Which payment processor has the lowest fees?

For low-volume businesses, Stripe's pay-as-you-go model (2.9% + $0.30) is competitive and transparent. For businesses processing $10,000+/month, Helcim's interchange-plus pricing delivers the lowest effective rates — typically 30-50% less than flat-rate processors. Square's free POS software makes it the most affordable for brick-and-mortar startups. PayPal is generally the most expensive option for international transactions due to 3-4% FX fees.

How to choose the right payment processor for your business?

Start with your primary sales channel. Online-first businesses should evaluate Stripe's API and global reach. Brick-and-mortar businesses should start with Square's free POS ecosystem. Businesses selling on eBay, Etsy, or similar marketplaces benefit from PayPal's native integrations. As your volume grows past $10,000/month, compare your effective rate against Helcim's interchange-plus pricing. Always factor in FX costs if you sell internationally — Stripe's ~1% markup is significantly cheaper than PayPal's 3-4%.

How does Stripe compare to PayPal?

Stripe and PayPal have nearly identical domestic rates (2.9% + $0.30 vs 2.89% + $0.29). The real differences are: Stripe offers a developer-first API with 135+ currencies and ~1% FX markup; PayPal offers 400M+ consumer accounts, faster non-technical setup, and 200+ market presence but charges 3-4% for currency conversion. Choose Stripe for custom integrations and lower international costs; choose PayPal for consumer trust signals and marketplace integrations.

← Software Hub

Compare Software

Business & Accounting Software Personal Finance Software Digital Trading & Investment Platforms AI-Powered Financial Tools Business Banking & Neobanks Payment Processing & POS Insurance Comparison Platforms Tax Filing & Tax Software Investment & Trading Apps International Money Transfer Credit Cards & Credit-Building Tools Business Lending & Financing Digital Wallets Payroll & HR Software Expense Management Software Crypto Exchanges & Trading

Select up to 4 software tools to compare side by side — pricing, features, pros and cons. Find the best fit for your needs with detailed side-by-side comparisons.

Verdict

The best payment processor depends on your sales channel and volume. Stripe is the best choice for online-first businesses that need a developer-friendly API with 135+ currencies and global reach. Square is the best choice for brick-and-mortar businesses that need free POS software and integrated hardware. PayPal is the best choice for businesses that want the fastest setup and benefit from 400M+ consumer trust signals. Helcim is the best choice for businesses processing $10,000+/month that want the lowest possible fees through interchange-plus pricing.

Select tools:StripeSquarePayPalHelcimPayoneerAirwallexTipaltiAdyenBraintree (PayPal)Checkout.comCloverAuthorize.net

