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For most businesses, Helcim is the strongest starting point: it offers interchange-plus pricing without a monthly account fee, though its listed starting price is not published. Square is a good fit for sellers who want POS and online sales tools together, while PayPal suits businesses that want to offer a digital wallet and multiple payment options. Our other picks cover POS, recurring payments, SaaS sales, and group collections. Compare processing costs and contract terms before switching; several platforms do not publish enough pricing to estimate your total bill.
Quick picksThe shortlist
HelcimHelcimBest overall · Free
SquareSquareBest for small sellers · Free
PayPalPayPalBest for digital wallets · $5/mo
CloverCloverBest for POS · $29.95/mo
SumUpSumUpBest for starter POS · $49/mo
Authorize.NetAuthorize.NetBest for recurring payments · $25/mo
Lemon SqueezyLemon SqueezyBest for SaaS sellers · Free
Cheddar UpCheddar UpBest for group payments · $15/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelcimHelcim | 7.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| SquareSquare | 6.9 | Free | Yes | — |
| PayPalPayPal | 6.3 | $5/mo | Yes | — |
| CloverClover | 6.5 | $29.95/mo | Yes | 90 days |
| SumUpSumUp | 6.4 | $49/mo | Yes | — |
| Authorize.NetAuthorize.Net | 6.5 | $25/mo | No | — |
| Lemon SqueezyLemon Squeezy | 6.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| Cheddar UpCheddar Up | 6.5 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallHelcimHelcim
Helcim is our top pick for businesses that want to avoid a monthly processor fee. The published pricing summary says it uses interchange-plus pricing and may offer volume discounts to qualifying businesses. Its starting price is not published, so ask for a quote and check how your expected transaction volume affects your costs before you switch.
What works
- No monthly or annual subscription fee
- Interchange-plus pricing is published by volume tier
- Automatic volume discounts as processing grows
What doesn't
- Transaction pricing is plus interchange, not a flat rate
- Smart Terminal costs $349 or $32 monthly for one year
- Online and keyed transactions carry higher margins
- Best for small sellersSquareSquare
Square combines POS and online sales tools in one platform, which makes it a practical option for small sellers who want more than a payment gateway. A free plan is listed, but the starting price is not published. The key caveat is payment risk: the published summary advises businesses to review account-risk trade-offs and full payment costs.
What works
- Free plan includes POS and an online site
- Combines payments with team and marketing tools
- Plus includes loyalty and email campaigns
What doesn't
- Paid-plan subscription prices are not published on the vendor's site
- Standard processing rates are not listed on the vendor's site
- Reddit users report account closures and held funds
- Best for digital walletsPayPalPayPal
PayPal is a fit for businesses that want to accept online payments and give shoppers a digital wallet option alongside other payment methods. The published pricing summary lists a free plan and a starting price of $5, but does not spell out the applicable processing costs here. Check the fees and dispute terms before making it a main payment option.
What works
- Checkout works online and in stores
- Offers transfers, payment requests, and a debit card
- Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly options
What doesn't
- Transaction fees apply to business payments
- Some processing fees are not published
- Paid business options start at $5 per month
- Best for POSCloverClover
Clover covers core POS needs and offers plans aimed at restaurants, making it worth comparing for merchants that want POS and operations tools together. The published pricing summary lists a free plan and a starting price of $29.95. That is not the full cost: price the hardware and payment processing before switching.
What works
- Starter software plan costs $0 monthly
- Paid plans start at $29.95 monthly
- Eligible merchants can get a 90-day trial
What doesn't
- Processing fees apply, including on the free plan
- Additional devices cost $11.95 or $19.95 monthly
- Hardware bundles may require a 36-month commitment
- Best for starter POSSumUpSumUp
SumUp offers small businesses a free entry plan alongside POS and payment tools. The published pricing summary lists a starting price of $49, but it does not detail the full cost of processing. Compare the paid-plan costs and support terms with your needs before choosing it for a business that depends on timely help.
What works
- Free plan includes app, bookings and invoicing
- Homepage lists 2.6% + 10¢ in-person fees
- Paid plans add multi-device and multi-store tools
What doesn't
- POS Plus costs $49/month; SumUp POS costs $99/month
- Hardware has an extra, unpublished price
- Payments Plus pricing details conflict
- Best for recurring paymentsAuthorize.NetAuthorize.Net
Authorize.Net suits businesses that need a merchant account and gateway, recurring payments, or payment acceptance across several channels. The published pricing summary lists a starting price of $25. Budget beyond that monthly fee: transaction costs also apply, and the summary does not give their amounts. Get the complete fee schedule before comparing it with other processors.
