Quick answer
For a small business that sells mostly online, Stripe is the simplest payment processor: it keeps $1.75 of a $50 card sale and has no monthly plan. If you also sell in person, Square charges 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free for card-present sales and has no monthly fee on Square Free. Shopify Payments matches Stripe's online rate but needs a Shopify plan of $39 a month.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the comparison or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every processor here was checked against the same five questions, for a US business that sells physical products.
- Online card rate The percentage and fixed fee on a standard US card paid on a website or payment link.
- In-person card rate The rate for a card tapped or inserted on a reader, for sales at a shop, market or pop-up.
- Monthly fees What you pay in a month with no sales, at the plan a small business would start on, and any hardware you have to buy.
- Payouts How fast sales reach your bank account, and what faster payouts cost.
- Dispute fees What the processor charges when a buyer disputes a charge with their bank.
Payment processors for small business at a glance
Each processor is shown at the plan a small business would start on. The source and check date for every number are listed under each processor and at the end of the page.
What each processor keeps from a $50 card sale
Rates are easier to compare on one order than as percentages. The example is one $50 online order paid with a standard US card, with no sales tax. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ on that sale, and every other processor is measured against it.
- Helcim $1.71 example card, no monthly fee Helcim margin 0.50% + 25¢ $0.50, Example Visa interchange 2.050% + $0.10 $1.13, Visa card-brand fee 0.1400% $0.07, Visa network fee $0.0195 $0.02
- Stripe baseline $1.75 no monthly fee Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.75
- Shopify Payments $1.75 plus $39 a month Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.75
- Clover $1.85 $199 reader Typed-in 3.5% + 10¢ $1.85
- Square $1.95 free plan Card 3.3% + 30¢ $1.95
- PayPal $1.99 no monthly fee Card 2.99% + $0.49 $1.99
Assumes a $50 order, a standard US consumer card typed in on a website or payment link, no currency conversion and no international card. PayPal uses its card rate; a buyer who pays with a PayPal account costs 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. Shopify uses Basic with Shopify Payments. Square uses Square Free. Clover uses its typed-in rate, which also applies to online sales. Example for Helcim: a Visa rewards credit card typed in online, with interchange of Visa Keyed Rewards Traditional 2.050% + $0.10, the Visa card-brand fee of 0.1400% and the Visa network fee of $0.0195 added to Helcim's margin. Other cards cost more or less.
Each payment processor in detail
Every processor gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline: one flat online rate for domestic cards and wallets, with payment links included.
- Price
- Monthly fee: None (pay-as-you-go). Payment links are Included at no additional charge. A card reader costs $59.00.
- Fees per sale
- Online cards cost 2.9% + 30¢. International cards add +1.5%, and in person the rate is 2.7% + 5¢.
- Strong at
- Online checkout, payment links and invoices from one account.
- Best for
- Businesses that sell mostly online and want no monthly fee.
- Limit
- Each dispute costs $15.00. Standard payouts follow a T+2 schedule, and instant payouts cost 1.5%, minimum fee of 50¢.
A processor built around card readers and a point-of-sale app, with a free online store on the same account.
- Price
- There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- Online and invoice payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus. In person the rate is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Strong at
- Selling in a shop or at markets and online from one account.
- Best for
- Product businesses that sell in person and want an online store on the same account.
- Limit
- The online rate on Square Free, 3.3% + 30¢, is higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢. Instant transfers cost 1.95% of the amount.
A checkout that lets buyers pay with a PayPal account, Venmo, Pay Later or a card.
- Price
- PayPal's fee page lists no monthly fee for standard checkout. A first card reader costs $29 for your first card reader.
- Fees per sale
- Cards through standard PayPal Checkout cost 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Buyers who pay with a PayPal account cost 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, and Pay Later costs 4.99% + $0.49 per transaction.
- Strong at
- Buyers who already have a PayPal or Venmo account.
- Best for
- Businesses whose buyers ask to pay with PayPal.
- Limit
- The fixed fee, 0.49 USD, is higher than Stripe's, so small orders cost more. Disputes cost 15.00 USD.
The payment processor of a Shopify store: Shopify Payments is built in. You need a Shopify plan to use it.
- Price
- Basic plan $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly.
- Fees per sale
- Online cards cost 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, with no transaction fee with Shopify Payments. Another payment provider adds 2%.
- Strong at
- One account for the store, the checkout and the payouts.
