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Best Restaurant Credit Card Processing Providers

These payment processing providers have POS technology and rates that give restaurants the best value for their money.

    Erica Seppala

  • Last updated onUpdated

    • Frank Kehl

  • REVIEWED BY

    Frank Kehl

    Expert Contributor

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

We evaluated credit card processors for restaurants based on reputation, features, pricing, and customer support. These are our top picks.

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Compare Our Top Picks

ProviderBest ForMonthly FeesProcessing ModelNext Steps
CDGcommerce
4.7
Best For Scalable Pricing$9.95 - $199/monthFlat-rate, interchange-plus, and membership
Read ReviewRead More
Dharma Merchant Services
5.0
Best For High Volume$15-$20/monthInterchange-plus
Read ReviewRead More
Square
4.7
Best For Low-Volume Eateries$0 - $149/monthFlat-rate
Read ReviewRead More
Helcim
4.9
Best For Invoicing & ACH$0/monthInterchange-plus & cash discount
Read ReviewRead More

CDGcommerce

Best Overall

Best For Scalable Pricing

4.7/5Full Review

CDGcommerce is a restaurant credit card processor with flexible pricing options for businesses at different sales volumes.

Restaurants processing lower monthly volumes can use flat-rate pricing, while higher-volume businesses may qualify for interchange-plus or membership pricing. CDGcommerce also offers month-to-month billing, no early termination fees, restaurant POS options, and a free payment gateway.

In-Person Rates
2.9% + $0.30; interchange + 0.20-0.25% + $0.10; or interchange + $0.06-$0.15
Hardware Pricing
$99 for mobile card reader or $79/year for countertop terminal
POS Included

PROS

  • Multiple pricing models
  • Restaurant POS options
  • Free gateway & virtual terminal

CONS

  • Modules can add to pricing
  • US-based merchants only
Read Full Review
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Dharma Merchant Services

Best For High Volume

5.0/5Full Review

Dharma Merchant Services is a restaurant credit card processor for higher-volume restaurants that want transparent interchange-plus pricing.

Dharma offers full merchant accounts, month-to-month billing, restaurant-specific processing rates, mobile processing, card readers, direct hardware sales, and volume discounts for larger businesses. Restaurants processing at least $10,000/month are most likely to see savings.

In-Person Rates
Interchange + 0.10-0.30% + $0.08-$0.11
Hardware Pricing
$295+
POS Included
Clover + other third-party integrations available

PROS

  • Volume discounts available
  • Discounted rates for restaurants
  • No equipment leases

CONS

  • Monthly fee
  • Not for high-risk businesses
Read Full Review
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Square

Best For Low-Volume Eateries

4.7/5Full Review

Square is a low-commitment restaurant payment processor for cafes, food trucks, quick-serve restaurants, and other smaller eateries.

Square offers flat-rate processing, a free POS plan, built-in payment processing, invoicing, inventory tools, tipping features, affordable hardware, and POS/accounting integrations. It’s easy to start with, but higher-volume restaurants may save more with a full merchant account provider.

In-Person Rates
2.4% - 2.6% + $0.15
Hardware Pricing
$0+
POS Included

PROS

  • Free POS plan
  • Affordable hardware
  • Strong restaurant features

CONS

  • Account stability issues
  • Not for high-risk businesses
Read Full Review
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Helcim

Best For Invoicing & ACH

4.9/5Full Review

Helcim is a restaurant payment processor for catering businesses and foodservice companies that invoice customers.

Helcim offers interchange-plus pricing, no monthly account fee, invoicing, recurring payments, ACH processing, mobile payments, a virtual terminal, online ordering, inventory tools, and POS software. Its pricing can scale well as sales volume grows, but very small restaurants may want to compare it against flat-rate processors.

In-Person Rates
Interchange + 0.15-0.40% + $0.06-$0.08
Hardware Pricing
$199 - $349
POS Included

PROS

  • Virtual terminal included
  • No fee for invoicing & ACH
  • Automatic processing discounts

CONS

  • Not for very low-volume businesses
  • Not for high-risk businesses
Read Full Review
Back to comparison table

Our Rating Methodology

Each provider gets 10–15 hours of research, is scored by a subject-matter expert, and is reviewed by a second expert before publication. Ratings are not influenced by our referral partnerships.

Fees & Rates
35%
Contract
20%
Products & Services
15%
Sales & Advertising Transparency
15%
Customer Service
10%
User Reviews
5%
Read our complete rating methodology

Watch: Best Credit Card Processing For Restaurants

Frequently Asked Questions

What should restaurant owners look for in a credit card processor?

Restaurant owners should look for a credit card processor that works with their POS system, supports tips and split checks, and offers fair in-person processing rates.

Fast funding, good chargeback tools, and reliable support are also important. Avoid long-term contracts and early termination fees when possible.

How does tip handling work with restaurant credit card processing?

Restaurant processors typically let customers add a tip before the payment is completed through a touchscreen, handheld terminal, or printed receipt.

For full-service restaurants, tip adjustment lets the server run the card first, then add the customer’s written tip before the transaction is finalized.

What are typical credit card processing rates for restaurants?

Restaurant processing rates vary by provider, pricing model, and transaction type. In-person payments usually cost less to process than online orders or delivery payments.

High-volume restaurants may save money with interchange-plus pricing, while smaller restaurants may prefer simpler flat-rate pricing.

Do restaurant credit card processors handle delivery and online orders?

Many restaurant processors support online ordering and delivery through built-in tools or third-party delivery integrations.

These orders usually process as card-not-present payments. When delivery and online orders sync directly with your POS, it helps reduce double entry and keeps sales data in one place.

What is the best credit card processor for restaurants?

The best credit card processor for restaurants depends on your size, sales volume, and POS needs.

Square is a good fit for smaller restaurants that want simple pricing and an easy setup. Restaurants that want interchange-plus pricing may want to compare providers like Helcim or Dharma Merchant Services. You may also consider other restaurant-specific options, such as Toast.

Erica Seppala

Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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