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Compare Payment Processors: Real 2026 Rates from $10K to $1M Monthly

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10 payment processors at a glance: published prices and real cost

Each price below was read from the provider's own pricing page on Oct 29, 2026. The last two columns turn it into an effective rate on a $50 average sale, all fees included, on the cheaper of in person or online. Interchange is the card networks' cost, which interchange-plus providers pass through. To run your own numbers, use the fee calculator.

  1. Helcim

    Interchange-plus, no monthly fee

    In person
    Interchange + 0.4% + 8¢
    Online
    Interchange + 0.5% + 25¢
    Monthly
    $0

    At $10K/mo

    2.11%in person

    At $250K/mo

    1.94%in person

    Most small and mid-size businesses that want low, transparent pricing with no contract

    Visit Helcim
  2. PayPal

    Flat rate

    In person
    2.29% + 9¢ (PayPal POS)
    Online
    2.89% + 29¢ (Advanced Credit and Debit)
    Monthly
    $0

    At $10K/mo

    2.47%in person

    At $250K/mo

    2.47%in person

    Businesses that already sell through PayPal and want a cheap in-person option

    Advanced card processing and PayPal POS are subject to PayPal's approval.

    Visit PayPal
  3. Adyen

    Interchange++ plus fixed fee

    In person
    Not offered
    Online
    Interchange + 0.6% + 13¢ (Visa and Mastercard)
    Monthly
    $0

    At $10K/mo

    2.56%online

    At $250K/mo

    2.56%online

    Larger and international businesses that need one platform across countries

    Adyen applies a minimum monthly invoice it does not publish, so small merchants may not qualify.

    Visit Adyen
  4. Stax

    Subscription, interchange at cost

    In person
    Interchange + 8¢
    Online
    Interchange + 15¢
    Monthly
    $99 to $199+/mo by annual volume

    At $10K/mo

    2.70%in person

    At $250K/mo

    1.79%in person

    Businesses above about $25K a month that can spread a subscription fee

    Visit Stax
  5. Clover

    Flat rate plus software plan

    In person
    2.6% + 10¢ (Starter)
    Online
    3.5% + 10¢ (Keyed)
    Monthly
    $0, or $29.95 or $84.95/mo on paid plans

    At $10K/mo

    2.80%in person

    At $250K/mo

    2.53%in person

    Restaurants and retail that want POS hardware and software in one system

    Clover sold through a bank can carry different rates and terms than Clover.com.

    Visit Clover
  6. Shopify Payments

    Flat rate, tied to a Shopify plan

    In person
    2.6% + 10¢ (Basic)
    Online
    2.9% + 30¢ (Basic)
    Monthly
    Shopify plan required

    At $10K/mo

    2.80%in person

    At $250K/mo

    2.80%in person

    Stores that run on Shopify, online and in person

    Only available with a Shopify plan. The plan fee is not counted here because you pay it for the store, not for processing.

    Visit Shopify
  7. Stripe

    Flat rate, no monthly fee

    In person
    2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal)
    Online
    2.9% + 30¢
    Monthly
    $0

    At $10K/mo

    2.80%in person

    At $250K/mo

    2.80%in person

    Online businesses, SaaS and subscriptions that want a custom checkout

    Visit Stripe
  8. Square

    Flat rate, optional paid plans

    In person
    2.6% + 15¢ (Free)
    Online
    2.9% + 30¢ (Online API); 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan
    Monthly
    $0, or $49 or $149/mo on paid plans

    At $10K/mo

    2.90%in person

    At $250K/mo

    2.76%in person

    New and small in-person sellers who want to start the same day with no contract

    Visit Square
  9. Braintree

    Flat rate, online only

    In person
    Not offered
    Online
    2.89% + 29¢
    Monthly
    $0

    At $10K/mo

    3.47%online

    At $250K/mo

    3.47%online

    Marketplaces and apps that want cards, PayPal and Venmo in one integration

    Visit Braintree
  10. Authorize.net

    Flat rate plus $25 monthly fee

    In person
    Not offered
    Online
    2.9% + 30¢ (All-in-one)
    Monthly
    $25/mo

