Best credit card processing companies of 2024

Any entrepreneur knows that running a small business requires more than simply collecting payments. Stripe offers a comprehensive credit card processing and POS system, plus plenty of perks to make the day-to-day of running a business easier.

For example, its revenue and finance tools integrate billing, payments, revenue and tax reporting so you can simplify tedious tasks like bookkeeping. Meanwhile, the built-in reporting feature lets you create your own financial reports – a quick and easy way to see where you could be cutting costs in your day-to-day operations. Stripe also has pre-built integrations that can optimize workflows, like a Freshbooks accounting tool integration and Shopify e-commerce integration.

We also like the collaboration notes feature Stripe offers, which lets you attach notes to payments or refunds. This gives team members context regarding the transaction (like why a refund was issued) which can improve clarity and minimize unnecessary back-and-forth communication. All of these features mean smoother operation for busy business owners.

Stripe is a comprehensive payment collection tool with straightforward pricing. You can bill and collect payments through a wide variety of hardware POS and payment systems. With its versatile feature set, including some nice integration and automation features, Stripe offers a solid bang for your buck.

Value 

Stripe has a clear pricing model that’s transparently posted on its website – something we can’t say for all the providers on this list. The variety of payment options accommodated is fantastic, offering flexibility that business owners will definitely value (pricing is adapted to payment type, which is standard for the industry).

Stripe also has a wide variety of POS devices to choose from, including tap-to-pay readers and phone readers. You have to pay extra for the hardware, but this is predominantly the case among the providers we surveyed. Stripe’s unified onboarding process promises to simplify the hardware logistics, so you don’t have to stress about getting set up.

Functionality 

Stripe checks all the essential boxes any small business owner needs in a credit card processing tool. In addition to collecting online and onsite payments, Stripe allows you to set up billing, calculate and collect tax and generate financial reports. You can integrate diverse digital wallets, from PayPal to Alipay, giving customers a range of popular payment options to choose from.

We also like the time-saving features, like prebuilt checkout forms. Another time saver: the automated reconciliation feature, which matches activity from your Stripe account to activity in your bank account. This saves you the trouble of reconciling your Stripe and bank statements, making it easy to track cash and implement stricter financial controls in your business.

Support 

When it comes to getting your money, tech glitches are the last thing you want to deal with. Stripe promises comprehensive customer support, with email, chat and phone support all available 24/7 for free. There is also a comprehensive online knowledge base.

To contact support, you’re asked to sign into your Stripe account. Without an account to sign into, we were unable to test out the support options. However, Stripe does have an online contact form in case you don’t have an account or can’t sign in. You select a topic question, input your query and provide your email address, and customer support gets back to you by email.

Learn more: Read our full Stripe review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

Your business wouldn’t survive without its loyal customers. Square makes it easier to connect with people and keep them coming back thanks to features like the customer directory, which allows you to create a customer profile with basic contact information for every sale you make. You can also create physical or digital gift cards for free, which can be a great way to bring in new customers.

For an added charge, you can take customer connection a step further with POS-integrated email marketing ($15 per month) and text message marketing ($10 per month, plus messaging rates). For example, you can text people directly about sales and share coupons, which is a great way to draw people in.

Square also offers industry-specific features for restaurants and retail that can benefit business owners and customers alike. For example, inventory tools help prevent stock-outs, which are frustrating for buyers and mean financial loss for retailers. All in all, Square helps keep businesses and consumers satisfied.

Square is a practical and simple tool that caters to the needs of business owners and customers alike. Handy features like cash flow monitoring and reporting help entrepreneurs stay on top of their business, while loyalty perks and gift cards are pros for consumers. We also find the pricing model fair and transparent, with good value for the money.

Value 

Square is another provider with clear, transparent processing fees, which is already a plus when compared to providers with less transparent pricing. There’s no monthly fee to pay, with transactions charged on an individual basis, providing a fair value for money in our view. We also think it’s great that Square has a $0 chargeback fee (some competitors charge as much as $15 per dispute)!

We found the hardware offering fair as well. You can get one magnetic stripe reader to affix to a smartphone or tablet for free. Beyond that, there is a wide variety of POS hardware to choose from, covering a range of price points from less than $50 to upwards of $700.

Functionality 

Square’s customer loyalty and insights tools are a big plus, but they aren’t the only features worth talking about. We like the inventory management features as well, plus the possibility to open up new revenue streams. If you have a multi-hyphenate business, say a cafe that doubles as a boutique or flower shop, this can help keep things streamlined.

