Best Credit Card Processing for Small Business
Credit card processors charge a percentage plus a fixed fee per sale, and plans, add-ons and contracts change the real cost. This page compares ten providers using only what each publishes on its own pricing pages, checked on 2026-10-15. Providers whose pricing we could not read are listed but not scored.
Who this is for
Small businesses that take cards in person, online or both and want to compare published rates and terms before asking for quotes. If you process large volume, ask providers about interchange-plus pricing and compare statements, not only these flat rates.
How we scored this
Scores come only from what each provider publishes, using the checklist below. Commission, affiliate status and our own use of a product never change a score. Full rules are on our methodology page. Read the methodology.
A score measures what a provider publishes against this checklist. A perfect score means every checklist item had published evidence, not that the provider is right for your business. It is not a rating of product quality or service, and it does not use customer reviews.
Ranked by our scoring
#1 Stripe · 7.6/10
Published pricing
- Online domestic cards: 2.9% + 30¢; international +1.5%; currency conversion +1%; manually entered +0.5%
- Stripe Terminal in person: 2.7% + 5¢
- ACH Direct Debit: 0.8%, $5 cap
- Dispute received fee: $15.00
- No setup, monthly or hidden fees
Verified on the provider's page
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page. "2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards".
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published. "Dispute received fee $15.00 for each dispute you receive."
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published. "No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees."
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published. International +1.5%, currency conversion +1%, manual entry +0.5%, instant payouts 1.5% (min 50¢).
- In-person card acceptance. Stripe Terminal in-person payments are priced at 2.7% + 5¢.
- Online payments or payment links. "cing Sign in Contact sales Payments Payments Online payments Managed Payments Merchant of record solution Payment links No-code payment"
- Invoicing. "illing Subscriptions Subscription management Invoicing One-time or recurring Tax Sales tax & VAT automation Revenue Recognitio"
- Bank (ACH) payments. "and other payment methods Offer bank debits, bank transfers, and other locally relevant payment methods. 0.8% ACH Direct Debit $5.00"
- Recurring billing or subscriptions. "inked financial account data Revenue Billing Recurring revenue Metronome Usage-based billing Subscriptions Subscription managemen"
- A faster payout option is published. "d a conversion fee starting at 2% Learn more Instant payouts Access funds within minutes through an eligible debit card or bank accoun"
- No monthly fee on the base option. "No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees."
- No setup fee is stated. "platform with simple, pay-as-you-go pricing. No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees. Get started 2.9% + 30¢ per successful trans"
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page. Pay-as-you-go percentage plus fixed fee, with extras listed.
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described. "this fee back for lost disputes. Learn more Smart Disputes Respond to disputes with evidence that Stripe's AI prepares for you. You c"
Not found on the provider's page
No points are given for anything we could not find published. This does not mean the provider lacks it.
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page. Only a "Get support" link appears; no phone number or hours are named.
Visit StripeScore breakdown: Overall score 7.6/10
Category Weight Score Evidence Pricing transparency 30% 10/10 4 of 4 checks Total cost for a typical small business 25% 3.8/10 $311.25 → 3.8 Features 20% 10/10 6 of 6 checks Contract and fee fairness 15% 7.5/10 3 of 4 checks Support and reputation signals 10% 5/10 1 of 2 checks Cost input: Modeled total monthly cost, averaged over two sample businesses: (A) $10,000/month in card sales at a $40 average sale, in person; (B) $10,000/month at a $60 average sale, online. For each: cheapest published plan or bundle fee + (percent × sales + fixed fee × number of sales), using verified rates only: $311.25
#2 Square · 6.7/10
Published pricing
- Free plan $0/mo per location; Plus $49; Premium $149
- In person: 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)
- Online or invoice: 3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus and Premium)
- Manual entry or card on file: 3.5% + 15¢
Verified on the provider's page
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page. "Tap, dip, or swipe 2.6% + 15¢ ... Online 3.3% + 30¢" by plan.
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published. Plans listed at $0, $49 and $149 per location per month.
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published. Manual entry 3.5% + 15¢, ACH 1% ($1 min), Afterpay 6% + 30¢ are listed.
- In-person card acceptance. "Tap, dip, or swipe: Applies to in-person payments when a card is present."
