RTC SCORE
8.0
#1 of 16 with enough data
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.
Not enough data to score Payment Depot
Payment Depot, now run by Stax: interchange-plus pricing with a markup set in your quote (its pricing page shows variable rates of 0.2% to 1.95%), 8¢ per in-person payment and 15¢ online, month-to-month with no cancellation fee. It doesn't publish its monthly, PCI or statement fees.
Key differences
| Data point | Helcim | Payment Depot |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing (points out of 100) | 100 | 20 |
| Online fee per transaction | 25¢ | 15¢ |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 25¢ | 15¢ |
| Price of a countertop terminal | $349 one-time | $310 one-time |
Side by side
| Feature | HelcimRTC Score: 8.0 out of 10 | Payment DepotRTC Score: Not enough data |
|---|---|---|
| Type of processor and pricing | ||
| Type of processor | Interchange-plus or subscription processorSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Interchange-plus or subscription processorSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Pricing model | Interchange-plusSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Interchange-plusSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Published pricing (points out of 100) | 100(Best value)Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Same rubric for every vendor: in-person rate (25), online and keyed rates (15), markup and monthly fee (20), a stated $0 cancellation fee (20) and its other fees in a public fee disclosure (20). | 20Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Same rubric for every vendor: only the stated $0 cancellation fee counts (20). The in-person and online markups and the monthly fee come by quote, and its PCI, statement and other fees aren't published. |
| Card rates | ||
| In-person rate | 0.4%Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Markup over interchange up to $50k a month in card sales (3-month average); lower tiers above that. | Quote onlySource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)By quote. Payment Depot's pricing page says "Variable rates as low as 0.2% - 1.95%" (Merchant Maverick reads that as its markup over interchange) and, lower on the same page, "0% markup on interchange"; your markup is set in your quote. |
| In-person fee per transaction | 8¢Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | 8¢Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)8¢ per in-person payment on top of interchange and your quoted markup. |
| Online rate | 0.5%Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Keyed and online payments share Helcim's card-not-present markup, up to $50k a month. | Quote onlySource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)By quote. Payment Depot's pricing page says "Variable rates as low as 0.2% - 1.95%" (Merchant Maverick reads that as its markup over interchange) and, lower on the same page, "0% markup on interchange"; your markup is set in your quote. |
| Online fee per transaction | 25¢Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | 15¢(Best value)Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Keyed-in rate | 0.5%Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Same card-not-present markup as online payments, up to $50k a month. | Quote onlySource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)By quote. Payment Depot's pricing page says "Variable rates as low as 0.2% - 1.95%" (Merchant Maverick reads that as its markup over interchange) and, lower on the same page, "0% markup on interchange"; your markup is set in your quote. |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 25¢Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | 15¢(Best value)Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| American Express pricing | American Express's cost plus a markupSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)American Express's OptBlue rate plus Helcim's usual markup. Helcim also lists an acquirer network fee of 0.03% + 3¢ on every American Express payment, which our cost estimate leaves out (about $3 a month for our reference restaurant). | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't say how it prices American Express. |
| American Express rate | N/ASource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)American Express doesn't have a rate of its own here: you pay its cost plus Helcim's markup. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish a rate for American Express. |
| Rates by monthly volume | In person: interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ up to $50k a month; 0.35% + 7¢ from $50k; 0.25% + 7¢ from $100k; 0.20% + 6¢ from $500k; 0.15% + 6¢ from $1M. Online and keyed: 0.50% + 25¢; 0.45% + 20¢; 0.35% + 20¢; 0.25% + 15¢; 0.15% + 15¢. The tier follows your 3-month average volume; above $5M a month, pricing is by quote.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | No published tiers: the pricing page shows a rate range, "variable rates as low as 0.2% - 1.95%" (Merchant Maverick reads it as the markup over interchange), and your markup is set in your quote.Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Monthly and other fees | ||
| Monthly account or plan fee | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Quote onlySource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot publishes no monthly fee; Merchant Maverick (July 2026) says its old membership pricing was replaced by quoted pricing. |
| Annual fee per account | $0/yrSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Annual fees per device or location | $0/yr per deviceSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)No yearly fee per device. Optional 4G data for a terminal costs $7 a month. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot publishes no fee per device or location. |
| PCI compliance fee (yearly) | $0/yrSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Not published. Merchant Maverick (July 2026) reports recent customer complaints about PCI fees. |
| PCI non-compliance fee (monthly) | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim says it charges no PCI fees, and its fee disclosure lists no fee for not completing PCI compliance. | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Statement fee | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Monthly minimum | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Fee per batch | $0Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Inferred: Helcim doesn't say "no batch fee" in so many words, but the "Other Fees" table of its US fee disclosure lists no batch fee, and its statement guide shows only interchange, card network costs and Helcim's markup. | $0Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Chargeback fee | $15Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Other fees | Tap to Pay on iPhone: 10¢ per approved payment. Recurring payments: +0.4%. International cards: +1.45% (Visa, Mastercard), +1.30% (Discover), +1.00% (American Express). Level 2/3 data optimization: Helcim keeps 30% of the savings. Optional 4G data: $7 a month. ACH: 0.5% + 25¢ (capped at $6 under $25,000) and $5 per returned payment. American Express acquirer network fee: 0.03% + 3¢.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | ACH: 1% per payment, capped at $10. Optional terminal protection plan: $19 a month. Payment Depot doesn't publish its other account fees.Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Equipment | ||
| How you get the equipment | You buy itSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)The Smart Terminal can also be paid in 12 monthly payments of $32. | You buy itSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Terminals have a per-unit price. |
| Price of a countertop terminal | $349 one-timeSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim Smart Terminal (countertop, with printer and 4G). The card reader costs $199. | $310 one-time(Best value)Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Dejavoo QD4 countertop terminal. |
| Equipment lease you can't cancel | NoSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | NoSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot sells its terminals at a per-unit price; its equipment page offers no lease. |
| Equipment lease term | N/ASource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim doesn't lease equipment: you buy it. | N/ASource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)No lease offered. |
| Equipment at $0 upfront: what it commits you to | N/ASource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim doesn't offer equipment at $0 upfront: you buy the card reader ($199) or the Smart Terminal ($349, or 12 payments of $32). | N/ASource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't offer equipment at $0 upfront: you buy it. |
