Retail credit card processors let brick and mortar storefronts accept payments through a secure and reliable interface with low processing fees and fast deposits. The best processors also offer flexible solutions so retailers can accept payments made curbside, throughout the sales floor, on-the-go, and through an online store. Additionally, small businesses need a system that is easy to use, works with popular point-of-sale (POS) systems, and offers quality customer support.
The best retail credit card processing companies are:
- Helcim: Best overall retail credit card processing
- Square: Best for mobile and BOPIS features
- Payment Depot: Best budget-friendly retail credit card processor
- Stax by Fattmerchant: Best for subscriptions and recurring payments
- PaymentCloud: Best credit card processor for high-risk retail
How We Evaluated Retail Credit Card Processors
Retailers need a merchant services provider that offers low transaction rates, flexible payment options, and a responsive support team. We considered dozens of processing options, then narrowed our list down to five processors to evaluate in detail based on cost, traditional and online functionality, and available integrations to choose the best options for various retail businesses. We also considered customer support options and reviews to ensure users have access to the tools necessary to grow and sustain a retail business.
Based on our evaluation, Helcim is the best overall retail credit card processor. Helcim offers competitive interchange-plus pricing, free apps, solutions for accepting nearly every payment type, and 24/7 support. It doesn’t have long-term contracts and cancellation fees, and it works with many popular retail software products.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
25% of Overall Score
We awarded points to processors that don’t require a long-term contract, don’t charge a cancellation fee, offer free or low-cost chargebacks, and don’t have monthly minimums. We also considered the overall transparency and affordability of each processor. For example, we automatically excluded any processors that have a tiered pricing model.
30% of Overall Score
We only considered processors that offer many solutions for POS and/or terminal or countertop payments. After that, we awarded points to processors that have built-in solutions for online or ecommerce payments, invoicing, virtual terminal for mail or phone orders, mobile payments, stored or card-on-file payments, and contactless options.
25% of Overall Score
Points were given to retail processors with next-day or 24-hour deposits, 24/7 or dedicated customer support, free business management tools (like chargeback monitoring, customer portals, and reporting), options for offline payment processing if you lose internet connection, and capabilities for handling buy online, pick up in-store orders and other omnichannel functionalities.
20% of Overall Score
In addition to evaluating the overall transparency and affordability of each processor, we also looked at ease of use, account stability, hardware options, online reviews, and whether or not it is compatible with popular retail POS systems, ecommerce platforms, and accounting software.
Helcim
PROS
- Interchange-plus (cost-plus) pricing and low account fees
- No long-term contracts
- Excellent customer support
CONS
- Expensive for low-volume businesses (under $5,000 monthly)
- Does not accept high-risk merchants
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & contract | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Processing Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Helcim is a Canadian credit card processing and merchant services company that caters to small businesses, including retailers. Helcim offers affordable interchange-plus pricing to all merchants with built-in volume discounts so your rates will automatically decrease as your business grows. Helcim also offers a suite of free tools including a point-of-sale app, invoicing software, a fully-hosted online store, customer management tools, recurring billing and subscription management software, and a virtual terminal.
Affordable pricing and flexible payment options earned Helcim a 4.69 out of 5 in our evaluation. Helcim also offers excellent 24/7 support, reimburses merchants for chargeback fees if you win the dispute, and deposits funds from transactions in 1-2 business days. However, Helcim’s application process does not approve high-risk vendors like CBD or vape shops.
Helcim Pricing
- Pricing model: Interchange-plus
- Monthly fee: $0
- In-person transaction fee: Markups range from 0.1% + 5 cents to 0.3% + 8 cents per transaction in addition to interchange fees
- Online and keyed-in transaction fee: Markups range from 0.2% + 10 cents to 0.5% + 25 cents in addition to interchange fees.
- Contract length: No long-term binding contract, month-to-month billing
- Cancellation fee: $0
- Chargeback fee: $15, merchants are reimbursed if you win the dispute
- Deposit speed: 1-2 business days
- Volume discounts: Yes, automated. Custom rates also available for businesses processing more than $1 million annually.
Helcim Features
- Payment types: Helcim lets merchants accept credit card, debit card, and EFT/ACH payments from anywhere in the world.
- Deposits: Helcim users receive net settlements within two business days. However, businesses that bank with a credit union or other small bank may have to wait three business days to receive their funds.