Feature	Stripe	Square	Authorize.net
Starting Price	Free · From $620/mo	Free · From $49/mo	From $25/mo
Pay-as-you-go	Free	Free	$25/mo
Stripe Billing Standard	Free	$49/mo	$25/mo
Stripe Billing Volume	$620/mo	$149/mo	—
Best For	Small Biz, Enterprise	Freelancers, Small Biz	Small Biz, Enterprise
Regions	US, CA, GB, AU, FR, DE, NL, JP, SG, HK, IE, CH, AT, BE, DK, FI, IT, NO, ES, SE, PT, PL, NZ, AE, BR, MX	US, CA, GB, AU, JP	US, CA, GB, AU
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android	Web, Ios, Android, Desktop	Web, Ios, Android
Key Features	•135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods including cards, wallets, BNPL, and local methods •Developer-first API with SDKs for 15+ programming languages and extensive documentation •Stripe Radar fraud detection with machine learning (included at 2.9% + $0.30; Radar for Fraud Teams $0.02/check) •Stripe Billing for subscription management, invoices, and recurring payments (0.7% of volume)	•Free POS software with inventory, employee management, customer loyalty, and reporting •In-person payments at 2.6% + $0.15 (tap, dip, swipe); online at 3.3% + $0.30 •Free card reader included on signup; full POS hardware available (Terminal, Register) •Square Online for e-commerce website building with integrated payments	•Established gateway with over 25 years of operation and 430,000-plus merchants •Advanced Fraud Detection Suite with customizable rules •Customer Information Manager for secure card storage and recurring billing •eCheck and ACH payment acceptance
Pros	+Developer-first API with best-in-class documentation, SDKs in 15+ languages, and comprehensive testing tools — the gold standard for custom payment integrations +135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods give Stripe the broadest global reach of any all-in-one payment processor +Built-in fraud detection via Stripe Radar uses machine learning and is included in the standard rate, saving thousands in fraud losses compared to manual review	+Easiest same-day setup for brick-and-mortar businesses — free card reader ships on signup, no merchant account approval needed +All-in-one POS ecosystem: payments, inventory, staff management, loyalty, and e-commerce in a single dashboard +Free POS software is genuinely capable for most small retail and restaurant operations — no monthly fee for core features	+Longest track record in the gateway category — 25-plus years of proven stability +Broadest legacy system compatibility — integrates with virtually every shopping cart and accounting platform +Owned by Visa — strong financial stability and regulatory standing
Cons	−Requires developer resources to unlock full potential — non-technical business owners may struggle with setup and customization compared to Square or PayPal −Flat-rate pricing (2.9% + $0.30) becomes expensive at high volume compared to interchange-plus or tiered pricing models from Helcim or other processors −FX markup of ~1% is cheaper than PayPal's 3-4% but more expensive than platforms built specifically for cross-border commerce like Wise or Airwallex	−Flat-rate pricing becomes expensive at higher volumes compared to interchange-plus processors like Helcim — businesses processing $10K+/month should compare alternatives −Online transaction rates (3.3% + $0.30 on Free plan) are among the highest in the category — Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 for online payments −Limited global availability compared to Stripe — Square operates in only 5 countries (US, CA, GB, AU, JP)	−Monthly gateway fee of $25 adds fixed cost regardless of transaction volume — unfavorable for low-volume merchants −Per-transaction rate of 2.9% plus $0.30 is not competitive at high volume versus interchange-plus platforms −Less modern developer experience than Stripe — documentation and SDKs less comprehensive
Integrations	16+ integrations	7+ integrations	7+ integrations
Actions	Learn more Visit Website	Learn more Visit Website	Learn more Visit Website

Curated Comparison Guides

In-depth side-by-side comparisons of the most popular financial software tools.

Business & Accounting Software

quickbooks-online vs xero

QuickBooks Online is the better choice if you need deep inventory management, strong CPA integration, and advanced...

freshbooks vs wave

FreshBooks is the better choice if you need professional invoicing, time tracking, and client management with room to...

quickbooks-online vs wave

QuickBooks Online is the right choice if you need robust reporting, inventory management, and CPA-grade accounting...

zoho-books vs wave

Both have free tiers but serve different audiences entirely. Wave is US and Canada only — if you are outside North...

quickbooks-online vs sage-intacct

QuickBooks Online and Sage Intacct are not direct competitors — they serve fundamentally different business sizes and...

zoho-books vs xero

Both are globally available and both serve small to mid-size businesses — the choice comes down to ecosystem and...

Investment & Trading Apps

robinhood vs webull

Robinhood for beginners who want simplicity and an IRA with a contribution match. Webull for active traders who want...

robinhood vs etoro

Robinhood for US-only investors who want the cleanest, simplest self-directed trading experience. eToro for...

webull vs etoro

Webull for technically-driven active traders who want advanced charting and analysis tools. eToro for investors who...

fidelity vs charles-schwab

Fidelity is the better choice if you're a US-based beginner or retirement investor — zero expense ratio index funds...

charles-schwab vs interactive-brokers

Charles Schwab is the better choice if you want the best all-around brokerage experience — thinkorswim platform, 24/7...

fidelity vs interactive-brokers

Fidelity is the better choice if you're a US-based investor who values low costs, excellent IRA options, and a...

Business Banking

mercury vs brex

Mercury is the better choice if you need full-featured business banking — checking, savings, free domestic and...

mercury vs novo

Mercury is the better choice if you have a registered business entity (LLC or C-corp), need free domestic and...

mercury vs relay

Mercury is the better choice if you want a clean, single-account banking experience with free domestic and...

novo vs relay

Novo is the better choice if you are a solo founder, freelancer, or sole proprietor who wants completely free,...