Compare credit card processing companies for small businesses

Compare credit card processing companies

Here’s how several of the top payment processors for small businesses stack up side-by-side. All rates and fees are valid as of Apr. 15, 2026 and subject to change. Verify current terms with each provider.

Pilothouse Payments

Pilothouse Payments’ XFEE Program offers zero cost credit card processing for merchants. Processing fees are incorporated into the sale and passed onto the customer in the form of a 4% customer-paid fee as part of a dual-pricing (cash discount) program.

• Monthly fees: $30 (equipment rental)
• Processing fees: 0% (merchant), 4% customer-paid fee (dual-pricing / cash discount program)
• Best for: Small business owners that want to avoid credit card fees and offer a cash discount program

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments provides processing services for online and in-store shopping. The Shopify platform makes it easy to set up an online store and includes multichannel integration, allowing merchants to sell across multiple platforms. Shopify also offers several POS hardware options.

• Monthly fees:
• • Basic: $29 (paid yearly), $39 (paid monthly)
  • Grow: $79 (paid yearly), $105 (paid monthly)
  • Advanced: $299 (paid yearly), $399 (paid monthly)
  • Plus: From $2,300 per month
• Processing fees:
• • Basic: 2.6%+$0.10 (in-person), 2.9%+$0.30 (online standard card), 3.5%+$0.30 (online premium card)
  • Grow: 2.5%+$0.10 (in-person), 2.7%+$0.30 (online standard card), 3.3%+$0.30 (online premium card)
  • Advanced: 2.4%+$0.10 (in-person), 2.5%+$0.30 (online standard card), 3.1%+$0.30 (online premium card)
  • Plus: Highly competitive rates; custom pricing available for enterprise plans
• Best for: E-commerce stores and omnichannel businesses that need to manage online and offline sales

Sell online, in-person, and everywhere in between

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Shopify

One platform that lets you sell wherever your customers are — online, in-person, and everywhere in between. It’s never been easier to set up your own online store and bring your brand to life with everything you need to sell online, and get an integrated POS system with everything you need to create seamless shopping experiences between your online and retail storefronts.

Key Features

• Integrated e-commerce & retail
• Creation your online store
• Marketing tools
• Inventory management

Cost/Fees

• Starts at $39/month
• 2.9% + 30¢ USD online
• 2.7% + 0¢ USD in person

Types of Businesses Supported

• E-Commerce
• Retail

Chase Payment Solutions

Whether it’s retail, restaurants, e-commerce, professional services, or even healthcare, Chase Payment Solutions allows you to accept multiple different types of payments from anywhere in the U.S. They are known for their security and boast that you can get deposits as soon as the next business day. They also offer their pricing information online with no hidden fees.

• Monthly fees: May apply to certain products and pricing plans
• Processing fees:
• • In-person: 2.6%+$0.10
  • E-commerce: 2.9%+$0.25
  • Manually keyed in/payment links: 3.5%+$0.10
• Best for: Small businesses that use Chase Business Banking and want fast payment funding

Helcim

Helcim offers transparent interchange-plus pricing with fees published on its website and discounts available starting at $50,000 in monthly sales volume. It also has no monthly fees and a slew of payment options, including invoicing, in-person, and online.

• Monthly fees: N/A
• Processing fees: Based on monthly sales volume
• • $0-$50,000: Interchange+0.40%+$0.08 (in-person), interchange+0.50%+$0.25 (keyed/online)
  • $50,000-$100,000: Interchange+0.35%+$0.07 (in-person), interchange+0.45%+$0.20 (keyed/online)
  • $100,000-$500,000: Interchange+0.25%+$0.07 (in-person), interchange+0.35%+$0.20 (keyed/online)
  • $500,000-$1 million: Interchange+0.20%+$0.06 (in-person), interchange+0.25%+$0.15 (keyed/online)
  • $1 million or more: Interchange+0.15%+$0.06 (in-person), interchange+0.15%+$0.15 (keyed/online)
• Best for: Businesses looking for interchange-plus pricing and businesses that meet the volume discount requirements

Clover

Clover offers customizable POS systems for restaurants, retailers, professional services, personal services, and home and field services. It has a wide range of hardware options, from mobile readers to powerful POS stations. Prices start at $199 for the Go handheld reader up to $1,899 for the Station Duo.

