The 10 Best Online Credit Card Payment Processors For Small Business

Get Started with PaymentCloud

Pros

Reasonable rates and fees
Free credit card terminal
Excellent customer support
Shopping cart integration

Cons

No publicly disclosed pricing
High-risk businesses will likely have a monthly minimum

PaymentCloud Pricing

PaymentCloud offers both tiered and interchange-plus pricing models. Like many other high-risk specialists, the company has no pricing information on its website, but we’ve gathered some sample pricing ranges for low-risk eCommerce merchants (high-risk merchants will pay more):

Interchange-Plus Rate: Interchange + 0.10%-0.50% + $0.15-$0.25 per transaction
Monthly Fee: $15
Gateway Fee: Variable, depends on the gateway
Address Verification Service (AVS): $0.05 per online transaction

PaymentCloud Features

PaymentCloud is available to all manner of online merchants but specifically caters to businesses in high-risk industries (eCommerce merchants have a greater chance of being classified by banks as “high-risk” than other merchants). Here’s some of what PaymentCloud offers to online businesses:

Payment gateway (Authorize.Net, which includes a developer toolbox with an open API for customizing your site’s integration, is one of the available choices; check out our list of the best payment gateway and API platforms to learn more)
Virtual terminal
Shopping cart integration (PaymentCloud integrates with a wide variety of popular online shopping carts)
eCheck and ACH processing
Contactless payment requests
PCI compliance
Data migration

Where PaymentCloud Really Shines

There are plenty of shady operators in the high-risk payment processing space. PaymentCloud stands out from the pack with its reasonable rates, stellar reputation among merchants, and the dedicated account manager it provides its users for guidance. Plus, the fact that PaymentCloud works with so many banks and back-end processors means you’ll have a higher chance of approval than with many competing processors.

2. Square: Best For Low-Volume

Square

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

Impressive feature set
Predictable flat-rate pricing
No (mandatory) monthly fees
Available to Canadian businesses
Strong POS support

Cons

Account stability issues
Advanced features require a monthly fee

Square Pricing

Square’s pricing makes it a great all-in-one solution for businesses with a relatively low transaction volume.

Online Transactions: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (2.6% + $0.30 with a Premium Square Online subscription)
ACH Bank Transfers (Via Invoices): 1% with a minimum of $1 per transaction
Online Rate For CBD Merchants: 3.8% + $0.30 per transaction
Monthly Fee: $0-$79/month, depending on your subscription level

Square Features

Square may be best known for its convenient POS hardware and expansive support software for small businesses. That said, Square does offer respectable eCommerce support and infrastructure. This includes a free online store (paid subscriptions are available for those needing advanced features) and shopping cart support, which can be great for businesses that are primarily brick-and-mortar but also do a portion of their business online.

Cryptocurrency processing
Currency conversion
Invoicing
Premade online checkout form
Native eCommerce integrations
Sell on multiple channels
Sell internationally
Marketing features
Inventory management

Where Square Really Shines

Square offers a remarkably broad range of features for a payment processor with no monthly fees. And with Square Online, you’ll get an easy-to-use online store builder that provides a lot of value at the free level, while offering more features and storage to paid subscribers.

Lower-volume merchants stand the most to gain from Square, but this processor offers something for everybody, including CBD businesses looking to sell online.

Get Started with Square

3. Host Merchant Services: Best For Online Businesses

Host Merchant Services

Get Started with Host Merchant Services

Pros

Transparent interchange-plus pricing
Exceptional customer service
HMS helps match you to a shopping cart
No long-term contracts or early termination fees

Cons

It can be expensive for low-volume merchants

Host Merchant Services Pricing

Online Transactions: Interchange + 0.35% + $0.10 per transaction
Monthly Fee: $14.99
Annual 1099 Reporting Fee: $24

HMS Features

Host Merchant Services (HMS) is another full-service merchant account provider that offers transparent interchange-plus pricing with no yearly contract, great customer service, and a robust suite of eCommerce features.

Virtual terminal and payment gateway (Transaction Express) offering tokenization and encryption of customer data
ACH processing
Recurring billing
Check-imaging
Wireless processing
Shopping cart integrations
Free basic website with hosting

Where HMS Really Shines

HMS’s processing services are competitively priced and are especially well-suited to those running a web hosting or cloud service provider business. HMS has a lot to offer other online businesses as well, as the company will provide you with a basic website at no additional cost and will work with your business to match you to the shopping cart that best fits your needs.

