Best Online Payment Processing Services
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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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Helcim Learn more on Helcim's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Interchange-plus credit card processing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Helcim's secure website |
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for API customization | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | ||
Square Learn more on Square's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Hybrid businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Learn more on Square's secure website | ||
Shopify Payments Learn more on Shopify Payments' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for E-commerce platform integration | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan. | Learn more on Shopify Payments' secure website | ||
Stax by Fattmerchant Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Membership-style pricing | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99.00 and up. | Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | ||
Adyen | 4.0/5 Best for Omnichannel commerce | 0.6% + $0.13 Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx. | $0.00 | |||
PaymentCloud | 4.5/5 Best for High-risk merchants | 2.4% + $0.10 to 3.5% + $0.25 on average. | $0.00 to $50. | |||
Amazon Pay | 4.5/5 Best for Streamlined checkout | 2.9% + $0.30 For online and mobile. | $0.00 | |||
BlueSnap | Best for Splitting payments with other vendors | 2.9% + $0.30 Or customized rate for large-volume businesses. | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Interchange-plus credit card processing
Most online payment processing services on this list use flat-rate pricing, meaning they charge the same amount per transaction no matter how interchange rates fluctuate. This can be convenient for businesses dealing with small transactions, but interchange-plus processing is typically more cost-effective, especially as you begin to sell more.
Helcim
on Helcim's secure website
Pros
- Interchange-plus pricing structure can help businesses save money.
- Quick setup; approvals usually take a day.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- Syncs directly with QuickBooks Online and Xero.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Doesn’t offer services to businesses in certain high-risk industries.
Our pick for
API customization
Stripe is a highly customizable option for business owners who have developer experience and want to take a hands-on approach to designing their online checkout experience. In addition to incorporating customized brand elements, you can add contact details, legal policy information and additional checkout form fields.
Stripe
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 phone and chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS terminals.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
Our pick for
Hybrid businesses
Square’s free POS plan comes with a magstripe reader for in-person purchases and includes an e-commerce website for opening your business up to online customers. It’s a low-cost solution for hybrid businesses that want to sell goods and/or services both in-person and online.
Square
on Square's secure website
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
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.
Our pick for
E-commerce platform integration
Shopify’s main draw is its popular e-commerce platform that lets you build your own online storefront and accept a variety of payment types. You can choose from more than 100 template themes and customize details from there. Similar to Stripe, Shopify is best for online-first businesses.
Shopify Payments
on Shopify Payments' secure website
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Pros
- Accepts a variety of payment methods.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Easy to set up and use.
- Transparent, flat-rate fees.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Charges fee for use of third-party payment gateway.
Our pick for
Membership-style pricing
Stax’s membership-style pricing model gives high-volume businesses access to lower interchange-plus fees, which can make the monthly subscription cost worth it, especially in the long run.
Stax by Fattmerchant
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
and up.
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- Not a good option for businesses with low sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
Our pick for
Omnichannel commerce
Lots of online payment processing services accommodate both online and in-person transactions, but Adyen helps create a more seamless customer experience across each of those channels. For example, it gives customers the option to buy online but return in-store or vice versa. It can also support larger businesses with multiple online sales channels as opposed to just one.
Adyen
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Pros
- No monthly subscription or termination fees.
- Consolidate data across multiple online and in-person sales channels.
- Global payment options available.
- 24/7 emergency phone and email support.
Cons
- Pricing models differ by card, which can be confusing.
- No accounting integrations.
- Must give at least two months’ notice before terminating contract.
- Must reach out for hardware costs.
Our pick for
High-risk merchants
Businesses in industries that are considered high-risk — like CBD, dropshipping, nutraceuticals and travel agencies — may struggle to find a traditional online payment processing service willing to work with them. This is where PaymentCloud comes in.
PaymentCloud
to 3.5% + $0.25 on average.
to $50.
Pros
- Works with high-risk businesses.
- Same-day deposits available for low-risk businesses.
- New merchants may qualify for a free terminal.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- Website isn’t transparent about processing rates.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
- Some plans require a contract and charge steep termination fees.
Our pick for
Streamlined checkout
Amazon Pay lets businesses integrate Amazon’s checkout experience into their own online store. Since so many people are familiar with Amazon, adding this payment method could have the potential to increase your conversion rates.
Amazon Pay
For online and mobile.
Pros
- Easy checkout for customers with Amazon accounts.
- Supports global customers and currencies.
- No setup or monthly fees; pay only per transaction.
- Alexa voice integration to place and track orders.
Cons
- Reserve policy delays payouts, especially for newer accounts.
- No in-person payment support.
- No volume discounts or custom packages.
Our pick for
Splitting payments with other vendors
BlueSnap’s payment splitting capabilities are ideal for businesses that work with other vendors to help carry out their services and need to share customer payments accordingly. Payments can be split by percentage or specific dollar amounts.
BlueSnap
Or customized rate for large-volume businesses.
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- Customer support by phone, message and chat.
Cons
- No online store hosting.
- No proprietary POS.
Square: Best for hybrid businesses
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 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.
- No monthly fees.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- Customer support Monday through Friday for free plans and 24/7 for premium accounts.
- Free online store setup.
- POS features, including customer directory, reporting and inventory management.
- Paid plans required for advanced POS features.
Stripe: Best for API customization
- $0 for standard Stripe Connect.
- $2 per account for Stripe Express (for marketplaces) or Stripe Custom (the white-label option that allows businesses to customize the checkout process).
- 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.
- No monthly fees.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- 24/7 customer support with email, chat and phone options.
- Alternatives to website, including payment page.
- No online store hosting or support.
- Limited POS features that rely on third-party apps.
- Requires technical expertise.
Shopify Payments: Best for e-commerce platform integration
- $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).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- 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.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- 24/7 live phone and chat support.
- Online store setup included with plans.
- Point-of-sale, or POS, features, including inventory management for multiple locations, discounts, customer profiles and reporting.
- Paid monthly plans required.
Amazon Pay: Best for streamlined checkout
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for web and mobile transactions.
- Extra 1% for cross-border transactions.
- No monthly fee.
- Transparent transaction rates.
- No ability to scale to in-person payments.
- Higher processing fees for Alexa-based orders.
- Website hosting isn't included.
- No proprietary POS.
- Customer service is through the website only.
BlueSnap: Best for splitting payments with other vendors
- No monthly fee.
- Transparent transaction fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- Customer support by phone, message and chat.
- No online store hosting.
- No proprietary POS.
Helcim: Best for interchange-plus credit card processing
- 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).
- Interchange-plus pricing structure can help businesses save money.
- Quick setup; approvals usually take a day.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- Syncs directly with QuickBooks Online and Xero.
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Doesn’t offer services to businesses in certain high-risk industries.
Adyen: Best for omnichannel commerce
- Interchange plus 0.60% and 13 cents per transaction for Visa and Mastercard.
- 3.3% plus 23 cents for American Express.
- 3%-12% plus 13 cents for other payment methods, depending on transaction type.
- 40 cents per transaction for ACH direct payment.
- Potentially lower rates than flat-rate fee competitors, depending on card network interchange fees.
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- Proprietary POS dashboard.
- Minimum transaction requirement to avoid an additional fee.
- No live customer support.
- No online store hosting.
PaymentCloud: Best for high-risk merchants
- In-person and recurring payment options.
- For high-volume, low-risk businesses, rates can be lower than the company's standard rates.
- Customer support by phone or website message.
- Monthly fee required.
- No transparent fees.
- No online store hosting or support.
- No proprietary POS system.
Stax: Best for membership-style pricing
- $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.
- Interchange plus 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
- Not a good option for businesses with low sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for?
How do you accept payments online?
- Merchant account: Before credit card funds reach your business’s bank account, where you can withdraw them, they’re held in a merchant account. Payment service providers combine multiple businesses’ funds into one merchant account, whereas other processors provide individual merchant accounts. While individual merchant accounts are more customizable and oftentimes more stable, the application process can be extensive.
- Payment gateway: Payment gateways are like messengers for online transactions — they securely capture customers’ credit card information and send it to the payment processor.
- Online payment processor: Processors’ main job is to facilitate the flow of funds from the customer’s bank account (issuing bank) to the business’s bank account (acquiring bank). Our explainer on how payment processors work outlines the process in more detail.