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Merchant services connection dedicated merchant accounts for greater outgo processing information and stability.
- Best overall: Helcim
- Best for high-risk businesses: PaymentCloud
- Best nonstop processor: Chase Payment Solutions
- Best for transparency: Dharma
- Best for accelerated deposits: US Bank Merchant Services
- Best for recurring oregon subscription billing: Stax
Merchant services are akin to outgo processors, but their biggest vantage is the proviso of a dedicated merchant account, dissimilar processors, which usually connection aggregate services.
A dedicated merchant relationship offers greater relationship stability, meaning you won’t acquisition frozen funds oregon accounts owed to changes successful outgo and processing volumes.
Moreover, the champion merchant relationship providers connection competitory rates and flexible solutions for processing in-person and online payments.
Top merchant services comparison
Processing fees are a cardinal deciding origin erstwhile choosing the champion merchant work for your business. The array beneath illustrates the monthly fees, per-transaction fees, and interest operation for each of our recommended merchant services.
| Helcim | 4.61 | $0 | Interchange plus | From interchange positive 0.15% + 6 cents | From Interchange positive 0.15% + 15 cents |
| PaymentCloud | 4.56 | $10–$45 | Varies | 2%-3.5% | 2.8% -4.3% |
| Chase Payment Solutions | 4.55 | $0 | Flat-rate oregon interchange plus | 2.6% + 10 cents | 2.9% + 25 cents |
| Dharma | 4.45 | $10-$15 | Interchange plus | Interchange + 0.15% + 8 cents | Interchange + 0.2% + 11 cents |
| US Bank | 4.42 | $0-$99 | Flat-rate oregon interchange plus | 2.6% + 10 cents | 2.9% + 30 cents |
| Stax | 4.39 | $99–$199 | Subscription | Interchange + 8 cents | Interchange + 18 cents |
Don’t request a dedicated merchant account? See our roundup of the best outgo processors, which includes aggregate processors similar Square.
Pricing structures explained
- Interchange plus: The processor passes on the nonstop fees from the recognition paper networks, adding a tiny markup connected top. This results successful much adaptable fees since the fees from the networks alteration depending connected paper benignant and transaction type. However, the effect is usually little fees overall.
- Fat-rate: The processor charges the aforesaid pre-set interest for each transaction. This exemplary is straightforward and predictable, perfect for caller businesses. However, it mightiness effect successful somewhat higher fees, particularly for larger businesses.
- Subscription: Similar to an interchange-plus model, but the processor charges a monthly interest and little per-transaction fees. This model, portion cost-prohibitive for tiny businesses, typically offers a batch of savings for ample businesses.
Helcim: Best overall
Image: Helcim
Our rating: 4.61 retired of 5
Helcim has an automated measurement discount and interchange-plus pricing exemplary with nary monthly fees, which is simply a uncommon find for a dedicated merchant account. You tin see it an all-in-one merchant relationship provider. In summation to affordable fees, it supports a wide scope of outgo options, including Level 2 and 3 recognition paper information processing for B2B payments.
Why I chose Helcim
Businesses of each sizes volition find Helcim’s interchange-plus pricing, automated measurement discounts, and zero-cost processing a precise affordable option. I person evaluated dozens of merchant work providers, and Helcim’s assortment of outgo methods is among the champion successful the market. It tin enactment a wide scope of industries, too. Real-world idiosyncratic feedback besides praises its high-quality lawsuit support.
Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Payment processing fees:
- Interchange positive 0.15-0.4% and 6-8 cents per card-present transactions.
- Interchange positive 0.15%-0.50% and 15-25 cents per card-not-present transactions.
- 0.10% + 10 cents per transaction American Express surcharge fees.
- 0.5% positive 25 cents, capped astatine $6/transaction, $5 instrumentality interest for ACH payments.
Features
- Interchange-plus pricing with automated measurement discounts.
- Hosted outgo pages.
- Mobile outgo app.
- Virtual terminal.
- Guided chargeback quality resolution.
- Fee Saver Program – a zero-cost processing programme that supports online, invoice, and in-person payments. Helcim automatically detects the escaped recognition paper processing programme disposable to usage based connected the paper type/network and concern location.
You tin pin your most-used Helcim merchant absorption tools connected your dashboard. Image: HelcimPros and cons
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PaymentCloud: Best for high-risk businesses
Image: PaymentCloud
Our rating: 4.56 retired of 5
PaymentCloud provides accepted merchant services successful summation to high-risk merchant relationship services. However, it is champion known for high-risk outgo processing due to the fact that it has an fantabulous estimation for getting businesses approved. PaymentCloud integrates with each outgo gateways, truthful you tin usage your preferred gateway, oregon it tin assistance you find a much compatible gateway solution for your business.
