11 Alternatives to PayPal for Small Business in 2023

• Monthly fees:
  • PayPal account: $0–$30
  • Virtual terminal: $30
  • Recurring billing: $10
  • Recurring payment tool: $30
  • Payment gateway: $0–$25
• Transaction fees:
  • PayPal payments online: 3.49% + 49 cents
  • Online card payments: 2.59% + 49 cents
  • In-person card Payments: 2.29% + 9 cents
  • Invoicing: 3.49% + 49 cents
  • ACH: 3.49% + 9 cents, capped at $300
• Zettle:
  • Free basic POS system
  • Card-present processing fee: 2.29% + 9 cents
  • Keyed-in processing fee: 3.49% + 9 cents
  • Card readers: From $29
  • Terminals: From $199
• Chargeback fee: $20

• Easy to integrate checkout button
• Customized invoices
• Scheduled or recurring payments
• Buy Now, Pay Later options
• Virtual terminal
• E-check payments
• Checkout with cryptocurrency option
• Dispute resolution
• Seller protection
• Chargeback protection
• Supports 25+ currencies in 45 countries
• Phone support: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Sunday
• Extensive knowledge base

• Interchange-plus pricing
• No monthly fees
• Free online payment tools
• Hosted payment pages
• Mobile payment app
• Guided chargeback dispute resolution
• Ecommerce platform integrations
• QuickBooks integration

Helcim offers a fairly extensive set of tools for businesses of all sizes, spanning a wide range of industries for a very competitive price. Its interchange-plus pricing model comes with no monthly fee and 24/7 customer service, which is a rare find. Along with automatic volume discounts and free tools, these features make Helcim a more affordable alternative to PayPal.

The only difficulty with Helcim is its application process and automatic volume discounts are geared toward established businesses that process more than $25,000 monthly. Startups may find this provider slightly more expensive to start and maintain. But if you’re looking for a cheaper PayPal alternative to grow with your business, Helcim’s automatic volume discounts will lower your processing fees as the number of transactions goes up.

• Easy application process
• Advanced payment processing tools (will require some coding skills)
• Mobile card reader for in-person transactions
• Highly customizable fraud detection and prevention features
• No-code checkout templates and social media selling tools
• Large international payment processing capability
• Automated dispute handling
• Wide range of integrations
• Well-documented API

If you have low-volume sales, Stripe’s lower transaction rates and zero monthly fees make it a suitable alternative to PayPal for online payments and invoicing. It also offers better cross-border tools and integrations. Stripe has a card reader and handheld terminal but no POS system like Shopify or PayPal. Learn more about how Stripe compares to PayPal.

• Free POS software with option to upgrade
• Free built-in invoicing, employee management, and ecommerce tools
• Free magstripe reader for every Square account
• Offline transaction processing
• Affordable, industry-grade, proprietary hardware
• Modular add-ons for growing SMBs
• Buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) features
• Real-time inventory tracking and quantity updates

For a stable and customizable POS system that grows with your business, Square is the better choice. While PayPal fees are generally cheaper, Square is a more affordable solution if you routinely accept ACH payments. It also offers a more robust POS system with almost every integration and add-on you would ever need. The system is quick and easy to set up, perfect to use for hobbyists, yet feature-rich enough for SMBs. See in detail how Square compares to PayPal.

• Built-in Shopify POS software
• Shop Pay one-click checkout option
• Discounts with Shopify shipping and partner couriers
• Built-in email marketing tool
• Extensive app marketplace
• Built-in fraud analysis for Shopify Payments
• Extensive inventory management tools for physical and digital products

Shopify is a solid alternative to PayPal if you’re running an active ecommerce business. Unlike PayPal’s Zettle, you have to purchase Shopify’s shopping cart/POS plan, which starts at $29 per month. It does include a virtual terminal in the form of its backend ordering system, so when considering that, the basic plan nearly matches what you’d pay with PayPal. However, if you plan on adding a third-party payment processing option, note that Shopify charges a commission fee anywhere from 0.5%–2% (depending on your subscription plan) per transaction if you disable Shopify Payments.

