Over about $100k a month in card sales: interchange-plus pricing and every tenth of a percent weigh more.
Weigh more here than in the overall ranking: 12-month cost of the reference restaurant and published pricing. Weigh less here: what leaving in month 12 costs, contract term, no equipment lease you can't cancel, automatic renewal, and equipment works with another processor.
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
8.1
#1 for High volume
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, published pricing, and standard deposit speed. Weakest on 24/7 support.
Dharma Merchant Services
By Dharma Merchant Services
Dharma's interchange-plus pricing for restaurants: interchange + 0.15% + 8¢ in person and + 0.20% + 11¢ online, with a $20 monthly fee; 0.10% and $15 above $100,000 a month or with an average ticket of $25 or less. No PCI, batch or annual fee, no early termination fee and $49 to close the account, plus an optional credit card surcharge for $25 a month.
RTC SCORE
7.9
#2 for High volume
Pros
- Published markup for restaurants: interchange + 0.15% + 8¢ in person, and 0.10% for high volume or tickets of $25 or less.
- A public table of every fee, with no PCI, batch, annual, AVS or monthly minimum fees.
- No early termination fee; leaving costs $49.
Cons
- A $20 monthly fee, and Dharma says it doesn't make sense below a few thousand dollars a month.
- The credit card surcharge costs $25 a month extra (or 0.12% on Clover), and debit stays at the normal rate.
- Both bank program guides it publishes state a 3-year initial term and let the bank set a reserve at its discretion and adjust your rates without notice if your volume or ticket change.
- Initial term
- 36 months
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, published pricing, and standard deposit speed. Weakest on 24/7 support.
Adyen
By Adyen
Adyen's interchange++ pricing: a $0.13 processing fee per transaction plus interchange, network fees and 0.60% on Visa and Mastercard; American Express at 3.3% + $0.10 and Discover at 3.95%. No monthly, setup or closure fee, but a minimum invoice by industry that isn't published, two months' notice to leave and payouts two business days after the sale.
RTC SCORE
7.3
#3 for High volume
Pros
- Published interchange++ pricing: 0.60% + $0.13 over interchange and network fees on Visa and Mastercard, with no monthly or setup fee.
- No closure fee and no fixed term.
- Least-cost routing for US debit cards and 24-hour emergency support.
Cons
- A minimum invoice by industry whose amount isn't published, which weighs most on smaller restaurants.
- American Express (3.3% + $0.10) and Discover (3.95%) carry all-in rates higher than interchange plus a markup.
- Payouts arrive two business days after the sale, and leaving takes two months' notice.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, what leaving in month 12 costs, and published pricing.
Finix
By Finix
Finix's subscription pricing for businesses that process their own sales: interchange with no percentage markup plus 15¢ per transaction (American Express + 0.30%), for $250 a month. Month-to-month with a $0 termination fee, next-business-day payouts at no cost and an optional credit card surcharge. Built for businesses from about $5,000 a month.
RTC SCORE
6.9
#4 for High volume
Pros
- No percentage markup on Visa, Mastercard and Discover: interchange plus 15¢ in every channel.
- Its fees are in a public table, with a $0 termination fee and month-to-month service.
- Next-business-day payouts at no cost; instant payouts for 1.5%.
Cons
- $250 a month makes it expensive at low volume; Finix says it works best from $5,000 a month.
- No integration with a named restaurant POS: its terminals work standalone or through its POS API.
- Regular support is by email only, with no phone line.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, published pricing, and standard deposit speed.
Not enough verified data to rank
We only rank a processor once we've verified enough of its key facts. These are listed so you know we looked at them.
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.