Why I chose PaymentCloud
What I similar astir PaymentCloud is that it takes a precise hands-on attack to getting you approved with spouse banks and works with aggregate outgo processors to get you the lowest rates. The institution partners with 10 banks and has a 98% support rate.
PaymentCloud tin apt o.k. you adjacent if different merchant relationship providers person rejected your application. After approval, it helps with onboarding, specified arsenic mounting up precocious fraud/filtering for your outgo gateway.
Pricing
- Monthly fees: $10-$45
- Transaction fees:
- 2%-3.1% for low-risk transactions
- 2.3%-3.4% for medium-risk transactions
- 2.7%-4.3% for high-risk transactions
- Other fees:
- $25 chargeback fee
- Average $15/month for outgo gateway
- $15-$45/month for virtual terminal
- 1%-2% cross-border fees
Features
- Supports medium- to high-risk businesses — tobacco, e-cigarettes, topical CBD, electronics, dropshipping, bail bonds, firearms, and more.
- Accepts cryptocurrencies.
- Options for POS systems and afloat EMV recognition paper terminals.
- Robust quality solution enactment with Chargeback Gurus.
- Fraud detection tools similar Address Verification System (AVS) technology, tokenization, P2PE information encryption, and 3D Secure technology.
Mail orders, telephone orders, and echeck payments are handled by PaymentCloud’s web-based virtual terminal. Image: PaymentCloudPros and cons
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Chase Payment Solutions: Best nonstop processor
Image: Chase
Our rating: 4.55 retired of 5
Chase is simply a renowned banking and fiscal instauration that besides offers a merchant relationship service, Chase Payment Solutions. What sets Chase isolated from different providers is that it tin leverage its beardown banking infrastructure to supply amended transaction rates, faster money transfers, robust insights, and coagulated security.
Why I chose Chase Payment Solutions
I similar that Chase tin connection customized interchange-plus rates for qualified merchants — it is really 1 of the fewer nonstop processors that tin rival the fees Helcim offers tiny businesses. Ultimately, to afloat bask each of Chase’s features, you’ll request a Chase concern checking account. Having Chase arsenic some the processor and receiving slope successful transactions tin supply amended velocity and information due to the fact that of the deficiency of an intermediary.
Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% positive 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% positive 25 cents for online transactions.
- ACH processing fees:
- 1% (capped astatine $25), non reversible, for existent clip deposits.
- 1% (capped astatine $25), reversible, for same-day deposits.
- $2.50 for the archetypal 10 transactions, 15 cents for additional, reversible, for modular deposits (1-2 concern days).
- Other fee:
- $25 chargeback fee.
Features
- Direct processor.
- Free merchant account.
- Free same- and next-day funding.
- Advanced analytics that connection unsocial insights (Chase Customer Insights).
- Quick Accept mobile app for successful idiosyncratic and over-the-phone payments.
- Chargeback and hazard monitoring.
Chase’s merchant services are disposable unneurotic with banking enactment successful your dashboard. Image: ChasePros and cons
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Dharma: Best for transparency
Image: Dharma
Our rating: 4.45 retired of 5
Dharma offers low-cost interchange-plus pricing, with measurement discounts for merchants processing much than $100,000 oregon 5,000 transactions. Overall, Dharma is simply a well-known processor with an fantabulous estimation for fairness and transparency.
It besides offers flexible hardware options and accounts and enactment for a assortment of concern types, including retail, restaurants, in-person, and online businesses.
Why I chose Dharma
Dharma is known for being precise transparent successful pricing, with each interest listed connected its website. Dharma specializes successful helping nonprofits, having donated implicit $750,000 to nonprofits. It has 1 of the lowest rates for card-not-present transactions. If your concern processes astatine slightest $10,000 successful monthly recognition paper transactions, Dharma is simply a bully solution for you.
Pricing
- Monthly fee: $15
- Payment processing fees:
- Interchange positive 0.15% + 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange positive 0.20% + 11 cents for online transactions.
- Interchange positive 0.25% + 8 cents for in-person American Express transactions.
- Interchange positive 0.30% + 11 cents for online American Express transactions.
*Discounts disposable for merchants processing implicit $100,000 per month, implicit 5,000 transactions per month.
- Other fees:
- $49 for relationship closure.
- $25 chargeback fee.
- $39.95 per period if not PCI compliant.
Features
- Flexible, works with respective POS systems specified arsenic Clover, Aloha, Lava, and Shopify.
- Free virtual terminal and mobile POS.
- Offline processing.
- Surcharging from the MX Merchant level (MX Advantage).
- Robust online reporting.
- Customer database with card-on-file storage.
- Guaranteed two-business-day backing with regular 7 p.m. web cut-off time.
Dharma includes a robust lawsuit database, which lets you securely store lawsuit information. Save aggregate cards per customer, outgo history, and person customized fields. Image: DharmaPros and cons
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US Bank Merchant Services: Best for accelerated deposits
Image: US Bank
Our rating: 4.42 retired of 5
US Bank provides concern banking, outgo processing, and point-of-sale services. It has its ain processing work (Elavon) and POS strategy (talech) but tin enactment with different outgo gateways, ecommerce platforms, and different POS systems. US Bank besides processes astir each outgo methods, including deposit checks, debit cards, and Zelle concern payments.
Why I chose US Bank
Of each the merchant services I recommend, US Bank is the lone work providing Everyday Funding. This lets you get funds 7 days a week, including weekends, and is disposable astatine nary further outgo for deposit relationship customers. Note, though, that same-day backing is babelike connected batch times. Activation usually takes 3 to 5 concern days from the work petition date.
Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0–$99.
- Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% + 10 cents per card-present transaction.
- 2.9% + 30 cents per card-not-present transaction.
- 3.5% + 15 cents per keyed-in transaction.
*Custom rates and plans available.
Features
- Everyday Funding — get backing 7 days a week, astatine nary further outgo for US Bank concern depository relationship customers with a US Bank outgo solutions account.
- Credit paper surcharging.
- Cloud-based POS suite — talech.
- Remote deposit seizure (RDC).
- Offline processing.
- 24/7 lawsuit enactment and dedicated relationship manager.
- Full income reporting.
US Bank has an invoicing diagnostic to fto you create, send, track, and negociate invoices. (Source: talech)Pros and cons
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Stax: Best for recurring oregon subscription billing
Image: Stax
Our rating: 4.39 retired of 5
Stax offers membership-based interchange-plus pricing that is better-suited for businesses processing much than $10,000 per month. Accept a assortment of outgo methods—invoicing, hosted outgo pages, outgo links, QR codes, and a one-click online buying cart. You tin besides docket recurring payments and get compatible hardware from different POS providers. Stax besides offers surcharging done its sister company, CardX, which allows you to legally walk on processing fees to customers.
Why I chose Stax
Stax has outstanding features tailored for subscriptions and recurring billing. You person entree to unafraid card-on-file payments, precocious CRM, and self-service lawsuit portals. One of the features you besides bash not usually get with recurring billing are abbreviated connection work (SMS) text-to-pay solutions and robust reporting — thing you get with Stax.
Pricing
- Monthly fees:
- $99 for businesses that grip transactions up to $150,000 per year.
- $139 for businesses that grip transactions betwixt $150,000 and $250,000 per year.
- $199 for businesses that grip transactions much than $250,000 per year.
- Payment processing fees:
- Interchange positive 8 cents per card-present transaction.
- Interchange positive 18 cents per card-not-present transaction.
Features
- Wholesale interchange-plus pricing.
- One-click buying cart.
- Customer narration absorption (CRM).
- Stax Bill — invoicing and recurring billing with self-service portal.
- Surcharging done CardX, Stax’s sister company.
- Stax Connect — quality management.
Stax Bill has automated billing-adjacent tasks specified arsenic dunning and reporting. Image: StaxPros and cons
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How bash I take the champion merchant services for my business?
As with each outgo services, the champion merchant work volition beryllium connected the types of services your concern needs. Some merchant services are much compatible with definite businesses than others. Know your outgo methods, which tools you request (invoicing, recurring billing, virtual terminal, POS hardware, etc.), and which ones lucifer your required concern integrations, similar accounting software. It is besides important to deliberation astir information features and chargeback management.
Methodology
I evaluated dozens of merchant services and scored them utilizing our in-house rubric of 19 information points crossed categories similar pricing and declaration requirements, features, security, and stability. I besides factored successful our ain acquisition and feedback from real-world users. Finally, I lone included merchant services that connection nonstop merchant accounts, which supply much information and stability.
This nonfiction and methodology were reviewed by our retail expert, Meaghan Brophy.
English (US) ·