Merchant services allow businesses to accept credit and debit card payments at a point-of-sale (POS) system, online, or through invoices. Technically, there is no way to accept card payments for free. However, there are free merchant services and payment service providers with no setup fees, contracts, or monthly fees that offer more affordable payment options.
The best free merchant accounts for small businesses are:
| Best for | In-person Transaction Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Square | Overall free merchant account | 2.6% + 15 cents |
| Helcim | Free, transparent transaction fees | From interchange plus 0.15% + 6 cents |
| Shopify | Ecommerce businesses | 2.6% + 10 cents |
| PayPal | Range of payment methods and integration | 2.29% + 9 cents |
| Stripe | Custom online payment processing | 2.7% + 5 cents |
| Payment Depot | Growing businesses | Custom interchange-plus pricing |
| Chase Payment Solutions® | Traditional merchant account | 2.6% + 10 cents |
- Best free merchant accounts compared
- How I chose the best free merchant accounts
- Square: Best overall free merchant account
- Helcim: Best for cheap, transparent transaction fees
- Shopify Payments: Best for ecommerce businesses
- PayPal: Best for range of payment methods and integrations
- Stripe: Best for custom online payment processing
- Payment Depot: Best for growing businesses
- Chase Payment Solutions: Best for traditional merchant account
- Methodology: How I evaluated free merchant accounts
- How do I choose the best free merchant account for my business?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Bottom line
Best free merchant accounts compared
| My Score (out of 5) | Online Transaction Fee | Chargeback Fee | Standard payout speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 4.68 | 2.9% + 30 cents | Waived up to $250/month | 1 to 2 business days (same day with fee) |
| Helcim | 4.3 | From Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents | $15 | Next business day |
| Shopify | 4.26 | 2.9% + 30 cents | $15 | 2 to 3 business days |
| PayPal | 4.25 | From 2.59% + 49 cents | $0-$20 | 1 to 2 business days (same day with fee or instant with PayPal balance) |
| Stripe | 4.2 | 2.9% + 30 cents | $15 | 1 to 2 business days (same day with fee) |
| Payment Depot | 4.05 | Custom interchange-plus pricing | $25 | 2 business days (next business day with fee |
| Chase Payment Solutions® | 4.0 | 2.9% + 25 cents | $25 | Next business day (same day with Chase accounts) |
Note that all the providers on our list offer $0 monthly fees, startup costs, no monthly minimums, and no long-term contracts.
Our free merchant account recommendations are ideal for startups and low-volume merchants. For businesses with larger monthly sales volume, payment processors that offer very low transaction rates in exchange for a monthly fee are more cost-effective solutions.
Another alternative for free merchant processing is to pass along the credit card transaction fees to customers via credit card surcharging, convenience fees, or cash discounting. Learn more about free credit card processing.
How I chose the best free merchant accounts
To choose the best free merchant accounts, I reviewed payment processors with no monthly fee or free plans, no startup costs, no monthly minimums, and no long-term contracts. Since no merchant account is truly free, I focused on providers that keep upfront costs low while still offering reliable payment processing.
I compared each provider using consistent criteria: pricing and contract terms, transaction types, budget-friendly features, ease of setup, payout speed, customer support, integrations, and user reviews. When available, I tested free plans, demos, dashboards, POS tools, invoicing, reporting, and support resources.
My final rankings prioritize providers that are affordable, transparent, easy to use, and flexible enough to support in-person, online, mobile, and invoice payments. You can learn more about my evaluation in the methodology section below.
Square: Best overall free merchant account
Why I like Square Payments
Square is an all-in-one payment and POS solution for small businesses. It does not charge monthly fees for payment processing and offers the most robust free plan that allows small businesses to launch their business with very little to zero upfront cost. Square’s software is highly rated and well-reviewed by real-life users, making it one of the most popular POS and payment services on the market.
