Last updated September 17, 2026.
Picking a payment processor looks like a rate-shopping exercise, but the percentage on the homepage is only part of the story. How you sell (counter, website, invoices), what cards your customers carry, how fast you need your money, and what happens if the provider freezes your account can matter just as much. This guide lays out the published fees of several well-known U.S. providers, as of September 17, 2026, and the questions that help you compare them for your own business. It does not rank or recommend any provider.
Key takeaways
- Most small-business providers use flat-rate pricing (one bundled rate); some publish interchange-plus pricing, which passes through card-network costs plus a stated markup. Related field note
- Published U.S. rates as of September 17, 2026, for a standard in-person card sale range from 2.29% + 9¢ (PayPal point of sale) to 2.7% + 5¢ (Stripe Terminal) among the flat-rate providers reviewed [1][2][3][4].
- Online, keyed-in, international, and instant-payout transactions usually cost more than the headline in-person rate [1][2][3].
- Compare total cost on your own sales mix, including monthly plan fees, hardware, chargeback fees, and contract terms, not just the percentage.
First, understand what you're buying
A payment processor (in everyday use) is the company that lets you accept cards and digital wallets and deposits the money in your bank account. Two account structures are common:
- Payment facilitator (PayFac) or aggregated account: providers such as Square, Stripe, PayPal, and Shopify Payments sign you up under their own master merchant account. Setup is fast, often same day, but the provider monitors risk continuously and may hold funds or pause payouts if activity looks unusual.
- Dedicated merchant account: you're underwritten individually by an acquiring bank, usually through a processor or reseller. Setup takes longer and may involve contracts, but pricing is often negotiable.
For how a card payment moves between banks, see our explainer. Related field note
Step 1: Map how you actually get paid
Before looking at any rate, estimate your monthly:
- Card volume and number of transactions (your average ticket)
- Channel mix: in-person tap/dip, online checkout, invoices, keyed-in cards, recurring billing
- Card mix, if you can tell: debit vs. credit, rewards cards, international customers
- Other methods: ACH bank transfers, PayPal/Venmo, buy now, pay later
A food truck with $15 average tickets, a law firm invoicing $2,000 retainers, and an online shop selling abroad will find very different providers cheapest.
Step 2: Compare published rates
The tables below list standard U.S. rates from each provider's official pricing page, accessed September 17, 2026. Many providers offer custom pricing to larger businesses, and rates for specific industries or card types can differ.
In-person card payments
| Provider | Published rate (as of 2026-09-17) | Monthly software/plan fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helcim | Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ (up to $50K/month; lower markups at higher volume) | No account monthly fees | Interchange-plus [5] |
| PayPal (point of sale) | 2.29% + 9¢ | — | Manual entry 3.49% + 9¢ [3] |
| Shopify Payments | 2.6% + 10¢ (Basic) to 2.3% + 10¢ (Plus) | Basic $39/mo ($29 billed annually) to Plus from $2,300/mo | Rate falls on higher plans [4] |
| Square | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium) | $0, $49, or $149 per location | Manual entry/card on file 3.5% + 15¢ [2] |
| Stripe (Terminal) | 2.7% + 5¢ domestic cards | — | +1.5% international cards [1] |
| Clover | Published rates could not be confirmed; ask for a written quote | Varies | Sold directly and through banks and resellers [13] |
Online card payments
| Provider | Published rate (as of 2026-09-17) | Notable add-ons |
|---|---|---|
| Adyen | $0.13 + Interchange++ + 0.60% for Visa/Mastercard; American Express $0.13 + 3.3%–3.95% | No setup or monthly fees; minimum invoice requirements vary by industry [6] |
| Braintree (PayPal) | 2.89% + 29¢ cards and digital wallets | +1% non-USD currency; +1% non-U.S. cards; Venmo 3.49% + 49¢; IC+ for eligible businesses [7] |
| Helcim | Interchange + 0.50% + 25¢ (up to $50K/month) | Lower markups at higher volume [5] |
| PayPal | PayPal Checkout/Venmo 3.49% + 49¢; standard card payments 2.99% + 49¢ | +1.5% international; currency conversion spread 3%–4% [3] |
| Shopify Payments | Basic 2.9% + 30¢ standard cards, 3.5% + 30¢ premium cards (Shopify's pricing page does not define "premium") | +1% international; third-party gateway fee 2% (Basic) to 0.2% (Plus) if you don't use Shopify Payments [4] |
| Square | 3.3% + 30¢ (Free); 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus, Premium) | Invoices priced like online [2][8] |
| Stripe | 2.9% + 30¢ domestic cards | +0.5% manually entered; +1.5% international; +1% currency conversion; IC+ available on custom pricing [1] |
What a $50 sale costs at headline rates
Math uses the standard published rates above and excludes monthly fees, international surcharges, and extras.
