What is a Merchant Account? Everything You Need to Know About Processing Payments
Merchant accounts provide payment processing solutions for small and large businesses; here’s a closer look at
Top 5 Payment Processors in the US Compared!
Looking for a merchant account provider for your business? Don’t sign anything until you see our top 5!
Not taking electronic payments? That has to change. With cash becoming less and less popular with each passing day, if you’re not accepting credit, debit, or other digital payments, you’re being left behind.
Even if you are, there’s always a better deal out there, with some able to help you save up to 24% on credit card fees alone!
But with so many options, it can be hard to know which one is the best for you. Well, we’ve done the heavy lifting and put together a merchant account comparison guide for you. Here you’ll find five different payment processors, their pros and cons, and how they can help your business. But first, what is a merchant account?
What Is a Merchant Account?
A merchant account is a specialized business bank account that allows businesses to accept and process electronic payments. These include credit cards, debit cards, and other digital payment methods, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. The merchant account acts as a middleman, communicating with your business bank account to securely hold, process, and deposit payments when you accept them.
Unlike a standard bank account, where you hold all of your business funds, a merchant account is designed for handling payments. Without one, you won’t be able to accept and process any digital payment methods.
With 65% of US adults saying they used a digital wallet within the last 12 months, in the modern day, this is a non-negotiable.
Do I Need a Merchant Account?
If you want to accept and process electronic payments in any form, then yes, you need a merchant account. Without one, you will be reliant on cash as your sole payment method. As cash becomes increasingly less popular among consumers in the US, you can’t afford not to have a merchant bank account for your business.
But it goes far beyond just taking payments. Merchant accounts have a whole host of benefits, including:
Increased Sales
By accepting payments of all kinds, you no longer restrict yourself to just those carrying cash. This flexibility allows you to widen your consumer base while eliminating the risk of losing a sale to a direct customer who accepts electronic payments.
Boost Convenience
Customer satisfaction goes a long way to making a successful business. The increased speed and ease with which you can accept digital payments are going to improve the customer experience and increase the potential for repeat business and customer loyalty.
Accept Online Payments
More and more consumers are shopping online, and if you can’t sell in cyberspace, then you’re being left behind. eCommerce is an essential channel for all modern businesses, and without a merchant account, it’s useless.
Better Cash Flow Management
Merchant accounts deposit cash into your account far quicker than traditional payment methods. This improved cash flow can help improve your operations in numerous ways, including stakeholder confidence, meeting financial obligations, and creating a financial safety net in the case of emergencies.
Improved Security
With advanced security features and compliance accounts like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance, merchant accounts offer some of the most secure payments in the world. These security measures encrypt sensitive data, tokenize to replace card details with placeholders, and perform routine audits. Some will even offer fraud detection tools and real-time monitoring to further enhance protection.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Some providers will also include reporting tools and analytics as part of their service. This can help you track sales, monitor trends, and access real-world data to help you make better strategic decisions. Customer behavior, inventory management, and identifying best-selling items and peak selling times are all available with a few pushes of a button.
Integrate With Current Systems
If you already rely on systems to carry out your operations, then a merchant account can seamlessly integrate with them. Accounting software, point-of-sale (POS) systems, eCommerce platforms, and CRM systems are compatible with merchant account software.
Top 5 Providers Compared: Our Verdict
Just before getting stuck in, we just want to clear something up. This isn’t going to be a ranking to see who is the best merchant account provider. Each one, much like your own business, is unique and has its own strengths and weaknesses.
This is more of an overview of each provider, what it can do for your business, and its pros and cons. This way, you can have an objective, more informed opinion on which one is best for you and your needs.
| Payment Processor | Best For |
|---|---|
| Stripe | Online businesses, SaaS, and smaller businesses. |
| Square | In-person sellers, small businesses, food service. |
| Worldpay | Mid-to-enterprise businesses with global reach. |
| Helcim | Small-to-midsize businesses looking to grow. |
| Paysafe | High-risk industries, iGaming, crypto, and forex. |
- Pros
- No monthly or setup fees. This makes it great for small businesses and startups.