While not the lowest, Square’s transaction processing rates are competitive, especially considering the free POS and ecommerce tools available to its users. Its low startup costs, competitive processing rates, sleek interface, and advanced POS features also make Square our consistent pick for the best overall merchant services.
Who should use Square Payments: New and small businesses that need a POS system
Square free account features
What you get with a Square free merchant account:
- Standard Square POS software
- Square payments processing
- Mobile POS app
- Square Online free plan (website builder and management)
- Invoicing
- Virtual terminal
- CRM
- Starter team management plan
- First magstripe mobile card reader
Square pricing
Fees:
- In-person transaction: 2.6% + 15 cents
- Ecommerce and invoice transactions: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
- Keyed-in and card-on-file transactions: 3.5% + 15 cents per transaction
- ACH Payments: 1%, minimum $1
- Afterpay: 6% + 30 cents
- Instant Transfer: Plus 1.75%
- Hardware costs: From $0 to $799
- Chargeback fee: Waived up to $250/month
- Same-day funding: Plus 1.5%
Upgrade cost:
- Paid POS plans: $49-$149 per month
See our guide on Square pricing and fees.
Square user reviews
Merchants who use Square find the system easy to use, with reasonable fees and great value. Although one downside is that Square Payments does not integrate with other merchant platforms.
- What users like:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Automated invoicing
- Fast set-up, no approval process
- What users don’t like:
- Pricey processing fees for large-volume sales
- Reports of frozen funds
- Occasional card reader disconnections
Helcim: Best for cheap, transparent transaction fees
Why I like Helcim
Helcim offers interchange-plus transaction fees and automatic volume discounts for sales above $50,000/month. It also comes with free POS, inventory, invoicing, customer management, and ecommerce features to launch a multichannel business easily. The system can easily be adapted for various industries, including retail and subscription-based service businesses.
However, Helcim’s auto-applied volume discount favors businesses with larger monthly transactions, which makes it best suited for retailers. If your business mostly accepts remote payments (invoice and on websites), you can save on credit card processing fees with Helcim’s automated zero-cost processing program.
Who should use Helcim: Busy small businesses, such as retailers, restaurants, professional services
Helcim free account features
What you get with a Helcim free merchant account:
- Payment processing
- POS software
- Free credit card processing program
- Ecommerce tools
- Invoicing
- Subscription management
- Customer portal
- CRM
Helcim pricing
Fees:
- In-person processing fees: Interchange plus 0.15% + 6 cents to 0.4% + 8 cents
- Online and keyed-in processing fees: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.50% + 25 cents
- American Express transactions: 0.10% + 10 cents
- ACH processing fees: 0.5% plus 25 cents per transaction
- Recurring billing: $0
- Monthly fees: $0
- Hardware costs: $99 per card reader
- Chargeback fee: $15, which will be refunded for every dispute you win
- Same-day funding: N/A
Upgrade cost: No paid upgrade options; Helcim’s features are available entirely at no extra monthly cost.
Helcim user reviews
Online user reviews for Helcim are mixed but mostly positive since it launched new features. Merchants also like Helcim’s transparent fees and automatic discounts.
- What users like:
- Ability to help save on monthly credit card fees
- Free invoicing feature
- Excellent onboarding support
- What users don’t like:
- Software bugs and issues
- Issues with the mobile payment app
- Limited simple scalability features
Shopify Payments: Best for ecommerce businesses
Why I like Shopify Payments
Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform, popular for its robust ecommerce ecosystem and its ability to unify ecommerce with POS. Like Square, every Shopify merchant account comes with free Shopify Payments built in, making it simple to start accepting payments right away without the need for a third-party processor.
Shopify Payments rivals PayPal in its global accessibility while keeping transaction costs in line with what Square offers. It allows businesses to create custom checkout flows, shareable payment links, QR codes, and one-click “Buy Now” buttons. Note, however, that while you can use Shopify Payments without an ecommerce plan, available features are limited, which is why I only recommend this option if you’re already using (or considering signing up) with Shopify.