    At $10K/mo

    3.75%online

    At $250K/mo

    3.51%online

    Merchants whose shopping cart or software requires an Authorize.net gateway

    Visit Authorize.net

Effective rate = percentage + fixed fee ÷ $50 + monthly fee ÷ volume, on a 60% credit, 40% debit card mix, cheapest plan at each volume. Interchange-plus prices add our published interchange estimate (1.55% in person, 1.70% online). Lowest in each column in bold. All four volumes for every provider are in the 2026 effective rates data, and the order with our reasoning is in the payment processor ranking. Not listed: Payment Depot, because its pricing page lists per-transaction fees but no longer shows the membership fee, so the full cost cannot be computed; Worldpay, because it publishes no price list; pricing is negotiated; Leaders Merchant Services, because it publishes no small-business pricing; Paysafe, because it publishes no small-business pricing.

High-risk merchants

Declined, frozen, or flagged as high-risk?

The rates below assume a processor will take you. Before you compare them, read the high-risk payment processing guide for reserves, VAMP thresholds and the processors that approve CBD, gaming, nutra, firearms, travel and subscription merchants.

Choosing between two big names? Start with Square vs Stripe fees if you sell in person, or Stripe vs PayPal if you sell online. If cost matters more than brand, see how interchange-plus pricing compares in Helcim vs Stripe and Helcim vs Square. Above about $250K a month, Stripe vs Worldpay covers when a negotiated contract beats a flat rate. Every one uses the same prices and method as our payment processor ranking.

Head to head

Brand duels

Two processors, one decision. Each of these runs the same effective-rate math on both sides at your volume and card mix, then says which one wins and where the break-even sits. Start here when you have already narrowed the field to a shortlist of two and need the cost difference in dollars.

Helcim vs Payment Depot 2026: Which Costs Less

Helcim vs Payment Depot 2026: Helcim's published interchange-plus cost at $25K, $100K and $250K a month, Payment Depot's quote-only pricing, and the check a quote must pass.

Jun 14, 2026
Read comparison

Toast vs Clover 2026: Fees, Contracts and Monthly Cost

Toast vs Clover: Clover Starter is 2.6% + 10¢ with a $0 software fee. Toast is 2.49% + 15¢ plus $69 a month and a $1,153 kit, or 3.09% + 15¢ with $0 down.

Jun 4, 2026
Read comparison

Clover vs Square 2026: Fees, Hardware and Contracts Compared

Clover vs Square, prices checked Oct 2026: Clover Starter is 2.6% + $0.10 in person, Square Free 2.6% + $0.15. Monthly cost at $10K to $250K and contracts.

Jun 2, 2026
Read comparison

Stripe vs Payment Depot 2026: Flat Rate vs Interchange-Plus

Stripe vs Payment Depot 2026: Stripe's published rate, Payment Depot's quote-only interchange-plus pricing, what is and is not published, and how to check a quote against Stripe.

Jun 1, 2026
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Stripe vs Stax 2026: Stax Costs Less From About $7K to $9K a Month

Stripe vs Stax in 2026: side-by-side pricing math, break-even volume, contract terms, and which processor actually costs less by monthly volume tier.

May 31, 2026
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Stripe vs Adyen 2026: Fees, Pricing, and Who Each One Fits

Stripe vs Adyen 2026 compared on published fees, effective rate at $10K to $1M a month, minimums, payouts and who each one fits.

May 30, 2026
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Square vs Toast 2026: Fees, Contracts and Who Each Fits

Square vs Toast: Square charges 2.6% + 15¢ with no contract. Toast is 2.49% + 15¢ plus $69 a month, or 3.09% + 15¢ with $0 upfront, on a 2-year agreement.