| Provider and rate | In-person $50 | Online $50 |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal POS 2.29% + 9¢ / PayPal standard card 2.99% + 49¢ | $1.24 | $1.99 |
| Square Free 2.6% + 15¢ / 3.3% + 30¢ | $1.45 | $1.95 |
| Shopify Basic 2.6% + 10¢ / 2.9% + 30¢ | $1.40 | $1.75 |
| Stripe 2.7% + 5¢ / 2.9% + 30¢ | $1.40 | $1.75 |
| Braintree 2.89% + 29¢ (online) | — | $1.74 |
| Helcim interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ / + 0.50% + 25¢ | Interchange + $0.28 | Interchange + $0.50 |
| Adyen $0.13 + Interchange++ + 0.60% (Visa/Mastercard) | — | Interchange + network fees + $0.43 |
For interchange-plus providers, the total depends on the card. On Mastercard's April 2026 U.S. schedule, interchange on a $50 supermarket purchase ranges from about $0.24 on a regulated debit card to about $1.15 on a World Elite credit card [9]. Related field note
Step 3: Look beyond the percentage
Other payment methods
- ACH (bank transfers): Stripe 0.8% capped at $5 [1]; Square 1% ($1 minimum, $10 cap on Plus/Premium invoices; $5 cap via API) [2]; Braintree 0.75% capped at $5 [7]; Helcim 0.5% + 25¢ capped at $6 [5]. For large invoices, ACH can cost far less than cards. Related field note
- Buy now, pay later: Square lists Afterpay at 6% + 30¢ [2]. Related field note
Getting your money
- Standard payouts: Square says payments before 5 p.m. PT generally arrive the next business day [10].
- Faster payouts cost extra: Square charges 1.95% per instant or same-day transfer [10]; Stripe charges 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume, 50¢ minimum [1].
Disputes and chargebacks
- Stripe: $15 per dispute received [1]
- PayPal: $20 chargeback fee; dispute fees of $15 standard or $30 for high-volume disputes [3]
- Braintree: $15 chargeback fee [7]
- Helcim: $15 per lost chargeback [5]
- Square: says it charges no fees for chargebacks or dispute management [8]
Monthly and plan-related costs
Square Plus and Premium lower some rates in exchange for $49 or $149 per location per month [2]; Shopify's payment rates depend on your store plan [4]. Run the math: a lower rate only pays off above a certain volume.
Contracts and account stability
- Term and cancellation: Ask whether there's a minimum term, early termination fee, or equipment lease. The FTC has pursued a processor over promised "no-fee" cancellations that turned out to carry $495 fees [11].
- Holds and reserves: Aggregated providers may delay payouts or hold a reserve for businesses with high chargebacks, preorders, or sudden spikes. Read the terms on reserves and account termination.
- Hardware portability: Some card readers and POS systems work only with one provider's processing.
Fit with your tools
Check integrations with your website platform, accounting software, and booking or inventory tools; whether you need recurring billing, invoicing, or multi-currency payouts; and what support hours are offered.
