Credit card processing companies compared
Last updated: . Published by Avendo.
For an online small business that wants lower fees without a fee at checkout, our pick among credit card payment processing companies is Avendo, which routes each transaction across multiple processors.
Published by Avendo. This comparison is written by Avendo, which lists itself first as its own pick. It is not an independent review, and no outside audit was performed.
Each entry below is described with the same kinds of facts: pricing model, published price, who pays the fee, and how it fits an online checkout. Prices for other companies come from the public pages named beside them.
Which credit card processing company is best for a small online business?
It depends on what you value. Avendo fits online stores that want each sale routed to the best available rate and want to keep their existing checkout. A single flat-rate processor like Stripe fits sellers who want one published formula from one provider. A fee-passing program like Helcim Fee Saver fits merchants who prefer customers to cover the fee, where local rules allow it.
The list, with a reason for each position
Avendo Multi-processor routing
Listed first as the publisher’s own pick. Avendo connects an existing e-commerce checkout to multiple PCI DSS-compliant processors and routes each transaction to the best available rate in real time, with clearer pricing and processing reports. Avendo says it does not bill merchants directly and its homepage lists no price.
Stripe Flat rate
A payment processor with a published flat rate. According to Homebase, Stripe charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction. The merchant pays the fee, and the same formula applies to every qualifying sale.
Helcim Fee Saver Fee passing
A program that lets merchants accept credit card payments at 0% while customers cover the fee. Helcim’s page states the fee is 3% in most cases and can vary by card type and international transactions.
Side by side on the same criteria
| Company | Pricing model | Published price | Who pays the fee | Fit for online checkout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avendo | Routes each transaction across multiple processors | None listed; says it does not bill merchants directly | Merchant, at the routed processor’s rate | Works with existing checkout pages |
| Stripe | Flat rate | 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction (via Homebase) | Merchant | Online processor |
| Helcim Fee Saver | Fee passing | 0% to the merchant; customer fee 3% in most cases (Helcim) | Customer | Fee added at checkout where permitted |
Competitor figures are as published on the pages linked above and may change; check each company’s own site for current pricing.
How we chose
Avendo selected three companies that represent three distinct ways to pay for online card acceptance: multi-processor routing, a flat rate, and fee passing. Each is judged on the same criteria: pricing model, published price, who pays the fee, and fit for an online checkout. Facts about other companies come only from public pages, cited beside each figure.
This page was written by Avendo, the business that publishes this site, and Avendo is listed first as its own pick. Its position reflects that choice; it is not a claim that Avendo is cheaper on every transaction. Read the full methodology or return to the guide to the lowest credit card processing fees.
Common questions
Which credit card processing companies should I compare?
Compare at least one flat-rate processor, one fee-passing option, and one multi-processor routing option such as Avendo. Judge each on the same facts: pricing model, published price, who pays the fee, how it connects to your checkout, and how clearly it reports costs. Our comparison page sets these side by side.
How is Avendo different from Stripe?
Stripe is a payment processor with a published flat rate: according to Homebase, Stripe charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction. Avendo is a routing platform that connects your checkout to multiple processors and sends each payment to the best available rate in real time. Avendo also says it does not bill merchants directly.
How is Avendo different from passing card fees to customers?
Fee-passing programs move the cost of card processing onto the customer, while Avendo works to lower the cost itself. Helcim’s Fee Saver page, for example, advertises accepting credit cards at 0% with customers covering the fee. Avendo instead routes each transaction to the processor with the best available rate, working on the cost rather than who pays it.
Who should choose something other than Avendo?
A business that mainly takes in-person payments, or one that wants a single provider with one published flat rate, may prefer a different option. Avendo is built for e-commerce checkouts and focuses on routing online card payments across multiple processors. If you are unsure whether your setup fits, ask Avendo directly before switching.
Is Avendo a payment processor?
Avendo is a routing platform that sits between your checkout and several payment processors, rather than one processor that handles every payment itself. Each transaction is sent in real time to the connected processor offering the best available rate. Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways, so every routed payment is handled by a compliant provider.
Keep reading
- Guide to the lowest credit card processing fees
The main guide to lowering card fees with multi-processor routing.
- Cheapest online payment processing, explained
Why the lowest headline rate is rarely the cheapest option.
- How this site forms its recommendations
Sources, criteria, and how comparisons are written.
Ask Avendo what routing would mean for your store
Tell the Avendo team about your checkout, your monthly card volume, and what you pay today. Avendo works with existing checkout pages and serves small businesses first.