Monthly Subscription Fees	$0	$0–$30
In-person Transactions	2.59% + 49 cents	2.29% + 9 cents to 2.7%
Online Transactions	3.49% + 49 cents (Venmo)	2.9% + 49 cents 3.09% + 49 cents plus $30/mo. (Virtual terminal), plus $25/mo. (payment gateway)
Keyed-in Transactions	3.49% + 49 cents	3.49% + 49 cents
Invoice Fees	3.49% + 49 cents	3.49% + 49 cents plus $10–$30/month for recurring billing/payments
ACH/Echeck Fees	ACH: 0.75% capped at $5	Echecks: 3.49% + 49 cents, capped at $300
International Transactions	Plus 1%, 130+ currencies, 52+ countries	1.5% fee, 4% spread for currency conversion, 24 currencies
Chargeback Fee	$15	$0–$20
Card Reader	$29–$79	$29–$79

*Interchange-plus pricing available for high-volume sellers

• Independent merchant account
• Free payment gateway
• Basic and advanced fraud protection tools
• Level 2 and 3 payment processing
• Card details encryption (Braintree Vault)
• International payment processing
• Recurring billing
• Third-party integrations

PayPal merchants starting to outgrow its features will find Braintree a natural upgrade. It automatically integrates your PayPal merchant account, gives you access to level 2 and 3 data processing, and provides you with better transaction rates, including interchange-plus pricing. If you need a direct PayPal integration for your large business that accepts international payments, Braintree is the ideal choice.

• Local receiving accounts in 9 countries
• Ability to withdraw funds to local bank accounts in over 150 countries
• Support for payments in multiple currencies
• Low transaction fees (1% to 3% depending on transaction type)
• Integration with popular marketplaces and platforms such as Amazon, Upwork, and Fiverr
• Ability to receive payments from clients without a Payoneer account, using a payment request link

Payoneer is not often used by small businesses for outgoing payments (such as for vendors). However, for receiving payments, it is a good alternative to PayPal, particularly for freelancers and one-off transactions. Its biggest advantage is that when you open an account, you will have local receiving accounts in the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore. A local receiving account means you can receive payments in these countries’ currencies for free (except for USD payments) and keep your balances in the same currency.

It also has an invoicing and billing system that is user-friendly and straightforward, allowing users to create professional invoices, set up payment reminders, and receive payments quickly and securely.

Monthly Subscription Fees	$15–$200*	$0–$30
In-person Transactions	2.4% + 25 cents	2.29% + 9 cents to 2.7%
Online Transactions	2.9% + 25 cents	2.9% + 49 cents 3.09% + 49 cents plus $30/mo. (Virtual terminal), plus $25/mo. (payment gateway)
Keyed-in Transactions	3.4% + 25 cents	3.49% + 49 cents
Invoice Fees	2.9% + 25 cents	3.49% + 49 cents plus $10–$30/month for recurring billing/payments
ACH/Echeck Fees	ACH: 1% (max $10)	Echecks: 3.49% + 49 cents, capped at $300
International Transactions	N/A	24 currencies, 1.5% fee, 4% spread for currency conversion
Chargeback Fee	$25	$0–$20
Card Reader	$49	$29–$79

*This is the fee for a QuickBooks Online subscription, which is required to use its payment processing features.

• Native accounting software
• Free invoicing and recurring billing management features
• Built-in accounts receivables and tax management tools
• Proprietary mobile credit card reader
• Processes both ACH and echeck payments
• Accepts wire transfer payments
• Free instant deposits with QuickBooks Checking
• B2B payment processing

While QuickBooks monthly fees are much higher compared to PayPal’s, users get complete access to QuickBooks’ accounting and invoicing features. Payment processing rates for online, keyed-in, and invoicing are also considerably cheaper, and there is no additional cost to use any of its payment services. This makes QuickBooks a strong alternative to PayPal for B2B companies with large volumes of invoiced transactions.

