There is no evidence-based universal winner among these 16 payment processing companies. The right shortlist depends on whether you take payments online, in person, or both; which platform you already use; your payment mix and sales volume; and the full cost of accepting payments. The names below are a comparison set, not a ranked or independently tested list.
First, distinguish a payment processor from a payment gateway
These terms do not always describe the same service. Some providers sell a bundled payment service; a gateway can instead pass online payment information between a business and a merchant account provider. Authorize.net’s pricing information describes a gateway arrangement that can connect to a merchant account provider, while Shopify describes its own bundled payment service. Check what a provider supplies before comparing its advertised rate with another provider’s.
Also check what is included in a quote: payment acceptance, gateway access, merchant account, point-of-sale software, hardware, integrations, and support may be separate or bundled. A low processing rate alone does not establish a low total cost.
Compare the 16 providers by likely use case
The profiles below are orientation, not endorsements. The comparison material identifies these companies but does not establish current, directly comparable details for every provider. Where a feature or price is not established, the table says so rather than implying that all companies offer the same package.
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
| Provider | Starting point for comparison | Online, in-person, or omnichannel | Pricing information | Platform or integration dependency | Key caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Consider for an online-first or developer-led business. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Assess checkout, API, recurring billing, and payment-method requirements. | Confirm country availability, supported methods, and transaction-specific terms. |
| Square | Consider for an in-person or omnichannel small business comparing POS capabilities. | Its official U.S. pricing page establishes a POS and payment context; exact channel coverage should be checked for the intended product and market. | Check current U.S. pricing directly; no comparable rate for all 16 is established. | Check POS needs, integrations, and hardware compatibility. | The official pricing evidence is U.S.-specific; reader models and compatibility are not established here. |
| PayPal | Compare against your sales channels and payment-method needs. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Check compatibility with your store, checkout, and accounting workflow. | Verify current terms and availability for your country and transaction mix. |
| Shopify Payments | A natural option to evaluate if your store already uses Shopify. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | Verify current fees for your Shopify plan and business location. | Platform relationship is central; review Shopify’s current terms, including consequences of using an outside processor. | Do not compare it with a standalone processor without accounting for the Shopify plan and applicable terms. |
| Helcim | Compare based on volume, payment mix, and required channels. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Request a quote that specifies all recurring and transaction charges. |
| Adyen | Consider evaluating for a larger-volume or international operation. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Assess country coverage, payment methods, settlement, and integration requirements. | Current market eligibility and terms were not verified; confirm them directly. |
| Clover | Appears in small-business comparisons; compare it when evaluating POS options. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Check required POS integrations and device compatibility. | Confirm the offer, hardware, and terms available to your business and location. |
| Authorize.net | Evaluate when you need a gateway arrangement and may use a separate merchant account provider. | Gateway role is described; channel coverage is not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | Its pricing page describes gateway pricing; a comparable all-in cost is not established. | Check the merchant account relationship and any separately charged services. | A gateway price is not necessarily the full cost of processing payments. |
| Braintree | Consider for an online-first or developer-led comparison. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Assess checkout, API, recurring billing, and payment-method requirements. | Confirm current country coverage, supported methods, and terms. |
| Airwallex | Compare if international operations or payment-method coverage are important. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Assess country coverage, settlement, payment methods, and integration requirements. | Current eligibility and terms were not verified; confirm them directly. |
| GoCardless | Compare based on your payment method and recurring-payment needs. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Check that the methods and countries you need are supported. |
| Checkout.com | Compare based on business scale, geography, and integration needs. | Not stated consistently in the comparison sources. | No comparable current rate established. | Assess country coverage, settlement, payment methods, and integration requirements. | Confirm current eligibility and obtain terms for your business. |
| Chase Payment Solutions | Compare against your channel, banking, and support requirements. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Request a written, transaction-specific offer and itemized fees. |
| Worldpay | Compare based on transaction mix, geography, and service requirements. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Verify current availability and terms directly. |
| Stax | Compare based on transaction volume and the provider’s complete fee schedule. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Do not infer savings from a pricing label; compare total cost on your own transactions. |
| Payment Depot | Compare based on transaction volume and the provider’s complete fee schedule. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | No comparable current rate established. | Not stated in the available comparison material. | Request an itemized offer; no uniform lowest-cost conclusion is established. |
How to choose a shortlist that fits your business
If most sales are online
Start by checking whether the provider’s checkout or API can support your store, billing model, and required payment methods. Stripe and Braintree appear in online-first or developer-led comparisons, but that is a reason to evaluate them—not proof that either fits a particular integration. Include recurring billing and international customer requirements if they apply.