Who should use Shopify Payments: Ecommerce businesses that run on Shopify or new online businesses looking for an all-in-one platform.
Also read: Ecommerce Payment Processing: Guide for Small Businesses
Shopify free account features
What you get with a Shopify free merchant account:
- Credit and debit card payment processing
- Local payment method options
- Option for ecommerce or non-ecommerce platform payments
- One-click checkout (Shop Pay)
- Gift card processing
- Tap to pay on iPhone
- Next-day deposit
- Built-in fraud analytics tool.
- 24/7 customer support
Shopify pricing
Fees:
- Card-present transaction: 2.6% + 10 cents, or 5%
- Card-not-present transactions: 2.4% + 30 cents to 2.9% + 30 cents
- Currency conversion fee: 1.5% (US) and 2% (all other supported countries and regions)
- Hardware costs: $49-$349
- Chargeback fee: $15
Upgrade cost: Shopify Payment paid upgrade options are included in advanced ecommerce software plan
- POS plans:
- Starter plan: $5/month
- Retail plan: $89/month
- Ecommerce plan (with POS):
- Basic: $29/month billed annually ($39 monthly)
- Shopify: $79/month billed annually ($105 monthly)
- Advanced: $299/month billed annually ($399 monthly)
Shopify user reviews
Real-life user reviews highlight a mix of strengths and frustrations for users. While many praise the platform’s ease of use and app ecosystem, others voice concerns over costs, account holds, and customer support.
- What Users Like:
- Easy-to-set-up payment processing
- App-based ecosystem
- One-click checkout
- What Users Don’t Like:
- No free plan available
- Account holds and reserves
- Customer support quality
PayPal: Best for range of payment methods and integrations
Why I like PayPal
PayPal Business offers low-cost, user-friendly payment processing for individuals and small businesses. It has a sleek mobile POS app with additional payment methods exclusive to PayPal users.
PayPal’s One Touch technology creates a faster checkout experience that leads to higher conversion rates for your online store. It offers affordable mobile and online transaction fees, plus a free mobile POS app and invoicing software. Its online payments also work with just about any website or software.
Solopreneurs, hobbyists, and occasional sellers will find its rates and peer-to-peer payment tools an ideal solution.
Who should use PayPal: Solopreneurs, occasional/seasonal sellers, businesses that sell with PayPal customers
PayPal free account features
What you get with a PayPal free merchant account:
- PayPal payment methods
- Online card services
- Invoicing
- Payment links
- PayPal POS (formerly PayPal Zettle)
- Nonprofit payments
- PayPal instant funding via PayPal wallet
PayPal pricing
Fees:
- In-person processing fees: 2.29% + 9 cents
- Online processing fees: 2.99% + 49 cents
- Keyed-in processing: 3.49% + 49 cents
- E-check fees: 3.49% capped at $300
- Micropayments: 4.99% + 9 cents
- Hardware costs: PayPal POS reader $79 (first reader discounted, $29)
- Chargeback fee: $20
- Same-day funding: Plus 1.5%, instant via PayPal balance
Upgrade cost:
- Virtual terminal: $30
- Recurring billing services: $10
- Recurring payment tools: $30
- Advanced payment gateway: $2
PayPal user reviews
Like Stripe, users find PayPal easy to use, particularly for online payments with a wide range of integrations. Meanwhile, the majority of customer complaints are about frozen accounts.
- What users like:
- Easy-to-use payment app
- Easy website integration
- Now available for in-store payments
- What users don’t like:
- Frozen funds
- High currency conversion fees
- Poor customer support
Stripe: Best for custom online payment processing
Why I like Stripe
Often compared to Square and PayPal (see our comparison of the three), Stripe offers basic and customizable online checkouts with instant setup and no application process. It can also manage subscriptions and recurring fees and store card data with a range of customization options. Detailed online features, zero startup and monthly fees, and competitive processing rates make Stripe a solid choice for ecommerce businesses and business-to-business (B2B) sellers.