- Online payments or payment links. "e Free Square Plus Square Premium Payments & checkout Restaurant operations Bookings Inventory & catalog management Reporting &"
- Invoicing. "app for any payment Online site Item library Invoicing Booking Checking and savings accounts Square Plus BEST VALUE A full sui"
- Bank (ACH) payments. "nds added to the Square Checking account via ACH transfer. ACH credit transfers to your account may take 1–2 business days."
- Recurring billing or subscriptions. "Invoices and recurring invoices" are listed.
- A faster payout option is published. "ndars. Booking Checking and savings accounts Access your funds instantly and plan for future expenses. Checking and savings accounts Details Proces"
- No monthly fee on the base option. "$0/mo. per location" Free plan.
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated. "e from value-packed plans. No hidden fees or locked-in contracts. Cancel or switch anytime. Tell us about your business and we'll show you"
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page. Each method is priced as a percentage plus a fixed amount, by plan.
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page. "t Square Plus 24/7 priority support Get 24/7 phone support when you need it. 24/7 priority support Advanced reporting Access deeper i"
Not found on the provider's page
No points are given for anything we could not find published. This does not mean the provider lacks it.
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published. No chargeback fee amount appears on the pricing page text.
- No setup fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described. Not found on the page text we read.
Score breakdown: Overall score 6.7/10
Category Weight Score Evidence Pricing transparency 30% 7.5/10 3 of 4 checks Total cost for a typical small business 25% 3.2/10 $338.75 → 3.2 Features 20% 10/10 6 of 6 checks Contract and fee fairness 15% 7.5/10 3 of 4 checks Support and reputation signals 10% 5/10 1 of 2 checks Cost input: Modeled total monthly cost, averaged over two sample businesses: (A) $10,000/month in card sales at a $40 average sale, in person; (B) $10,000/month at a $60 average sale, online. For each: cheapest published plan or bundle fee + (percent × sales + fixed fee × number of sales), using verified rates only: $338.75
#3 Clover · 5.1/10
Published pricing
- Retail: tapped, swiped or inserted 2.6% + 10¢ (Basic) or 2.3% + 10¢ (Standard, Advanced); typed in 3.5% + 10¢
- Quick-service restaurants: 2.3% + 10¢ in person, 3.5% + 10¢ typed in
- Rapid Deposit: 1.75% fee
- Retail hardware bundles from $16/mo for 36 months or $349
Verified on the provider's page
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page. Rates listed per bundle on the retail and quick-service pages.
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published. Bundle prices and software fees are listed.
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published. Rapid Deposit 1.75% fee and the higher typed-in rate are listed.
- In-person card acceptance. "run your business with a compact countertop terminal Sell seamlessly on a 14" touchscreen terminal paired with a 8" customer‑fa"
- Online payments or payment links. "Build a new online store: Optional add-on" and keyed-in payments on the device or Clover app are listed.
- Invoicing. ", Google Pay) PayPal and Venmo Cash or check Invoice or recurring schedule Keyed-in payments (on device or Clover app) Include"
- Recurring billing or subscriptions. "Invoice or recurring schedule" is listed among payment options.
- A faster payout option is published. "al add-on Optional add-on Cash flow services Rapid Deposit: Get funds within minutes of a credit card sale 1.75% fee 1.75% fee 1.75%"
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page. The FAQ explains a percentage plus flat fee, with a higher typed-in rate.
Not found on the provider's page
No points are given for anything we could not find published. This does not mean the provider lacks it.
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published. No chargeback fee amount found.
- Bank (ACH) payments. Not found on the page text we read.
- No monthly fee on the base option. Plans include monthly bundle or software fees.
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- No setup fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page. Not found on the page text we read.
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described. Not found on the page text we read.