Square also makes it easy to manage cash flow with Square Checking. You can automatically set aside the right percentage of tax needed for every sale. You can also get loan offers based on your card sales through Square, which is great if you ever want to scale up your business.

Support 

Square offers a comprehensive online knowledge base as well as a sellers’ community, where you can connect with other Square users to talk tech topics. There is also a live chat function on the website and a customer support number to call, with availability from Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT.

We called the customer support number but didn’t get far, as we were asked to input a customer code to continue through the help prompts. We ran into similar issues when we tried the live chat bot, which also asked us to sign into our Square account.

Learn more: Read our full Square review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

Running a restaurant is very different from running, say, a retail business. Clover recognizes the importance of tailoring a POS system to a specific industry with its unique niches for restaurants, retail and service-based businesses.

For example, the restaurant POS lets you map tables, customize orders and manage your menu. For retail businesses, it’s possible to track inventory. You can also manage exchanges. Finally, for service businesses, you have the ability to do things like take payments on the go and set up recurring payments. These are the kinds of personalized touches that make running your business more streamlined and less stressful.

The diverse hardware options also cater to various business owners’ needs. For example, The Clover Flex device could be good for restaurants, allowing employees to take orders and payments tableside.

Clover also has some useful integrations with tools like Time Clock, Payroll, Quickbooks, Woo and Yelp. Exactly which integrations you want depends on your business. A restaurateur might like to encourage customers to leave Yelp reviews, for example.

Clover’s industry-specific features are where it shines. Beyond that, we have to admit that Clover was a bit of a letdown. We found the information regarding customer service and pricing difficult to track down. Even the online knowledge base seemed scant, compared to those of some competitors. Overall, more transparency and clarity would be a big benefit and could help make Clover a far more appealing option.

Value 

Overall, our researchers struggled to find clear pricing information on details like chargeback fees, which makes it tough to assess Clover’s overall value. Clover’s subscription service lets you essentially rent a POS system on a month-by-month basis instead of paying to own it outright. This can be useful if you’re looking to minimize startup costs and don’t have the cash immediately on hand to pay for your own POS.

Here’s the catch: Even if you don’t want a POS system from Clover, you still get stuck paying a subscription fee for the “Clover Virtual Terminal.” This allows you to process payments and refunds through the Clover Web Dashboard from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Functionality 

Clover’s offering checks a lot of essential boxes, from invoicing capabilities to sales tracking. The niche-specific functions are where Clover shines, especially for its advanced plans. For example, with an advanced retail plan, you can create itemized orders, track stock by item, run itemized returns and create loyalty programs. It’s a full retail management tool, not just a POS.

We also want to highlight Clover’s employee management software, which can be a nice add on to your POS system. This tool lets you measure employee performance, for example to identify top salespeople, so you can incentivize them accordingly. Happy employees mean betterservice, which leads to happier customers. That’s what every business wants, right?

Support 

We were underwhelmed by Clover’s support offering. We were able to find a basic FAQ page as well as a help page that covered basics like setting up and logging in. However, Clover seems to lack the robust knowledge bases of some of its competitors.

In terms of actual customer support, we were likewise discouraged by what we found. There doesn’t appear to be any 24/7 support available. The customer service information we did find instructed us to log into a Clover account and select Clover Help as a first step in case of issues.

Apparently, once you log into your account, you’ll be able to find a direct support phone number on your statement, but we couldn’t verify this ourselves. We did find a phone number to call for customer support issues, but when we called, it required a merchant ID to proceed.

Learn more: Read our full Clover review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

Merchant One is a straightforward credit card processing and POS system without a lot of bells and whistles. That alone can make it a good pick if you don’t want to get overwhelmed by too much technology. Beyond that, we found Merchant One’s customer service was clearly posted and easily accessible. We were even able to get a human operator on the line.

Merchant One also promises a simple setup process that’s tailored to your unique needs. Instead of blindly picking a product online, it recommends calling one of its account managers to create a custom solution that fits your needs. Your dedicated account manager then works with you to activate your account, plus get you the information and devices you need to start accepting payments.

Last but not least, it’s worth noting that there are quite a few reviews praising Merchant One’s customer service reps. We actually saw some of their pros mentioned by name repeatedly. That kind of personal touch can be a big boon if you’re otherwise overwhelmed by technology!