What works
- Accepts cards, eChecks and digital wallets
- Supports online, mobile, phone and in-person payments
- Recurring billing and digital invoicing are included
What doesn't
- All listed plans cost $25 per month
- Processing fees apply on top of the monthly price
- Gateway-only plan excludes the merchant account
- Best for SaaS sellersLemon SqueezyLemon Squeezy
Lemon Squeezy is aimed at SaaS and digital product sellers, with subscription tools and merchant-of-record tax handling. The published summary lists a free plan but also says to budget for 5% plus 50 cents per sale and possible extra fees. That per-sale charge can matter more than the plan price as sales grow.
What works
- No monthly charge for ecommerce
- Subscriptions support weekly, monthly, or yearly billing
- Merchant-of-record sales tax handling
What doesn't
- Ecommerce fee is 5% + 50¢ per transaction
- Some payments may incur additional fees
- Volume pricing requires contacting Lemon Squeezy
- Best for group paymentsCheddar UpCheddar Up
Cheddar Up is built for groups collecting dues and payments, with forms, waivers, fundraisers, and support for multiple managers. The published pricing summary lists a free plan and a starting price of $15. Card fees can take a noticeable cut, so estimate them against your typical payment size before choosing it.
What works
- Combines payments with forms and waivers
- Free plan includes unlimited collection pages
- Supports ticketing and waitlists on Team
What doesn't
- Free plan limits pages to five items each
- Free plan card fee is 3.95% + $0.95
- Pro costs $20 monthly without annual billing
03How we chose
Our comparison framework weighs published pricing, plan limits, documentation, and Reddit sentiment, alongside whether a platform fits online, in-person, or both payment needs. We do not treat an advertised rate as the full cost: buyers should also check transaction, hardware, payout, and contract terms where those details are published. We make no hands-on testing or benchmark claims. The published material for this draft includes the category and provider names, but no pricing pages, plan limits, docs, or Reddit excerpts, so provider-specific details remain unverified.
04Match the payment model to how you sell
Start with the payment situations you need to support: online checkout, in-person sales, recurring payments, invoices, or a mix. A provider that fits one channel may not cover the others in the way your business needs, so confirm supported payment methods, devices, currencies, and markets in its documentation before comparing prices.
Then map the full cost, not just the advertised processing rate. Check transaction fees, monthly or setup charges, hardware costs, chargeback fees, payout timing, and any minimums or contract terms. If a price or limit is not published, ask the provider for it in writing rather than assuming it is included. The published material does not establish current prices or plan limits for any of the listed providers, so we cannot rank them on cost from this information alone.
05Check the checkout, operations, and exit costs
A payment platform affects more than the moment a customer pays. Before choosing one, confirm how it connects to your store, accounting tools, point-of-sale setup, and order workflow. Read the documentation for setup requirements, supported integrations, refunds, disputes, reconciliation, and payout reporting. If a feature matters to your team, verify its availability on the exact plan you would buy.
Plan the switch before signing. Find out whether you can export customer, transaction, and settlement records, and what happens to recurring payments if you leave. Ask about migration support, contract length, termination charges, and how long access to historical records lasts; do not assume these terms are standard. Reddit comments can flag recurring frustrations, but treat them as leads to verify, not proof that every merchant will have the same experience.
Questions people ask
How should we compare payment processing fees?
Compare the total expected cost for your sales mix, including transaction charges, monthly fees, hardware, disputes, and any contract or payout costs. Request a written quote when terms are not published. The published material does not provide verified prices for the listed platforms.
Should we choose one platform for online and in-person payments?
That depends on your channels and operational needs. Check whether the provider supports each payment flow, device, market, and integration you require, and confirm the exact plan covers them. Do not infer channel support from a provider’s name or general description.
What should we verify before switching providers?
Confirm export options, recurring-payment migration, integration requirements, contract and termination terms, payout timing, and access to historical records. Get important answers in writing. The available published material does not establish these terms for any specific provider.
Can Reddit reviews tell us which provider is best?
Reddit posts can surface issues worth checking, such as support or payout complaints, but they are individual reports rather than verified outcomes for every merchant. Compare recurring themes with current documentation and written terms; no Reddit excerpts were published for this draft.