Online Credit Card Processing

What's the best online credit card processing company? Find the cheapest one for small businesses, high/low volume transactions and eCommerce.

It doesn't matter if you're a big chain or small online shop. You need to accept credit cards to run your business.

But choosing the right payment processor to work with is tricky. Many providers issue huge markups for each transaction and sneak in hidden fees.

You need one that:

• offers the best pricing for your business
  
• is compatible with your website
  
• has the right payment features

To start selling online, find out how those fees and features work. Plus, discover the best online credit card processing providers.

Square Reader: Free Mobile Credit Card Reader

• Pay 2.6% + 10¢ Per Swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express
• Accept Credit Cards Anywhere
• Fast Setup, No Commitments

Click Here to Get Free Reader

Best Online Credit Card Processing Companies

Not all online credit card processors will be suitable for your business. A small business will have different needs from a large and established one.

Read on to find the right fit.

1. Square: Best Overall

Square offers a free plan with no monthly fee—you only pay for each transaction that you process. It comes with a free website builder for your online store. You also get a free virtual terminal to accept credit card payments for over-the-phone orders.

Credit: Square

If you need more advanced features, Square offers three plans with a monthly fee ranging from $12 to $79 per month.^[1] The paid plans enable you to eliminate Square ads, add custom code, accept PayPal, send order-status updates to customers via text messages, and send cart abandonment emails.

With any of the plans, you can:

• Build an online store
  
• Sync orders and inventory
  
• Offer in-store pickup
  
• Accept Square gift cards and coupons
  
• Automatically calculate taxes
  
• View detailed reports and insights

Why we like it:
Aside from selling on your online store, you can also use Square to sell through social media. This can help you expand your customer base and reach more audiences.

And if you have a physical store, you can take in-person payments, too. Square offers a free magstripe credit card reader. If you need a chip reader, terminal, or register, prices vary from $49 to $799.^[2]

Need to take payments on the go? You can accept contactless payments using just your phone with Tap to Pay. Or just send checkout links through text or email. If you're using the Square app, you can manually enter their card information as well.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Square uses flat-rate pricing. It charges a flat rate of 2.9% + $0.30 for each online transaction.

Manually entered payments cost 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction. In-person payments, on the other hand, are a little cheaper, costing 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction.

Pros:

• Funds arrive as soon as the next business day
  
• No underwriting requirements
  
• No early termination fees
  
• Sales and inventory can be updated in real-time
  
• Basic software option comes free, unlike other options

Cons:

• Basic features may not fit your small business needs
  
• Weak customer service
  
• Flat-rate pricing can be expensive for larger businesses

Square Reader: Free Mobile Credit Card Reader

• Pay 2.6% + 10¢ Per Swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express
• Accept Credit Cards Anywhere
• Fast Setup, No Commitments

Click Here to Get Free Reader

2. Stripe: Best for Subscriptions and Recurring Billing

Stripe is one of the most popular credit card processors for eCommerce and in-app purchases. It offers flat-rate pricing for all cards with no setup or monthly fees, which makes it easy and affordable for new businesses to get started.

Credit: Stripe

It's known for advanced API solutions that allow for complete customization of your checkout experience. But you can get the most out of it if you have a developer since it can be customized with a variety of programming languages.

Because you can customize it to your needs, it's suitable whether you're a small business or a large and established one. It supports over 135 currencies and payment methods. It also offers per-transaction pricing, which can be helpful to those with inconsistent sales.

You can take payments on your website or do business in person. You can also use shareable links, customize invoices, and even integrate Stripe on your mobile app.

Why we like it:
There's a Stripe Billing feature that you can use for recurring billing. It allows you to set trial periods, tiered pricing, and usage-based pricing. You can integrate this API into existing websites, mobile apps, and even CRM systems.