4. Dharma Merchant Services: Best For Nonprofits

Dharma Merchant Services

Get Started with Dharma Merchant Services

Pros

Interchange-plus pricing is offered exclusively
No annual fee or monthly minimum
Month-to-month billing with no early termination fees
Outstanding sales transparency and highly ethical business practices

Cons

Not recommended for businesses processing less than $10,000 per month
No support for high-risk or international merchants

Dharma Pricing

Online Transactions: Interchange + 0.20% + $0.11 per transaction
Online Transactions (Nonprofits Only): Interchange + 0.10% + $0.11 per transaction
Monthly Fee: $25 ($20 for nonprofits)
Chargeback Fee: $25
Retrieval Fee: $5

Dharma Features

As a part of its eCommerce offerings, Dharma uses MX Merchant as its integrated payments platform. This all-in-one service combines the features of a payment gateway and a virtual terminal into a single product. You’ll have access to the following:

Online reporting
A customer information database
A mobile processing app
Recurring billing
eCheck/ACH processing

Where Dharma Really Shines

Dharma Merchant Services — a long-time Merchant Maverick favorite — is a great merchant account provider for most businesses (particularly those processing over $10,000/month). Additionally, it may be the best processor around for nonprofits. Dharma offers discounted pricing for nonprofit organizations and partners with 4aGoodCause to provide nonprofits with donation pages and event registration services.

5. Shopify Payments: Best For Multiple Sales Channels

Shopify Payments

Get Started with Shopify Payments

Pros

Predictable flat-rate pricing
Multicurrency acceptance
Sync data from multiple sales channels
Can take international transactions

Cons

Account stability issues
A monthly fee is charged

Shopify Pricing

If you have a Shopify online store, using Shopify Payments for website payment processing lets you avoid paying a Shopify per-transaction fee of .5%-2% (on top of the processing fee) with each sale. And if you’re building a non-Shopify online store, you can still subscribe to Shopify Lite ($9/month) to add buy buttons to your site.

No 0.5%-2.0% Shopify Transaction Fee
Online Transactions: 2.4% + $0.30 to 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, depending on your subscription level
Monthly Fee: $9-$299

Shopify Payments Features

Using Shopify Lite with your existing online store can be beneficial, particularly for merchants selling items on Amazon, eBay, and/or other sales channels. You’ll be able to sync and manage your listings in a single location, and you can generate all your sales data and shipping through Shopify.

Of course, Shopify’s full online stores are feature-packed as well. And with the numerous integrations Shopify offers for dropshippers and suppliers, eCommerce merchants have many reasons to like Shopify.

Omnichannel selling
Shop Pay (Shopify’s accelerated checkout option)
Developer tools
Security features and PCI compliance
Chargeback management
Shopify shipping
Local and curbside pickup
Local delivery

Where Shopify Really Shines

Shopify is well-established as an eCommerce powerhouse, offering a complete online selling package for merchants large and small. And with Shopify Payments, you’ll pay less per transaction than if you use another processor with your Shopify shop.

6. Stripe Payments: Best Payment Support

Stripe Payments

Get Started with Stripe Payments

Pros

Excellent developer tools
Predictable flat-rate pricing
Advanced reporting, marketplace, and subscription tools
Can take international transactions

Cons

Account stability issues
Needs technical skills to implement

Stripe Pricing

Being a third-party processor, Stripe offers simple, flat-rate eCommerce pricing.

Online Transactions: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
International Transactions: +1%/transaction
ACH: 0.8% (capped at $5)
Chargebacks: $15
No Monthly Fees

Stripe Features

Stripe Payments has always been closely tied to eCommerce and is known for its international acceptance, the wide selection of integrations, and exceptional array of developer tools. Other PSPs (such as Square and PayPal) are easier to use when you’re just starting your eCommerce business. But if you’re planning to use a web developer to design a top-of-the-line, slick-looking web store (and/or adding in-app payment functions), Stripe gives you more tools to integrate into your platform.

Payment gateway
Cryptocurrency processing
Dynamic currency conversion
Recurring billing and subscriptions
Invoicing
Developer tools (some of the best in the industry)

Where Stripe Really Shines

If you only want a simple online store, there are simpler processing solutions than Stripe. However, if your online business has unique needs and you’re in a position to take advantage of Stripe’s extensive developer tools, integrations, and international eCommerce capabilities, give Stripe some consideration.

7. Helcim: Best All-In-One Platform

Helcim

Helcim is now available with NO MONTHLY FEE. Start Here!

Pros

Exclusive interchange-plus processing rates
No long-term contracts or early termination fees
No monthly account fees
Excellent customer support

Cons

Not cost-effective for merchants processing less than $1,500 per month
Not suitable for high-risk industries

Helcim Pricing

Helcim uses interchange-plus pricing exclusively. Your rates will decrease as your monthly processing volume increases.

Online Transactions: From interchange + 0.20% + $0.10 to interchange + 0.50% + $0.25 per transaction
Chargeback Fee: $0-$15 (depends on the outcome)
No Monthly Fees: Online credit card transactions
eCheck/ACH processing: $25/month and $0.25 per transaction

Helcim Features

Helcim offers payment processing services to US and Canadian merchants. Helcim’s integrated payments platform (Helcim Commerce) combines the functions of a payment gateway with other ancillary services that you’ll need to run your online business.