May 29, 2026
Read comparison

Square vs Shopify Payments 2026: Close Rates, Square Wins Unless You Run a Shopify Store

Square vs Shopify Payments 2026: real cost breakdowns by volume tier, contract terms, hidden fees, and which one wins for retail vs ecommerce sellers.

May 25, 2026
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Stripe vs Worldpay 2026: Which Actually Costs Less

Stripe vs Worldpay compared on pricing, contracts and effective rate. Stripe publishes its rates; Worldpay is quote-only, so compare any quote with published interchange-plus.

May 22, 2026
Read comparison

Helcim vs Square 2026: Which Costs Less at Your Volume

Helcim 2.11% vs Square 2.90% effective at $10K a month in person, fees included. Cost at $10K, $50K and $250K, the card-mix break-even and payouts.

May 13, 2026
Read comparison

Square vs Stripe: Which Payment Processor Is Right for You?

In-person POS vs online payments. A comprehensive breakdown of fees, features, and best use cases to help you decide which platform suits your business model.

Nov. 15, 2025
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PayPal vs Square: Complete Comparison for Small Businesses

Online payments & international reach vs in-person POS excellence. Compare transaction fees, hardware costs, and features for retail and e-commerce.

Nov. 12, 2025
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Stripe vs PayPal: Developer Tools vs Consumer Trust

Which payment gateway wins for online businesses? We compare APIs, subscription billing, international fees, and merchant experience.

Nov. 10, 2025
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Helcim vs Stripe: Transparent Pricing vs Advanced Features

Interchange-plus against a flat rate, priced at $10K, $50K and $250K a month in person and online, with the break-even card mix.

Nov. 8, 2025
Read comparison

By size

By monthly volume

Processing cost moves with volume more than brand. On published prices, interchange-plus from Helcim already costs less than Stripe or Square at $10,000 a month, and from $250,000 a Stax subscription with interchange at cost is cheapest. These pages break the market into tiers and show what a merchant at that size should expect to pay.

By requirement

By use case

Same processors, different constraints. A restaurant needs tip adjustment and fast funding, a B2B seller needs Level 2 and Level 3 data, a subscription business needs dunning and retry logic that stays inside card-network rules. These roundups rank the field by the requirement that decides the shortlist rather than by headline rate alone.

ACH Payment Processing: Fees, Timing and Providers

ACH fees cap at $5 to $10 per payment vs $58.30 for a $2,000 card sale. How ACH works, settlement times, disputes and pricing from Stripe, Helcim and more.

Nov 11, 2026
Read comparison

Surcharging Credit Cards: Rules, Limits and Options

Visa caps credit card surcharges at 3% and your cost, with 30 days' notice. Surcharge vs cash discount vs dual pricing, state limits and processor support.

Nov 11, 2026
Read comparison

Best Credit Card Readers for Small Business in 2026

Card readers from $29 to $349 compared: Square, Helcim, Clover, Stripe, PayPal and SumUp. In-person rates, $50-sale fees and monthly costs side by side.

Nov 11, 2026
Read comparison

Square Alternatives 2026: Lower Rates as You Grow

Square alternatives priced from their own pages. At $50K a month in person, Helcim costs $1,020 against $1,450 on Square. Fees, holds and how to switch.

Nov 11, 2026
Read comparison

PayPal Alternatives 2026: Lower Fees, Fewer Holds

PayPal alternatives priced from official pages. At $50K a month online, Helcim costs $1,275 against $1,735 on PayPal. Holds, reserves and how to switch.

Nov 11, 2026
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Stripe Alternatives 2026: 5 Cheaper or Better-Fit Options

Five Stripe alternatives priced from their own pages. At $50K a month online, Helcim costs $1,275 against Stripe's $1,750. Fees, payouts and how to switch.

Nov 11, 2026
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Best POS Systems for Restaurants in 2026: 5 Compared on Cost

Best POS system for restaurants in 2026: Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn and Lightspeed compared on card rates from 2.3% + 10¢, software fees and contracts.

