Best Credit Card Processing Companies for Small Business 2026
The best credit card processor for most small businesses is Kurv, for selling on the go without extra hardware. Pick Square if you're just starting out, or Helcim for the most transparent pricing.
Last updated: September 2026
1
Best for selling on the go
Kurv
Free plan available
Starting from: $0/mo
- Power scalable e-commerce payment growth
- One secure payment gateway ecosystem
- 100% US-based 24/7 support
- Reliable Merchant Services software
- Transparent transaction-based pricing
- Strong online payment solutions
- Responsive, knowledgeable support
- No money-back guarantee
- No free trial option
1
Best for selling on the goFree virtual terminal & phone tap-to-pay
Free plan available
Free virtual terminal & phone tap-to-pay
- Power scalable e-commerce payment growth
- One secure payment gateway ecosystem
- 100% US-based 24/7 support
- Reliable Merchant Services software
- Transparent transaction-based pricing
- Strong online payment solutions
- Responsive, knowledgeable support
- No money-back guarantee
- No free trial option
Starting price $0/mo
2
Best for High-RiskPaysafe
Starting from: $2.75// transaction
- Market-leading risk and fraud protection
- Seamless, safe and secure payments
- Custom-made for your business model
- User-friendly interface
- Diverse payment options for all sized businesses
- Prompt customer service
- Efficient chargebacks management feature
- Compatibility Problems which may lead to manual reconciliation
- Customer Support on technical issues may be slower than anticipated
2
Best for High-Risk1 payment platform, endless possibilities For any size & type of online business
1 payment platform, endless possibilities
- Market-leading risk and fraud protection
- Seamless, safe and secure payments
- Custom-made for your business model
- User-friendly interface
- Diverse payment options for all sized businesses
- Prompt customer service
- Efficient chargebacks management feature
- Compatibility Problems which may lead to manual reconciliation
- Customer Support on technical issues may be slower than anticipated
Starting price $2.75// transaction
3
Fastest setupMerchant One
Starting from: $13.95/mo
- 98% approval rate & 24/7 customer support
- Flat-rate pricing & no setup fees
- Dedicated account manager
- High Approval Rate Regardless of Credit
- Quick Setup
- Quick Access to Funds
- PCI Compliant
- Merchant One requires a three-year contract
- Services may be more expensive than competitors
3
Fastest setupFull-service credit card processing
Integration with over 175 shopping carts
- 98% approval rate & 24/7 customer support
- Flat-rate pricing & no setup fees
- Dedicated account manager
- High Approval Rate Regardless of Credit
- Quick Setup
- Quick Access to Funds
- PCI Compliant
- Merchant One requires a three-year contract
- Services may be more expensive than competitors
Starting price $13.95/mo
4
Best for in-storeClover
- Payments as low as 2.3% +10¢/transaction
- Fraud protection up to $100,000
- Take payments with or without Wi-Fi
- All-inclusive & user-friendly solutions
- Competitive flat-rate payment processing fees
- Wide variety of app integrations
- 24/7 customer support ensures continuous assistance
- High up-front costs
- No online application option
- Clover hardware required for some features
4
Best for in-storeRun credit card transactions in seconds
Get a Clover POS starting at just 1¢/mo
- Payments as low as 2.3% +10¢/transaction
- Fraud protection up to $100,000
- Take payments with or without Wi-Fi
- All-inclusive & user-friendly solutions
- Competitive flat-rate payment processing fees
- Wide variety of app integrations
- 24/7 customer support ensures continuous assistance
- High up-front costs
- No online application option
- Clover hardware required for some features
5
Best for startups
Square
Free plan available
Starting from: $0/mo
- Simple price structures
- Many payment options available
- PCI compliance for data security
- Affordable chip card readers
- Competitive transaction fees (especially for low-volume businesses)
- Omnichannel selling capabilities
- No time tracking
- No late fee capabilities
- Doesn’t support high-risk merchants
5
Best for startupsQuickly, easily, and securely
Free plan available
Customer tailored product suites
- Simple price structures
- Many payment options available
- PCI compliance for data security
- Affordable chip card readers
- Competitive transaction fees (especially for low-volume businesses)
- Omnichannel selling capabilities
- No time tracking
- No late fee capabilities
- Doesn’t support high-risk merchants
Starting price $0/mo
6
Best Budget OptionLeaders
- Only $0.15 batch fee
- 24/7/365 tech support
- Exceptional approval rate
- Transparency regarding features
- Clover POS systems available for purchase
- Works with high-risk merchants
- Early termination fee of $250-$350
- Unclear pricing
- Online complaints
6
Best Budget OptionIndustry low rates and fees SAVE or get $200 *
Industry low rates and fees
- Only $0.15 batch fee
- 24/7/365 tech support
- Exceptional approval rate
- Transparency regarding features
- Clover POS systems available for purchase
- Works with high-risk merchants
- Early termination fee of $250-$350
- Unclear pricing
- Online complaints
7
Most transparent pricing
Helcim
Starting from: $1.83/+ 8¢
- No contracts. No monthly fees.
