Most business owners have felt that familiar sting when reconciling monthly statements. The transaction fees look reasonable at first glance, then something strange appears on the bill. A compliance fee here, a batch processing charge there, and suddenly the math stops making sense. In 2025, merchants are projected to lose over $120 billion globally to credit card processing fees and chargebacks, and roughly 70% of businesses overpay because of hidden markups and opaque billing structures.
The frustration runs deeper than the money itself. When a processor buries its margins inside bundled rates or tiered structures, the merchant loses the ability to make informed decisions. Comparing providers becomes guesswork. Budgeting turns unreliable. And the relationship with the processor starts to feel adversarial rather than supportive.
The goal here is simple: give you enough information to compare these providers on equal footing and find the one that fits how your business actually operates.
How Pricing Models Affect Your Bottom Line
Before looking at each processor, it helps to understand why the pricing model matters as much as the rate itself.
- With flat-rate pricing, you pay the same percentage on every transaction regardless of the card type. This keeps things predictable, but you often overpay on debit cards and lower-cost credit cards because the processor keeps the difference between the actual interchange and what you paid.
- Interchange-plus pricing works differently. You pay the real interchange fee set by the card networks, plus a stated markup from the processor. The total varies by card type, but you can see exactly what went where. This model tends to save money for businesses processing higher volumes.
- Subscription models, like the one Stax uses, charge a fixed monthly fee and pass interchange through at cost, adding only a few cents per transaction. For merchants processing $5,000 or more monthly, the math often works out favorably.
Most U.S. merchants pay somewhere between 2.5% and 3.5% per transaction for consumer credit cards in 2025. Smaller merchants tend toward the high end of that range. The right pricing model can bring you closer to the low end.
1. Finix
Finix operates as both a direct processor connected to major card networks and a full-stack payments infrastructure provider. This combination matters for merchants who need visibility into every layer of their payment costs.
Pricing Structure
Finix uses interchange-plus pricing, charging the actual interchange fees plus a small markup. The rates are negotiated based on volume and business type, which means growing businesses can often secure better terms as they scale.
What Sets It Apart
The company explicitly supports a broad set of high-risk industries that many processors avoid, including CBD, nutraceuticals, gaming, financial services, and digital wallets. For businesses in these categories, finding a processor with both transparent pricing and genuine risk tolerance can be difficult.
Pricing is often more favorable for high-volume or high-risk merchants compared to flat-rate or legacy systems. The interchange-plus structure gives merchants visibility into their actual costs on each transaction. For companies processing large volumes of smaller orders or recurring billing, this model tends to produce meaningful savings over time.
Best Fit
Finix works well for businesses scaling their operations, particularly those in industries that other processors classify as high-risk. The pricing transparency and direct network connections make it easier to forecast costs as volume increases.
2. Square
Square has become synonymous with small business payments, largely because of its simplicity. The flat-rate model removes guesswork, though it typically costs more per transaction than interchange-plus alternatives.
Pricing Structure
Square offers three subscription tiers with consistent per-transaction fees:
- Card present transactions: 2.6% + 15ยข
- Online transactions: 2.9% + 30ยข
- Manually entered transactions: 3.5% + 15ยข
- Invoices: 3.3% + 30ยข for cards, or 1% with $1 minimum for ACH
The Free plan has no monthly cost. The Plus plan runs $49 per month, and Premium costs $149 per month. Premium subscribers get reduced processing rates, with in-person transactions dropping to 2.4% + 15ยข.
What Sets It Apart
Square bundles PCI compliance and dispute support into its rates. There are no monthly or hidden fees on the Free plan. For businesses processing over $250,000 annually, custom pricing becomes available.
The simplicity has real value for new businesses or those with unpredictable volume. You know exactly what each transaction will cost before it happens.
Best Fit
Square makes sense for businesses that prioritize simplicity over optimization. New merchants, seasonal businesses, and those processing lower volumes often find the predictability worth the slightly higher per-transaction cost.
3. Stax Payments
Stax takes a fundamentally different approach by treating payment processing like a subscription service. You pay a monthly fee and receive interchange at cost, with only a few cents added per transaction.
Pricing Structure
Monthly fees are based on annual processing volume:
- Up to $150,000 per year: $99 per month
- $150,000 to $250,000 per year: $139 per month
- $250,000 or more per year: $199+ per month
Transaction fees are minimal: 8ยข for card-present and 15ยข for card-not-present, on top of actual interchange with zero percentage markup.
What Sets It Apart
Stax describes its model as “interchange plus zero” because there is no percentage markup on the interchange rate itself. For businesses with higher transaction volumes, the savings can be substantial compared to both flat-rate and traditional interchange-plus providers.
The company offers month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. This flexibility means you can evaluate the value proposition without being locked in.