- Quick installation.
- Omnichannel support (online + in-person under one account).
- Supports ACH, wallets, international cards, and over 135 currencies.
- Payouts within 2 business days are standard, or pay 1% extra for instant.
- Cons
- Support is only available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm CST.
- $15 chargeback fee per dispute.
- Hardware costs start at $59 for in-person sales.
- +1% fee for international transactions plus +1% for currency conversion.
First up, we have Stripe, a global leader in the payment processing world. Known for its straightforward approach and setup process, transparent fees, and flexibility, it’s become a favorite of start-ups around the world.
One of its greatest strengths is its lack of a minimum monthly threshold, making it perfect for smaller or part-time operations.
Why Choose Stripe?
Wide Range of Payment Processing: Take payments via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.
In-Person Payments (Stripe Terminal): Accept physical card payments. Stripe offers a wide range of physical machines, from small, simple ones to ones with integrated POS systems.
ACH and Bank Transfers: ACH direct debit and credit, wire, and check payments are all accepted with Stripe.
Multi-Currency Support: Doing business abroad? Perfect! With Stripe, you can accept payments in 135+ currencies.
Basic Fraud Protection and Security: PCI-compliant, with core fraud protections built in.
Fast and Easy Setup: Start processing payments quickly without dealing with traditional merchant account hassles and without paying any setup fees.
Transparent, Predictable Pricing: Flat-rate per transaction pricing with no monthly or setup fees. This makes it ideal if you want clarity over its processing costs.
All-in-One Solution: Manage online, mobile, and in-person payments under one account and dashboard.
Customizable Checkout and Global Reach: Easily tailor the checkout experience and reach customers worldwide with built-in support for international currencies and payment methods.
Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with current systems, including security, tax, and accounting software, among others.
Stripe Fees
| Payment Method | Fee per Transaction |
|---|---|
| Online card payments | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| In-person payments (Stripe Terminal) | 2.7% + $0.05 |
| ACH credit | $1 per payment |
| ACH direct debit | 0.8% per payment (max $5) |
| Wire transfer (incoming) | $8 per payment |
| International/non-USD card payments | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion (if applicable) | +1% |
| Card reader (hardware) | Starting at $59 |
| Dispute/chargeback fee | $15 |
| Setup/monthly fees | None for basic accounts |
- Pros
- No monthly or setup fees
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing.
- Accepts major cards, digital wallets, ACH, and in-person payments.
- Free fraud protection and PCI security tools included.
- Optional POS and payroll add-ons to scale with business.
- Cons
- Higher fees for keyed (3.5% + $0.15) and invoice (3.3% + $0.30) payments.
- Optional POS hardware isn’t free (e.g., card reader $59+).
- Support is mostly online.
Known for its POS systems, Square also offers payment processing and merchant account services for businesses of all shapes and sizes. With 15 years in the game and having invented the first-ever mobile card reader, it now powers 4 million sellers across 8 different countries. From start-ups to multi-nationals, whatever you need, Square has something for you.
Why Choose Square?
Payment Processing: Accept major credit and debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), ACH, in-person, and online payments.
Virtual Terminal: Accept card-not-present payments remotely by keying in card information. This is particularly useful if you take payments over the phone.
Online Payments: Payments easily link with online checkout and automated invoices without the need for a complex setup. This includes seamless integration into e-commerce stores and other online platforms.
Point of Sale (POS) Options: Known for its award-winning POS systems, if you need this alongside a reliable merchant account and payment acceptance hardware, then Square has it all under one roof.
Invoicing: Send invoices to customers for fast, secure remote payments.
Transparent Flat-Rate Pricing: No monthly or hidden fees; what you see is what you pay. All fees are paid at a set rate based on transaction types, and its pricing is simple to understand.
Integrated Security & Compliance: Square handles all PCI compliance and provides built-in security tools at no additional charge, giving you and your customers peace of mind.