Interntional payments
Hosted online store builder
Hosted payment pages
Online food ordering
Helcim API
Virtual terminal
Recurring billing
Tokenization
Product and inventory management

Where Helcim Really Shines

Canada-based Helcim is one of the top merchant account providers for Canadian businesses and a top-tier provider for US businesses. With a full slate of online selling features, completely transparent pricing, and a stellar reputation, Helcim should definitely be considered by any online merchant needing a full merchant account.

Get Started with Helcim

8. CDGcommerce: Best For Low Rates

CDGcommerce

Get Started with CDGcommerce

Pros

Free payment gateway and virtual terminal
Month-to-month billing with no early termination fees
Excellent customer service and support
Scales well

Cons

Only available to US-based merchants

CDGcommerce Pricing

Online Transactions: 2.90% + $0.30 with the flat-rate plan, interchange + 0.30% + $0.15 with the interchange-plus plan, and interchange + $0.05 to interchange + $0.10 with the membership plans
Monthly Fee: $0 with the flat-rate plan, $19-$49 with the interchange-plus plan, and $49-$199 with the membership plans

With CDGcommerce, your pricing plan will depend on your sales volume and whether or not your business is considered high-risk.

Flat-rate pricing is for merchants processing $1,000-$10,000/month
Interchange-plus pricing is for those processing $10,000 and $200,000/month
Membership pricing for merchants processing over $200,000/month
High-risk merchants may be accepted but will pay more than low-risk merchants (pricing for high-risk merchants is not specifically disclosed)

CDGcommerce Features

With CDGcommerce, you get your choice of free payment gateways, including Authorize.Net and the company’s proprietary Quantum Gateway. You’ll also get the following:

Virtual terminal
Detailed online reporting
High-risk processing
Recurring billing
A security service (cdg360)
A Fraud Loss Reimbursement Plan (FLRP) for users of the Quantum gateway

Where CDGcommerce Really Shines

Featuring services and pricing that evolve to match the needs of your business as it grows, plus transparent pricing and a reputation for ethical service, CDGcommerce is a very strong choice for online credit card processing. High-risk merchants may be accepted as well.

9. Durango Merchant Services: Best For Offshore Merchant Accounts

Durango Merchant Services

Get Started with Durango Merchant Services

Pros

Specialists in placing high-risk and other hard-to-place merchants
Offers offshore merchant accounts for some international merchants
Fair pricing and excellent contract terms
Dedicated account manager for customer service

Cons

No pricing disclosures on the website

Durango Pricing

Durango Merchant Services specializes in servicing high-risk businesses. The company does not disclose any pricing information or contract terms online; Durango works with numerous back-end processors, so these factors will be highly variable and subject to negotiation. If yours is a high-risk business, expect to pay higher processing rates than a similar low-risk business. Although interchange-plus is sometimes available, you’ll likely be placed on a tiered pricing plan.

Durango Features

Durango is an excellent choice for high-risk businesses needing online credit card processing. Durango also offers offshore merchant accounts for international merchants. Let’s go through what else Durango offers:

Proprietary cloud-hosted Durango Pay gateway
A variety of shopping cart integrations
eCheck processing
Cryptocurrency support
Fraud protection

Where Durango Really Shines

Durango is one of the few high-risk providers of website payment processing that enjoys a great reputation for fair prices and contract terms. With solid services, a high degree of fraud and chargeback protection, and excellent customer support, Durango is an outstanding choice of processor for the right kind of business.

10. Stax By Fattmerchant: Best For High-Volume Businesses

Stax by Fattmerchant

Pros

Transparent wholesale pricing
No long-term contract
Next-day funding option available
QuickBooks integration

Cons

US merchants only
Not suitable for low-volume businesses

Stax Pricing

Stax deals exclusively in subscription-based (a.k.a. wholesale) pricing in which you’re charged 0% markup on interchange rates and instead pay a monthly membership fee.

Monthly Fee: $99/month, $159/month, or $199/month, depending on your subscription tier
Card-Not-Present/eCommerce Rate: $0.15 + interchange fee per transaction

Stax Features

While Stax isn’t eCommerce-focused per se, it does offer a number of features for online businesses:

Customizable shopping cart, plus integrations with many popular shopping carts and gateways
Stax API for developers
Centralized web portal
Customer database
Inventory management
Invoicing and reporting
Free Quickbooks Online integration

Where Stax Really Shines

eCommerce merchants processing over $10,000/month will find Stax’s pricing model very cost-effective. All things considered, Stax’s integrated payments platform, which offers centralized invoicing, data analytics, inventory management, and more, provides excellent value for online sellers.