• Volume-based subscription plans
• No markup on interchange fees
• Free access to invoicing, virtual terminal, and recurring payment processing tools
• Zero chargeback fees
• Mobile payments and payment app with SwipeSimple
• Integrations with various payment gateways like Authorize.net, NMI, and PayTrace for B2Bs

Larger businesses will find Payment Depot’s rates more cost-effective despite the $79 monthly fee. However, for merchants processing sales below $10,000 per month, the total monthly costs may come out more expensive despite the low interchange-plus pricing.

Monthly Subscription Fees	$25	$0–$30
In-person Transactions	10 cents per transaction + 10-cent daily batch fee, or 2.9% + 30 cents*	2.29% + 9 cents to 2.7%
Online Transactions	10 cents per transaction + 10-cent daily batch fee, or 2.9% + 30 cents	2.9% + 49 cents 3.09% + 49 cents plus $30/mo. (Virtual terminal), plus $25/mo. (payment gateway)
Keyed-in Transactions	10 cents per transaction + 10-cent daily batch fee, or 2.9% + 30 cents	3.49% + 49 cents
Invoice Fees	10 cents per transaction + 10-cent daily batch fee, or 2.9% + 30 cents	3.49% + 49 cents plus $10–$30/month for recurring billing/payments
ACH/Echeck Fees	Echecks: 0.75%	Echecks: 3.49% + 49 cents, capped at $300
International Transactions	1.5% (with the all-in-one account)	24 currencies, 1.5% fee, 4% spread for currency conversion
Chargeback Fee	$25	$0–$20
Card Reader	$65	$29–$79

*Depends on your Authorize.net subscription plan

• Accept card-present transactions including digital payments
• Hosted payment checkouts
• Accepts echeck payments through its virtual terminal
• 24-hour fund transfer
• Over 140 integrations
• Serves high-risk merchants

If you prefer to run your business with a simple, standalone payment gateway, then Authorize.net is your best alternative. It offers a payment gateway-only plan that charges 10 cents per transaction + a 10-cent daily batch fee and an all-in-one plan that comes with a merchant account and a single flat rate fee for both card-present and card-not-present payments. With an in-person payment processing feature (though limited), Authorize.net essentially offers one of the most flexible payment platforms in the market.

Monthly Subscription Fees	$10–$45	$0–$30
In-person Transactions	2% to 4.3%*	2.29% + 9 cents to 2.7%
Online Transactions	2% to 4.3%	2.9% + 49 cents 3.09% + 49 cents plus $30/mo. (Virtual terminal), plus $25/mo. (payment gateway)
Keyed-in Transactions	2% to 4.3%	3.49% + 49 cents
Invoice Fees	2% to 4.3%	3.49% + 49 cents plus $10–$30/month for recurring billing/payments
ACH/Echeck Fees	2% to 4.3%	Echecks: 3.49% + 49 cents, capped at $300
International Transactions	1% to 2%	24 currencies, 1.5% fee, 4% spread for currency conversion
Chargeback Fee	$25	$0–$20
Card Reader	Varies	$29–$79

*Rates are set by PaymentCloud for each merchant and differ depending on the type of business

• Accepts low-, mid-, and high-risk merchants
• Wide range of payment options
• Cryptocurrency payments
• Negotiable rates

Although PaymentCloud does not have publicly disclosed pricing information, it does give a range depending on the risk category of the merchant. It offers flexible transaction rates, excellent security, chargeback protection, and customer service. Despite the kinds of industries it serves, there are few complaints about canceled accounts or held funds. This issue could be because of its diligent approval process. When you sign up, it can take several days to get approved. For mid- to high-risk merchants that cannot accept payments via PayPal, PaymentCloud is a great alternative.

• Customizable online donation forms
• Mobile payment app for iOS and mobile card reader for in-person donations
• Hundreds of third-party integrations for CRM, auction software, and online fundraising platform
• Salesforce integration with Brickwork by iATS (includes online and offline virtual terminals, donor database, and scheduling recurring donations)

As a fully nonprofit payment processing platform, iATS is an easy PayPal alternative choice for nonprofit organizations. Unfortunately, iATS does not list its pricing online, as PayPal does. However, we found rates ranging from 2.49% to 3.2% + 26 cents. For comparison, PayPal’s rates are 2.89% + country fee. Unlike PayPal, it may require an annual contract.