- Ecommerce: Helcim gives users the ability to create a fully-hosted online store using customizable templates and brand colors and logos.
- Analytics and reporting: Helcim’s commerce platform lets users access a variety of vital details, including billing and customer information, credit card numbers, inventory, and other data for analytics.
- Integrations: Helcim is compatible with a variety of accounting, billing, and shopping software and platforms. This makes it easy for merchants to streamline operations and connect with online shopping tools.
- Dispute management: Helcim provides step-by-step instructions for disputing a chargeback. For additional support, Helcim customers can contact the Chargeback Department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.
- Customer support: Merchants can contact Helcim via phone, email, and an online contact form. You can also request a callback from a Helcim rep by providing your contact information and time preference. The platform also has an extensive Support Center that current and prospective customers can use to search for specific topics.
Visit Helcim for a fee estimate, compare Helcim against your current rates, and to create an account.
Square
PROS
- Easy to use, intuitive platform
- Competitive pricing, no monthly fees
- Inventory management tools
CONS
- Basic front-end register
- Difficulty with card swipes and internet connectivity
- Customers report customer service can be difficult to reach
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & contract | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Processing Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
Square is a retail credit card processor that can process merchant payments online, in-store, on mobile, and via virtual terminal. Like other options on our list, the platform can also be used to invoice clients, making it a great option for everyone—from brick-and-mortar business owners to online boutiques and subscription-based retailers. Plus, Square doesn’t charge a monthly fee, so you’ll only pay for individual transactions.
Square also offers a free POS system and online store with solutions for managing online and pickup orders, and a free mobile app for accepting payments on-the-go. These features make Square the best merchant service provider for most small businesses and an especially great option for mobile credit card processing.
In our evaluation, Square earned a 4.63 out of 5. Limited customer support, reports of connectivity issues, and difficulty with customer support prevented Square from earning a perfect score. Like Helcim, Square does not work with high-risk retailers.
If you also need a point-of-sale system, Square for Retail is our top pick for the best retail POS system for small businesses.
Square Pricing
- Pricing model: Flat-rate
- Monthly fee: $0, but can upgrade POS software for an additional monthly fee
- In-person transaction fee: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Online transaction fee: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Keyed-in and card-on-file transaction fee: 3.5% + 15 cents
- Contract length: None, month-to-month billing
- Cancellation fee: $0
- Chargeback fee: None, just standard transaction fee
- Deposit speed: Next business day
- Volume discounts: Yes, custom pricing available for businesses processing over $250,000 annually
Square Features
- Payment types: Square works with any US-issued magstripe and chip cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and UnionPay. Prepaid cards are also accepted, as well as international cards (with manual entry).
- Ecommerce: Online retailers can design a free website, create a checkout link, or add Square payments to an existing website. Square also supports merchants with several ecommerce-specific integrations.
- Inventory management: Square for Retail gives users access to their inventory from a laptop or mobile device. Merchants can download reports on their current inventory, make bulk changes, and get notified when they’re low on stock.
- Analytics and reporting: In addition to exporting inventory stock levels in a printable spreadsheet, Square retailers have access to advanced reporting tools. This lets you view sales summaries, trends, item and category sales, and other parameters.
- Integrations: Square features an app market that allows retailers to sync their other apps with the platform. Retail apps include WooCommerce, Ecwid, and other ecommerce platforms, as well as inventory management and shipment and fulfillment tools.
- Dispute management: If a cardholder initiates a payment dispute or chargeback, Square’s Dispute Resolution Team notifies the merchant and populates their user dashboard with relevant information. Then, the merchant uploads necessary documentation, and Square forwards it to the customer’s bank and notifies the merchant when the issue is resolved.
- Customer support: Square has an extensive support center with articles covering a variety of topics—from setting up POS kits to using and troubleshooting specific software products. Users can also contact the support team via phone, email, live chat, and social media.
Visit Square to create a free account to accept credit cards in your store, online, and on-the-go with predictable, flat-rate transaction fees.
Payment Depot
PROS
- Low-cost membership-based pricing model
- No contract required
- Extensive POS and ecommerce integrations
CONS
- No billing or invoicing
- Some find the interface difficult to use
- Does not operate in high-risk industries
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & contract | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Processing Features | 4.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
Payment Depot is a membership-based credit card processor that can save merchants 40% or more on their transactions. For that reason, the platform is excellent for established or high-volume businesses that can make the most of the monthly price. We actually recommend Payment Depot as the cheapest credit card processor for established businesses. However, new and low-volume retailers may find that the membership fee is not worth the cost.