This feature is essential for subscription-type businesses. But you can also use it to give customers the option to pay a large bill over several months. Just be sure to store cards on file and charge them automatically when the next bill is due.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Stripe uses flat-rate pricing. Each online transaction costs 2.9% + $0.30.^[3]

Pros:

• Dozens of customization options for small business owners
  
• 450+ platforms and extensions
  
• Ability to cancel at any time without fees
  
• Accept international cards
  
• 24/7 phone, chat, and email support

Cons:

• Funds may take up to two business days to arrive in your account
  
• Funds can be frozen without warning

3. Shopify: Best for eCommerce Businesses

Shopify's all-in-one platform works best for eCommerce businesses looking for a strong website presence and built-in credit card processing.

Credit: Shopify

You can build an online store and sell on multiple sales channels with Shopify. Your account will come with Shopify Payments, which lets you take credit card payments and other online payment methods seamlessly.

You can accept PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and even cryptocurrency payments. This variety of payment options can be helpful and convenient to your customers.

And if you have a physical store? You can use the Shopify POS Lite that comes with your subscription. It comes with features for a mobile POS.

Why we like it:
Shopify is great for scaling your business. You can take online payments from your local community. But you can also grow internationally with no worries.

You can also translate your store into different languages. And you can set different prices for your products in different countries.

Managing inventory is even easy through omnichannel selling. And you can get discounted rates and access to regional and global carriers with Shopify Shipping.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Shopify plans can cost you $25/mo to $399/mo.^[4] The higher-tiered plans cost lesser processing fees per transaction.

For the Basic plan, online credit card rates cost you 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. While in-person transactions will cost you 2.7% + 0¢ for both credit and debit card payments.

The Shopify plan costs 2.6% + 30¢ for online credit card transactions. While the in-person debit and credit card transactions cost 2.5% + 0¢.

Lastly, the Advanced plan costs 2.4% + 30¢ for online credit card payments. But it costs 2.4% + 0¢ for in-person credit and debit card sales.

Pros:

• No set-up or cancellation fees
  
• Save 25% on annual plans
  
• Try it free for 3 days and extend your free trial for $1/month on your first 3 months
  
• 24/7 customer support

Cons:

• The most expensive monthly plan costs $399 a month, a significant cost for businesses
  
• Upgrading from Shopify POS Lite to Pro costs an additional $89/mo^[5]
  
• You can only build up to 1 public storefront regardless of the plan

4. PayPal: Best for Low Volume Businesses

PayPal fits the bill for low volume sellers quite well. In addition to accepting credit card payments, you can accept PayPal and Venmo payments, which can help increase your customer base.

Credit: Paypal

PayPal offers the option to add a PayPal button to an existing website. Or you can create a customized checkout solution with PayPal's Pro option.

Customers will need to have their own PayPal account. So if they don't have one, they'll have to create an account. Or they'll have to enter the debit or credit card information manually.

If you do business in person, PayPal also has a card reader available called PayPal Zettle. There's no monthly subscription needed for the POS app. But the (first) card reader costs $29, and the terminal costs $199.

Why we like it:
You can accept bank or credit card payments with PayPal. The funds will be transferred to your PayPal account every time a customer makes a purchase.

That means you can receive the money within minutes. But it takes 2-3 days to withdraw the cash to your bank account.

Just keep in mind that with this option, customers will get redirected to PayPal's checkout page. But since PayPal is a trusted brand, it shouldn't be a problem.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
PayPal has flat-rate pricing. Online transactions cost 2.99% + $0.49.^[6]

For PayPal digital payment products, the rate is 3.49% + $0.49. This includes payments made through PayPal Checkout, Venmo, PayPal Credit, Invoicing, Pay in 4, PayPal Pay with Rewards, and Checkout with Crypto.

This is a higher processing rate than other third-party processors like Square and Stripe. But being able to accept PayPal payments may be worth it to you.