If you already use Shopify
Evaluate Shopify Payments in the context of your Shopify plan and current terms. Before choosing an outside processor instead, check Shopify’s current rules and any fee consequences that apply to your plan and location.
Rank #2
- An intuitive interface to easily accept payments and manage your sales.
- Strong, reliable Wi-Fi connection. Free SIM card and mobile data so you can process payments anywhere.
- Great battery capability with an additional charging station.
- A truly portable device. Stay in control of your business, wherever you go.
- Support when you need it. Get in touch with our US-based support through phone, email and chat.
If you take payments in person
Compare POS workflow and hardware alongside processing costs. Square’s official U.S. pricing page establishes its POS and payment context; Square and Clover also appear in small-business comparisons. Before buying a card reader, verify that its model supports your provider, POS setup, and accepted payment methods. The available evidence does not establish particular reader models or their compatibility.
If you need a gateway or merchant-account arrangement
Ask whether the quote covers a gateway only or also includes a merchant account and processing. Authorize.net’s pricing information describes a gateway that can connect to a merchant account provider, so its gateway charges should not automatically be treated as the complete cost.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Includes Elavon encryption
- Chip Card / EMV / NFC Compatible
- 2.4’’ Color LCD with backlight
- 192 MB of Memory (128 MB RAM / 64 MB DDR RAM)
- Includes terminal and power supply
If you operate across countries or at higher volume
Ask providers to confirm eligibility for each country where you sell, supported payment methods, settlement details, integration requirements, and whether terms are negotiated. Adyen and other names in the list may be worth evaluating, but current market eligibility and pricing were not established for them here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare the real cost, including below $10,000 in annual sales
There is no supported answer that identifies one lowest-fee provider for a business processing less than $10,000 in sales per year. Published examples from comparison pages are not a uniform offer, and they do not establish the cost for your transaction mix. Rates can depend on factors such as card-present versus online payments, payment method, country, monthly volume, fixed per-transaction charges, recurring fees, and pricing plan.
Rank #4
- The Clover Compact and Clover Mini /Station sync with each other through the Clover Dashboard and cloud-based network. This allows you to manage transactions, track sales, and access business data across both devices seamlessly. Plug in, not battery/mobile. Requires New Processing account through Powering POS. (US, PR, USVI). CANNOT be used with a different Processor. Rate match guarantee. Contact us for questions
- Describe your actual payment mix. Estimate online and in-person sales separately, average transaction size, transaction count, payment methods, and the countries involved.
- Request an itemized quote. Ask for percentage fees, per-transaction charges, monthly or subscription charges, gateway or account costs, hardware costs if relevant, and any other required fees.
- Use the same assumptions for each provider. Compare each offer against the same monthly volume and transaction mix, including low-volume months if sales fluctuate.
- Calculate total cost for a period. Add recurring charges and transaction charges for a representative month or year; do not compare percentage rates alone.
- Check non-price fit before signing. Confirm platform compatibility, payment methods, geography, settlement, support, and any contract or cancellation terms that matter to your business.
For a small annual volume, recurring charges can matter as much as the processing rate, while the number and size of transactions affect fixed per-transaction costs. These are reasons to model your own activity—not grounds to assume a particular provider is cheapest.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
What to verify before you sign up
- Whether the offer is a gateway, merchant account, processing service, POS system, or bundle.
- Current pricing for your country, plan, and transaction mix, including all recurring and per-transaction charges.
- Supported payment methods, settlement timing, and eligibility in every market where you operate.
- Integration with your ecommerce, accounting, billing, or POS platform.
- Hardware compatibility if you accept in-person payments.
- Support availability and the contract, cancellation, and dispute-handling terms.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