In our evaluation, Payment Depot earned a 4.07 out of 5. It has high marks for affordable and transparent pricing. A higher monthly fee and limited included features prevented Payment Depot from earning a perfect score.
Payment Depot Pricing
- Pricing model: Membership-based interchange-plus
- Monthly fee: $49 – $199
- Transaction fee: 5 – 15 cents plus interchange fees. Payment Depot charges the same rate for online and in-person transactions, whereas most processors charge higher markups for online payments.
- Contract length: No long-term contract, month-to-month billing; 90-day money-back guarantee at signup.
- Cancellation fee: None, but takes 30-days to process, so you will owe one more month of membership fees.
- Chargeback fee: Undisclosed. Business.com reports a $15 chargeback fee.
- Deposit speed: 24 – 48 hours
- Volume discounts: Yes, different memberships available depending on your processing volume
Payment Depot Features
- Payment types: Payment Depot accepts in-person, online, and mobile payments, like Google Pay and Apple Pay, as well as ACH payments. Cryptocurrency is not accepted.
- Ecommerce: Online retailers can use Payment Depot in combination with a variety of ecommerce software integrations. Merchants can choose from platforms like Shopify, OpenCart, WooCommerce, Magento, and other popular tools.
- Analytics and reporting: The Payment Depot website does not provide information regarding the platform’s reporting tools. However, a review of the virtual terminal reveals that users can view transaction reports at a minimum.
- Integrations: The platform is compatible with a number of third-party tools and is easily integrated with other retail tools like Shopify.
- Dispute management: Unlike other options we considered, Payment Depot’s website doesn’t share information about if and how the company assists merchants’ dispute chargebacks. However, the website does offer several articles about chargebacks and how to handle them.
- Customer support: Payment Depot’s in-house customer support team is located in Orange, California, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. After-hours support, as well as 24/7 bank support, is also available. Customers can also contact Payment Depot via an online contact form.
Visit Payment Depot for a free quote. Once you get started, all accounts come with a 90-day risk-free trial.
Stax by Fattmerchant
PROS
- Easy to use dashboard and analytics
- Same-day funding options
- Responsive and helpful customer support
CONS
- Expensive for businesses processing less than $10,000 monthly
- Some users report difficulty with integrations
- Pricey software add-ons
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & contract | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Processing Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
Stax by Fattmerchant offers subscription-based credit card processing for a number of industries—including retail. Fees start at $99 per month plus 8 cents per transaction, and the platform has capabilities for both swiped and keyed payments. What really stands out about Stax by Fattmerchant, though, is its Omni software, which simplifies invoicing, recurring payments, and reporting.
In our evaluation, Stax by Fattmerchant earned a 3.43 out of 5. Stax by Fattmerchant earned high marks for transparent pricing, 24/7 customer support, and its user-friendly Omni software. However, high monthly fees for payment processing and separate monthly fees for the Omni software prevented Stax by Fattmerchant from earning a higher score as it can simply be too pricey for many retailers, especially as it does not include point-of-sale or inventory management tools.
Stax by Fattmerchant Pricing
- Pricing model: Membership-based interchange-plus
- Monthly fee: Starting at $99, an additional $49 – $129 monthly fee for Omni software
- In-person transaction fee: Interchange plus 8 cents
- Online and keyed-in transaction fee: Interchange plus 15 cents
- Contract length: No long-term contracts, month-to-month billing; 30-day notice to cancel
- Cancellation fee: $0
- Chargeback fee: Undisclosed. U.S. News shows Stax by Fattmerchant’s chargeback fees range from $5 – $35
- Deposit speed: 24-hour standard funding. Next-day funding available for qualified businesses. Same-day funding available at an additional cost.
- Volume discounts: Yes, multiple membership options
Stax by Fattmerchant also has a flat-rate option of 2.9% + 8 cents for swiped and 2.9% + 15 cents for keyed and online transactions for businesses processing under $80,000 annually.
Stax by Fattmerchant Features
- Payment types: Stax by Fattmerchant processes all major credit and debit cards, ACH payments, invoicing, Text2Pay, virtual terminal, and contactless payments.