- Best for
- Businesses that already run their store on Shopify.
- Limit
- The plan fee is due in months with no sales. Chargebacks cost $15 USD, returned if you win, and payouts take 3 business days.
A point-of-sale system with its own card readers and countertop terminals. Online and phone sales are charged at its typed-in rate.
- Price
- Starter with the Clover Go reader is $199. Essentials is $29.95/mo.
- Fees per sale
- In person 2.6% + 10¢ on Starter or 2.5% + 10¢ on Essentials. Typed-in, online and phone sales cost 3.5% + 10¢.
- Strong at
- Countertop and handheld hardware for a shop.
- Best for
- Shops that sell mostly in person and want a full point-of-sale system.
- Limit
- Device subscriptions run 36 months, online sales cost more than in-person ones, and deposits faster than the standard 1-3 days cost 1.75%.
A processor that passes on the card network's own cost for each sale and adds a set margin, with no contracts or monthly fees.
- Price
- Helcim has no contracts or monthly fees. A card reader costs $199/ unit + shipping.
- Fees per sale
- Online and typed-in cards cost Interchange+ 0.50% + 25¢. In person the rate is Interchange +0.40% + 8¢. Interchange is the card network's cost, which differs by card.
- Strong at
- Low costs on regulated debit cards, where Visa's interchange is 0.050% + $0.22.
- Best for
- Businesses that want the lowest rate and can live with a fee that varies by card.
- Limit
- The fee changes with each card, so you cannot know the exact cost of a sale in advance.
Which one fits you
You sell mostly online and want no monthly fee.
Stripe
2.9% + 30¢ on online cards, with payment links included and no monthly fee.
You sell in a shop or at markets and online.
Square
2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free in person, no monthly fee on Square Free and a free online store on the same account.
Your buyers ask to pay with PayPal or Venmo.
PayPal
A buyer who pays with a PayPal account costs 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, more than a card, but some buyers will not check out without it.
Your store already runs on Shopify.
Shopify Payments
2.9% + 30¢ with no transaction fee with Shopify Payments. Another provider adds 2%.
You run a shop and want countertop hardware.
Clover
In person from 2.6% + 10¢, with device subscriptions of 36 months or a reader bought for $199.
You want the lowest rate and accept a fee that varies by card.
Helcim
Helcim has no contracts or monthly fees and charges Interchange+ 0.50% + 25¢ online, so the total depends on each card's interchange.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not a payment processor and is not ranked here or in the fee example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not in the fee example.
The list covers six payment processors that a US business selling physical products can use online, in person or both. No processor paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every rate was read on the processor's own pricing or fee page on 2 Oct 2026. Each processor's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about payment processors for small business
What is the best payment processor for small business?
The best payment processor for a small business depends on where you sell. For online sales, Stripe keeps $1.75 of a $50 card sale with no monthly plan. For in-person sales, Square charges 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free and has no monthly fee on Square Free. If your store runs on Shopify, Shopify Payments matches Stripe's online rate of 2.9% + 30¢.
What is the best credit card processing for small business?
The best credit card processing for a small business is the one with the lowest rate on the cards your buyers use. Flat rates such as Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ are easy to predict. Helcim charges Interchange+ 0.50% + 25¢ online, where interchange is the card network's cost: on a regulated Visa debit card that cost is 0.050% + $0.22.
Do payment processors charge monthly fees?
Payment processors in this list mostly charge per sale. Stripe's monthly fee is None (pay-as-you-go), Helcim has no contracts or monthly fees and Square has no monthly fee on Square Free. Shopify Payments needs a Shopify plan of $39 a month. Clover Starter is a $199 reader, Essentials costs $29.95/mo, and Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
How much do payment processors charge for a dispute?
Payment processors charge a dispute fee when a buyer disputes a charge with their bank. Stripe charges $15.00 per dispute. Shopify Payments charges $15 USD and returns it if you win. PayPal charges 15.00 USD on PayPal account disputes, and Helcim charges $15 if lost. Square says there are no fees for dispute management services for chargebacks it challenges with you.
How fast do payment processors pay out?
Payment processors pay out on a standard schedule and charge for faster payouts. Stripe follows a T+2 schedule, Square's standard is a next-business-day transfer, Shopify Payments takes 3 business days and Helcim offers Next-business-morning deposits. Faster payouts cost 1.5%, minimum fee of 50¢ on Stripe, 1.95% on Square and 1.50% of amount transferred on PayPal.