• Monthly fees:
• • Dining: $179 (Starter), $239 (Standard), $354 (Advanced)
  • Quick-service restaurant: $135 (Starter), $185(Standard), $245 (Advanced)
  • Retail: $16 (Basic), $180 (Standard), $240 (Advanced)
  • Professional services: $0 (Starter), $29.95 (Essentials), $84.95 (Services Growth)
  • Personal services: $16 (Basic), $130 (Standard), $180 (Advanced)
  • Home and field services: $0 upfront fee+$29.95 per month (Starter), $199 upfront fee +$29.95 per month (Standard), $125 per month (Advanced)
• Processing fees:
• • Dining/quick-service restaurant: 2.3%+$0.10 (in-person), 3.5%+$0.10 (manually keyed)
  • Retail: 2.5%+$0.10 (in-person), 3.5%+$0.10 (manually keyed)
  • Professional services: 3.5%+$0.10 (manually keyed)
  • Personal services: 2.5%+$0.10 (in-person), 3.5%+$0.10 (manually keyed)
  • Home and field services: 2.5%-2.6%+$0.10 (in-person), 3.5%+$0.10 (manually keyed)
• Best for: Business owners who want a personalized POS system

Payment Depot

Payment Depot uses a membership-style model with interchange-plus pricing. Businesses pay a monthly fee, and in return, transaction fees are actual processing costs plus a small markup. Businesses with large sales volumes can save quite a bit on fees with this type of pricing.

• Monthly fees: Quotes available upon request
• Processing fees: Variable rates as low as 0.2%-1.95%
• Best for: High-volume businesses looking for an all-in-one payments solution

Payline Data

Payline Data offers online and in-person payment solutions, integrations to handle online transactions, and next-day funding. It has a pricing structure with fees published on its website, with interchange-plus pricing and volume discounts available.

• Monthly fees: Quotes available upon request
• Processing fees: Based on monthly sales volume
• • Under $50,000: Interchange+0.35%+$0.10 (in-person), interchange+0.50%+$0.20 (keyed/online)
  • $50,000-$100,000: Interchange+0.30%+$0.10 (in-person), interchange+0.45%+$0.20 (keyed/online)
  • $100,000-$500,000: Interchange+0.25%+$0.10 (in-person), interchange+0.40%+$0.15 (keyed/online)
  • $500,000-$1 million: Interchange+0.20%+$0.08 (in-person), interchange+0.20%+$0.15 (keyed/online)
  • $1 million or more: Interchange+0.15%+$0.08 (in-person), interchange+0.10%+$0.12 (keyed/online)
• Best for: Businesses looking for affordable pricing and businesses that qualify for volume discounts

Stax

Stax, previously known as Fattmerchant, offers an all-in-one processing solution and membership pricing that’s well suited to high-volume businesses. They charge a monthly subscription fee for transaction processing with 0% markup on direct-cost interchange.

• Monthly fees: Based on processing volume
• • Up to $150,000 per year: $99
  • $150,000-$250,000 per year: $139
  • Over $250,000 per year: $199
• Processing fees:
• • Card present: $0.08
  • Card not present: $0.15
• Best for: High-volume businesses processing $10,000 or more per month

Square

Square is a user-friendly processing company with flat-rate pricing. It offers a variety of hardware options, starting with a free credit card reader that plugs into your smartphone or tablet and also including terminals, kiosks, and registers.

• Monthly fees:
• • Square Free: $0
  • Square Plus: $49
  • Square Premium: $149
• Processing fees:
• • Square Free: 2.6%+$0.15 (in-person), 3.3%+$0.30 (online)
  • Square Plus: 2.5%+$0.15 (in-person), 2.9%+$0.30 (online)
  • Square Premium: 2.4%+$0.15 (in-person), 2.9%+$0.30 (online)
• Best for: Mobile vendors, retailers, restaurants, and service businesses looking for speed and convenience

Large selection of POS hardware

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Square

Accept payments quickly, easily, and securely. Meet customers where they are with the latest payments services. Square can help you process nearly any kind of payment, any way you want. Millions of brands of all sizes trust Square to accept payments, build customer relationships, and grow their business in-store and online.

Key Features

• POS systems
• Online store
• Inventory management
• Invoicing
• Loyalty program
• Gift cards

Cost/Fees

• Card present: 2.6% + 10 cents
• Card not present: 2.9% + 30 cents
• Keyed in: 3.5% + 15 cents

Types of Businesses Supported

• Food & beverage
• Retail
• Beauty
• Services
• and more

CDGcommerce

CDGcommerce is unique in that it offers flat-rate, interchange-plus, and wholesale membership pricing options, giving businesses the opportunity to choose the model that fits them best. It also provides terminals and POS systems, integrations with your reservation system, options for loyalty programs, and CRM options.