Visit CloverScore breakdown: Overall score 5.1/10
Category Weight Score Evidence Pricing transparency 30% 7.5/10 3 of 4 checks Total cost for a typical small business 25% 3.2/10 $341.84 → 3.2 Features 20% 8.3/10 5 of 6 checks Contract and fee fairness 15% 2.5/10 1 of 4 checks Support and reputation signals 10% 0/10 0 of 2 checks Cost input: Modeled total monthly cost, averaged over two sample businesses: (A) $10,000/month in card sales at a $40 average sale, in person; (B) $10,000/month at a $60 average sale, online. For each: cheapest published plan or bundle fee + (percent × sales + fixed fee × number of sales), using verified rates only: $341.84
#4 Shopify Payments · 4.2/10
Published pricing
- Online standard card rates 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) to 2.25% + 30¢ (Plus); in-person 2.6% + 10¢ to 2.3% + 10¢; premium cards 3.5% + 30¢ to 2.95% + 30¢; international +1%; keyed in-person 3.5% + 10¢
- Billed monthly: Basic $39, Grow $105, Advanced $399; billed yearly: Basic $29, Grow $89, Advanced $359 per month (yearly prices as of 2026-10-15); Plus from $2,300/mo
- Third-party payment provider fee when not using Shopify Payments: 2% Basic, 1% Grow, 0.6% Advanced, 0.2% Plus
Verified on the provider's page
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page. "Online standard card rates 2.9% + 30¢ 2.7% + 30¢ 2.5% + 30¢ 2.25% + 30¢ ... In-person card rates 2.6% + 10¢ 2.5% + 10¢ 2.4% + 10¢ 2.3% + 10¢" (Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus).
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published. Monthly plan prices are published: Basic $39, Grow $105, Advanced $399.
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published. "Online premium card rates 3.5% + 30¢", "Online international rates + 1%" and "In-person manual rates 3.5% + 10¢" are listed.
- In-person card acceptance. "In-person card rates 2.6% + 10¢" on Basic.
- Online payments or payment links. "Online standard card rates 2.9% + 30¢" on Basic.
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page. "24/7 support Live chat Live chat Enhanced live chat Priority support" is listed.
Not found on the provider's page
No points are given for anything we could not find published. This does not mean the provider lacks it.
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published. No dispute or chargeback fee amount on the pricing page.
- Invoicing. Not found on the page text we read.
- Bank (ACH) payments. Not found on the page text we read.
- Recurring billing or subscriptions. Not found on the page text we read.
- A faster payout option is published. Not found on the page text we read.
- No monthly fee on the base option. The entry plan is a paid plan: Basic $39 a month ($29 billed yearly).
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- No setup fee is stated. Not found on the page text we read.
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page. Not found on the page text we read.
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described. Not found on the page text we read.
Score breakdown: Overall score 4.2/10
Category Weight Score Evidence Pricing transparency 30% 7.5/10 3 of 4 checks Total cost for a typical small business 25% 3/10 $351.5 → 3 Features 20% 3.3/10 2 of 6 checks Contract and fee fairness 15% 0/10 0 of 4 checks Support and reputation signals 10% 5/10 1 of 2 checks Cost input: Modeled total monthly cost, averaged over two sample businesses: (A) $10,000/month in card sales at a $40 average sale, in person; (B) $10,000/month at a $60 average sale, online. For each: cheapest published plan or bundle fee + (percent × sales + fixed fee × number of sales), using verified rates only: $351.5
Side-by-side checklist
| Feature | Stripe | Square | Clover | Shopify Payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.6/10 | 6.7/10 | 5.1/10 | 4.2/10 |
| Base card rates are published on the provider's page | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In-person card acceptance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online payments or payment links | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not found |
| Bank (ACH) payments | Yes | Yes | Not found | Not found |
| Recurring billing or subscriptions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not found |
| A faster payout option is published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not found |
| No monthly fee on the base option | Yes | Yes | Not found | Not found |
| No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated | Not found | Yes | Not found | Not found |
| No setup fee is stated | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not found |
| A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page | Not found | Yes | Not found | Yes |
| Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
Not scored
We could not verify enough of these providers' published pricing today, so we do not score or rank them.
PayPal
PayPal's fee page lists online card rates but no card-present (in-person) rate, so we cannot model sample business A. QR code payments are priced separately and are not a card-present rate.
Published pricing
- PayPal Checkout and Guest Checkout: 3.49% + $0.49
- Standard credit and debit cards: 2.99% + $0.49
- QR code payments: 2.29% + $0.09
- Pay Later: 4.99% + $0.49; international commercial +1.50%
Stax
Stax uses interchange-plus pricing; interchange varies by card, so a monthly cost cannot be computed from published numbers.
