Sponsored partner picks for
Best Virtual Terminals
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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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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 | $0.00 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 | ||
U.S. Bank Merchant Services Learn more on U.S. Bank Merchant Services' secure website, Member FDIC | 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, Member FDIC | ||
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 Read Review | 4.5/5 Best for Surcharging option | In-person: 0.15% + $0.08 Online: 0.2% + $0.11 Plus interchange | $20.00 for most industries; $15 for nonprofits. | Read Review |
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
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, Member FDIC
and up.
Pros
- Same-day funding seven days per week for U.S. Bank checking account holders.
- No cancellation or PCI compliance fees.
- Free POS software plan available.
- 24/7 support.
Cons
- POS system onboarding assistance can be costly.
- Deposit times are not as quick for merchants using third-party bank accounts.
- Virtual terminal costs extra.
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; $15 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.
- 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.