Over the years, Stax has expanded by acquiring other payment platforms, including CardX, Payment Depot, and Fusebill.
Best Fit
Stax works best for businesses processing at least $5,000 monthly in credit card transactions. The subscription model becomes increasingly cost-effective as volume grows. Businesses processing under that threshold may find the monthly fee outweighs the savings.
4. Adyen
Adyen serves global enterprises with complex payment needs across multiple regions and payment methods. Its Interchange++ model offers granular visibility into every cost component.
Pricing Structure
Adyen breaks down each transaction into three visible components:
- Interchange fee: Set by the card issuer, varies by card type and region
- Scheme fee: Charged by the card network, such as Visa or Mastercard
- Adyen processing fee: Starting at โฌ0.10 to โฌ0.15 per transaction
Acquirer fees, determined by monthly card volume, start at 0.60% per transaction. According to Adyen, the average total fee for consumer cards in Europe is 1%.
There are no setup fees or monthly fees. Pricing is negotiable for high-volume merchants.
What Sets It Apart
The Interchange++ model tracks rates down to the transaction level, meaning Adyen can calculate costs before a payment is even completed. This level of transparency helps businesses understand precisely what they pay for each transaction across different markets.
For enterprises managing operations in multiple countries, this visibility simplifies budgeting and vendor comparison.
Best Fit
Adyen serves global enterprises handling high volumes and complex requirements. Small businesses or those operating primarily in one market may find the platform more powerful than necessary.
5. Payment Depot
Since being acquired by Stax in 2021, Payment Depot has maintained its focus on interchange-plus pricing for small to mid-size merchants who want straightforward quotes without the subscription model.
Pricing Structure
Payment Depot offers tiered monthly plans with fixed per-transaction markups:
- $49 per month: 15ยข per transaction + interchange
- $79 per month: 10ยข per transaction + interchange
- $99 per month: 7ยข per transaction + interchange
- $199 per month: 5ยข per transaction + interchange
The company advertises markups as low as 0.2% to 1.95%, with no setup fees and no cancellation fees.
What Sets It Apart
Payment Depot helps mid to high volume merchants save an average of $400 per month on credit card processing, according to company data. The fixed per-transaction fee makes costs predictable regardless of the card type used.
The modern software stack includes invoicing, hosted payment pages, and Text2Pay functionality.
Best Fit
Payment Depot works well for small to mid-size merchants who want transparent interchange-plus pricing without committing to a percentage-based markup. The tiered plans let you choose the fee structure that matches your volume.
6. Stripe
Stripe has become a default choice for online businesses because of its developer tools and integration options. The pricing is straightforward, though not the lowest available.
Pricing Structure
Stripe charges flat rates similar to Square:
- Online transactions: 2.9% + 30ยข
- In-person transactions: 2.7% + 5ยข
- International cards: Additional 1.5% fee
- Currency conversion: Additional 1% fee
There are no monthly fees or setup costs for the standard platform.
What Sets It Apart
Stripe publishes its rates openly and does not require negotiation to understand your costs. For businesses that primarily accept payments online, the integration options and documentation reduce development time and ongoing maintenance.
Custom pricing becomes available for businesses processing large volumes.
Best Fit
Stripe serves online businesses that need robust APIs and integration flexibility. Companies that process primarily in-person transactions or those seeking the lowest possible rates may find better options elsewhere.
Choosing the Right Processor for Your Situation
The best processor depends on how your business actually operates. A few questions can help narrow the field:
What is your monthly processing volume? Businesses under $5,000 monthly often do well with flat-rate providers like Square. Above that threshold, interchange-plus or subscription models typically save money.
Do you process mostly in-person or online? Card-present transactions carry lower interchange rates. If most of your sales happen face-to-face, interchange-plus pricing captures those savings.
Are you in a high-risk industry? Not all processors will work with certain business types. Finix explicitly supports categories that others avoid.
Do you operate internationally? Adyen’s Interchange++ model provides visibility across multiple markets. Regional processors may complicate expansion.
How much do you value simplicity versus optimization? Flat-rate pricing removes variables. Interchange-plus requires more attention but often costs less.
The Merchants Payments Coalition reported that families paid an average of close to $1,200 in swipe fees in 2024. Those costs flow through businesses before reaching consumers. Choosing a processor with transparent pricing helps you understand where that money goes and gives you the information to make better decisions as your business grows.
Final Thoughts
Credit card processing fees reached $148.5 billion for U.S. credit card companies in 2024. A portion of that total came from businesses overpaying because they could not see what they were being charged.
None of these options will be perfect for every business. But each one gives you the information needed to make a choice based on real numbers rather than marketing language. That clarity is worth something, especially when processing costs add up to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars annually.
Blog Received on Mail