Published pricing
- Subscription from $99/month up to $150,000 processing per year; $139/month for $150,000 to $250,000; $199+/month above $250,000
- 0% markup on interchange; $0.08 per card-present transaction; $0.15 per card-not-present
- ACH: 1% per transaction, capped at $10
- Terminal protection plan (optional): $19/month
QuickBooks Payments
QuickBooks Payments rates by payment method were not in the page text we read.
Published pricing
- Pay-as-you-go pricing with no separate monthly fee or processing minimums
- Above $2,500 a month, may qualify for up to 25% off standard rates (call to ask)
- Chargeback protection up to $25,000 per year ($10,000 per dispute)
Toast
Toast says processing fees apply but publishes no rates.
Published pricing
- Point of Sale: starting at $69/month (restaurants)
- Starter Kit: starting at $0/month hardware offer; software and processing fees apply
- Toast is a payment facilitator, not a card processor
Helcim
Helcim prices at interchange plus its own margin ("we pass exactly what banks and payment networks charge you, plus our transparent margin"). The margin depends on volume and interchange varies by card, so a monthly cost cannot be computed from published numbers.
Published pricing
- No monthly account fees, no contracts or cancellation fees, $0 signup and PCI fees
- Interchange plus a margin (shown for your volume through Helcim's calculator)
- Recurring payments +0.4% per transaction; Tap to Pay on iPhone +10¢ per transaction
- Chargeback $0 if resolved in your favor, $15 if lost; ACH reject $5
- Smart Terminal $349 or $32/mo; Card Reader $199
Payment Depot
Payment Depot charges interchange at 0% markup plus $0.08 per card-present transaction and $0.15 per keyed or online transaction, but interchange varies by card and its subscription price is not on the page, so a monthly cost cannot be computed from published numbers.
Published pricing
- Interchange plus: 0% markup on interchange
- $0.08 per card-present transaction; $0.15 per keyed-in or online transaction
- ACH: 1% per transaction, capped at $10 (optional)
- Terminal protection plan $19/month (optional)
The checklist behind the scores
Pricing transparency · 30% of the score
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published
Total cost for a typical small business · 25% of the score
Cost: Modeled total monthly cost, averaged over two sample businesses: (A) $10,000/month in card sales at a $40 average sale, in person; (B) $10,000/month at a $60 average sale, online. For each: cheapest published plan or bundle fee + (percent × sales + fixed fee × number of sales), using verified rates only. Each $50 subtracts one point from 10 (floor 0).
Features · 20% of the score
- In-person card acceptance
- Online payments or payment links
- Invoicing
- Bank (ACH) payments
- Recurring billing or subscriptions
- A faster payout option is published
Contract and fee fairness · 15% of the score
- No monthly fee on the base option
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated
- No setup fee is stated
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page
Support and reputation signals · 10% of the score
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest credit card processing for a small business?
It depends on your volume, average sale and how you take payments. Our ranking models two sample businesses ($10,000 a month at a $40 average sale in person, and at $60 online) from published rates; use our card processing fee calculator with your own numbers.
Why are some providers not scored?
Our scoring needs verified processing rates for both sample businesses. PayPal lists no card-present rate; Stax uses interchange-plus pricing; QuickBooks and Toast did not publish card rates in the pages we read; Helcim and Payment Depot use interchange-plus pricing, which varies by card.
What is the difference between flat-rate and interchange-plus pricing?
Flat-rate pricing charges one percentage plus a fixed fee per sale. Interchange-plus passes through the card network's interchange fee and adds a markup. Our guide explains both.
Do these rankings include affiliate bias?
No. Commissions never change a score, and some ranked providers have no affiliate link. See our methodology.
How current is this?
We read each pricing page on 2026-10-15. Confirm on the provider's site before you sign up.
Related tools and guides
Sources
- Square: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Square: our fees (checked 2026-10-15)
- Stripe: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- PayPal: merchant fees (US) (checked 2026-10-15)
- Clover: retail pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Clover: quick-service restaurant pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Stax: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- QuickBooks Payments (checked 2026-10-15)
- Toast: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Shopify: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Helcim pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Payment Depot pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
Last updated: · Prices verified: