Payment Processors
In-depth profiles of every major payment processor with real rates, honest pros and cons, and guidance on who each one is best for.
Stripe
Flat-rate · Est. 2010
Developer-first payment platform known for its powerful API, extensive documentation, and broad feature set. Popular with startups and tech companies.
In-Person
2.7% + $0.05
Online
2.9% + $0.30
Best for: Online businesses, SaaS, marketplaces, developer teams
Square
Flat-rate · Est. 2009
All-in-one payment solution with free POS hardware. Ideal for small businesses, retail, and restaurants with straightforward, transparent pricing.
In-Person
2.6% + $0.10
Online
2.9% + $0.30
Best for: Small businesses, retail, restaurants, service providers
PayPal
Flat-rate · Est. 1998
The original online payment giant with massive consumer trust. Offers checkout buttons, Venmo integration, and buy-now-pay-later through PayPal Credit.
In-Person
2.29% + $0.09 (Zettle)
Online
3.49% + $0.49
Best for: E-commerce, freelancers, international sellers
Adyen
Interchange-plus · Est. 2006
Enterprise-grade, full-stack payment platform used by Uber, Spotify, and eBay. Offers interchange-plus pricing and unified commerce across channels.
In-Person
Interchange + $0.12
Online
Interchange + $0.12
Best for: Enterprise, high-volume merchants, omnichannel retail
Fiserv (First Data)
Interchange-plus or Tiered · Est. 1984
One of the largest payment processors in the world after merging with First Data. Powers Clover POS and serves millions of merchants globally.
In-Person
Varies (interchange-plus or tiered)
Online
Varies (interchange-plus or tiered)
Best for: Mid-size to enterprise businesses, Clover POS users
Worldpay (FIS)
Interchange-plus (negotiated) · Est. 1997
Global payment processor handling 40+ billion transactions per year. Strong in enterprise and international commerce with extensive acquiring capabilities.
In-Person
Varies (custom pricing)
Online
Varies (custom pricing)
Best for: Enterprise, high-volume merchants, global commerce
Chase Payment Solutions
Flat-rate · Est. 2017
JPMorgan Chase's merchant services division offering seamless integration with Chase banking products. Competitive rates for existing Chase business customers.
In-Person
2.6% + $0.10
Online
2.9% + $0.25
Best for: Chase banking customers, small to mid-size businesses
Helcim
Interchange-plus · Est. 2006
Transparent interchange-plus processor with automatic volume discounts. Known for honest pricing and no contracts — a favorite among cost-conscious small businesses.
In-Person
Interchange + 0.3% + $0.08
Online
Interchange + 0.5% + $0.25
Best for: Cost-conscious small to mid-size businesses