Pros:

• PayPal integrates with most shopping carts
  
• Cancel anytime without paying a penalty
  
• Accept payments in your PayPal account
  
• No monthly or set-up fees

Cons:

• Higher online transaction rates than competitors
  
• Accepting phone payments via Virtual terminal is an extra $30/month^[7]
  
• Using the PayPal button means users have to leave your website to pay. This may increase cart abandonment.
  
• PayPal often suspends accounts if there are too many customer complaints.

5. Dharma: Cheapest Online Processor

Dharma is a full merchant account provider. It has an interchange-plus pricing structure, which is ideal for high-volume businesses. Their fees are lowest for companies processing more than $10,000 per month.

Also, Dharma doesn't require long-term contracts or monthly minimums. But unlike Square, Dharma has a strict underwriting process. So, not all businesses may get approved for an account.

But if approved, your account will include free access to MX Merchant payment gateway. This also includes a virtual terminal that can help you take over-the-phone payments.

Why we like it:
You have the option to surcharge your customers for credit card payments. This can help you save on processing fees.

And aside from using the virtual terminal, you can also send online payment links to your customers. Take payments on the go with MX Merchant Express, and then get your cash with next-day funding.

There are also features for invoicing and recurring billing. That way, you can auto-bill your clients if you offer subscriptions.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:^[8]
Dharma uses interchange-plus pricing. For online transactions, Dharma charges 0.20% + $0.11 plus interchange rate (which is different for each type of card you're processing).

Pros:

• Reduced rates for business processing over $100,000/mo
  
• No annual fees or early termination fees
  
• Transparent pricing structure on their website
  
• $25/mo rate to use the service (lower than competitors)^[9]

Cons:

• Must process over $10,000 a month to be eligible
  
• Processing Amex cards will have completely different fees
  
• 2 business days or more to receive your funds

6. Payment Cloud: Best for High-Risk Merchants

Payment Cloud is a merchant account provider that works with low to high-risk businesses. If you're a high-risk merchant and have been struggling to find a provider, you can check them out.

They can work with you even if your previous business was unsuccessful. They even work with business owners with bad personal credit. Just be sure to check the list of supported industries found on their website.

You can access their virtual terminal, payment gateways, and customizable shopping carts. Some payment gateways they work with include Authorize.net, USAePay, and NMI. You can also integrate other software for accounting, inventory management, and customer management.

Why we like it:
They offer free credit card reader and terminal options, which can help with your budget. They also help you analyze which POS system works best for you.

And there are many payment options aside from debit and credit card payments. You can take eChecks, ACH, send payment links, and generate QR codes.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Unfortunately, Payment Cloud isn't super transparent with its fees. You'll need to call them to get a quote. But let's talk about some of the payment gateway fees you may encounter.^[10]

If you have Authorize.net as your payment gateway, it can cost you $25/mo for their monthly fee. They also have a transaction fee of $0.25 and a daily batch fee of $0.10.

USAePay, on the other hand, has the same pricing as NMI. That's because NMI acquired the company in 2021. Their monthly fee cost $20/mo, while the transaction fee cost $0.25. Custom pricing is available for large businesses.

Pros:

• Chargeback and fraud prevention tools are available
  
• Virtual terminals are PCI-compliant
  
• There are many software integrations available
  
• No setup or hidden fees
  
• 24/7 merchant support

Cons:

• Need to call to get a quote
  
• Only select industries are supported

7. Amazon Pay: Best for Amazon Merchants

Sometimes, Amazon sellers would have a separate eCommerce website. If you're a small business with these two sales channels, then Amazon Pay can greatly benefit you.

Amazon Pay is an online payment processing service. If you have this checkout button on your website, customers can use their Amazon account to make the purchase. You'll be able to take debit and credit card payments with it.

All transactions can be tracked on your Amazon account. It's also handy for your customers since they won't need to enter their credit card information. This can make the checkout process smooth and help reduce shopping cart abandonment.

Why we like it:
It's a great option for small and medium-sized businesses. It's easy to create an Amazon account, and your customers will likely have one too.

