The 4 Best Cannabis Payment Processing Companies For Dispensaries
Cannabis credit card processing is currently illegal in the US, but there are good alternative options for processing marijuana payments, including cash sales, point of banking, and ACH transfer.

Although it’s still listed as a Schedule I drug by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) — and therefore illegal under federal law — marijuana is now legal for medicinal purposes in 37 states and recreational use in 18 states. With new dispensaries opening around the country all the time, the need for a cannabis credit card processing solution has never been greater.
Unfortunately, such a solution does not exist at this time. Because the issuing banks are regulated at the federal level, all of the major credit card associations (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, etc.) have firm policies against their cards being used for marijuana sales, even in jurisdictions where it’s legal. Despite this outright prohibition and intense demand from consumers to be able to use their credit cards at a dispensary, there is currently no legal, secure method to accept credit cards for cannabis sales. There are, however, viable alternatives to operating on a cash-only basis, which we’ll discuss below.
In addition to highlighting the payment methods available to cannabis dispensaries, we’ll also profile several reputable providers who can accept your marijuana business. Finally, we’ll briefly cover the legal issues that make cannabis businesses such a challenge when it comes to payments and give you some tips to help you find a reputable provider for your business.
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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents [hide][show]
- Why You Can’t Accept Credit Cards At Your Marijuana Dispensary
- What Secure Payment Methods For Dispensaries Are There?
- 4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
- 1. Instabill
- 2. Flowhub
- 3. Paybotic
- 4. Bankcard International Group
- Why We Don’t Recommend These Marijuana Payment Processors
- Why Dispensary Payment Processing Is Considered High-Risk
- Legal Issues With Cannabis Payment Processing
- What You Should Look For In Marijuana Payment Processing
- Which Cannabis Payment Processor Is Right For My Dispensary?
- In Summary: 4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
Table of Contents
- Why You Can’t Accept Credit Cards At Your Marijuana Dispensary
- What Secure Payment Methods For Dispensaries Are There?
- 4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
- Why We Don’t Recommend These Marijuana Payment Processors
- Why Dispensary Payment Processing Is Considered High-Risk
- Legal Issues With Cannabis Payment Processing
- What You Should Look For In Marijuana Payment Processing
- Which Cannabis Payment Processor Is Right For My Dispensary?
- In Summary: 4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
Why You Can’t Accept Credit Cards At Your Marijuana Dispensary
While many dispensaries are able to operate successfully on a cash-only basis, this strategy can put you at a competitive disadvantage compared to businesses that offer a variety of payment methods. Customers have become accustomed to using their credit cards for the majority of their purchases, and most of them simply expect to be able to use their cards everywhere, whether it’s at a restaurant or a cannabis dispensary.
Unfortunately, it’s currently not possible to legally use a credit card to purchase marijuana products in the United States, even in states that have fully legalized them. Cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, and the banks that issue credit cards are regulated at the federal level. What this means for you as a dispensary owner is that the credit card processing networks that are used to process credit card payments have to comply with federal law, and they cannot permit any cannabis sales to be processed over their networks. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express have each stated publicly that they will not permit their cards to be used for cannabis sales, even if it’s legal under local state law. If you get caught trying to do it anyway, you’ll quickly have your merchant account shut down, and you’re very likely to be placed on the Terminated Merchant File (TMF), or MATCH list.
For the same reasons, you generally cannot accept debit cards, either. Customers can, however, use their debit cards to withdraw funds from their bank account using a point-of-banking (or “cashless ATM”) solution to pay for their purchases. Yes, we know it’s very confusing. Note that we have found one provider currently offering a legally-compliant debit card payment option. It’s possible that other providers will follow suit in the near future.
This state of affairs is likely to continue as long as marijuana remains a Schedule I drug. While there have been proposals to de-list it, there doesn’t appear to be any momentum in the federal government to take action any time soon. If this does eventually happen, dispensaries would be free to open traditional merchant accounts and start accepting credit card payments like other businesses.
What Secure Payment Methods For Dispensaries Are There?
With credit and debit cards off the table for now, cannabis merchants have had to get creative in finding ways to securely accept payments from customers. Popular solutions in use today include point-of-banking (also called a “cashless ATM”), ACH transfers, and good, old-fashioned cash payments. Here’s a summary of each of these solutions:
4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
A cannabis payment processing account is simply a merchant account that allows you to accept noncash payments for cannabis products. Due to the dramatically higher risk associated with these goods, cannabis accounts will almost always come with higher rates and fees and more restrictive policies than low-risk accounts.