| Equipment only works with this processor | UnconfirmedSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim's POS app only works with Helcim hardware, but Helcim doesn't say whether its reader or terminal can be used with another processor. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't say whether its terminals can be used with another processor. |
| Getting your money | ||
| Standard deposit speed | Next business daySource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Next business day at no extra cost when your bank is on the RTP or FedNow networks and you close the batch by 7 PM Mountain Time; otherwise 1 to 2 business days. Your first batches take about 3 business days. | Next business daySource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Instant payout fee | N/ASource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim doesn't offer paid instant payouts; its fastest option is next-business-day Faster Deposits at no cost. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish an instant payout option. |
| Holds and reserves | Helcim's terms let it hold or delay payouts and require a reserve for any reason related to your use of the service, in an amount it sets and can change at any time, funded from your sales or your bank account. After the account closes it may keep a reserve for at least 6 months.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot's merchant agreement isn't public. |
| Contract and exit | ||
| Contract term | Month to monthSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month: you can close the account without a fee. | Month to monthSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, per Payment Depot and Merchant Maverick (July 2026). |
| Automatic renewal | Month to monthSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. | Month to month()Source: Merchant Maverick (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. |
| Notice to avoid renewal | 0 daysSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)No renewal to opt out of. | 0 days()Source: Merchant Maverick (opens in a new tab)No renewal to opt out of; the cancellation notice isn't published. |
| Notice to cancel | 0 daysSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)You close the account by calling support during business hours; no notice period. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot's merchant agreement isn't public. |
| Early termination fee | No early termination or cancellation fee.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | No cancellation fee.Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| How the early termination fee is calculated | No early termination feeSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | No early termination feeSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Liquidated damages clause | NoSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | NoSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) |
| Price increases during the contract | With notice, and you can leave without a feeSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)With at least 30 days' notice, and you can close the account without a fee. Card network costs pass through as they change. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (Stax) (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot's merchant agreement isn't public. The terms of use on its site (Stax's) say Stax's fees may be changed at any time, but they leave processing fees to the separate merchant agreement, so we don't use them for this. |
| Right to raise prices | Helcim can change its rates and fees with at least 30 days' notice on its platform; continuing to use the service after that accepts them. Card network fees change when the networks change them.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot's merchant agreement isn't public. |
| Personal guarantee by the signer | YesSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Only if Helcim asks for it as extra security; it isn't a standard part of signing up. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot's merchant agreement isn't public. |
| Dual pricing and surcharges | ||
| Dual pricing or surcharge program | YesSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Fee Saver is a credit card surcharge. Its terms say that in person it currently works only on the Helcim Smart Terminal (Helcim's help center also lists the newest card reader). Helcim can adjust the customer's fee for some card brand and cross-border costs, and can change, suspend or end Fee Saver at any time, with or without notice. Card network rules and state laws apply. | YesSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Credit card surcharging; Payment Depot doesn't publish what your customers pay, what debit costs you with it or its fee. Card network rules and state laws apply. |
| Cards the program covers | Credit cards only (surcharge)Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Credit cards only (surcharge)Source: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)A surcharge only covers credit cards (card network rules). |
| Monthly fee for the program | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Neither the Fee Saver terms nor Helcim's fee disclosure list a fee for it. | Not publishedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish it; its pricing page sends you to a quote. |
| Your POS and your business | ||
| Works with these restaurant POS | OthersSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Its own POS app at no extra cost. The Smart Terminal has an API to connect other POS systems, but Helcim documents no integration with Toast, Square, Clover, Shift4 POS, SpotOn or Lightspeed. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't list the restaurant POS systems it works with; Merchant Maverick (July 2026) mentions the Authorize.Net and NMI gateways for online payments. |
| Requires the vendor's own POS | NoSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)The Smart Terminal also works as a standalone terminal next to your POS. | NoSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)It sells standalone terminals; it doesn't require a POS of its own. |
| Monthly volume it's built for | $0/moSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)No minimum volume: the first tier starts at $0. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish a minimum volume. |
| Accepts high-risk businesses | YesSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Some higher-risk businesses after extra review; prohibited businesses are turned down. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't publish which business types it accepts. |
| Routes debit to the lowest-cost network | UnconfirmedSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Helcim prices PIN debit at interchange plus its markup but doesn't say whether it routes debit to the cheapest network. | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot doesn't say whether it routes debit to the cheapest network. |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 support for merchants | NoSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | UnconfirmedSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Payment Depot says you can reach it "anytime" but publishes no support hours. |
| Support channels | Phone, Email or formSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab)Phone with its in-house team, and support tickets from your account. | Phone, Email or formSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)A support line (877-877-7668) and online contact. |
Contracts compared
| Product | Initial term | Auto-renewal | Early termination fee | Price increases during the term | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelcimSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination or cancellation fee. | Helcim can change its rates and fees with at least 30 days' notice on its platform; continuing to use the service after that accepts them. Card network fees change when the networks change them.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Payment DepotSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, per Payment Depot and Merchant Maverick (July 2026). | No auto-renewal()Source: Merchant Maverick (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. | No cancellation fee. | Unconfirmed | No data |
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.
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