You can use it to take one-time payments or recurring ones. So, it's still a good option if you offer subscriptions. You can even set pre-orders and micropayments with it.

You also don't need to wait long for your cash. Express Payout lets you receive your payments in 24 hours at no extra cost.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
There are 3 fees you'll encounter with Amazon Pay: transaction fees, authorization fees, and cross-border processing fees.

You'll likely only encounter the latter if you have international customers. But card issuers may add foreign transaction fees and other fees as well.

For a $10 transaction, here's what you could be paying:^[11]

For web and mobile transactions:

• Domestic processing fee: 2.9% ($0.29)
  
• Authorization fee: $0.30
  
• Cross-border processing fee: 3.9% ($0.39)

For Alexa (real-world goods and services):

• Domestic processing fee: 4% ($0.40)
  
• Authorization fee: $0.30
  
• Cross-border processing fee: 5% ($0.50)

For certain chargeback disputes: $20.00 plus taxes (if applicable)

Keep in mind that fees differ for charitable organizations.

Pros:

• Disbursements are processed daily
  
• Express payouts are available for no additional cost
  
• Fraud detection and chargeback tools are available
  
• You get a dedicated account and technical support
  
• Integrates with other software such as BigCommerce, Magento, etc.

Cons:

• There's an extra registration for accessing Amazon Pay
  
• Your customer base needs to have an Amazon account
  
• Customers cannot use their Amazon gift cards

8. Helcim: Best for High-volume Businesses

Helcim offers interchange-plus pricing. Best part? There's no need for haggling since they always process the lowest rates possible. Plus, the higher the credit card sales you have, the lower the rates.

Credit: Helcim

Some of what Helcim offers include online checkout, ACH transfers, invoicing, virtual terminal, and POS. You'll also get features on inventory management, shipping, reporting, etc.

To make your work even easier? You can sync payments directly with QuickBooks Online. This will help reduce errors in your books and ensures that everything's up to date.

Aside from taking online payments, you can take in-person payments as well. You can purchase their card reader for $109. Or just use the Helcim Payments app with your smartphone or tablet.

Why we like it:
There are no contracts or monthly fees with Helcim. There are also no hidden fees. They're very transparent with how much processing fees you could expect.

Plus, there are no setup fees, termination fees, compliance fees, etc. And because there are no different types of subscriptions, you can access all of the features available in your account.

Helcim also offers great customer service. You'll be able to talk to a real person to address your concerns. This is always essential, considering you're dealing with online payments 24/7.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
The average for keyed and online payments costs 2.40% + 25¢. The average for in-person payments, on the other hand, costs 1.86% + 8¢.^[12]

Pros:

• Process payments using a credit and debit terminal, mobile app, or a virtual terminal
  
• Transparent pricing available on their website (it has an interactive calculator that gives you your exact rates)
  
• 24/7 customer support

Cons:

• Can be pricey for small merchants with lower sales volume
  
• Potential $15 chargeback fee (if you lose the dispute)
  
• Expensive card reader (no free reader available)

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• Interchange Plus Pricing
• No Monthly Fees
• No Contracts

Other Online Processing Companies to Consider

While these companies didn't make our top list, they may still be a good fit for your business.

Payment Depot

Payment Depot's membership-based pricing model helps businesses with high volume sales save money on credit card processing fees. They offer plans based on your monthly processing volume. It's a full merchant account provider.

Beyond the monthly membership fee, you'll pay the interchange cost of processing the transaction (for example, the Visa or MasterCard interchange fee, plus a fixed amount).