Nov 11, 2026
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Toast POS Review 2026: Fees, Contract Terms and Real Costs

Toast POS review 2026: 2.49% + 15¢ plus $69 a month, or 3.09% + 15¢ with $0 hardware. Contract terms, exit fees and monthly cost at $10K to $250K.

Nov 11, 2026
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Clover Review 2026: Fees, Contracts and Reseller Pricing

Clover review for 2026: 2.3% + 10¢ in person on Growth bundles, 3.5% + 10¢ keyed, 36-month hardware terms, and why bank and reseller prices differ.

Nov 11, 2026
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Helcim Review 2026: Fees, Volume Tiers and Real Costs

Helcim review for 2026: interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ in person, no monthly fee, real monthly cost at $10K to $250K, and where Stax or Square beats it.

Nov 11, 2026
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Square Review 2026: Fees, Plans and Who It Fits

Square review for 2026: 2.6% + 15¢ in person on the free plan, what Plus and Premium save, real monthly cost at $10K to $250K, and who should skip it.

Nov 11, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Automotive Shops in 2026

Helcim is cheapest in our engine up to about $60K a month for independent auto shops. Stax costs less above that on steady volume. Square below $25K. Full 2026 comparison.

Jun 20, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Legal Practices in 2026

Compare Helcim, Stripe, Stax, Payment Depot, Square, and PayPal for U.S. law firms. Pricing, IOLTA setup, and the volume tier where each wins.

Jun 19, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Healthcare Practices in 2026

Compare Helcim, Stripe, Square, Stax, Payment Depot, and Clover for medical practices in 2026. Pricing, BAA support, EHR integration, patient billing.

Jun 18, 2026
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Best Multi-Acquirer Payment Processors: 2026 Comparison

Compare 7 multi-acquirer payment processors for 2026. Stripe, Worldpay, Braintree and more ranked by routing, pricing, contracts, and settlement.

Jun 17, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Dental Practices in 2026

Compare the best payment processors for dental practices in 2026. Real interchange-plus rates, PMS integration, contracts, and verdicts by volume tier.

Jun 16, 2026
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Best Interchange-Plus Payment Processors: 2026 Comparison

Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Stripe and Worldpay compared on effective rate, contract length, and settlement speed for $25K to $5M monthly merchants.

Jun 15, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Yoga and Fitness Studios in 2026

Compare Helcim, Square, Stripe, Stax, Clover, and PayPal for yoga and fitness studios in 2026 with real effective rates at $25K to $150K monthly volume.

Jun 13, 2026
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AI Dunning and Recovery Tools: 2026 Comparison

Compare AI dunning and recovery tools from Stripe, Helcim, Stax, PayPal, Square, and Worldpay. Pricing, retry logic, and account updater fit by volume in 2026.

Jun 12, 2026
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AI Fraud Detection Tools for Merchants: 2026 Comparison

Compare AI fraud detection tools for U.S. merchants in 2026: Stripe Radar, Worldpay FraudSight, PayPal, Square, Clover, Helcim, and Stax priced head to head.

Jun 10, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Professional Services in 2026

Helcim and Stax beat flat-rate processors for law firms, accountants, and consulting practices in our cost model. Compare rates, contracts, and Level 3 data.

Jun 9, 2026
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Best Payment Processors For B2B: 2026 Comparison

B2B payment processors ranked for 2026: Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Stripe, Worldpay, PayPal. Effective rates, L2/L3 data support, contract terms.

Jun 8, 2026
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Cheapest Credit Card Processing 2026: 7 Processors by Real Cost

Cheapest credit card processing by volume, prices checked Oct 2026: Helcim costs about $1,020 a month at $50K in person, Stax $4,475 at $250K. 7 compared.

Jun 6, 2026
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Best Fast-Funding Payment Processors: 2026 Comparison

Compare Square, Stripe, PayPal, Clover, and Helcim on same-day and instant transfer fees, funding cutoffs, and effective rates for 2026 merchants.