I tested the system by opening a Stripe account upon hearing that it now offers basic checkout options. However, I still find the setup process too complicated for simple mom-and-pop shops or occasional sellers.
Who should use Stripe: Online businesses that require customizations, including platform language and ID verification
Stripe free account features
What you get with a Stripe free merchant account:
- Stripe checkout
- Payment links
- Invoicing
- Recurring billing
- API and SDK integrations
- International payment methods
Stripe pricing
Fees:
- In-person processing fees: 2.7% + 5 cents
- Online processing fees: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Keyed-in processing fees: 3.4% + 30 cents
- ACH processing fees: 0.8% per transaction with a $5 cap
- ACH: 0.8%, $5 cap
- Invoicing: Plus 0.4%-0.5%
- Recurring Billing: Plus 0.5%-0.8%
- BNPL: 5.99% + 30 cents
- International payments: Plus 1% + 30 cents fee, 1% spread for currency conversion
- Hardware costs: From $59
- Same-day funding: Plus 1.5%
- Chargeback fee: $15
Upgrade cost:
- Custom domain: $10
- Stax Connect (for platforms): $2
- Advanced billing: 7% of total billing or $620/year
- Tax management: $90
- Advanced fraud protection: 2-7 cents/transaction
- Analytics: $10
Stripe user reviews
Overall, merchants who use Stripe like the system’s ability to work with most ecommerce platforms. One interesting issue raised by a few merchants is that, despite being a payment facilitator, Stripe would take time to verify and approve a merchant account.
- What users like:
- Simple and easy to use once completely set up
- Ability to do test payments
- Wide range of ecommerce integrations
- What users don’t like:
- Extended holding time of (and some reported canceled) payouts
- Some reports of delayed account approval
- Refunds to customers without notice
Payment Depot: Best for growing businesses
Why I like Payment Depot
Payment Depot is a solid alternative to Helcim if you need a platform that offers wider and faster integration options. It offers a versatile suite of merchant services solutions from its parent company, Stax, such as billing, invoicing, and reporting tools, without the steep monthly fees.
And because everything is customized, businesses only pay for features that they need as well as transactions they process. Payment Depot makes it easy for businesses to plug into the tools they already use. It works seamlessly with major ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, POS systems, and hardware such as Clover, as well as gateways, invoicing, and bookkeeping tools like QuickBooks.
That said, note that the service is only available for US merchants and does not support same-day funding.
Who should use Payment Depot: Growing businesses with regularly high volumes of credit and debit card transactions, including B2Bs
Payment Depot free account features
What you get with a Payment Depot free merchant account:
- Payment processing
- Dedicated merchant account
- Digital invoicing
- Text2Pay mobile payments
- API key integration capabilities
- Hosted payment pages
- Secure card vault
- Account reconciliation
- Recurring billing
- One-click shopping
- Product catalog
- Shareable payment links
- Chargeback management
- Customizable reports
Payment Depot pricing
Fees:
- In-person processing fees: Custom interchange plus
- Online processing fees: Custom interchange plus
- Keyed-in processing fees: Custom interchange plus
- ACH processing fees: Custom interchange plus
- Invoicing: Included
- Recurring Billing: Included
- Hardware costs: From $59
- Chargeback fee: $25
Upgrade cost:
- Software: $0
- Add-on tools: Not disclosed
Payment Depot user reviews
Real-life user reviews are mixed. Though there are those who love the tailored merchant account services, some customers looking to use Clover get confused when they realize they are signing up for Payment Depot. However, I see this as more of the users’ understanding of Clover than Payment Depot’s issue.
- What users like:
- Customized merchant services solutions
- Authorize.net integration
- Compatibility with most payment hardware
- What users don’t like:
- Add-on fees
- Operations interrupted to request for increased volume limit
- Customer support issues
Chase Payment Solutions: Best for traditional merchant account
Why I like Chase Payment Solutions
You can sign up for a free Chase merchant account with or without a Chase bank account, although having one qualifies you to use Chase payment methods that support same-day access to funds. There is no fee for opening a business checking account with Chase, and maintaining one is also free for merchants with a minimum $2,000 balance.