• Monthly fees:
• • Flat-rate: $9.95
  • Interchange-plus: Not provided
  • Wholesale subscription: $49 (Basic), $79 (Standard), $99 (Plus), $199 (Premium)
• Processing fees: 
• • Flat-rate: 2.9%+$0.30 (in-person), 3.5%+$0.30 (online)
  • Interchange-plus: Interchange+0.30%+$0.10 (retail in-person), interchange+0.35%+$0.15 (online)
  • Wholesale subscription: Processing fees plus $0.15 (Basic), $0.12 (Standard), $0.09 (Plus), or $0.06 (Premium)
• Best for: Businesses of all sizes looking for flexible pricing options

PayPal

PayPal is everywhere in online shopping carts and is a convenient option for e-commerce sites, as setup can be as simple as creating an account and putting the PayPal button in your checkout process. While known for online payments, PayPal also offers customizable in-person payment solutions through PayPal Point of Sale products, previously known as PayPal Zettle.

• Monthly fees: N/A
• Processing fees:
• • Standard credit/debit payment: 2.99%+$0.49
  • PayPal Checkout/PayPal Guest Checkout: 3.49%+$0.49
  • QR code transactions: 2.29%+$0.09
• Best for: Low-volume businesses and stores that primarily operate online

Stripe

Stripe is a global payments platform that allows you to charge customers in over 135 currencies and receive funds in your local currency. It’s known for being a developer-friendly platform with intuitive SDKs, API keys, and integration tools.

• Monthly fees: N/A
• Processing fees:
• • In-person: 2.7%+$0.05
  • Online: 2.9%+$0.30
• Best for: Tech-forward businesses looking for a customizable platform with powerful features

Simple flat-rate pricing

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Stripe

Simple flat-rate pricing: Stripe offers a clear, straightforward fee per transaction, eliminating the complexity of tiered pricing structures. Wide range of payment options: Supports all major credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and international payment methods. No setup or monthly fees: Businesses pay only for the transactions they process, with no additional setup or recurring charges.

Key Features

• Simple Flat-Rate Pricing
• Wide Range of Payment Options
• No Setup or Monthly Fees

Cost/Fees

• Standard pricing starts at 2.9% + C$0.30 per successful charge for domestic cards
• Monthly fee $0.00

Types of Businesses Supported

• Retail
• Restaurants
• Professional Services
• E-commerce
• Healthcare
• and more

How to choose a credit card processing company

Here’s how to narrow down your options and choose a credit card processing company:

• Decide which pricing model best fits your business.
• Figure out your POS system and hardware needs.
• Look for processors with the software integrations you need.
• Check customer support hours, contact options, and reviews.
• Make sure to pick a PCI-compliant processor with top-notch security features.

Below, you’ll find more details on each of these steps.

Pricing and fee structures

The main pricing models are:

• Flat-rate: The processor charges a flat rate based on the type of transaction.
• Interchange-plus: The processor charges the interchange rate plus an additional fee.
• Subscription: The processor charges a monthly fee and a small transaction fee.

Your monthly sales volume is a good starting point to pick a pricing model. If you have a high-volume business, the interchange-plus and subscription models are both good choices for low-cost credit card processing. Flat-rate pricing is also a popular choice, especially for businesses with smaller sales volume looking for simplicity. You can learn more about each option in the fees section below.

POS system and hardware needs

If your customers are making in-person payments, you’re going to need a credit card reader where they can swipe or tap their card, insert their chip card, or use contactless methods to pay. This credit card terminal is called a point-of-sale system, or POS system, and you’ll need to consider its functionality in your business. Here are a few questions that can help you figure out your hardware needs:

• Do you need iPads to do on-the-floor sales?
• Do you just want a virtual terminal?
• Do you want to accept digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal? 

Online-only businesses normally don’t need a POS system. Small businesses that process transactions in person will, and there are a variety of options to fit every business. Mobile vendors often opt for small, portable credit card readers, while larger retail operations may opt for feature-packed payment terminals. If your business sells online and in-person, you’ll need a POS system that can keep track of everything.

Software integrations

Which software products are essential to your business? You’ll probably want your POS software to integrate with the sales and accounting software that your business uses.

Popular integrations include QuickBooks, Shopify, and WooCommerce. You may also have your own hardware that you want to use, which can limit which credit card processing companies you can work with. 

Customer support

You need a processor you can rely on and that provides quality customer support. These questions can help you evaluate the support a processor offers:

• What contact options are available? Phone, live chat, and email are all common–make sure whatever is offered works for your business.
• What are the customer support hours? If your business is open on weekends or during the evening, you may want to prioritize a processor that’s available during these time periods.
• How are the reviews? Most companies aren’t going to have 100% customer satisfaction, but ideally, most reviews will be positive.

Security and PCI compliance

Most processors provide PCI compliance support (standards set forth by the payment card industry), though merchants may still have responsibilities. Following the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ensures that payment card information is kept safe and that merchants don’t get flagged for any violations, which can result in fines and even loss of payment processing privileges.

