherwise large payment processing bills.
Unlike some other picks on the list, Stax doesn’t help you create an e-commerce page for your business. You can, however, use it to embed hosted payment pages on existing sites or send payment links.
Pros
- Free next-day deposits.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- Phone, email and live chat support on weekdays.
- Subscription model can help high-volume businesses save money.
Cons
- Charges $10/month PCI compliance fee.
- Accounting software integrations may cost extra.
Amazon Pay
Best for Increasing conversion
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
For online and mobile.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Provides easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Phone support seven days a week, plus 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits may take three to five business days.
- Lacks accounting integrations.
If you already have a website and want to give customers more payment options, you might add an Amazon Pay button. Just know that it does involve plugging in some code.
Amazon has more than 310 million shoppers — chances are, some of them are your customers. The button lets them check out with the information they have saved on their Amazon account. Since it can streamline the checkout process, it may also increase conversion rates and lead to more sales.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Provides easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Phone support seven days a week, plus 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits may take three to five business days.
- Lacks accounting integrations.
If you already have a website and want to give customers more payment options, you might add an Amazon Pay button. Just know that it does involve plugging in some code.
Amazon has more than 310 million shoppers — chances are, some of them are your customers. The button lets them check out with the information they have saved on their Amazon account. Since it can streamline the checkout process, it may also increase conversion rates and lead to more sales.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- No fees for termination or PCI compliance.
- Provides easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Phone support seven days a week, plus 24/7 live chat.
Cons
- Deposits may take three to five business days.
- Lacks accounting integrations.
PaymentCloud
Best for High-risk merchants
Payment processing fees
3.5% + $0.00
and up on average.
Monthly fee
$5
to $20.
on PaymentCloud's website
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Must reach out for processing fee quotes.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
“High risk” doesn’t just apply to companies dealing with tobacco, firearms or cannabis. Payment processors may also label healthcare, coaching, real estate and tech businesses as high risk.
PaymentCloud works with a variety of industries that are considered high risk. On top of enabling in-person payments, it lets you send payment links and add shopping carts to existing websites.
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Must reach out for processing fee quotes.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
“High risk” doesn’t just apply to companies dealing with tobacco, firearms or cannabis. Payment processors may also label healthcare, coaching, real estate and tech businesses as high risk.
PaymentCloud works with a variety of industries that are considered high risk. On top of enabling in-person payments, it lets you send payment links and add shopping carts to existing websites.
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Must reach out for processing fee quotes.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
Jump to
How we select the best online payment processing services
How much do online payment processors charge?
How long do online payment processing services take to deposit funds?
Can online payment processors freeze your account?
How can you avoid account freezes?
What’s the difference between a hosted and embedded checkout page?
Do online payment processors have chargeback protection?
Table of contents
How we select the best online payment processing services
Our writers and editors cover more than 25 payment processing companies. Most offer online processing in some capacity. So we narrowed down the list by focusing on differentiating factors. Some examples include:
- Pricing model. We wanted to offer interchange-plus, flat-rate and subscription options for different sized businesses. Interchange-plus and subscription models are generally better for high-volume operations. Flat-rate options are easier to understand and work just fine for low/medium volume businesses.
- Website building tools. Shopify, Square and Helcim can help you create online pages for your business. Alternatives, like PayPal and Stripe, are better for businesses that already have their own websites.
- Accelerated checkout options. Products like Amazon Pay and Shopify’s Shop Pay stand out because they let customers save their checkout info. This helps speed up the online purchase process.
- Hardware selection for in-person payments. Even if you take payments online, you may still have a physical location. Ideally, a single processor will meet all your needs versus a piecemeal approach. Some options like Stripe specialize in online sales but don’t offer in-store management tools. That’s where products like Square come in.
We also tried to select options that don’t charge termination fees. The exception is PaymentCloud, since it’s a high-risk processor. High-risk businesses usually face steeper fees since they carry a greater risk of fraud and/or chargebacks.
Additionally, most of our picks don’t charge extra monthly fees to start accepting payments online. They do, however, charge higher credit card processing fees for online purchases than for in-person ones. This is typical, since online payments often carry higher fraud risk.
» MORE: How to accept payments online
How much do online payment processors charge?
Here’s how much the top payment processing companies charge per online transaction. These rates apply to the processors’ least expensive monthly plan. You can click the provider’s name to see more pricing details.
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.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- An additional 10 cents per Tap to Pay transaction.
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6 for transactions less than $25,000).
Monthly fees:
- $0 for Square Free plan.
- $49 for Square Plus plan.
- $149 for Square Premium plans.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Free plan.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Free plan.
