CardProcessor Guide

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.

S

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

S

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

P

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

A

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

F

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

W

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

C

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

H

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