Apart from being one of the big names in the banking industry, Chase Payment Solutions has also acquired key subsidiaries to become one of the most versatile merchant service providers in the market. So, unlike most of its contemporaries, Chase works directly with small businesses, offering in-person, online, and mobile sales with strong banking infrastructure.
Who should use Chase Payment Solutions: Small businesses looking for a traditional merchant account with free POS and same-day funding
Chase free account features
What you get with a Chase free merchant account:
- POS software
- Mobile checkout
- Card reader (with long-term contract)
- Same-day and next-day funding
- Ecommerce integration
- InstaMed integration
- Virtual terminal
- Invoicing and billing
- Chargeback management
- Customer insights
Chase Payment Solutions Pricing
Fees:
- In-person processing: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Online processing: 2.9% + 25 cents
- Keyed-in processing: 3.5% + 10 cents (requires a Chase Business Complete Account)
- ACH: 1%, capped at $25 (instant or same-day), $2.50 for first 10 and 15 cents each for additional (standard)
- Hardware costs: From $49.95 or free with a long-term contract
- Same-day funding: Free for Chase bank account holders
- Chargeback fee: From $25, depending on sales volume
Upgrade Cost:
- BigCommerce: $29.95-$299.95 per month
- FreshBooks: Contact FreshBooks
- Authorize.net: $25 per month
Chase Payment Solutions user reviews
There are very limited online user reviews for Chase Payment Solutions. However, Chase’s proprietary virtual terminal, Orbital, received generally positive feedback about how the system is easy to use and integrates with most ecommerce platforms.
- What users like:
- Free and fast fund settlement
- Invoicing feature
- Easy-to-use platform
- What users don’t like:
- PIN debit feature is sometimes faulty
- Slow dispute resolution
- Delay in getting a new card reader
Methodology: How I evaluated free merchant accounts
To choose the best free merchant accounts for small businesses, I focused on payment processors that reduce upfront and ongoing costs without locking merchants into restrictive contracts. Since no merchant account is truly free, I only considered providers with no monthly fee or a free plan, no startup costs, no monthly minimums, and no long-term contract requirement.
I researched and compared each provider using consistent criteria: pricing and contract terms, supported transaction types, account setup, payout speed, included business tools, customer support access, integrations, customer reviews, and overall account stability. When available, I tested sign-up flows, free plans, demos, dashboards, POS tools, invoicing features, reporting, and support resources to see how each provider works for a small business owner managing payments on a budget.
I also reviewed each provider’s pricing transparency, processing rates, chargeback fees, hardware costs, paid plan value, and add-on fees. My final recommendations prioritize providers that are affordable, easy to start with, transparent about costs, and flexible enough to support in-person, online, mobile, and invoice-based payments.
- Pricing and contract (30%): Pricing carried the most weight because this guide focuses on low-cost merchant services. I only considered providers with a free plan or no monthly fee, no setup fee, no monthly minimum, no long-term contract, and no tiered-pricing model, since tiered pricing can make processing costs harder to predict. I awarded higher scores to providers with:
- Transparent flat-rate or interchange-plus pricing
- No cancellation fees
- Low or no chargeback fees
- Affordable card readers and hardware
- Clear online and in-person processing rates
- No required paid software subscription to start accepting payments
- Transaction features (20%): I evaluated how many payment types each provider supports because small businesses often need more than one way to accept payments. Providers earned points for supporting in-person payments, POS transactions, mobile payments, ecommerce checkout, invoicing, virtual terminal payments, ACH or e-check payments, and card-on-file billing. Processors scored higher when these tools were available without requiring a paid plan, custom setup, or separate third-party software.