Step 4: Get quotes built on your real data
If you already accept cards, give prospective providers a recent statement and ask for a total monthly cost estimate, not a rate. Compare the estimates using your effective rate (total fees divided by card volume). Related field note
A note on changes ahead: a revised Visa/Mastercard merchant settlement received preliminary court approval on June 9, 2026. It includes interchange reductions and more flexibility to surcharge or decline some premium cards if finalized, but it is not in effect and flat-rate providers aren't obligated to pass savings through [12].
Quick comparison of pricing models
| If your business… | Model that often fits the pattern | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Is new, low-volume, or seasonal | Flat-rate, no monthly fee | Predictable, no fixed costs |
| Has steady volume and many debit or low-cost cards | Interchange-plus | Passes through lower card costs |
| Sells mostly online through one platform | Platform's built-in payments or a gateway | Fewer integration costs; check third-party gateway fees |
| Invoices large B2B amounts | Provider with low-cost ACH | Percentage card fees add up on big tickets |
These are patterns, not recommendations. Your own numbers decide.
FAQ
What is the cheapest payment processor for a small business? It depends on your sales mix. A provider with the lowest in-person rate may cost more online, and interchange-plus pricing can be cheaper or pricier depending on which cards your customers use.
Is flat-rate or interchange-plus better? Neither is always better. Flat-rate is simpler and predictable; interchange-plus is more transparent and can cost less with favorable card mixes [5].
Why are online payments more expensive than in-person ones? Card-not-present transactions carry more fraud risk, so networks set higher interchange categories, and providers price accordingly [9].
Can I use more than one processor? Yes. Many businesses use one provider in store and another online, though it adds reconciliation work.
Do I need a contract? Many aggregated providers publish pay-as-you-go pricing without long-term contracts; merchant-account providers may require terms. Read cancellation and equipment terms before signing.
Can a processor freeze my money? Provider terms typically allow holds or reserves in certain risk situations. Review those terms and keep records that support your sales.
Sources
- Stripe, "Pricing & Fees," https://stripe.com/pricing, accessed 2026-09-17 (rates as of 2026-09-17).
- Square, "Pricing" and "Understanding Our Fees," https://squareup.com/us/en/pricing and https://squareup.com/us/en/payments/our-fees, accessed 2026-09-17 (rates as of 2026-09-17).
- PayPal, "PayPal Merchant Fees," https://www.paypal.com/us/business/paypal-business-fees, last updated Sept. 1, 2026, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Shopify, "Pricing," https://www.shopify.com/pricing, accessed 2026-09-17 (rates as of 2026-09-17).
- Helcim, "Pricing," https://www.helcim.com/pricing/, accessed 2026-09-17 (rates as of 2026-09-17).
- Adyen, "Pricing," https://www.adyen.com/pricing, accessed 2026-09-17 (rates as of 2026-09-17).
- PayPal, "PayPal Braintree Fees," https://www.paypal.com/us/enterprise/paypal-braintree-fees, last updated May 7, 2026, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Square Support Center, "Learn about Square fees," https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5068-what-are-square-s-fees, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Mastercard, "Mastercard 2026–2027 U.S. Region Interchange Programs and Rates" (effective April 17, 2026), https://www.mastercard.com/content/dam/mccom/us/business/documents/merchant-rates-2026-2027-april2026.pdf, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Square Support Center, "Set up and edit transfer options," https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/3807-deposit-options-with-square, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Federal Trade Commission, "FTC Takes Action to Stop Payment Processor First American from Trapping Small Businesses with Surprise Exit Fees and Zombie Charges," https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/07/ftc-takes-action-stop-payment-processor-first-american-trapping-small-businesses-surprise-exit-fees, July 29, 2022, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Payments Dive, "Court approves Visa-Mastercard settlement," https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/court-approves-visa-mastercard-settlement/822440/, June 9, 2026, accessed 2026-09-17.
- Clover, "Pricing," https://www.clover.com/pricing, accessed 2026-09-17 (rate details did not load; see editor note).
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. It is not an endorsement of any provider. Fees and terms change frequently; confirm current pricing and contract terms directly with each provider before deciding.