Instant Activation & Easy Setup: Setup is a quick process with you up and running often within just minutes.
Square Fees
| Transaction Type | Fee per Transaction |
|---|---|
| In-person (swipe, dip, tap) | 2.6% + $0.10 per |
| Online or card-on-file | 2.9% + $0.30 per |
| Manually keyed entry | 3.5% + $0.15 per |
| Hardware | $0-$799 |
| Monthly/setup fees | None |
| Custom pricing | Available |
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- Pros
- Industry leader with global scale and expertise.
- Supports broad payment types and 135 currencies.
- Strong omnichannel payment capabilities.
- Comprehensive fraud and risk management tools.
- Extensive reporting and analytics features.
- Cons
- Pricing is not transparent.
- Contracts typically require a three-year commitment.
- Cancellation fees of up to $295.
- Customer support has been criticized in online forums.
- Extensive reporting and analytics features. Monthly fees of up to $25pm.
Worldpay is a global name in the payment processing industry, currently serving more than 1 million merchants across 174 countries and processing more than 1bn payments per week. Known for its nimble, scalable solutions and extensive global network, if you conduct business overseas, then Worldpay could be for you.
Why Choose Worldpay?
Online Payment Processing: Accept payments via cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods online.
Strong Security Features: All deals come with advanced fraud protection and authorization tools as standard, offering you and your customers peace of mind.
Multiple Device Types: Worldpay offers a range of different hardware solutions, from mobile card readers to countertop devices. It even has its own Commerce360 device that supports in-person and online payments.
Embedded Payments: Payment facilitation is integrated directly into all platforms, apps, and software. This makes your checkout experience seamless, encouraging browsers to turn into paying customers.
Global Payment Expertise: Worldpay supports 135 different currencies, allowing you to conduct business overseas with as little friction as possible.
Scalable Packages: Worldpay offers an enterprise package that is highly customizable and able to handle high transaction volumes. Perfect if your operations are on the larger side or cross multiple locations.
Comprehensive Fraud and Risk Management: Embedded fraud prevention tools help reduce chargebacks and fraud losses.
Unified Reporting and Analytics: With just a few pushes of a button, you have a wealth of data at your fingertips, allowing you to deep dive into your sales process, notice trends, and make stronger business decisions backed up by real-world data.
Worldpay Fees
| Transaction Type | Fee per Transaction |
|---|---|
| Card-not-present (Online) | Around 2.9% + $0.30 per |
| Card-present (In-Store) | 1.5% |
| PCI compliance fee | $15-$25 |
| Monthly fees | Up to $25 per month, not including transaction or batch fees |
- Pros
- No monthly, setup, or PCI fees for payment processing.
- Transparent, published interchange-plus pricing.
- All-in-one suite: virtual terminal, invoicing, online payments, eCommerce, and integrations.
- Automatic volume-based discounts as you process more.
- No long-term contracts or early termination fees.
- Cons
- Hardware requires up-front purchase.
- No same-day deposits.
- All-in-one suite: virtual terminal, invoicing, online payments, eCommerce, and integrations. Only available to low-risk industries.
Everything Helcim does is with one thing in mind: helping small businesses thrive. Founded in 2006, it now offers online, e-commerce, cloud-based, mobile, and retail payment processing for businesses across North America. It emphasizes fair, open pricing, no long-term contracts, and transparency throughout its services.
Why Choose Helcim?
Credit Card Processing: Interchange-plus pricing for both in-person and online card payments. Take payments from all major card brands with clear, published fees.
Virtual Terminal: Accept keyed-in payments, allowing you to take payments online or over the phone.
Invoicing & Online Payments: Send customizable invoices with built-in payment links. These are perfect for both one-time and recurring billing, and easy online checkout.
ACH Payments: Accept ACH payments directly through invoices and the virtual terminal. These transactions do not require a monthly minimum.
International Card Processing: Accepts payments from international cards in USD or CAD, with no additional markup beyond interchange rates.
eCommerce & Hosted Payment Pages: Hosted payment pages and online store templates are offered to help you accept payments online, with unlimited inventory, shopping carts, and eCommerce pages.
