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.
Get a vetted shortlist in 60 seconds
Tell us what you sell. We send back 3 matched processors plus the questions to ask before you sign.
We earn a commission from some providers. It does not move anyone up the list or change your price. How we make money
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.
Interchange-plus, no monthly fee
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 HelcimFlat rate
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 PayPalInterchange++ plus fixed fee
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 AdyenStax
Subscription, interchange at cost
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 StaxClover
Flat rate plus software plan
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 CloverShopify Payments
Flat rate, tied to a Shopify plan
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 ShopifyFlat rate, no monthly fee
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 StripeFlat rate, optional 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 SquareBraintree
Flat rate, online only
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 BraintreeAuthorize.net
Flat rate plus $25 monthly fee
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| Processor | In person | Online | Monthly fee | At $10K/mo | At $250K/mo | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelcimMost small and mid-size businesses that want low, transparent pricing with no contract | Interchange + 0.4% + 8¢ | Interchange + 0.5% + 25¢ | $0 | 2.11%in person | 1.94%in person | Visit |
| PayPalBusinesses that already sell through PayPal and want a cheap in-person optionAdvanced card processing and PayPal POS are subject to PayPal's approval. | 2.29% + 9¢ (PayPal POS) | 2.89% + 29¢ (Advanced Credit and Debit) | $0 | 2.47%in person | 2.47%in person | Visit |
| AdyenLarger and international businesses that need one platform across countriesAdyen applies a minimum monthly invoice it does not publish, so small merchants may not qualify. | Not offered | Interchange + 0.6% + 13¢ (Visa and Mastercard) | $0 | 2.56%online | 2.56%online | Visit |
| StaxBusinesses above about $25K a month that can spread a subscription fee | Interchange + 8¢ | Interchange + 15¢ | $99 to $199+/mo by annual volume | 2.70%in person | 1.79%in person | Visit |
| CloverRestaurants and retail that want POS hardware and software in one systemClover sold through a bank can carry different rates and terms than Clover.com. | 2.6% + 10¢ (Starter) | 3.5% + 10¢ (Keyed) | $0, or $29.95 or $84.95/mo on paid plans | 2.80%in person | 2.53%in person | Visit |
| Shopify PaymentsStores that run on Shopify, online and in personOnly available with a Shopify plan. The plan fee is not counted here because you pay it for the store, not for processing. | 2.6% + 10¢ (Basic) | 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) | Shopify plan required | 2.80%in person | 2.80%in person | Visit |
| StripeOnline businesses, SaaS and subscriptions that want a custom checkout | 2.7% + 5¢ (Terminal) | 2.9% + 30¢ | $0 | 2.80%in person | 2.80%in person | Visit |
| SquareNew and small in-person sellers who want to start the same day with no contract | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free) | 2.9% + 30¢ (Online API); 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan | $0, or $49 or $149/mo on paid plans | 2.90%in person | 2.76%in person | Visit |
| BraintreeMarketplaces and apps that want cards, PayPal and Venmo in one integration | Not offered | 2.89% + 29¢ | $0 | 3.47%online | 3.47%online | Visit |
| Authorize.netMerchants whose shopping cart or software requires an Authorize.net gateway | Not offered | 2.9% + 30¢ (All-in-one) | $25/mo | 3.75%online | 3.51%online | Visit |
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
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
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stripe vs Adyen 2026 compared on published fees, effective rate at $10K to $1M a month, minimums, payouts and who each one 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.
Square vs Shopify Payments 2026: real cost breakdowns by volume tier, contract terms, hidden fees, and which one wins for retail vs ecommerce sellers.
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.
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.
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.
Online payments & international reach vs in-person POS excellence. Compare transaction fees, hardware costs, and features for retail and e-commerce.
Which payment gateway wins for online businesses? We compare APIs, subscription billing, international fees, and merchant experience.
Interchange-plus against a flat rate, priced at $10K, $50K and $250K a month in person and online, with the break-even card mix.
By size
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.
At $10K to $25K a month, Helcim's interchange-plus costs less than Square, Stripe and PayPal in our 2026 engine: $211 vs $290 for Square at $10K in person.
At $25K to $50K a month, Helcim and Stax cost 0.7 to 1.1 points less than Stripe and Square in our 2026 engine. The real monthly math at $50K.