- 2.5% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Plus plan.
- 2.4% plus 15 cents for in-person transaction with Premium plan.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Plus and Premium plans.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Monthly fees:
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- $2,300 per month and up for Shopify Plus.
- Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan.
Payment processing fees:
- For online payments made with standard cards: 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents in Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- For online payments made with business or American Express cards: 3.1%, 3.3% or 3.5% plus 30 cents in Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- For in-person payments: 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments in Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person card payments and QR code transactions.
- 2.89% plus 29 cents for online card payments through PayPal Expanded Checkout.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for online card payments through PayPal Checkout.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for PayPal and Venmo payments.
- 3.39% plus 29 cents per virtual terminal transaction.
Monthly fees:
- $99 if you process less than $150,000 per year.
- $139 if you process between $150,000 and $250,000 per year.
- $199 and up if you process more than $250,000 per year.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for web and mobile transactions.
- Extra 1% for cross-border transactions.
Monthly fees:
Quote-based, but ranges from $5 to $20.
Payment processing fees:
Quote-based, but rates for high-risk businesses typically start at 3.5% per transaction.
How long do online payment processing services take to deposit funds?
Payout timing varies from one product to the next. Here’s a look at how long each of our top picks generally takes to deposit money into your bank account:
| Standard payout timing | |
|---|---|
| Stripe | 2 business days. |
| Helcim | 1-2 business days. |
| Square | Next business day. |
| Shopify | 1-5 business days. |
| PayPal | 1-3 business days. |
| Stax | Next business day. |
| Amazon Pay | 3-5 business days. |
| PaymentCloud | 1-2 business days. |
Can online payment processors freeze your account?
Yes, online payment processors can freeze your account for a variety of reasons. The risk is higher if you opt for a payment service provider (PSP) as opposed to a dedicated merchant account provider.
PSPs (e.g., PayPal, Square, Stripe, Shopify) aggregate multiple businesses’ funds in the same shared merchant account. Therefore, their tolerance for risk is lower. This can lead to more account freezes.
Dedicated account providers (e.g., Stax, Helcim, PaymentCloud) have more in-depth applications. This initial process gives them a better understanding of your business’s average purchase prices and what you sell. Hopefully that minimizes the chances of them mistakenly flagging a transaction as fraudulent. Plus, you don’t need to deal with interruptions every time another business triggers a freeze. That’s because you’re not sharing the account with other businesses.
How can you avoid account freezes?
Account freezes are always possible, regardless of which type of provider you choose. But they’re usually less frequent among dedicated merchant account providers as opposed to PSPs.
Either way, before you commit to an online processor, ask a representative what types of transactions cause freezes most often. This can help you avoid those or at least flag them when they happen. Also make sure the processor understands what types of transactions you handle. You might ask them, for example, if they have experience working with businesses in your industry.
Last, make sure to give your merchant account provider a heads up if you’re expecting an unusually large transaction. That way, they’ll know it’s not fraudulent.
What’s the difference between a hosted and embedded checkout page?
Most online payment processors offer fully hosted checkout pages and embedded checkout options. Their main difference is checkout customizability and the workload required to implement them.
Hosted checkout modules usually take customers to a new page to complete their purchase. Their main upside is that they’re simple to implement. And, they typically handle security protocols and PCI compliance for you.
The downside is that redirects can make customers suspicious. They might wonder, for example, whether they’re giving their credit card information to a fraudulent site. It can also make the checkout process clunky.
Embedded options don’t redirect customers. They let them complete the purchase process from your business’s site. This provides a more fluid checkout experience.
However, matching the embed to your branding often involves more coding. You may also need to take on more responsibility when it comes to data security. That could mean meeting stricter PCI compliance standards or paying a third party to run security checks.
Do online payment processors have chargeback protection?
Yes, most online processors have some sort of built-in chargeback or fraud protection. Usually, it comes standard with their services. Some products also offer extra tools for added protection.
For instance, PayPal’s Fraud Protection Advanced tool allows for more in-depth risk analysis. It also lets you create filters for screening transactions. The feature is mostly meant for medium and large businesses.
If you’re unsure whether you need extra protection, ask your industry connections. See if they’ve had any persistent fraud or chargeback issues. It’s useful to find out how they solved them too.
You could ask a sales representative from your payment processor as well. But beware they might try to sell you on the added service whether you need it or not. Approaching other businesses in your industry first may provide more neutral answers.
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews payment processing companies before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we dropped the “free trials” category from our rubric. Payment processing systems can be time-consuming to set up. Testing out multiple products isn’t an ideal approach. Instead, we recommend taking cost and features into consideration.
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.