No Contracts or Monthly Minimums: All standard features are available without long-term contracts, monthly fees, or early-exit fees.
Security & PCI Compliance: Advanced PCI compliance, encryption, tokenization, and fraud features come as standard with all packages.
No Monthly, Setup, or PCI Fees: Key features (virtual terminal, invoicing, reporting, eCommerce, and integrations) are included at no recurring charge.
Automatic Volume-Based Discounts: If you’re a high-volume business, you’re in luck. All margins above interchange automatically decrease as your sales volume increases, without any negotiating needed.
All-in-One Platform: One dashboard manages invoicing, virtual terminal, eCommerce, POS, reporting, and integrations.
Helcim Fees
| Transaction Type | Fee per Transaction |
|---|---|
| In-person | Between 0.15%+ 6¢ and 0.40%+ 8¢ |
| Online/eCommerce | Between 0.50%+ 25¢ and 0.15%+ 15¢ |
| ACH (bank transfer) | 0.5% + 25¢0.5% + 25¢ Capped at $6 for transactions below $25,000 +0.05% for transactions above $25,000 |
| Monthly/account fee | $0 |
- Pros
- Wide global reach with support for diverse payment types.
- Perfect choice for high-risk industries.
- Comprehensive fraud prevention and PCI compliance are built in.
- Detailed reporting and analytic tools.
- Cons
- Complaints about customer service quality.
- Reports of fund-holding issues.
- Some customer service and account stability challenges were reported.
Last but certainly not least, we have Paysafe. A global leader in payment solutions, Paysafe has over 29 years of experience processing payments across more than 260 payment types and 48 currencies. What sets it apart is its willingness to take on high-risk industries like forex, crypto, and iGaming.
Why Choose Paysafe?
Card Payment Processing: Accept payments from all major credit and debit cards online and in-store, with PCI compliance and fraud tools built in as standard.
Pay by Bank: Take payments directly via bank transfer, minimizing card fees, and receive your money faster compared to credit cards.
Cryptocurrency Payments: Accept secure, alternative payments like crypto that are automatically converted and settled into your currency of choice.
High-risk Industry Solutions: Specialized solutions tailored to high-risk industries, including iGaming, forex, and online trading. Other providers may not accept these industries, making Paysafe a great option to have in these spaces.
Mobile & Remote Payments: Take mobile payments through its dedicated software, SwipeSimple.
Global Scale & Breadth of Payment Types: Supports more than 260 payment methods and 48 currencies, making it perfect if you conduct business overseas.
Flexible Solutions for SMBs and Enterprises: Paysafe offers scalable solutions tailored for various business sizes and vertical markets.
Strong Integrations and APIs: Facilitates smooth integration into existing merchant systems and other software that your business already relies on.
Paysafe Pricing
| Fee Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Setup costs | No setup fees |
| Monthly fees | $7.95 customer service fee |
| Transaction fees | Interchange mark-up: 0.50% + $0.10 |
| Currency conversion fees | May apply (not explicitly listed) |
| Chargeback fees | $25 per chargeback |
How to Choose the Right Provider For Your Business
Transparent Pricing
Before you sign anything, make sure you know exactly what you’re going to pay to use its services. A few merchant account fees to be aware of include:
- Installation/setup fees
- Transaction fees (flat rate vs. interchange-plus)
- Monthly/annual fees
- Chargeback & PCI compliance fees
Early termination fees (ETFs)
Always ask for a clear and transparent outline of when you will be charged these fees and how much it will cost you. If the wording is vague or you uncover any hidden fees, then it may be best to look elsewhere.
Contract Terms
How long is the length of your contract?
Short-term deals will often come with more expensive rates, and once the deal is up, you may have to scramble to find a new provider. This isn’t ideal if you already have too much on your plate.
However, if this isn’t a problem for you, the increased flexibility of a shorter contract means that you can shop around to find better deals and get out of a situation that isn’t working for you faster.
