A PayPal business account allows companies to accept card payments online, even from customers who don't have a PayPal account. Its fast setup makes it a popular choice, but alternatives may be a better fit if you’d like more customization options, additional point-of-sale (POS) system features or just a simple money transfer app. Some competitors also charge lower processing fees.
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Here are the top PayPal alternatives and why they stand out.
Best PayPal Alternatives
Best PayPal Alternatives
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Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more
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.
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.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more
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.
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.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
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 All-in-one POS system and payment processing
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
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.
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
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 Online storefronts
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
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
2.9% + $0.30
For online and mobile.
Monthly fee
$0.00
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 Amazon sellers
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
For online and mobile.
Monthly fee
$0.00
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.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
- First month or two (depending on the business) is free.
- Works with high-risk merchants.
- No PCI compliance fees.
- 24/7 support.
- Compatible with multiple POS terminal providers, including Clover.
Cons
- Separate monthly fees for in-person and online processing.
- Must contact Payline for information on hardware costs.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
- First month or two (depending on the business) is free.
- Works with high-risk merchants.
- No PCI compliance fees.
- 24/7 support.
- Compatible with multiple POS terminal providers, including Clover.
Cons
- Separate monthly fees for in-person and online processing.
- Must contact Payline for information on hardware costs.
Payment processing fees
1.9% + $0.10
Between Venmo accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- Low per-transaction fees between Venmo accounts.
- No monthly costs or setup fees.
- Ability to accept payments via QR code.
- Venmo sends tax forms to your business if you meet certain income thresholds.
Cons
- Instant bank transfers cost extra.
- Not available outside of the U.S.
Venmo Business Account
Best for QR code payments
Payment processing fees
1.9% + $0.10
Between Venmo accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- Low per-transaction fees between Venmo accounts.
- No monthly costs or setup fees.
- Ability to accept payments via QR code.
- Venmo sends tax forms to your business if you meet certain income thresholds.
Cons
- Instant bank transfers cost extra.
- Not available outside of the U.S.
Payoneer
3.0
Best for International money transfer app
Payment processing fees
3.99% + $0.00
Maximum per credit card transaction; 0% between Payoneer accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No setup or monthly fees.
- Accepts international payments.
- No-fee transfers between Payoneer accounts.
Cons
- Limited functionality; can’t accept in-person payments.
- Customers report account freezes and terminations, resulting in the loss of funds.
- Must pay a withdrawal fee to move funds from your Payoneer account to your bank account.
Payoneer
Best for International money transfer app
3.0
Payment processing fees
3.99% + $0.00
Maximum per credit card transaction; 0% between Payoneer accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No setup or monthly fees.
- Accepts international payments.
- No-fee transfers between Payoneer accounts.
Cons
- Limited functionality; can’t accept in-person payments.
- Customers report account freezes and terminations, resulting in the loss of funds.
- Must pay a withdrawal fee to move funds from your Payoneer account to your bank account.
Pros
- Convenient for existing QuickBooks clients.
- Free app that works on Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Limited to businesses using QuickBooks accounting.
- Pricing structure can be difficult to navigate.
Pros
- Convenient for existing QuickBooks clients.
- Free app that works on Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Limited to businesses using QuickBooks accounting.
- Pricing structure can be difficult to navigate.
Stripe
Best for customizable online checkout options
Why we like it: Stripe powers the checkout processes of large companies such as Amazon and Google. Its application programming interface, or API, allows companies to customize their payment solutions to fit their requirements, making it a good option for large online-based businesses. Other features include advanced reporting, billing and invoicing tools. Read our full Stripe Payments review.
- 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.
Helcim
Best interchange-plus payment processing
Why we like it: If you’re looking for an affordable payment processing service and don’t require a full POS system, Helcim could be a good fit. Its interchange-plus pricing structure helps you save when customers use cards with low interchange rates. However, while its pricing is transparent, it can be more difficult to understand than flat-rate pricing. Read our full Helcim review.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 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).
Payline
Best for high-risk merchants
Why we like it: Payline is a solid, low-cost merchant services provider that offers in-person and online payment processing to businesses, including those in high-risk industries. The company also offers additional features such as a credit card reader, direct integration with QuickBooks and a virtual terminal, which allows you to accept cards online with an internet-connected device. Read our full Payline review.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 0.75% and 20 cents for online transactions.