Merchant One is a good pick if you only need a credit card processing and POS system. Beyond that, don’t expect lots of fancy features. We aren’t sure the monthly subscription fee is worth it, given the limited functionality. That said, this is one of the few providers where we could easily reach a customer service person.

Value 

Merchant One is another provider that requires a monthly fee, which we don’t love. We also think it seems a bit exorbitant, given the limited functionality (compared to competitors). Basically, Merchant One is a no-frills credit card payment processing and POS system. While there are some niche-specific offerings, like gift or loyalty cards for retail, these are limited compared to the industry-specific perks of some competitors.

We also didn’t find more advanced features seen in some competitors, such as financial reporting, inventory management or employee management. Finally, given that some key payment methods, like Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, are available through integrations only, we’re not convinced Merchant One is a great value overall.

Functionality 

Merchant One’s payment gateway service has a “virtual terminal” where you can key in or swipe sales to accept credit and ACH payments. It’s also possible to set up recurring payments, which can be handy if you run a service- or subscription-based business. To keep customer data on hand, there’s also a customer vault. This way, you can safely store payment information for future use, saving both you, the business owner, and your customers time and hassle.

Merchant One’s basic functions also include advantages like an invoice generator. However, overall we found the functionality to be on the lighter side compared to some competitors. Don’t expect extras like employee management or inventory management, for example.

Support 

If you are the kind of person who prefers to talk to a human support agent ASAP instead of battling through 100 bot prompts, you will love what Merchant One has to offer. Customer service information (email and phone number) is clearly posted and easy to find online. We tried calling the provided service number and were able to connect with a live agent relatively quickly.

Additionally, if you don’t feel like waiting on hold, you can press 9 any time to initiate an SMS exchange with a real live agent. If you know the extension of your dedicated agent, you can enter that immediately.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

If you have an e-commerce shop, PayPal has a lot to offer. First off, PayPal offers an impressive range of useful integration for online sellers, from Wix (a website building platform) to WooCommerce, BigCommerce and similar online selling tools. PayPal also makes payments easy through quick-share payment links or QR codes.

Security can be a concern for online retailers, and PayPal helps bring peace of mind with its AI-powered fraud prevention tools. PayPal also offers seller protection on eligible purchases, which protects your money. You don’t have to stress about losing funds to fraud and can keep your business cash flow intact.

PayPal is also currently working on e-commerce tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which will help make online shops even more streamlined. The new tool will authenticate PayPal customers without requiring a password to speed up checkout. Paypal claims that merchants already testing the new tech are seeing conversion rates of up to 70%. As a small business owner, the prospect of higher sales is always a plus.

PayPal is all about clarity. We liked the transparency this provider gave regarding customer service and pricing. Couple that with the comprehensive features and some promising perks, like AI-driven fraud protection and a load of e-commerce integrations, and we think PayPal offers a solid value. 24/7 customer service would be nice for a provider that’s this big, though.

Value 

Although we’ve recommended it for online sellers here, PayPal also makes in-person transactions possible with a wide selection of POS terminals to choose from. The diverse options include devices to scan barcodes, which makes checking out customers a fast and seamless process. We also like the diversity of price points available across the range of devices. There’s something for every entrepreneur’s budget.

Lastly, PayPal is transparent about its pricing policies, providing easy access to detailed information about rates. Given how convoluted some other providers are about pricing, it’s a breath of fresh air. All in all, we consider the rates fair and think PayPal delivers solid value.

Functionality 

PayPal has an impressive range of payment functions and even allows merchants to accept a wide variety of cryptocurrencies. We did not see many other providers offering this option, so if that’s important to you, take note.

In addition to accepting online and in-person payments, PayPal offers a lot of other useful perks for business owners. You can optimize and manage risk with its fraud prevention tools and use its data tools to get insights into your sales. Finally, you can even apply for credit cards or loans through the financial services tools. If you need money to grow your business, that’s a big plus!

Support 

PayPal has a comprehensive online help center where you can look up all kinds of topics from dispute resolution to account setup. There is also a community forum to consult other PayPal users about difficulties which can be a huge boon to business owners who don’t mind doing their own research.

For more personalized help, you can message the PayPal Assistant. Although it’s a chatbot, you can use it to leave a message for an agent, who will then get back in touch with you. Finally, there is the option to call. Customer service hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Sunday. We tried calling and, after a series of prompts, were able to reach an actual person (not always a given).