Here are the best companies we’ve found that can provide payment processing services for your cannabis dispensary:
- Instabill
- Flowhub
- Paybotic
- Bankcard International Group
1. Instabill
Instabill ![]() |
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Pros
- Offers ACH transfer payment processing option
- Offers cryptocurrency option
- Reputable company with a proven track record
Cons
- Does not accept startups
- No offshore merchant accounts for US-based businesses
- Typically requires a six-month rolling reserve
Instabill Features
Instabill is a veteran high-risk provider that offers some payment processing services to medical marijuana dispensaries. The company is very transparent about accepting cannabis merchants, and its website includes specific information about which payment methods are available and which particular business types are supported.
The company currently offers the following payment options:
- ACH Transfers: You issue cards that your customers can link to their bank accounts to allow in-store or online ACH payments.
- Cryptocurrency Solution: Customers pay with Bitcoin or some other digital currency.
- Offshore Merchant Accounts: These are not available to US-based merchants.
All of these methods come with risks and limitations, but they will elevate your business above operating on a cash-only basis.
Getting approved for a cannabis merchant processing account with Instabill will require four to six months of previous processing history, which could be a real challenge in this industry. Account approval requires anywhere from 10 business days to two weeks.
Where Instabill Really Shines
Instabill rates very highly in transparency, clearly disclosing who it works with, what payment methods are available, and what limitations you’ll have to accept. We’re particularly impressed with the disclosures regarding the need for a reserve account — something most providers won’t tell you about.
2. Flowhub
Flowhub ![]() |
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Pros
- Offers secure point of banking solution
- Offers fully integrated POS system
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- Not well-suited to delivery-only dispensaries
- Expensive monthly fees for add-on services
Flowhub Features
Flowhub is primarily a point-of-sale (POS) software provider, but it partners with Greenway Payments to offer a complete, integrated payment solution for licensed dispensaries. The company uses a point of banking solution, and doesn’t appear to offer ACH transfers at this time. The Flowhub POS software can run on iOS devices, or Windows or Mac computers. Pricing starts at $399/month (billed annually) for a single location, with custom plans available that bundle in the following optional add-ons:
- Greet app for customer check-in
- Stash app for inventory management
- View mobile analytics app
- Unlimited API access
Flowhub doesn’t require a long-term contract or equipment lease, but you will need to provide 60 days’ notice to close your account.
Where Flowhub Really Shines
Flowhub isn’t cheap, but you can save a lot of money (and handle multiple locations) by bundling services under a custom pricing plan. The company also offers great customer support, with an extensive knowledgebase on its website and email and telephone support. Integrations with a wide variety of third-party services designed exclusively for the cannabis industry make it a great all-in-one choice for your dispensary.
3. Paybotic
Paybotic ![]() |
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Pros
- Offers point of banking and ACH payments
- Processing hardware available
- Wide range of ancillary services for dispensaries
Cons
- No publicly disclosed pricing
Paybotic Features
Florida-based Paybotic specializes in serving the CBD and cannabis industries. It’s been in business for over 10 years — a long time in these industries — and has the experience to help you run a legally-compliant dispensary. Supported payment methods and services include the following:
- Point of banking (advertised as PIN debit) payments
- ACH & eCheck payments
- POS software
- Terminals for debit card use
- Smart Safe Depository Banking for handling cash
- Merchant cash advances
- Loyalty & gift card programs
Where Paybotic Really Shines
Paybotic is one of the most experienced cannabis processors in the industry, and offers a full range of services for retail, eCommerce, delivery, and curbside pickup business models. While the company doesn’t offer any specific pricing information, you pay only a single monthly fee for your account. Transaction processing costs are passed onto your customers in the form of a convenience fee, which helps to keep your costs low and predictable. Online feedback from merchants is mostly positive, which is more than we can say about most of the major traditional credit card processors.
4. Bankcard International Group
Bankcard International Group ![]() |
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Pros
- Offers PIN debit payments
- Support for ACH & eCheck payments
- Provides outstanding educational resources
Cons
- No publicly disclosed pricing
- No feedback from merchants available
Bankcard International Group Features
Not to be confused with North American Bancard, Bankcard International Group (BIG) is a newly-established high-risk processor that offers support for cannabis businesses. Founded by a group of payments industry veterans, BIG offers merchant accounts for CBD, cannabis, and other high-risk industries. BIG currently offers the following features for cannabis merchants:
- PIN debit payments
- ACH & eCheck payments
- Bitcoin payments (no other cryptocurrencies supported)
- Proprietary BIG Payment Gateway
- Virtual terminal
- Extensive third-party shopping cart integration
- Tokenization & encryption
The company’s website discusses many other ancillary services as well, so you’ll want to contact it directly for further information.