The Basic account allows up to $250,000 in transactions. You should reach out to Payment Depot for a custom quote if you need to process more than that.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Payment Depot has a membership-based pricing model, with monthly plans starting at $79. You'll pay a monthly membership for credit card processing, plus interchange.^[13]

Pros:

• No setup or cancellation fees
  
• 24/7 customer service via phone and email
  
• Access to wholesale rates with no added percentage markup on interchange which leads to lower overall costs
  
• Access to a free virtual terminal to accept cards over the phone if your card reader isn't available
  
• Businesses with high-volume sales can save significant fees with a membership-based pricing model
  
• Supports many integrations

Cons:

• Not ideal for small businesses
  
• Doesn't accept high-risk merchants
  
• Not yet available to non-US merchants
  
• To get an exact quote and details about fees, you will have to speak with a representative.

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• Wholesale Rates
• Membership Fee Model
• No Cancellation Fees

Stax

Stax is an all-in-one platform where you can get online credit card processing. It integrates with multiple payment gateways, such as BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce. You can also sync transactions with QuickBooks.

To start taking payments from your website, you can use Stax's online shopping cart. But you can also build your own using their pre-designed cart templates.

There are also other tools you can get for analytics, inventory management, and customer data management. These can help you monitor your business and make data-driven decisions.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
You'll be paying a flat-rate subscription fee with Stax. And it's based on your annual processing volume.^[14]

• If you're processing up to $250,000/yr: $99/mo
  
• If you're processing $250,000 to $500,000/yr: $199/mo
  
• If you're processing over $500,000/yr: custom pricing

Pros:

• Fraud and chargeback protection tools available
  
• Customize batch times through the Stax platform
  
• Same-day and next-day funding available
  
• 24/7 support

Cons:

• Access to brand customization tools costs extra
  
• Not for small businesses or those with inconsistent sales

CardX

CardX is a surcharging platform that helps you charge your customers an extra fee if they pay with credit cards. Their services are automatically compliant, so you won't need to worry about breaking any law or agreement.

You can use the Lightbox (included in the virtual terminal) to start taking card payments from your website. Your customers will be charged 3% per credit card transaction. If they ever decide to pay with a debit card, then they won't be charged any fee.

Basically, the only processing fees you'll need to worry about are debit card fees.

Processing Fee Structure & Rates:
Debit card transactions can cost you around 2.91% per transaction.^[15] But this price will vary. You'll have to review your agreement with the payment processor.

CardX works with over 200 payment processors.

Pros:

• You get to avoid paying credit card processing fees
  
• Debit card fees are more affordable
  
• Automatic compliance makes setup easier
  
• You have the option to purchase POS hardware

Cons:

• Your customers may not like the surcharges
  
• No other software integrations

Merchant Account vs. Payment Service Provider

When choosing a payment processor, you first need to think about the level of service you want.

There are two types to consider:

1. Merchant account provider
   This is a full service credit card processor. The main thing is that you get a unique merchant ID number just for your business.

   Merchant account providers offer other services such as PCI compliance assistance, payment gateways, and tax reporting assistance. Because of the full service provided, merchant account providers cost more and may not be affordable for new, small businesses.

   Typically, merchant accounts require underwriting to approve you as a client. So it's best for larger, established businesses with high processing volume.

2. Payment system provider
   This is a more simplified option that only offers credit card processing. You don't receive your own unique merchant account ID. Your transactions are processed in a batch along with those of many other businesses, so therefore cost less.

   This is a good, cheaper option for micro businesses, as they don't need the full service of a merchant account provider.

   This kind of provider usually doesn't require underwriting or has processing minimums. You can get set up almost right away.

Understanding the Fees

Credit card processing companies typically use one of the following pricing structures:

• Interchange-Plus Pricing
  You'll pay a percentage of the credit card transaction (interchange fee) plus the processor's markup, which is a flat fee. The interchange fee is a non-negotiable rate different for each type of debit or credit card transaction.

  This pricing plan often comes out to be the best value. It works for most types of businesses. However, the provider may tack on other fees for services like payment gateway, virtual terminal, etc.