Learn more: Read our full PayPal review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

When you’re a small business owner just starting out, every penny counts. If you’re hoping to save money on your payment transactions, Helcim delivers. The provider’s average transaction fees are less than some of its big-name competitors. Plus, there is no monthly subscription fee. There is a chargeback fee of $15 to consider, though, as some competitors don’t charge a fee at all.

We also found Helcim’s pricing for its POS terminal and card reader very reasonable. You even have the option of paying for the more-expensive terminal with installments. That said, we’d have loved to see more diversity to choose from.

Helcim also offers volume-based discounts, which is common across the providers we surveyed. Basically, the more you sell, the lower the transaction fees. That’s some serious incentive to start selling! Overall, we think Helcim is a great fit for thrifty entrepreneurs looking to save.

Helcim offers cost-efficient fees for its POS terminals and card readers as well as its transactions. In terms of functionality, it fulfills the basic needs of a credit card processing service. We also have to give a nod to its customer service. Although it’s not 24/7, it’s easier to find and get in contact with than many competitors.

Value 

Helcim’s average rates are lower than quite a few competitors, although it’s worth noting that volume-based discounts apply. So, if you’re selling less, you may pay a higher transaction fee than the average posted. That said, the company is clear about its pricing structure and doesn’t ask for a monthly subscription fee.

Although the price is right, we have to admit that Helcim’s integrations are limited. Still, we think the overall value is good, especially when you consider some perks that aren’t necessarily a given, like employee management or inventory management. These are the kinds of extras that streamline your workflows as a business owner and save you valuable time.

Functionality 

Helcim has many tools to make entrepreneurship easier. For example, you can use the free invoice generator to create custom invoices from a template, simply adding your business details and logo. This is the kind of small extra that can save you the stress of creating an invoice from scratch.

Helcim also has an inventory management function that can help alleviate small business headaches. For example, you can view total product inventory through your Helcim dashboard to make sure you aren’t about to run out (which could mean losing out on a potential sale). Finally, we love the transparency of the merchant statement analysis, which lets you run your own statements to compare what you’d pay with Helcim versus the competition.

Support 

Helcim makes it easy to get the support you need as a business owner. Right from the start, when you go to its homepage, you’ll see a clearly posted “Call us” button, plus another button, “Speak to a human.” The help page provides a phone number and email to call and clearly shows that operating hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT. We gave them a call and were able to connect with a person easily.

In addition to solid support, Helcim has a comprehensive learning center with handy tutorials and articles. You can search all kinds of topic areas, from invoicing to the POS app and hardware issues.

Learn more: Read our full Helcim review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

PaySafe stands out for the diversity of industries it serves, from travel to restaurants. Some of the areas covered, like crypto, might be considered high-risk by other providers (you can learn more about high-risk merchants below). Unfortunately, high-risk merchants may have trouble getting credit card processing services. Paysafe seems to be a welcome exception to the rule.

Paysafe offers focused support for small businesses, providing solutions that are tailored to each business’ needs. The provider offers next-day funding, which is great for businesses that need reliable cash flow, as well as adjustable transaction rates with volume-based discounts. So, the more you sell, the lower the fees you have to pay.

Paysafe’s iAccess business dashboard can provide business insights to help entrepreneurs lower costs. For any business owner hoping to reduce overhead, granular data like this can be very helpful.

Paysafe may be a good pick for high-risk merchants who have trouble getting serviced by other providers. It offers features like inventory and employee management, which are beneficial to all types of entrepreneurs. That said, there is a lack of transparency around POS terminal pricing; also, the POS systems are Clover products. If we were a business owner, we’d probably just go through Clover directly.

Value 

For high-risk merchants in particular, Paysafe offers a good value for money. If you can’t get any other credit card processing provider to support your business, you’ll be happy to discover that Paysafe is more open. Paysafe also covers basic features, like employee, inventory and tax management. That said, we couldn’t find a lot of detail about such perks.

Paysafe advertises Clover devices on its website but doesn’t provide direct pricing, instead suggesting you get in touch with their sales team. We’d love more transparency, with direct pricing details clearly posted on the website. This is something that the majority of the competitors we researched do provide.

Functionality 

Paysafe is integrated with Clover, so if you’re going to pick this provider, we suggest reading through our review of Clover (above) as well. When you sign up for Paysafe, the POS devices you have to choose from are from Clover, for example.