Amazon Pay
Best for Amazon sellers
Why we like it: Amazon Pay is a payment gateway that allows customers to check out online using the information stored in their Amazon account. To access Amazon Pay, you set up a seller account and then use Amazon’s customizable API to integrate the plug-in with your existing e-commerce platform. It works with several popular e-commerce platforms, including BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento). Read our full Amazon Pay review.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for web and mobile transactions.
- Extra 1% for cross-border transactions.
Venmo Business Account
Best for QR code payments
Why we like it: Venmo business accounts work similarly to your normal consumer Venmo account — they let you use your linked bank account to send money to vendors and accept payments from customers. However, business owners will be charged 1.9% plus 10 cents per transaction between Venmo accounts. In particular, its QR code feature is ideal for pop-up shops that would rather accept digital payments than use a mobile card reader. Read our full Venmo business account review.
- 1.9% plus 10 cents per transaction between Venmo accounts.
- 2.29% plus 9 cents per contactless “Tap to Pay” payment.
- 1.75% fee for instant transfers.
Shopify Payments
Best for online storefronts
Why we like it: If you have an e-commerce store with Shopify, it makes sense to use Shopify Payments. It offers multiple payment methods and competitive processing rates, although it is not available in all countries, and it doesn’t work with businesses in certain high-risk industries. Read our full Shopify Payments review.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Payoneer
Best international money transfer app
Why we like it: Payoneer is a money transfer app for businesses that don’t want a full payment processing service or need to take payments in person. Unlike Venmo, it’s available in different countries outside of the U.S. and allows you to convert currencies. You’ll save the most if your customers have their own Payoneer accounts and pay you with their balance. Read our full Payoneer review.
Payoneer charges an annual account fee of $29.95 if you don’t use your account for 12 months. Here are the additional transaction fees:
- Up to 3.99% for credit card transactions (all currencies), plus $0.49 in some countries.
- 1% for ACH bank debit transactions.
- 0% to receive payments from other Payoneer users.
- $1.50 to transfer funds from Payoneer to your bank account; up to 3% to transfer from a non-local currency.
Square
Best all-in-one POS system and payment processing
Why we like it: Square rivals PayPal in popularity, and for good reason. It offers a variety of payment processing solutions, including the ability to accept chip, swipe and contactless forms of payment. It also sells some of the most popular payment processing hardware, including the Square magstripe reader and Square Register. Its free POS software makes it one of the best PayPal alternatives for brick-and-mortar businesses. Read our full Square POS review.
- 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with all free plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid retail and appointments plans.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
QuickBooks GoPayment
Best accounting software integration
Why we like it: The QuickBooks GoPayment app is a simple, no-frills solution for accepting in-person payments on the go. Similar to PayPal, there are no monthly software fees (aside from your accounting software subscription) and the app is free. Read our full QuickBooks GoPayment review.
For QuickBooks Online users
- 2.5% for in-person payments.
- 2.99% for online and invoiced payments.
- 3.5% for manually keyed payments.
- 1% for ACH transactions.
For QuickBooks Desktop users
Pay as you go plan (no monthly fee):
- 2.4% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
- 3.5% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
- $3 per ACH transfer.
Pay monthly plan ($20 monthly fee):
- 1.6% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
- $3 per ACH transfer.
Identifying what you like and dislike about PayPal can help you choose the right alternative for your business. Here are some of PayPal’s strengths and downsides.
Pros
Familiar name and longstanding reputation.
No monthly software fees.
Easy integration with PayPal Zettle POS system.
Can accept a variety of payment types (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, installments).
Cons
Processing rates for online transactions can be complex.
Payment gateways and chargeback protection may incur extra fees.
PayPal protects customers’ information by maintaining PCI compliance, encrypting card data and monitoring transactions 24/7. Payment processing companies, including top PayPal alternatives, typically employ similar tactics to uphold a solid reputation and avoid data breaches. Most providers automatically provide anti-fraud and chargeback tools to businesses as well.
That being said, keeping customers’ data secure falls on both the payment processor and your own business. Some tips for strengthening your business’s data hygiene include using unique passwords, updating your POS software, teaching employees how to responsibly handle sensitive information and learning to recognize phishing scams.
Maddie Shepherd contributed to this article.
A version of this article was first published on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.
Last updated on July 12, 2024
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.