Where Bankcard International Group Really Shines
Bankcard International Group provides the most extensive educational resources on the intricacies of legitimate cannabis payments processing that we’ve found to date. It’s also one of the few cannabis providers we’ve found that’s accredited by the BBB, and has had zero complaints since accreditation. The company’s most unique feature is that it offers a fully transparent, legally-compliant PIN debit processing solution — something that could save you hundreds of dollars a month over renting or leasing an expensive point of banking terminal. Other payment methods, including Bitcoin, are also supported.
Get Started With Bankcard International Group
Why We Don’t Recommend These Marijuana Payment Processors
While many merchant services providers support high-risk industries, not all of them are willing to take on a cannabis dispensary as a customer. The vendors below — while good companies in their own right — either don’t accept cannabis merchants or don’t have a sufficient track record to warrant a recommendation at this time.
Square
The question inevitably comes up: Why not just use Square? The company is extremely popular with small business owners, offering predictable flat-rate pricing and month-to-month billing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t currently accept cannabis merchants. Although the company now has a trial program for CBD businesses, the additional risks and legal complexities associated with marijuana sales make it a no-go at this time. Using Square to process cannabis sales explicitly violates the company’s Terms of Service, and you will get shut down when (not if) the company figures out what you’re really selling.
PaymentCloud
PaymentCloud is one of our favorite high-risk merchant account providers and a great choice for CBD businesses. However, the company does not accept cannabis merchants at this time, primarily due to the fact that it’s currently illegal to accept credit cards as payment for cannabis products. Should cannabis be delisted as a Schedule I drug in the future, we anticipate that the company will open its services to dispensaries.
Naturepay
Alaska-based Naturepay is a small provider that specializes in serving the cannabis industry. The company claims to allow credit card processing for cannabis businesses, despite the legal challenges discussed in this article. While it’s not clear exactly how Naturepay is able to accomplish this, it most likely involves deliberately miscoding cannabis transactions — an unsustainable tactic that will get you shut down when you eventually get caught. If that risk doesn’t deter you, the flat 5.95% + $0.30 per transaction fee for all credit card transactions might. On the plus side, Naturepay offers month-to-month billing and supports alternative payment methods such as ACH transfers and in-store ATMs. The company’s experience in working with the cannabis industry makes it a good choice for dispensaries, as long as you pass on the credit card processing option.
Hypur
Another small provider that specializes in serving the cannabis industry, Hypur offers an app-based ACH payments service that works for retail and eCommerce businesses. The company has an excellent website, with numerous educational resources and clear explanations of the issues confronting the marijuana industry. Unfortunately, we’ve found a disproportionate amount of negative feedback from both merchants and customers alleging technical difficulties with the company’s app. Until Hypur is able to fix the bugs in its payments solution and offer a reliable way to pay for cannabis purchases, we can’t recommend it for your business.
Why Dispensary Payment Processing Is Considered High-Risk
It should come as no surprise that cannabis dispensaries are firmly in the high-risk category when it comes to payment processing. Being labeled as high-risk means that it’s much more difficult to get approved for an account, as relatively few providers are willing to accept these types of businesses. Processing rates, account fees, and contract terms will be more expensive and restrictive than those for a comparable low-risk business. However, you can still get reasonable terms and pricing if you go with a reputable high-risk specialist that works with the cannabis industry.
The following factors combine to make cannabis dispensaries extremely risky for payment processors to do business with:
Illegal Status Under Federal Law
As discussed above, any cannabis-derived product containing more than 0.3% THC is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law. While the alternative payment methods we’ve outlined above will give you secure noncash options for your customers, you won’t be able to accept credit or debit cards until the day finally arrived when Congress acts to reclassify cannabis products and take them off the Schedule I list. The bad news is that, while delisting cannabis will make it possible for dispensaries to accept credit cards like any other business, the cannabis industry is likely to remain in the high-risk category due to the other factors described below.
Cannabis deliveries and eCommerce sales are also hamstrung by the fact that it’s illegal to ship cannabis products through the US Postal Service — even within a state that has legalized these products. Major private shippers like FedEx and UPS have also refused to ship cannabis products, leaving dispensaries to rely on small, private shipping firms that are willing to work with them.