Paysafe also offers other features that can help streamline business operations and simplify day-to-day life as a business owner. Employee management solutions can help maintain oversight of your team, for example, while inventory management solutions can help minimize the risk of stock-outs. There is also a tax management function to help streamline tax reporting.

Support 

PaySafe’s customer service contact information, both an email address and a phone number, is clearly posted on its website. Although there isn’t 24-hour service, we were able to reach them by phone during the business hours posted (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST). After a few automated prompts, we could connect to a person. If you call outside of their business hours, the company promises to get back to you within 24 business hours.

There is also a knowledge base available, The Merchant Welcome Portal covers basics from how to manage chargebacks to what you can do with available integrations. We like that there’s also more generalized help through the SMB resources tool portal, which covers practical matters like how to choose a social media platform for your business.

Learn more: Read our full Paysafe review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

If you simply run an e-commerce shop, you don’t have to worry about the cost of a POS system. Your customers will simply pay online by entering their card data. However, if you run a brick-and-mortar location and need to take in-person payments, you also need a physical POS card reader or terminal to process card payments.

When you first look at POS system costs, you might be daunted by the price tags. ProMerchant can alleviate those fears, providing a free Bluetooth card reader that you can use to process payments. It’s a little bit of extra cost-savings that any new entrepreneur will appreciate. If you need more robust POS functionality, ProMerchant offers additional options through Clover.

ProMerchant is also a good pick for high-risk merchants. While many of the providers we surveyed shy away from high-risk merchants or charge them exorbitant fees, ProMerchant promises to take them on at fair rates. Industries served include the adult industry, bitcoin, CBD products, gambling/gaming, firearms and payday loans.

ProMerchant offers basic functionality, like processing payments and generating reports. Some basic features that are integrated directly into other providers are here through third parties, like invoicing and the POS systems themselves. Overall, we found ProMerchant’s pricing lacked transparency. The customer service was also confusing — just a phone number without hours.

Value 

ProMerchant’s pricing is difficult to figure out, making it hard to judge the provider’s value for money. Although there is talk of monthly fees, exactly what those are is hard to pinpoint. Similarly, there are general descriptions of transaction processing rates, without providing the actual rates themselves.

In general, ProMerchant doesn’t offer additional features that make it stand out from the competition. Plus, some features that are a given with the competition are only available through a third-party integration, such as invoicing. The POS devices are also third-party (Clover) — so why not go to Clover directly if you can afford it? That said, ProMerchant accepts high-risk merchants, which not all providers do. Plus, you can get one free POS device. Beyond that, we aren’t sure how much value-add this provider offers.

Functionality 

While we appreciate the free POS ProMerchant offers and think this makes it a great pick for brick-and-mortar businesses, ProMerchant also offers some nice features for virtual businesses. The virtual terminal payments hub lets you handle essential payment processes, like keying in transactions, issuing receipts and processing voids or returns. It also provides general oversight of your cash flow, allowing you to access transaction records and run reports.

You can also enjoy additional functionality through Authorize.Net integrations, which allow you to issue invoices and set up recurring billing. It’s also possible to sync with QuickBooks, which can save you time on your accounting and bookkeeping processes.

Support 

ProMerchant doesn’t have a comprehensive knowledge base or online user community, something many of the provider’s competitors offer. That said, we were able to find a clearly posted telephone support number and online contact form.

Unfortunately, the business hours for the support number aren’t posted. We tried calling and got an automated message telling us we had reached the provider outside of regular business hours and were asked to leave a message with our name and number. The automated message also provided an email address. It would be helpful to know exactly when customer service opening hours are.

Learn more: Read our full ProMerchant review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

If you’re the kind of person who quickly gets frustrated by bad UX design, Elavon’s easy-to-use account management tool just might win you over. We read quite a few customer reviews praising how easy this tool was to use. A look at the account management portal (“Payments Insider”) seems to back up such claims.

The tool allows you to access your payment processing data and generate reports to create actionable insights. You can customize how you search for data, with filtering possible for17 key data points. Once you’ve created a report, you can export it for online access.

The portal also includes industry news about topics like security. As a small business owner, such updates can be useful, for example, if they touch on legislative changes. You can further access product videos and reference guides to help you make the most of your product.

