Which provider fits your business?
Square and Helcim use different pricing models. Square offers plan-based flat rates; Helcim adds a markup to wholesale card costs. There is no reliable rule that Helcim is cheaper for every merchant above $10,000 a month. Our recommendation is to compare your card mix and workflow at the same sales volume before selecting either provider.
How to read this comparison
Published US pricing was checked September 14, 2026. The worked example below is a calculation with stated assumptions, not a measured merchant result or a provider quote. We compare transaction costs separately from software, hardware and additional services.
Published pricing at a glance
| Plan | In-person transactions | Monthly software/account fee |
|---|---|---|
| Square Free | 2.6% + $0.15 | $0 per location |
| Square Plus | 2.5% + $0.15 | $49 per location |
| Square Premium | 2.4% + $0.15 | $149 per location |
| Helcim, $0-$50K tier | Wholesale costs + 0.40% + $0.08 | No account monthly fee |
Sources: Square’s plan comparison and Helcim’s pricing. Optional features, equipment and other applicable charges are outside these rows.
Square: compare the plan and the sales channel
Square’s Free-plan online/invoice card rate is 3.3% + $0.30, while its Online API rate is 2.9% + $0.30. Do not apply the API rate to every online transaction. Paid plans also change the comparison. Check the specific product used to collect the payment and the price shown for your account.
In our view, Square belongs on the shortlist when its POS workflow and software features meet the business’s needs. Demonstrate a sale, return and end-of-day report with the hardware you intend to use. A lower transaction rate on a paid plan is useful only after its monthly charge and included features have been considered.
Helcim: separate wholesale costs from the markup
At the published $0-$50K tier, Helcim’s keyed and online markup is 0.50% + $0.25 above wholesale costs. Its published volume discounts use average processing volume over the preceding three months. Confirm the applicable tier and any extra product charges, including recurring payments, before projecting a bill.
Request a statement-based estimate instead of treating a sample effective rate as your own. Card type and transaction characteristics can move the underlying cost even when your volume and provider markup stay the same.
Worked example: $25,000 across 500 in-person sales
Assume one location and 500 transactions averaging $50. Square Free costs $725 in transaction fees: $25,000 × 2.6% + 500 × $0.15. Helcim’s markup at the stated tier is $140: $25,000 × 0.40% + 500 × $0.08, added to wholesale costs.
| Hypothetical wholesale cost | Helcim total | Square Free | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $450, equivalent to 1.8% of sales | $590 | $725 | Helcim $135 lower |
| $600, equivalent to 2.4% of sales | $740 | $725 | Square Free $15 lower |
The wholesale totals are assumptions, not measured averages. Hardware, optional software, disputes and other additional charges are excluded. This example shows why the same sales volume can produce opposite outcomes. Model your own statement with the fee calculator.
Check the agreement and the equipment
Ask who owns the hardware, which software subscription is required, how payment credentials can be exported, and what happens when you close the account. Include any implementation and migration expense in your decision. Use the contract checklist to compare written terms.
Separate additional services from processing
Ask for itemized pricing for the features you actually use: recurring billing, expedited transfers, invoicing, bank payments and dispute handling. Do not assume that “no monthly account fee” means every optional service is free. For a funding-specific comparison, see same-day and next-day deposit options.
Choose using your own numbers
Shortlist the provider whose software and operational requirements fit, then compare an itemized estimate against the same transaction history. A fixed sales-volume threshold or guaranteed monthly savings figure cannot replace that calculation.