  For example, let's say the interchange fee for an online transaction with a Visa Rewards credit card is 1.95% + $0.10, and the merchant provider markup is 0.3% + $0.20 on each transaction. On a $100 sale, it would cost you $2.05 + $0.50 for a total of $2.55.
  

• Flat-Rate Pricing
  You pay a flat rate fee for each transaction. Many companies don't have any additional fees because they include it all in the flat rate. This pricing structure is the most predictable, but often comes out to be the most expensive, especially if you have a lot of sales.
  For example, if the flat rate for an online transaction is 2.9% + $0.30, on a $100 sale, the processing fee would be $3.20.
  

• Subscription Pricing
  You pay a small per-transaction fee for each transaction, and then a flat monthly subscription fee for using the service. This pricing model could be good for large-volume businesses, as your savings would justify the subscription price.
  For example, the non-negotiable interchange fee is 1.95% + $0.10. The provider markup could look like $0.25 per transaction plus a $30 monthly subscription fee.
  

Aside from pricing structures, there are other things to consider when looking for a payment processor. Let's talk about that next.

What to Look for in Online Credit Card Processing Companies

© CreditDonkey

A quick search online will turn up hundreds of online credit card processing companies. How do you know which one is right for you?

Before signing on the dotted line, consider these factors:

Pricing

Pricing will vary per company dramatically. Interchange fees may not be negotiable, but the additional fees the credit card processing companies charge in addition to the interchange fee will be negotiable.

Transparency with pricing is also important to ensure your small business gets the best possible deal. Know what the credit card processing company charges for any of the following:

• Monthly subscription fee
  
• Gateway fees
  
• Chargeback fees
  
• PCI compliance fees
  
• Manually entered transaction fees
  
• Early termination fees
  
• Batch processing fees
  
• Fund transfer fees

Some credit card processing companies charge one flat monthly fee no matter how many transactions you process. Others charge fees per transaction or offer volume discounts. Know the pricing model that works best for your business model.

Transparency

The more transparent a credit card processing company is with their fees and terms, the fewer surprises you'll experience. You want to know upfront what a transaction will cost you so that you can make the right decision for your business.

You'll typically find credit card processing companies that offer tiered pricing (more on this below) to be less transparent than those that offer a flat-rate monthly fee. If a company doesn't offer the full list of their fees online, ask your representative for a full list of the fees. If he or she balks, you may want to look elsewhere.

Types of Allowed Payments

Each credit card processor accepts different credit cards. Don't assume each one accepts all major credit cards. For example, if you want to accept Discover or American Express payments, you may need specific processing companies.

Keep a watch out for special fees for processing Amex payments too. Many credit card processing companies charge higher rates for Amex payments.

Also think about if you'd like to accept ACH payments, Paypal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. These forms of payment give your customers more options.

Ease of Setup

The application and setup process may take a few hours or a few weeks. Find out upfront so you know what to expect. If you think you'll be up and running today, but the company you choose has a two-week turnaround, you may want to look elsewhere.

Generally, merchant account providers will take a little longer to get set up and running, as you have to go through an underwriting process.

Security

Security is extremely important for online businesses. 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, losing businesses $200,000 on average each incident.^[17]

See what kind of security measures the provider offers. First off, make sure the provider's systems are PCI compliant, which is required by the card brands and banks. The provider should also use encryption and tokenization to keep sensitive data secure.

Besides keeping the systems secure, it's also important to have fraud prevention tools to reduce the amount of chargebacks. Look for tools like fraud alerts and ID verification.

Level of Customer Support

Customer support is crucial to successful credit card processing. Operating online means you operate 24/7.

What if you need support in the middle of the night? Does the credit card processing company have live agents or is it self-service online? Many of the cheaper processing companies rely on email support.

Bottom Line

Choose your online credit card processing company carefully. Know the type of transactions you'll process and compare how it will affect your bottom line.

Interchange plus pricing typically offers the lowest out-of-pocket costs, but consider all your options to determine which processor offers the features you need at a reasonable cost.

References