- Account setup and budget tools (30%): I looked at how easy each provider is to start using and how much value is included at no monthly cost. I reviewed the account application process, approval speed, payout timing, hardware options, reporting tools, customer support availability, and included software. Providers earned higher scores for:
- Instant or fast sign-up
- Same-day or next-day deposit options
- Free POS, invoicing, or payment link tools
- Cloud-based reporting
- Dispute management dashboards
- Flexible card reader or hardware choices
- Customer support channels available beyond basic documentation
- Expert score (20%): For my expert score, I considered how well each provider balances affordability, ease of use, transparency, and reliability for small businesses. I reviewed pricing pages, product documentation, user reviews, third-party reputation data, and available demos or free accounts. I gave higher scores to providers with clear pricing, easy-to-use dashboards, stable processing, strong small business adoption, and integrations with common business tools such as accounting software, ecommerce platforms, POS systems, and customer management apps. I also considered whether each provider can scale beyond basic payment acceptance as a business grows.
How do I choose the best free merchant account for my business?
When evaluating free merchant account providers, it’s important to look beyond the word “free.” The real value lies in the fine print of the terms and the scalability of the services as your business grows. Here’s a helpful checklist to guide your decision:
- Startup costs: Are there any upfront fees? The best free merchant accounts won’t require you to spend anything to get started. Be cautious of hidden setup charges or mandatory hardware purchases.
- Contract commitments: Do I need to sign a long-term contract? Some “free” accounts include free or leased card readers, but they often require at least a one-year commitment. Watch out for cancellation penalties that can trap you into staying longer than you’d like.
- Incidental fees: What other fees might apply? Carefully review the provider’s terms for incidental costs such as compliance fees, inactivity charges, monthly minimums, or chargeback fees. Many modern payment service providers have eliminated these extras, but not all.
- Features in the free plan: What functionality do I get without paying? A free plan should allow you to process a reasonable volume of transactions without heavy restrictions. Double-check that the payment methods your customers prefer (credit, debit, digital wallets) are supported at no extra cost.
- Growth Potential: Can this provider scale with my business? Switching providers later can disrupt your operations. Make sure the provider offers advanced features, such as multi-location support, invoicing, or integrations with accounting tools, that you can access as your business expands.
For additional guidance on getting signed up for a merchant account, check out our detailed guide:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
These are some of the most common questions we encounter about free merchant account services.
What does “free merchant account” really mean?
A “free merchant account” typically means zero setup fees, no monthly or cancellation fees, and no long-term contract. However, transaction processing fees (like interchange or flat‑rate fees) still apply. Providers often offset the lack of subscription fees with these transaction charges.
Which providers offer genuinely free merchant accounts?
Top options include Square, PayPal, Stripe, Helcim, and Wave. These services usually have no startup costs or mandatory monthly fees, flexible terms, and free or low-cost tools for both online and in-person transactions.
Are there hidden fees even with “free” plans?
Yes. Even if there’s no monthly fee, watch for incidental costs like chargeback fees, compliance charges, hardware lease requirements, or inactivity penalties. Always read the fine print to avoid surprises.
Which provider is best for different business needs?
Square is best for startups with in-person sales, PayPal suits occasional sellers, Stripe works well for online businesses, Helcim is ideal for high-volume growth, and Wave is great for freelancers needing free invoicing.
What should I check before choosing a free merchant account provider?
Check for hidden fees or contract penalties, confirm supported payment methods, and make sure the provider offers features that can scale with your business.
Bottom line
Although there are no true merchant services that are 100% free, many options have no monthly fees, startup fees, or processing minimums and come with competitive pay-as-you-go transaction processing fees.
Square is my top recommendation for free merchant services for small businesses because, in addition to having no application process, monthly fees, setup fees, and minimal hardware fees, it has all the basic tools that you need to run a mobile, in-store, online, or multichannel retail business. Square comes with a free, top-of-the-line mobile payments app and has other business solutions you can add for a truly affordable, all-in-one payment and POS solution.