Jun 3, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Nonprofits 2026: PayPal and Helcim for Small Orgs, Stax at Volume

PayPal, Helcim, Stripe, Square, and Stax compared for nonprofits in 2026. Real rates by donation tier, contract terms, and where each one wins.

May 28, 2026
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Best POS Systems for Small Business 2026: Square to Start, Helcim on Cost

Compare the best POS systems for small business in 2026: Square, Clover, Helcim, Stripe, Stax, Payment Depot, and PayPal by real rates and contract terms.

May 27, 2026
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Best Virtual Terminal 2026: 7 Providers by Keyed-Card Cost

Virtual terminal fees, checked Oct 2026: keyed sales cost about $1,275 a month at $50K on Helcim, $1,900 on Square and $2,000 on Stripe. 7 providers.

May 26, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Marketplaces in 2026

Stripe Connect is our default for marketplaces. We compare 8 processors on split payments, seller KYC, payouts, platform fees and effective rates.

May 24, 2026
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AI Dispute Management Tools: 2026 Comparison

Compare Stripe Chargeback Protection, Worldpay Disputes Deflector, PayPal Seller Protection, and four more AI dispute tools by merchant volume tier.

May 21, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Ecommerce in 2026

Helcim is cheapest for ecommerce up to about $50K a month, Stax from $50K up, Stripe wins on tools. Full 2026 effective-rate comparison.

May 20, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Restaurants in 2026

Compare Square, Clover, Stripe, Helcim, Stax, and Payment Depot for restaurants by monthly volume. Real rates, contracts, and hardware lock-in compared.

May 19, 2026
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Best No-Contract Payment Processors 2026: Helcim Leads on Cost

Compare seven no-contract payment processors in 2026 by effective rate, contract terms, settlement, and hardware lock-in. Winner depends on volume tier.

May 17, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Subscription Products 2026

Subscription billing comparison: Stripe, Helcim, Stax, Square, PayPal, and Worldpay ranked by effective rate, account updater, and dunning logic.

May 16, 2026
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Best Mobile Payment Processors 2026: Square to Start, Helcim on Cost

Compare the best mobile payment processors for 2026. Real rates from Square, Stripe, Helcim, Clover, PayPal, and Stax for on-the-go merchants.

May 15, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for Contractors and Field Services 2026

Compare 7 payment processors for contractors and field service crews at $25K to $500K monthly volume. Real fees, ACH, mobile readers, and contract terms.

May 14, 2026
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AI Reconciliation Tools 2026: Stripe Sigma, Helcim and Stax Compared

We compare AI reconciliation tools from Stripe, Square, Helcim, Stax, Clover, and PayPal on payout traceability, fee transparency, and auto-matching.

May 12, 2026
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Best Payment Processors for B2B SaaS 2026: Stripe on Tools, Stax on Cost

Compare Stripe, Helcim, Stax, Worldpay and more for B2B SaaS in 2026. Real rates, contract terms, and the volume tier where each option wins.

May 11, 2026
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Best Payment Processors With Same-Day Deposit and Settlement (2026)

Compare same-day, instant and next-day deposits: payout fees, eligibility, bank cutoffs and the real monthly cost for Square, Stripe, PayPal, Clover and Helcim.

May 10, 2026
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AI Subscription Billing Tools 2026: Stripe Billing Leads on Features

Stripe, Helcim, Stax, PayPal, Square, and Payment Depot compared on AI recovery, subscription primitives, and effective rate at $25K to $5M monthly volume.

May 9, 2026
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Best Payment Gateways for Ecommerce: 2026 Comparison

Compare 8 ecommerce payment gateways: Stripe, Square, Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Clover, PayPal, Worldpay. Real fees at $10K to $1M volume in 2026.

May 8, 2026
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Hard to approve

High-risk merchants

Declined, frozen, or classified high-risk by underwriting? Rate is the second question here, approval is the first. Start with the high-risk payment processing guide for how underwriting classifies CBD, gaming, nutra, firearms, travel and subscription merchants, what reserves and VAMP thresholds cost, then compare the processors that actually approve.

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