Varying Legal Status Under State Law
At the moment, many states have acted on their own to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, recreational use, or both. This has created a bewildering menagerie of often-conflicting state laws that cannabis merchants must comply with. While compliance is relatively straightforward for a local dispensary that only sells its products in-person, it can be extremely challenging for an eCommerce business trying to sell in multiple jurisdictions where cannabis is legal.
High Chargeback Rates
Chargebacks are a known risk for just about any type of business, but the chance of experiencing one is much higher with cannabis products. While there are many reasons why a customer might decide to file a chargeback, the perceived lack of medical effectiveness of cannabis products is one of the most probable. For example, a customer might purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary to treat anxiety. If they feel that the product doesn’t work for them but can no longer return it, they might resort to filing a chargeback to get their money back. While chargebacks are most commonly associated with credit card payments, the other payment methods we’ve described above also have mechanisms for customers to dispute a purchase after the sale.
Legal Issues With Cannabis Payment Processing
The cannabis industry is unique in that its primary product is both legal and illegal simultaneously thanks to conflicts between the laws of the United States government and those of many US states. This situation creates a number of difficulties for dispensaries struggling to operate a legitimate business in cannabis-friendly states. Here’s a brief rundown of the major issues to be aware of:
Cannabis Products Are Illegal Under Federal Law
The first and most important thing to know about the current state of marijuana law in the United States is that cannabis products (defined as having 0.3% or more of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC) are still listed as Schedule I drugs by the FDA. Under federal law, it’s illegal to possess, use, or distribute these products — period. Also, the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution (Article VI, Paragraph 2) explicitly states that federal law will take precedence over conflicting state law. While that should settle the argument, the fact is that the federal government has generally declined to enforce the law in states that have chosen to legalize marijuana, or to challenge conflicting state laws in the courts. At the same time, there hasn’t been a concerted push to delist cannabis as a Schedule I drug, either.
Credit Card Processors Must Comply With Federal Law
While you can still register a marijuana dispensary and obtain a business license to operate in a state that has legalized cannabis products, your bank and credit card processor have to comply with federal law. Credit card associations must operate under the same constraints, which is why Visa and Mastercard have policies stating that they won’t allow their cards to be used for cannabis purchases. As we’ve discussed above, this restriction prevents dispensaries from legally accepting credit card payments for cannabis products. (Note that ancillary products such as water pipes, etc. don’t have this restriction.)
Offshore Accounts & Money Laundering Laws
One possible workaround that you may be considering is to obtain an offshore merchant account that will allow you to accept credit card transactions without routing the transactions through a US bank for processing. Our advice here is simple: Don’t do it! Even with a merchant account in a country that has legalized cannabis, the act of transferring funds from the sale of cannabis products in the US to a foreign account and then back into your local business bank account violates federal money laundering statutes. You would be subject to criminal liability, meaning that if prosecuted and convicted, you could face the possibility of prison time in addition to having your business shut down.
Cannabis Products Cannot Be Shipped Through The US Postal Service
Another serious legal issue — particularly for eCommerce dispensaries — is that it’s still a felony under federal law to ship Schedule I drugs (including marijuana) through the US Postal Service. This is true even if you’re just shipping within the borders of a state where marijuana use is legal. Likewise, most major private carriers (such as FedEx and UPS) won’t risk violating the law by shipping your cannabis products. If you want to accept online orders from states that have legalized cannabis products, you’ll have to hire a private courier service that specializes in working with the cannabis industry. Otherwise, you’ll effectively be limited to accepting online orders for in-person pick-up at your dispensary.
What You Should Look For In Marijuana Payment Processing
With a few notable exceptions, finding a good marijuana payment processing provider for your cannabis business involves the same criteria as finding a good low-risk provider. It’s just much harder to find a provider that offers the right combination of reasonable prices, fair contract terms, and high-quality customer service. Here are the most important considerations:
Does The Processor Accept Cannabis Dispensaries?
You’ll need to confine your search to providers that are actually willing to provide payment processing services for cannabis merchants. Unfortunately, the majority of providers — including many high-risk specialists — don’t accept cannabis businesses at all due to the legal issues we’ve discussed above. Some well-known high-risk providers accept CBD merchants, but not actual cannabis businesses. At the moment, most of the providers that will accept a cannabis dispensary are small firms that have only been in business for a few years and specialize in serving the cannabis industry.