- Omni software: Omni connects the user’s financial reporting, data and analytics, payments, customer management, inventory, and security in one dashboard. The interface is user friendly and makes tracking clients and invoices easier.
- Ecommerce: Stax by Fattmerchant’s API enables customers to fully customize payments on their own website or separate custom platforms.
- Analytics and reporting: Omni dashboard can help you see sales trends in your business and determine where you have the most potential for growth. You can also use the tools to manage customers, measure your growth, and learn about when you’re busiest.
- Integrations: The platform integrates with Zapier, Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Authorize.net, and a developer API. Stax by Fattmerchant users can also take advantage of a two-way instant sync with QuickBooks Online.
- Reputation management: Stax by Fattmerchant helps you monitor online reviews for your business and respond to them from within the Omni platform.
- Dispute management: The Stax by Fattmerchant Dispute Manager tool notifies retailers of chargebacks quickly and facilitates an efficient resolution. You’ll hear about the chargeback on the same day it’s claimed, and you can upload supporting documents through the user portal.
- Customer support: Customers can contact Stax by Fattmerchant via phone and an online contact form as well as via live chat through the Omni dashboard. Users and prospective clients can also troubleshoot and learn more about the platform by visiting Stax by Fattmerchant’s extensive self-service knowledge base.
To get started, visit Stax by Fattmerchant for a savings analysis and apply for a merchant account.
PaymentCloud
PROS
- Same-day setup
- Brick and mortar and ecommerce terminals available
- Excellent customer support
CONS
- Pricing not disclosed
- Website difficult to navigate
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & contract | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Processing Features | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
PaymentCloud is a credit card processor that specializes in medium- and high-risk vendors and industries. In fact it’s our top recommended high-risk merchant account for any business type. The platform offers both traditional and ecommerce terminals, and users report that customer service is excellent. Pricing is not available online, which is to be expected for high-risk processors, but you can fill out a free application online to learn more about custom pricing.
In our evaluation, PaymentCloud earned a 3.38 out of 5. PaymentCloud is the only option on this list that’s compatible with higher-risk retail businesses like CDB and vape, firearms, nutraceuticals, dropshipping, digital download products, and MLM companies. Plus, PaymentCloud has excellent reviews for its customer support. Lack of transparent pricing and needing a third-party for tools like payment gateways and virtual terminals prevented PaymentCloud from earning a higher score in this evaluation.
PaymentCloud Pricing
PaymentCloud is a little different than the other solutions on our list as it does not advertise pricing online, which is common for high-risk processors. However, business owners can complete a free online application and then review it with a specialist to get custom pricing. This is especially helpful for the medium- and high-risk businesses they cater to—as rates are more likely to vary between industries and clients.
PaymentCloud does not charge setup fees or cancellation fees.
PaymentCloud Features
- Payment types: PaymentCloud can process all major credit cards, as well as ACH, digital checks, and NFC-based methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Industry coverage: PaymentCloud stands out because it specializes in medium- and high-risk industries that other payment processors are less likely to service. For example, options like Payment Depot do not service CBD companies or online alcohol sales because they’re considered high-risk industries.
- Analytics and reporting: Reporting tools are available through the platform’s integrations. For example, integrating with QuickBooks lets users generate everything from balance sheets and cash flow statements to customized reports.
- Integrations: PaymentCloud can integrate with any CMS that allows for third-party gateway integration or has an open API. This includes but is not limited to Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress, and Wix.
- Dispute management: Chargeback protection is especially important for high-risk businesses, so PaymentCloud offers robust dispute resolution support. This includes real-time merchant alerts, dispute monitoring, and real-time reporting.
- Customer support: PaymentCloud clients get a dedicated account manager who can help with common problems like chargebacks, technical issues, and other challenges faced by higher-risk vendors. The platform also offers a 24/7 tech support line and a service center that’s open from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time.
Visit PaymentCloud for a free cost comparison. There are no setup or application fees, and PaymentCloud boasts a 98% approval rating.
Bottom Line
An affordable, user-friendly, and reliable credit card processor is key to every retail operation. However, the best processing platform for your business can depend on a number of factors, like your industry, sales volume, and how your retail operation is set up.
Our overall top pick for retail credit card processors is Helcim. Not only does the platform offer flexible credit processing service for online, mobile, and in-store purchases, its low-cost interchange-plus pricing model is built to grow with your business.
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