Our Nerdy picks for
Best Virtual Terminals
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 | ||
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Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall virtual terminal | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 and up. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website |
Stax by Fattmerchant Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Subscription pricing model | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99.00 and up. | Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for POS flexibility | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for E-commerce integration | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Restaurants | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Dharma Merchant Services | 4.5/5 Best for Surcharging option | In-person: 0.15% + $0.08 Online: 0.2% + $0.11 Plus interchange | $15.00 for most industries; $12 for nonprofits. | |||
U.S. Bank Merchant Services Learn more on U.S. Bank Merchant Services' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Fast deposits | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on U.S. Bank Merchant Services' secure website |
Our pick for
Overall virtual terminal
Business owners can sign up for a free Square account and immediately begin accepting payments with a virtual terminal. Since there are no monthly fees, you’ll just need to pay payment processing costs (3.5% plus 15 cents per manually keyed-in transaction). Square’s low barrier to entry and free sales reports make it a quick and easy solution for a variety of small businesses that need to bill customers remotely.
Square POS
on Square POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- App and card readers are compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- No long-term contracts.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Live chat or phone support is limited to weekdays.
Our pick for
Subscription pricing model
Stax is a payment processor that charges monthly subscription fees and a small fee (15 cents per manually keyed-in transaction) on top of interchange rates. But if your small business has a high volume of sales, this subscription pricing model could be cost effective for you. Stax’s subscription plans include access to a virtual terminal.
Stax by Fattmerchant
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
and up.
Pros
- No contract required.
- Option for same-day access to funds, including holidays and weekends, as an add-on.
- Set up an online store through an add-on.
- Mobile app is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Technical support is through a ticketing system.
Our pick for
POS flexibility
Clover’s virtual terminal doesn’t come with a monthly subscription cost, but you do have to pay processing fees (3.5% plus 10 cents per manually keyed-in transaction). If you accept in-person transactions, it also syncs up with Clover’s POS devices. You can choose from a simple card reader, countertop terminal system with a customer-facing screen or a handheld POS system.
Clover POS
on Clover POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
- App works with iOS and Android mobile devices.
- Next-day deposits to your bank account in most cases.
- Online payment option.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Differing pricing structures depending on business type.
Our pick for
E-commerce integration
Shopify users can accept payments over the phone by logging into the Shopify mobile app and entering customers’ card info. This is convenient for online-first small businesses that already use Shopify to power their site and process online transactions. Shopify doesn’t charge a separate rate for keyed-in transactions.
Shopify Retail POS
on Shopify POS's secure website
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Our pick for
Restaurants
TouchBistro offers customizable POS plans for a variety of restaurant types, including quick service, fine dining and bars, and allows you to accept transactions over the phone. Restaurants can choose from a range of add-ons, too, including online ordering, reservations, loyalty programs, marketing tools and profit management.
TouchBistro
on TouchBistro's secure website
Quote-based.
and up.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Includes restaurant-specific features, like table and menu management.
- Optional profit management system provides tools for improving margins.
- As a hybrid POS system, TouchBistro can operate without the cloud. Offline capabilities include accepting payments, taking orders, editing menus and managing staff.
Cons
- Payment processing rates are quote-based, making them difficult to compare to the competition.
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
- No free plan options and charges setup fee.
- Ability to accept online orders costs extra.
Our pick for
Surcharging option
Manually keyed-in transactions often have the most expensive processing fees, and Dharma Merchant Services’ surcharge option lets you pass those costs (0.2% and 11 cents plus interchange) along to customers who choose to pay with credit card. Online payment processing comes with a monthly fee and includes free access to a virtual terminal through MX Merchant, a separate payments platform.
Dharma Merchant Services
for most industries; $12 for nonprofits.
Pros
- No long-term contract.
- Mobile app is free and compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- Two-day funding for card-not-present transactions.
- 24-hour customer support help lines.
Cons
- Invoicing and recurring billing is an additional monthly fee.
- Account closure fee of $49 is charged.
Our pick for
Fast deposits
Having to wait for credit card funds to be deposited into your business account can disrupt cash flow. If your business uses a U.S. Bank checking account, though, you can access same-day deposits with U.S. Bank Merchant Services. Transactions keyed into the virtual terminal cost 3.5% plus 15 cents each.
U.S. Bank Merchant Services
on U.S. Bank Merchant Services' secure website
and up.
Pros
- Same-day funding seven days per week for U.S. bank checking account holders.
- No PCI compliance fees.
- No cancellation fees.
- Free POS software plan available.
Cons
- POS system onboarding assistance can be costly.
- Deposit times are not as quick for merchants using third-party bank accounts.
- Card number.
- Expiration date.
- CVV/CVV2 number (the three- or four-digit number on the back of a card).
- Customer name.
- Billing ZIP code.
- Mail-order and telephone-order businesses, also called MOTO businesses.
- Restaurants, diners and cafes that process phone and online orders.
- Delivery-based businesses such as food and beverage stores, florists and gift shops.
- Mobile businesses such as food trucks, pet groomers and photographers.
- Freelancers such as web designers, artists, SEO specialists and bookkeepers.