Longer-term contracts, on the other hand, will typically provide you with more competitive rates. You can also “set it and forget it,” so it’s one less thing for you to worry about when you’ve already got countless other tasks on your hands.
It does mean that if you see a better deal than the one you’re currently on, then you won’t be able to take advantage of it without paying a cancellation fee.
Security & Compliance
Although not federally mandated, your provider should always offer PCI DSS compliance. This is a type of encryption that protects credit and debit card information from getting into the wrong hands. Tokenization and fraud detection should also come as part of any reliable service, so you can sleep soundly at night knowing your customers’ financial data is safe and secure.
Settlement Time
You know what they say, “time is money.” Typically, you’ll find that it takes 1-3 business days for credit card payments to hit your account and 3-5 days for ACH payments. Any longer than this and it’s time to find someone else.
Alternatively, if you require faster speeds, some providers may offer this at a premium. But as we mentioned in our first point, make sure you’re fully aware of all associated fees before agreeing to anything.
Strong Customer Support
Nothing beats a dedicated account manager when it comes to customer support. They get to know your business, its needs, and can offer tailored advice to help you get the most out of your merchant account.
Everything may be great when things are going well, but what happens when it’s not all sunshine and rainbows? A simple resolution process should be non-negotiable when it comes to a merchant account service. Even better if it offers 24/7 assistance.
If you’re ever in doubt, check out sites like Trustpilot and Google Reviews. These will tell you what real-world customers are saying about each provider. One or two bad reviews are expected, but if you notice any patterns (both good and bad), then these should be taken very seriously.
Integration Capabilities
If you already use systems like accounting software, CRM, or POS systems, then make sure your provider can connect to these. The easier the better, and ideally, this will come with tailored support or easy-to-understand resources. This way, you can centralize all of your financial records, streamlining your operations and saving bags of time.
Business Type & Risk
Depending on your business type and credit score/history, you may struggle to get accepted by a merchant account provider. Luckily, there are some vendors out there that are dedicated to specifically catering to those in high-risk industries or those with a less-than-perfect credit score. Factors that may be considered high-risk include:
- Chargeback history
- Geographical location
- Industry type
- Sales model
- Transaction value
You may also find that some providers are more suited to your needs than others. For example, if you operate a chain of restaurants with multiple locations, your needs will be very different from somebody running an online graphic design business. Understanding its history within your industry could make all the difference when it comes to more favourable contracts.
How Can I Get a Merchant Account?
There you have it, the best merchant account providers in the US compared. But before you go, there’s just one thing for us left to do: find one for your business!
Here at Commercial Experts, we’ve already helped countless US businesses like yours find the best merchant account for them, and we’d love for you to be next!
All you have to do is tap the button on this page and answer a few quick questions about your business. Then, based on your responses, get a range of free merchant account quotes tailored to meet your specific needs.
Don’t like what you see? No problem: this service is 100% no strings attached, so walk away with zero obligation to commit.
FAQs
What is a merchant account?
A merchant account is a type of business bank account that lets you accept electronic payments like credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. It acts as an intermediary, processing customer payments and depositing funds into your business account securely and efficiently.
Do I need a merchant account for my business?
Absolutely! If you want to accept non-cash payments, then it’s essential for online transactions and allows you to accept card and digital payments, which most consumers now prefer over cash.
Which provider is best for my business?
That depends on your size, sales volume, and industry. Stripe is great for online startups, Square suits in-person sellers, Helcim offers transparency for growing businesses, Worldpay supports global operations, and Paysafe caters to high-risk industries like crypto or gaming.
What fees are involved with merchant accounts?
Key fees include transaction charges, setup costs, monthly fees, chargebacks, and early termination penalties. Always ask for transparent pricing and read contracts carefully to avoid hidden costs.
How can I get a merchant account?
To get a merchant account for your business, just tap the button on this page below. Then answer a few quick questions about your business, and you’ll receive a range of tailored quotes from some of the best providers in the industry. All quotes are 100% free and no obligation, so it won’t cost you a penny.
