Buyer's guide
How to Choose a Payment Processor in 2026: A Practical Checklist
Five factors decide what card processing really costs you, and this checklist shows how to compare quotes without falling for a low headline rate.
Research-backed credit card processing guides from our editorial team. See the full credit card processing comparison →
Five factors decide what card processing really costs you, and this checklist shows how to compare quotes without falling for a low headline rate.
Flat-rate pricing is simpler; interchange-plus is cheaper at volume. Here is the monthly card volume where the math tips in favor of switching.
Your processing rate is three fees stacked together, and only one is negotiable — here's which, and what you can actually control.