Can You Get Account Approval?
The underwriting process required to get approved for a merchant account can be tedious for any merchant, but it’s particularly difficult if you sell cannabis products. Nonetheless, completing underwriting before you start processing credit card sales can save you from having your account suddenly shut down once you’ve started using it. You should be skeptical of providers offering “instant” approval of your merchant account, as they often defer this critical step until after you’ve already signed a long-term contract.
What Is The Pricing System?
As with any high-risk industry, transaction processing costs are going to be significantly higher than they typically would be for a comparable low-risk business. Providers offering credit card processing for cannabis merchants typically use a flat-rate pricing plan, with the average rate for retail sales being around 5.95% + $0.30 per transaction (or more than twice the going rate for low-risk businesses). As discussed above, however, we recommend that you avoid credit card processing for actual cannabis products due to the high risk of having your account terminated. The good news is that ACH and point-of-banking processing solutions typically involve significantly lower processing rates, as you won’t have to pay interchange fees to the card-issuing banks. In comparing different providers, be sure to factor in the impact of recurring and incidental fees on your overall costs.
Will You Have To Deal With Reserve Accounts?
Another additional “expense” that most high-risk merchants have to contend with is a rolling reserve. That’s where your processor withholds a certain percentage of your funds every month until the reserve is met. While you’ll eventually receive all your money, rolling reserves can create serious cash flow problems for a small or newly-established business.
Can You Accept A Long-Term Contract?
We prefer month-to-month billing arrangements that don’t lock you into a long-term contract or force you to pay an early termination fee (ETF) if you close your account early. However, cannabis merchants will often have to accept both a long-term contract (typically for three years) and an ETF. Be aware that almost all long-term contracts include an automatic renewal clause that extends your contract, typically for one-year periods at a time.
What Kind Of Processing Hardware Do You Need?
Since you’ll be selling cannabis products out of a retail location, you’ll need some type of processing hardware to process and track transactions. Unfortunately, your needs will be very different from other businesses, which can get away with a simple countertop terminal or a mobile POS system. You’ll need a system that can handle cash and point-of-banking transactions, as well as provide the analytical data you need to run your business efficiently. We recommend that you invest in a specialized cannabis POS system that will keep you compliant with the laws of your jurisdiction. These systems aren’t cheap, but they’re currently the best option for cannabis dispensaries.
What Kind Of Customer Support Can You Expect?
In researching dozens of merchant account providers, we’ve found that high-quality customer service is the real secret ingredient that separates the merely average providers from the truly outstanding ones. Customer support issues occur more frequently with cannabis and other high-risk merchants, so you’ll want to pay particular attention to a provider’s reputation in this area.
Which Cannabis Payment Processor Is Right For My Dispensary?
Although we’ve given you four recommendations to start you on your search for marijuana payment solutions for your cannabis business, there isn’t any single company that’s the “best” — or even the most affordable. You’ll want to find a provider that offers the best fit with how you want to run your business. Moves to legalize marijuana use for medicinal and recreational use in many states have created a tremendous business opportunity for cannabis entrepreneurs, but they’ve also created a hopelessly fragmented and complex legal landscape where compliance with the law is both challenging and essential to the survival of your business.
With that in mind, be aware that nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. We strongly encourage you to seek out the services of a business attorney in your local area who can assist you in staying within the bounds of the law as it currently exists. We also recommend that you steer clear of any payment processor that promises to allow you to accept credit cards for cannabis products for the reasons discussed above.
If you’re just getting started in the marijuana industry, you’ll have a lot of concerns beyond finding a good cannabis payments processor. Getting the funds to launch your business can also be a daunting challenge. Check out the following articles for some helpful tips and suggestions:
- What Are High-Risk Business Loans & Where Do I Get One?
- How To Finance A Medical Marijuana Dispensary
In Summary: 4 Best Secure Cannabis Payment Processors For Dispensaries
- Instabill:
- Accepts domestic & international cannabis merchants
- Offers ACH transfers & cryptocurrency payments
- Offshore merchant accounts not available in US
- Flowhub:
- Secure point of banking solution
- Fully integrated POS system
- No long-term contracts
- Paybotic:
- Point of banking & ACH payments supported
- Offers POS software & card readers
- Customized pricing for all users
- Bankcard International Group:
- Offer true PIN debit payment solution
- Supports ACH, eCheck, and Bitcoin payments
- Extensive educational resources on website