This portal also allows you to take care of functions like adding new employee accounts or business locations. If your business is steadily growing, this kind of functionality is a must. Plus, being able to self-manage these components saves you time. You don’t have to stress about calling customer service with every change you need.

Value 

Elavon’s pricing is confusing, and that’s putting it lightly. Compared to the straightforward breakdowns of monthly fees, transaction rates and chargeback fees some providers readily post online, Elavon’s pricing is totally unclear. One concrete rate we found: a flat-rate PIN debit card acceptance cost of 1% plus $0.25 per transaction.

Beyond that, Elavon discusses the difference between merchant-managed versus acquirer-managed surcharge fees but doesn’t provide any concrete figures, and instead simply directs you toward contacting them. We think price transparency plays a big part in determining value-for-cost and aren’t impressed by this convoluted information.

Functionality 

Elavon’s Payments Insider portal allows you to access payment processing data and create reports. You can filter data according to 17 search criteria, which can be a good way to save time when trying to track down specific transactions.

For example, payment terminals are from talech and Ingenico (and no, there’s no indication as to what they might cost). Similarly, when looking for invoicing functionality, you’re directed to a page for the Converge payment gateway. This is described as a “value-add feature,” but it’s unclear if this is a “value-add” you’re paying extra for.

Support 

Elavon advertises 24/7 customer support and readily posts a phone number for both existing and new customers to call. We gave it a try. The prompts asked for our account number, which we didn’t have, but we were able to press the pound key and still connect with a human operator. We had to bypass some prompts but eventually were given the option to speak with a customer care agent directly. In short, you need a little bit of patience, but you will get through.

Elavon also has an online resource center. You’ll find an FAQ page covering everything from account-related questions to general payment industry queries. There is also an insights section with business tips like how to reduce cart abandonment in e-commerce.

Learn more: Read our full Elavon review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.

If number crunching makes your head hurt and your top priority is to save time on accounting, you’ve met your perfect match. Intuit Payments can be used with Intuit Quickbooks, allowing for automatic bookkeeping. Any payments through QuickBooks are automatically matched.

That said, there is a bit of a caveat. If you only sign up for the free QuickBooks Money account, you won’t get full payment functionality with Intuit Payments. You need to get at least a QuickBooks Simple Start account (the cheapest paid option), which will cost you $30 per month, the highest monthly fee of any provider on this list. Yikes.

That said, this plan can still make sense if you really plan to use the accounting tool and all its benefits in full. That includes the ability to set recurring invoices, for example, and to provide estimates. There is even the opportunity to potentially open a line of credit and take out a business loan.

If you’re a QuickBooks user, Intuit Payments allows you to collect in-person and online payments and integrate them into your accounting. That said, we aren’t sure the high price tag of $30 per month is worth it if you’re not using QuickBooks already. The lack of POS systems available is also questionable.

Value 

Intuit Payments is the logical pick if you are already a QuickBooks user who is paying the $30 fee (minimum) anyway. If you aren’t, we’re not sure it’s the right choice for you. The value you’ll get out of it is questionable and depends entirely on whether you plan to take full advantage of the accounting integration and the other perks, like being able to set recurring billing.

If you are simply looking for credit card processing without the bells and whistles, this may not offer sufficient value for money. Plus, note that the selection of hardware is very limited. You won’t find comprehensive terminals — just a simple card reader. If you need a robust countertop or kitchen terminal, you won’t find it here.

Functionality 

You can use Intuit Payments to accept in-person payments only if you combine it with a QuickBooks Simple Start plan. If you’re willing to pay the price, you’ll enjoy some nice accounting integrations, such as automated bookkeeping and simple, fast direct deposits to your QuickBooks Checking account (if you have one). It also includes integrated invoicing functionality.

Intuit Payments also offers a unique chargeback protection offer. You can get automatic payments dispute protection, and the provider will cover up to $25,000 per year (a maximum of $10,000 per dispute).

Support 

We would have expected such a big-name provider to offer 24/7 support. Unfortunately, Intuit QuickBooks Payments customer service is only available from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. There is a phone number clearly posted, at least. However, when we tried to call, we quickly got mired in a series of seemingly never-ending automated prompts.

Part of the problem seems to be that QuickBooks offers such a wide range of features. Connecting with the right person for Intuit Payments is tedious. There is also a chat feature. This is available through the Merchant Service Center, which requires a login, so we were unable to test it. The knowledge base is good.

Learn more: Read our full Intuit Payments review.

Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.