Low or seasonal volume on the move: no fixed fees, fast deposits and short commitments weigh more.
Weigh more here than in the overall ranking: what leaving in month 12 costs, contract term, no equipment lease you can't cancel, automatic renewal, equipment works with another processor, and standard deposit speed. Weigh less here: 12-month cost of the reference restaurant.
The ranking
Helcim
By Helcim
Helcim's interchange-plus pricing with automatic volume discounts: in person, interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ up to $50k a month, down to interchange + 0.15% + 6¢ at the highest volume. No monthly, PCI, statement or batch fee, month-to-month with no cancellation fee, and an optional credit card surcharge (Fee Saver) at no extra fee.
RTC SCORE
8.0
#1 for Food trucks
Pros
- Published interchange-plus markup with automatic volume discounts: 0.40% + 8¢ in person up to $50k a month, lower above that.
- No monthly, PCI, statement, annual or batch fee, and no cancellation fee: month-to-month.
- Fee Saver credit card surcharge with no program fee: your customers pay 3% on credit cards and you keep paying the normal rate on debit. In person it currently works only on the Helcim Smart Terminal.
Cons
- No integration with restaurant POS systems such as Toast, Square, Clover or Lightspeed is documented; in-person payments run on Helcim's own app and devices (or its terminal API).
- Online and keyed-in payments carry a higher markup: 0.50% + 25¢ up to $50k a month.
- Support isn't 24/7: phone Monday to Friday 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, Mountain Time.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, what leaving in month 12 costs, and standard deposit speed. Weakest on 24/7 support.
Square
By Square
Square's card processing, built into Square for Restaurants: flat rates from 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Square Free (2.5% on Plus and 2.4% on Premium), with no PCI, statement or chargeback fees, month to month and with no early termination fee. Its surcharge only covers in-person credit card sales.
RTC SCORE
7.5
#2 for Food trucks
Pros
- Its rates and main fees are published: 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Square Free, with no monthly, PCI, statement, chargeback or inactivity fee.
- Month to month, with no early termination fee: you end it by deactivating your account.
- Deposits the next business day at no extra cost for payments taken before 8 p.m. ET, and instant transfers for 1.95%.
Cons
- The surcharge only covers in-person credit card sales: debit and online sales keep Square's rate, and it isn't available in Connecticut, Maine or Massachusetts.
- Online payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free and keyed-in cards 3.5% + 15¢; the lower in-person rates require Square Plus ($49) or Premium ($149) per location.
- 24/7 phone support only with Square Premium; on Square Free, phone support is weekdays 6 am to 6 pm PT and only for the first 90 days.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, what leaving in month 12 costs, and standard deposit speed.
North (Payanywhere)
By North
North's flat-rate processing through Payanywhere: 2.69% in person and 3.49% + 19¢ keyed in or online through its invoices and links, with plans from $0 a month, next-day deposits (same day at no cost for early batches) and a dual pricing program. Once you pass $100,000 in 12 months on any one card network you move automatically to a 3-year agreement, at fees set at that time, whose early termination fee is the fees left in the term, at least $295.
RTC SCORE
6.5
#3 for Food trucks
Pros
- Next-day deposits by default and same-day at no cost for batches closed by 10:30 a.m. ET, and technical support around the clock.
- A published in-person rate of 2.69% with no per-transaction fee, and no PCI fees under PCI Plus.
- Works with other POS systems, and offers a dual pricing program.
Cons
- Above $100,000 in 12 months on any one card network you move automatically to a 3-year agreement, at fees set at that time, whose early termination fee is the fees left in the term (at least $295), which North can estimate from your volume.
- A payment page on your own website is priced by quote, and the dual pricing program's fees aren't published.
- Its devices only process through North, and smart terminals add a monthly software fee per device.
- Initial term
- 36 months
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, standard deposit speed, and published pricing. Weakest on what leaving in month 12 costs.
PayPal POS
By PayPal
PayPal's point of sale (formerly Zettle): 2.29% + 9¢ in person, 3.49% + 9¢ keyed in and 2.99% + 49¢ for payment links, with no monthly fee, month to month. Sales land in your PayPal balance in minutes; moving them to your bank takes 1 to 3 business days. It only works with the PayPal POS app.
RTC SCORE
5.1
#4 for Food trucks
Pros
- A published in-person flat rate of 2.29% + 9¢, with no monthly fee.
- Month to month: the user agreement lets you close the account without cost.
- Hardware bought once: $79 for the card reader (less for your first one) and $199 for the all-in-one Terminal.
Cons
- Card payments in person only work with the PayPal POS app, which isn't built for restaurants.
- Getting money to your bank takes 1 to 3 business days, unless you pay 1.5% for an instant transfer.
- PayPal can place reserves and holds, and raise rates up to 5% with 30 days' notice on accounts it sees as risky.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on what leaving in month 12 costs, published pricing, and 12-month cost of the reference restaurant.
SumUp
By SumUp
SumUp's flat-rate card readers: 2.6% + 10¢ in person and 3.5% + 15¢ online or keyed in, with a $0 monthly plan, no chargeback fee and no monthly minimums. Deposits take 1 to 2 business days (next day to a SumUp Business Account). Its optional paid POS plans require 12-month contracts.
RTC SCORE
4.3
#5 for Food trucks
Pros
- No monthly fee with card readers or POS Lite, no chargeback fee and no monthly minimums.
- Hardware bought once: the Plus card reader is $54.
- Next-day payouts to the SumUp Business Account, which has no monthly fee.
Cons
- 3.5% + 15¢ online and keyed in.
- Card payments only work through SumUp's own app or POS, which isn't built for full-service restaurants.
- Paid POS plans lock you into 12-month contracts that renew automatically.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on what leaving in month 12 costs, published pricing, and standard deposit speed. Weakest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant.
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.