$50K to $100K a month: Helcim, Stax and quote-based interchange-plus compared on 2026 published prices, with the fees to push on before you sign.
At $100K to $250K a month, Stax is the cheapest published price in our 2026 engine ($4,475 in person at $250K). Quotes and contract clauses to push on.
At $500K to $1M a month, Stax is the cheapest published price in our 2026 engine (1.73% in person at $1M). Enterprise and direct acquirer quotes compared.
Expert analysis of Leaders Merchant Services, Worldpay, Clover, Payment Depot, Stax, Stripe, and more. Find the lowest fees and best features for your business.
By requirement
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Compare Helcim, Stripe, Stax, Payment Depot, Square, and PayPal for U.S. law firms. Pricing, IOLTA setup, and the volume tier where each wins.
Compare Helcim, Stripe, Square, Stax, Payment Depot, and Clover for medical practices in 2026. Pricing, BAA support, EHR integration, patient billing.
Compare 7 multi-acquirer payment processors for 2026. Stripe, Worldpay, Braintree and more ranked by routing, pricing, contracts, and settlement.
Compare the best payment processors for dental practices in 2026. Real interchange-plus rates, PMS integration, contracts, and verdicts by volume tier.
Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Stripe and Worldpay compared on effective rate, contract length, and settlement speed for $25K to $5M monthly merchants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
B2B payment processors ranked for 2026: Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Stripe, Worldpay, PayPal. Effective rates, L2/L3 data support, contract terms.
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.
Compare Square, Stripe, PayPal, Clover, and Helcim on same-day and instant transfer fees, funding cutoffs, and effective rates for 2026 merchants.
PayPal, Helcim, Stripe, Square, and Stax compared for nonprofits in 2026. Real rates by donation tier, contract terms, and where each one wins.
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.
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.
Stripe Connect is our default for marketplaces. We compare 8 processors on split payments, seller KYC, payouts, platform fees and effective rates.
Compare Stripe Chargeback Protection, Worldpay Disputes Deflector, PayPal Seller Protection, and four more AI dispute tools by merchant volume tier.
Helcim is cheapest for ecommerce up to about $50K a month, Stax from $50K up, Stripe wins on tools. Full 2026 effective-rate comparison.
Compare Square, Clover, Stripe, Helcim, Stax, and Payment Depot for restaurants by monthly volume. Real rates, contracts, and hardware lock-in compared.
Compare seven no-contract payment processors in 2026 by effective rate, contract terms, settlement, and hardware lock-in. Winner depends on volume tier.
Subscription billing comparison: Stripe, Helcim, Stax, Square, PayPal, and Worldpay ranked by effective rate, account updater, and dunning logic.
Compare the best mobile payment processors for 2026. Real rates from Square, Stripe, Helcim, Clover, PayPal, and Stax for on-the-go merchants.
Compare 7 payment processors for contractors and field service crews at $25K to $500K monthly volume. Real fees, ACH, mobile readers, and contract terms.
We compare AI reconciliation tools from Stripe, Square, Helcim, Stax, Clover, and PayPal on payout traceability, fee transparency, and auto-matching.
Compare Stripe, Helcim, Stax, Worldpay and more for B2B SaaS in 2026. Real rates, contract terms, and the volume tier where each option wins.
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.
Stripe, Helcim, Stax, PayPal, Square, and Payment Depot compared on AI recovery, subscription primitives, and effective rate at $25K to $5M monthly volume.
Compare 8 ecommerce payment gateways: Stripe, Square, Helcim, Stax, Payment Depot, Clover, PayPal, Worldpay. Real fees at $10K to $1M volume in 2026.
Hard to approve
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.
PaymentCloud review 2026: quote-only pricing, approval in 24 hours to 5 days by its own pages, volume caps and reserves. What it publishes and who it fits.
Stripe froze your account or holds your funds? Here are real high-risk payment processors that approve merchants Stripe declines: PaymentCloud, Durango, Easy Pay Direct, Soar Payments, and Host Merchant Services.
PaymentCloud vs Durango Merchant Services for high-risk merchants. Approved verticals, reserves, approval speed, and offshore options compared.
PaymentCloud vs Easy Pay Direct for high-risk merchants. Approved verticals, reserves, load balancing across multiple MIDs, and approval speed compared.
High risk merchant account options: Stripe, Square and PayPal ban many categories. PaymentCloud says it approves high-risk files in 24 hours to 5 days.