PaidRouter

Cheapest payment processor for small business · fees checked 2026-10-29

Cheapest for a $1,000 payment: $0.00 by bank transfer, about $25.35 by card.

There is no single cheapest processor. It depends on how your customer pays. Here is every route ranked by fee for a $1,000 payment, by payment type, from the providers' own pricing pages.

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How your customer pays

Show me the cheaper way

Every route, ranked, for $1,000

* estimate: interchange-plus pricing depends on the card; we assume 2.0% + 10¢ online and 1.7% + 10¢ in person.

Customer pays by card online

RouteFee on $1,000RateSource
Helcim, card$25.35*2.54%source
Melio, card$29.002.9%source
Stripe, card$29.302.93%source
Shopify Payments, Basic plan ($39/mo)$29.302.93%source
PayPal, card$30.393.04%source
Square Free, card or invoice$33.303.33%source
PayPal Checkout$35.393.54%source

Customer pays by card in person

RouteFee on $1,000RateSource
Helcim, in person$21.18*2.12%source
Square Free, in person$26.152.62%source
Stripe Terminal$27.052.71%source

Customer pays by bank transfer

RouteFee on $1,000RateSource
Melio, bank transfer request$0.000%source
Zelle for business (through your bank)$0.000%source
Wise Business, USD account ($31 once)$0.000%source
Payoneer receiving account, then withdraw$1.500.15%source
Stripe, ACH bank debit$5.000.5%source
Helcim, ACH$5.250.53%source
Square Free, ACH invoice$10.001%source
PayPal, Pay by Bank$10.001%source

Customer pays with a payment app

RouteFee on $1,000RateSource
Venmo business profile$19.101.91%source
Cash App business$26.152.62%source
PayPal goods & services$29.902.99%source

Sources

PlatformMethodFeeChecked
stripecard online2.9% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
stripecard in person2.7% + $0.05source, 2026-10-29
stripeach debit0.8%, cap $5source, 2026-10-29
stripestablecoin1.5%source, 2026-10-29
squarecard online or invoice3.3% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
squarecard in person2.6% + $0.15source, 2026-10-29
squareach invoice1%, min $1source, 2026-10-29
paypalpaypal checkout3.49% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalcard online2.99% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalgoods and services2.99%source, 2026-10-29
paypalach pay by bank1%, cap $10source, 2026-10-29
helcimcard online or keyedinterchange + 0.5% + 25¢source, 2026-10-29
helcimach0.5% + $0.25, cap $6source, 2026-10-29
melioach received0%source, 2026-10-29
meliocard received2.9%source, 2026-10-29
wise businessreceive usd local0%source, 2026-10-29
shopify paymentsonline card basic2.9% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
shopify paymentsonline card grow2.7% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
shopify paymentsonline card advanced2.5% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
zellereceive business0%source, 2026-10-29
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