- Comprehensive customer management system
- Low interchange rate per transaction
- No minimum processing requirement
- Easily navigate surcharging, convenience fees, and service charge with one tool
- No monthly fees
- Excellent customer service
- Exclusive to low-risk industries
7
Most transparent pricingZero-cost payment processing platform Automatic volume-based discounts
Zero-cost payment processing platform
- No contracts. No monthly fees.
- Comprehensive customer management system
- Low interchange rate per transaction
4.3
Read review- No minimum processing requirement
- Easily navigate surcharging, convenience fees, and service charge with one tool
- No monthly fees
- Excellent customer service
- Exclusive to low-risk industries
Starting price $1.83/+ 8¢
8
Best for High-VolumeStax
Starting from: $99/mo
- 0% markup payment processing with flat fees
- Savings of up to 40% monthly
- Ideal for high-volume merchants
- Quickbooks integration
- Transparent monthly pricing with no percentage markups
- Omni Integrated Payments platform
- US-based merchants only
- Pricy for low-volume businesses
8
Best for High-VolumeFirst month free for US-based businesses*
First month free for US-based businesses*
- 0% markup payment processing with flat fees
- Savings of up to 40% monthly
- Ideal for high-volume merchants
- Quickbooks integration
- Transparent monthly pricing with no percentage markups
- Omni Integrated Payments platform
- US-based merchants only
- Pricy for low-volume businesses
Starting price $99/mo
9
Best if you've been declinedPaymentCloud
- Fast funding with same day deposits
- No setup/hidden fees & free terminal
- No min. credit score & 98% approval rate
- Works with high-risk merchants
- Free credit card terminal
- No account setup fees
- Pricing not publicly available
9
Best if you've been declinedTop-rated customer support Dedicate account representative
Top-rated customer support
- Fast funding with same day deposits
- No setup/hidden fees & free terminal
- No min. credit score & 98% approval rate
- Works with high-risk merchants
- Free credit card terminal
- No account setup fees
- Pricing not publicly available
10
Best interchange pricingPayment Depot
Starting from: $0.2/mo
- 0% markup with interchange pricing
- Save $400+ monthly on processing fees
- No hidden fees, transparent rates
- Zero set up fee.
- Excellent customer support.
- Annual billing saves costs in the long run.
- No hidden charges.
- Does not support payment outside the U.S.
- Does not approve high-risk businesses.
10
Best interchange pricingProcess credit cards at net zero cost
Process credit cards at net zero cost
- 0% markup with interchange pricing
- Save $400+ monthly on processing fees
- No hidden fees, transparent rates
- Zero set up fee.
- Excellent customer support.
- Annual billing saves costs in the long run.
- No hidden charges.
- Does not support payment outside the U.S.
- Does not approve high-risk businesses.
Starting price $0.2/mo
* Featured prices and terms can be updated. Free offers may include additional terms.









