Our Nerdy picks for
Best Payment Processing Companies
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 payment processor | 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 Learn more on Square's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for All-in-one payment processor | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Learn more on Square's secure website | ||
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Online, international transactions | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Accounting and software integrations | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $15 $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
PayPal | 5.0/5 Best for Alternative payment methods | N/A credit and debit cards; 3.49% + 49¢ digital payments. | $0 Standard; $5 Payments Advanced; $30 Payments Pro. | |||
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Shopify e-commerce users | In-person: 2.7% + $0.00 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.) | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | ||
Chase Payment Solutions℠ Learn more on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Direct processor | 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 | ||
Stax by Fattmerchant Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for High-volume sales | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Plus interchange | $99 and up. | Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | ||
Payline Learn more on Payline's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for High-risk merchants | In-person: 0.4% + $0.10 Online: 0.75% + $0.20 Plus interchange | $10 in person; $20 online. | Learn more on Payline's secure website | ||
Dharma Merchant Services | 4.5/5 Best for Nonprofits | In-person: 0.15% + $0.08 Online: 0.2% + $0.11 Plus interchange | $25 for most industries; $20 for nonprofits. |
Our pick for
Overall payment processor
Helcim
on Helcim's secure website
In-person: 0.3% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
$0
Pros
- Pricing is transparent.
- Offers all-inclusive platform.
Cons
- Potentially expensive for low-volume businesses.
Our pick for
All-in-one payment processor
Square
on Square's secure website
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Pros
- Competitive, flat-rate pricing.
- Offers free POS systems with many features and functions.
- No contract or early-termination fees.
Cons
- Lacks advanced POS features.
- Doesn't run on Windows devices.
Our pick for
Online, international transactions
Stripe
on Stripe Payments' secure website
In-person: 2.7% + $0.05
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
$0
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Competitive pricing.
Cons
- Prioritizes online merchants.
- Requires developer experience.
Our pick for
Accounting and software integrations
Clover POS
on Clover POS's secure website
In-person: 2.3% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
$15
$14.95 and up.
Pros
- Competitive flat rates for payment processing.
- Hardware performs well and is well designed.
Cons
- No free options.
- Pricing can be tough to understand.
Our pick for
Alternative payment methods
PayPal
N/A
credit and debit cards; 3.49% + 49¢ digital payments.
$0
Standard; $5 Payments Advanced; $30 Payments Pro.
Pros
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Easy to use and integrate with website hosts and shopping carts.
- Transparent fixed fees in 25 currencies.
Cons
- PayPal’s offerings are vast and can be difficult to grasp quickly.
- Payment processing can be expensive for small purchases.
- Not ideal for high-risk or high-volume businesses.
Our pick for
Shopify e-commerce users
Shopify Retail POS
on Shopify POS's secure website
In-person: 2.7% + $0.00
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
$0
POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.)
Pros
- Has good features for multichannel selling.
- Offers integrated, flat-rate payment processing.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- More e-commerce focused than other competitors.
Our pick for
Direct processor
Chase Payment Solutions℠
on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.25
$0
Monthly fee in some instances.
Pros
- Big, recognizable name.
- Two-in-one processor and acquiring bank.
Cons
- Reseller programs complicate buying process.
- Pricing is relatively unclear.
Our pick for
High-volume sales
Stax by Fattmerchant
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Plus interchange
$99
and up.
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
High-risk merchants
Payline
on Payline's secure website
In-person: 0.4% + $0.10
Online: 0.75% + $0.20
Plus interchange
$10
in person; $20 online.
Pros
- Competitive pricing.
- Good customer service offerings.
Cons
- Negative online reviews.
Our pick for
Nonprofits
Dharma Merchant Services
In-person: 0.15% + $0.08
Online: 0.2% + $0.11
Plus interchange
$25
for most industries; $20 for nonprofits.
Pros
- Competitive transaction pricing.
- Good flexibility.
Cons
- Monthly fees can be barrier to entry.
- Requires separate accounts for online and in-person payments.
- 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.
- 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.
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter and Professional Services Standard plans, as well as Home & Field Services Standard and Advanced plans.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
- 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.
- 1.5% additional fee for international card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for standard credit and debit card payments.
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for digital payments (PayPal Checkout and Pay with Venmo).
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for card-present or QR payments through PayPal Zettle.
- 2.89% plus 49 cents for online card payments through Payments Advanced or Payments Pro.
- 2.4%, 2.6% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.7% for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 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.
- Interchange plus 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- $99 per month and up for software.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 10 cents for in-person transactions, and $10 per month.
- Interchange plus 0.75% and 20 cents for online transactions, and $20 per month.
- Pricing varies by card type for manually keyed 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.