Check that any processor you’re considering is PCI compliant – many processors provide this information on their websites, but if not, you can request an Attestation of Compliance (AOC). Also, see what other security features processors offer. Steer clear of any with a reputation for data breaches.

Credit card processing fees explained

Reputable payment processors normally use one of three pricing models for credit card processing fees: flat-rate, interchange-plus, or subscription/membership. Here’s how they compare:

Flat-rate pricing

Flat-rate pricing is a fixed rate for each type of transaction. For example, a processor could charge 2.3%+$0.15 per in-person transaction and 2.9%+$0.30 per online transaction. This is the most straightforward pricing model, and it’s well-suited for new businesses or businesses with low sales volume.

Interchange-plus pricing

Interchange-plus pricing is the actual interchange rate for the transaction plus an additional fee. A processor may charge interchange+0.30%+$0.10. If the interchange on a transaction is 2.5%, then your total fee would be 2.8% (the interchange plus 0.30%) plus $0.10. It’s a transparent pricing model and works well for mid-to-high-volume businesses. 

Subscription/membership pricing

Subscription/membership pricing is a monthly fee in exchange for very low transaction fees. Processors that use this model generally pass along their processing fees with no markup and only a small per-transaction fee, in some cases under $0.10. The subscription model is best for high-volume businesses that will save more on fees than the monthly membership cost.

What is a good credit card processing rate?

Many small businesses aim for rates around 2% to 2.5% for in-person transactions and 2.7% to 2.9% for online transactions. Credit card fees typically range from about 1.5% to 3.5% depending on several factors, including the card type, whether the transaction was in-person or online, and the business’s risk level.

How to get a credit card machine for your business

Most small business credit card processing companies provide the hardware and software needed to accept credit card payments. You may have the option of buying the hardware or leasing it for a monthly fee, depending on the processor.

Typical hardware costs range from $50 to $150 for mobile readers, $200 to $800 for payment terminals, and $1,000 and up for full POS systems. Some credit card machines also have accessories, such as printers and barcode scanners, that are either included or available for an additional fee.

Credit card processing vs. POS systems

Credit card processing is a broad term used to describe services that help businesses process credit and debit card sales. POS systems typically refer to the hardware used to facilitate payments but can also include a range of features outside of payment processing, such as:

• Inventory management
• Sales analytics
• Employee management
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Integration with other business systems.

POS, then, refers to the overall system used for managing sales and transactions, while credit card processing specifically focuses on the handling and authorization of card payments within that system. But don’t be surprised if these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Another term you’ll encounter is “merchant services.” These companies often facilitate the process of payments all the way from checkout to depositing payment into the seller’s account. A business needs a merchant services account to receive payments from sales paid for with cards. Full-service merchant services providers will also offer essential services like security compliance.

Payment industry trends

There are four major trends currently affecting the payment industry landscape and payment processing companies.

1. AI-powered fraud detection

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is a double-edged sword for the payments industry. Criminals are using AI to commit fraud through deepfakes and forged documents. However, financial institutions also employ AI for fraud detection and investigation. In a 2025 report by Mastercard, 85% of financial institutions surveyed reported seeing returns from using AI to fight fraud.

Security is a key consideration when choosing a payment processor. Before you pick one, learn about the fraud prevention tools it offers and how it’s leveraging AI to protect businesses.

2. Tap-to-pay growth

Contactless payments, also known as tap to pay, have become the norm. In 2025, over 60% of Visa’s in-person transactions in the U.S. were contactless, compared to less than 1% in 2017. In addition, a January 2026 study by S&P Global 451 Research found that 53% of U.S. consumers surveyed prefer tap to pay over other forms of payment, such as inserting their credit card or using cash at the payment terminal. For small businesses, it’s important to choose a credit card reader that accepts contactless payments since they’re now the most popular option.

3. Increasing adoption of buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) adoption is on the rise. A March 2026 J.D. Power report revealed that 37% of U.S. consumers had used BNPL in the 90 days prior to the survey. That was a 5% increase from the previous year. Many credit card processing companies offer BNPL integrations with popular providers, such as Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay. BNPL services are worth considering, as they can lead to increased sales and higher order tickets.

4. Real-time payment rails

The ACH system is the traditional payment rail for U.S. small businesses, but there are now faster options available. The Clearing House launched its Real Time Payments (RTP) network in 2017, and the Federal Reserve launched FedNow in 2023, both of which offer instant payments. You can access real-time payment rails if your business’s bank is a member of one of these networks. Some payment processors also provide access to RTP or FedNow.

Frequently asked questions